2 Bloggers 1 Series - Temptation Ridge

 

So once again Stormi and I are diving into the Virgin River series.  Even though we are taking our time with them, neither one of seems to be finding them boring so I'm hopeful maybe next year we can finish up.  I do know that as soon as I put one down, I'm always in the mood to pick the next one up.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's  at Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! to see what she thought as well.

TITLE: Temptation Ridge (Virgin Rive #6)

AUTHOR: Robyn Carr

PUBLISHER: Mira Books

PUBLISHING DATE: February 24, 2009

PAGES: 416

SOURCE: Library/Hoopla

FROM GOODREADS: At twenty-five, after five years as her mother's caregiver, it's time for Shelby to experience freedom and adventure. Time for travel, college and romance. But when she visits Virgin River, she runs into Luke Riordan, decidedly not whom she has in mind.

A handsome Blackhawk pilot, Luke exited the army after twenty years, four wars and having been shot out of the sky three times. At thirty-eight he's tough and jaded. His major was in one-night stands, with a minor in commitment avoidance.

Technically, these two are all wrong for one another. But sometimes what you want and what you need are two different things...two very good things.

MY THOUGHTS:  Just when I think there's no way the author can introduce characters I love as much as the previous ones, I'm proven wrong.  This book introduces up to Luke, who is entirely new on the scene, and Shelby, who we got pieces of during the last book.  Shelby has come to Virgin River to stay with her Uncle following her mother's death.  She put her life on hold for several years caring for her mother and is now ready to experience the world.  And to her, experiencing the world means experiencing Luke Riordan, a retired Blackhawk, who has arrived in town with lots of baggage.

I love how Carr shows us the development of relationship and admits when something starts out as pure lust rather than covering it up in insta-love.  And personally I've also fallen in love with the little town of Virgin River.  I could totally see myself settling down in such a place which if pretty darn scary if I say so myself.  This book also lets he visit some of our old favorite characters however I'd be remiss to say there just isn't enough Preacher in the book.  

I'd say it's says a lot when 6 books into the series and I'm still giving out such high ratings.  I can't wait to pick up the next one and I can't recommend this series enough.  I will warn you there's a pretty heavy death in this one and without spoiling things, let's just say I wasn't prepared.  However, Preacher is safe so I'm good to continue on!

RATING: 5 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Book - Faithless

 

YES!  I am still alive.  I'm so sorry to have went radio-silence on everyone but life kind of kicked my butt.  I am planning on a revamp and glorious return (well at least in my opinion) with the new year.  Just know that the family and pups are fine and I am still reading, but sort of just enjoying a hiatus and grabbing whatever my mood tells me. However, Stormi and I are still doing lots of reads together and we both couldn't wait to get our hands on the new Hunter Shea book.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's @ @ Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! and read her review.

TITLE: Faithless

AUTHOR: Hunter Shea

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: October 26, 2021

PAGES: 256

SOURCE: Own Library

FROM GOODREADS: How do you survive hearing your family being brutally murdered over the phone? For Father Raul Figeuroa, all faith and hope are lost. Turning away from the priesthood behind, he retreats to his aunt's empty farmhouse in upstate New York, hoping to drink himself to oblivion. But he's not alone in the house. Something is trying to reach out to him. Or is he losing his grip on reality? When his childhood friend Felix comes to visit, things take a darker turn. The deeper they dig into the mystery, the closer they get to hell literally breaking loose.

MY THOUGHTS: I have to admit that in the beginning, I was starting to question if I would love this book as much as I hoped but in the end, Shea pulled and it and I can definitely put it on a "must recommend" list.  Especially for fans of movies like "The Exorcist."

Father Raul Figeuroa is on his way home one rainy night and speaking to his wife on the cell.  Suddenly he hears a commotion at the home and surmises that someone has broken into the residence.  Second by second he hears the brutal slaughter of his family with him only 5 miles from the residence.  What happens make Raul question all of his faith and life's work so he retreats to his Aunt Ida's rustic farm to contemplate what his life holds next and basically drink himself into a drunken stupor everyday.  He is befriended by a cat he names Bruiser - who I love by the way.  When Raul has finally hit bottom, his friend Felix shows up and offers to try to do what the police can't - find justice for Raul and his family.

Let me say this book kind of starts out slow and there is a hint of the unreliable narrator trope which rarely works for me.  But about 60%, this book takes a HUGE turn and at that point, I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.  Raul was a likable character and while Shea really drives the point home that the character has lost all hope, it's easy to understand why he is at that point.  And as  I eluded, Shea made me love a cat - don't tell my boys!

If you don't mind a slow introduction, then definitely pick up this latest horror release.  The ending was great and I'm still a huge fan on the Shea bandwagon (and is it scary that sentence just made me think of Annie Wilkes?)  

A minor note:  I do think this book needed better editing in a few places.  One one page Aunt Ida goes from not reading much except Reader's Digest to having a huge reading haven upstairs of rescued books.  And on another, Bruiser is in too places at once.  These were minor things and had this not been a buddy read where Stormi and I were discussing it on a regular basis, I might not even have caught them.  I'll still consider reading anything Flame Tree releases though.

RATING: 4 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Enjoy of View

 

This month Stormi and I decided to continue on with the Moose Springs series.  I was in need of a comfort read and this has to be one of my favorite series of all time.  And yes, I loved this one as much as the others and am thrilled to see there is a #4 in the works.  So check out my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's  at Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! to see what she thought as well.

TITLE: Enjoy the View (Moose Springs, Alaska #3)

AUTHOR: Sarah  Morgenthaler

PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Casablanca

PUBLISHING DATE: January 19, 2021

PAGES: 352

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: 

A grouchy mountaineer, a Hollywood starlet And miles of untamed wilderness... What could possibly go wrong?

Former Hollywood darling River Lane's acting career is tanking fast. Determined to start fresh behind the camera, she agrees to film a documentary about the picturesque small town of Moose Springs, Alaska. The assignment should have been easy, but the quirky locals want nothing to do with River. Well, too bad: River's going to make this film and prove herself, no matter what it takes.

Or what (literal) mountain she has to climb. 

Easton Lockett may be a gentle giant, but he knows a thing or two about survival. If he can keep everyone in line, he should be able to get River and her crew up and down Mount Veil in one piece. Turns out that's a big if. The wildlife's wilder than usual, the camera crew's determined to wander off a cliff, and the gorgeous actress is fearless. Falling for River only makes Easton's job tougher, but there's only so long he can hold out against her brilliant smile. When bad weather strikes, putting everyone at risk, it'll take all of Easton's skill to get them back home safely...and convince River she should stay in his arms for good.

MY THOUGHTS: I always enjoy the grumpy/sunshine trope so I had no doubt this would turn out to be a great read. And I swear, every grumpy male in Moose Springs, and seriously, there seems to be quite a few, always put me in mind of Luke from Gilmore Girls.  And I've ALWAYS been a Luke fan.

River Lane has come to Moose Springs for her directorial debut on an Alaskan documentary.  However, no one warned her how hard it would be to get filming permits in Moose Springs, a town that definitely doesn't want any added attention.  River and her minimal crew end up getting kicked out of most of the town establishments, so she decides to take the crew and summit Mount Veil, a mountain peak known to locals as "The Old Man."  And while her first run-in with Easton didn't go off as planned, he winds up being the guide tasked with making sure River and her crew make it off alive.

I adored the banter between River and Easton and I have to say, even though the attraction between the two was almost immediate, the author never ventured into insta-love territory.  The relationship developed over time and it was never a given conclusion.  The side characters of River's crew were also hilarious, especially Jessie, who clearly had no business scaling a mountain, even on a good day.  Easton's patience often runs thin, but in the end, he had a giant heart and he doesn't want to let River down.  We also get to see Graham and Zoey from book #1 a fair amount and seriously, they will probably always be my favorite couple in Moose Springs.

And finally I have to mention the marmot.  On the way up the peak, Easton is befriended by a love-struck marmot and I never knew I could get attached to him almost as much as I was Easton and River.  Morganthaler has a way with animal additions and this one was no exception.  I can't wait to see what book #4 brings. Will it be about Easton's sister Ash?  Or Ben, Easton's assistant?  Or maybe Jax, who I have to remember I don't remember too well.  Come on, I NEED ANSWERS!

If you are in the mood for a little romance, then definitely give this series a go!

RATING: 5 PAWS

TBR Jar of Horror #1 - Bite

 

So Stormi and I were kind of striking out with our Retro Horror feature.  It seems the books we picked were never as good as we hoped.  So we revamped the feature and are now doing a TBR jar where we're each putting horror titles we've always wanted to read - no matter of their publication date.  And now, every other month, we will draw a pick out and that's what we'll read and review.  So read on to see how this worked for me this month and the hope over to Stormi's to find out what she read.

And don't you love our new graphic?  It was created by Michelle over at Lima Bean Designs!

TITLE: Bite (Wastelanders #1)

AUTHOR: K.S. Merbeth

PUBLISHER: Orbit

PUBLISHING DATE: July 26, 2016

PAGES: 376

SOURCE: Own library

FROM GOODREADS: 

Kid is trying to survive in a world gone mad. Hungry, thirsty and alone in a desert wasteland, she's picked up on the side of the road by Wolf, Dolly, Tank and Pretty Boy - outlaws with big reputations and even bigger guns.

But as they journey across the wild together, Kid learns that her newfound crew may not be the heroes she was hoping for. And in a world that's lost its humanity, everyone has a bit of monster within them

  MY THOUGHTS:  Let's just say that I spent years thinking this was about vampires despite there clearly being a license plate on the vehicle which indicated cannibals.  However, I was glad to knock it off my shelves and give it a go.  And man, what a fun ride this one was!

The novel takes places in a post-apocalyptic world where everyone is struggling to survive. Think Mad Max, because honestly, that's probably the best comparison for this book.  Kid is 14 and has been struggling to make it on her own since her father died.  She ends up meeting a ragtag group which consists of Wolf, Dolly, Tank and Pretty Boy.  While she is more than a little afraid of them at first, she ends up running with them.  There's just one small issue - they are considered "sharks" meaning they cook and eat human flesh.  Wolf leads the group on some crazy raids and trades and gets them into some pretty sticky situations.  And someone new named Saint is trying to take over the Wastelands, but they must go through Wolf to do it.

Never in my life did I see myself cheering a group of cannibals on to succeed, but cheer I did.  This was the most likable group of characters I've read about in a long time.  I loved them all and I loved how little by little Kid began to fit in and began to find a place where she belonged.  This book had action, blood, gore, humor, friendship and a riveting plot.  There's really nothing to complain about here.  I really think more people need to pick up this little hidden gem and hang on tight.  I can't wait to get my hands on book #2!

RATING: 5 PAWS

TBR and Beyond Tours - Burden Falls

 

TITLE: Burden Falls

AUTHOR: Kat Ellis

PUBLISHER: Dial Books

PUBLISHING DATE: August 24, 2021

PAGES: 304

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS:

Riverdale meets Stephen King in the terrifying new thriller from the author of Harrow Lake. 

The town of Burden Falls drips with superstition, from rumors of its cursed waterfall to Dead-Eyed Sadie, the disturbing specter who haunts it. Ava Thorn grew up right beside the falls, and since a horrific accident killed her parents a year ago, she's been plagued by nightmares in which Sadie comes calling—nightmares so chilling, Ava feels as if she’ll never wake up. But when someone close to Ava is brutally murdered and she’s the primary suspect, she begins to wonder if the stories might be more than legends—and if the ghost haunting her dreams might be terrifyingly real. Whatever secrets Burden Falls is hiding, there's a killer on the loose . . . with a vendetta against the Thorns. 

When I saw the Riverdale comparison I just knew I had to read this book.  While there's no Jughead, there are plenty of other characters to keep things interesting.  So to shake things up, I'm just sharing with you 15 Reactions I Had While Reading This Book.  You'll just have to read it to see how they play into the plot!

1. Is a year really long enough for a body to knit itself whole?
2. I want to see a tree full of ghost apples - how pretty!
3. Aha!  THAT explained the cover.
4. Ava needs a new car, but its so funny she praises Lucifer whenever it starts on the first try.
5. Pepperoni never did me wrong either.
6. THE FLYS!!! I can't believe the author referenced The Flys (runs off singing "Got you where I want you."
7. Because of COVID the town started holding outdoor celebrations of important events called Danse Macabres.  What a great idea.
8. Much respect to Daphne's Dimple Theory - I agree.
9. Dead-Eyed Sadie is one spooky urban legend.
10. Every phone needs a claw-back function to retract texts.
11. That dog better not die!
12. DON'T GO IN THE CELLAR!!!!
13. I too have a thing for shark movies Ava :)
14. Nerdy vampires - nice visual.
15. What an intense ending!

RATING: 5 PAWS

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57114727-burden-falls

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Burden-Falls-Kat-Ellis/dp/1984814567

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/burden-falls-kat-ellis/1138373556?ean=9781984814562

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Burden-Falls-Kat-Ellis/9781984814562?ref=grid-view&qid=1624590489533&sr=1-2

Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/burden-falls/9781984814562-item.html

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984814562

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

Kat Ellis is the author of young adult novels Harrow Lake, Purge, Breaker, and Blackfin Sky, as well as a novella within the Three Strikes collection titled The Twins of Blackfin. 

Kat studied English with Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University, then spent several years working in local government communications and IT. 

When she is not writing, Kat can usually be found exploring ruins and cemeteries with her camera. She is an active blogger, instagrammer and tweeter, and is represented by Molly Ker Hawn at The Bent Agency.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.katelliswrites.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/el_kat

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katelliswrites/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7169579.Kat_Ellis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatEllisWrites

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE TOUR HERE:

https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2021/07/16/tour-schedule-burden-falls-by-kat-ellis/

 

2 Bloggers 1 Series - The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter

 

So basically Stormi and I started another series we've always been curious about.  And am I ever glad I stopped putting this book off.  This series has been blowing up Booktube lately and the good thing about it is that the trilogy is actually complete so we can dive right into the next one!  So read on to see my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's  at Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! to see what she thought as well.

TITLE: The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter (The Athena Club #1)

AUTHOR: Theodora Goss

PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

PUBLISHING DATE: June 20, 2017

PAGES: 402

SOURCE: Own library

FROM GOODREADS: 

Mary Jekyll, alone and penniless following her parents’ death, is curious about the secrets of her father’s mysterious past. One clue in particular hints that Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes. 

But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana, a feral child left to be raised by nuns. With the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde, and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherin Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein. 

When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. Now it is up to the monsters to finally triumph over the monstrous.

MY THOUGHTS: This was such a fun read and I can't wait to pick the next one up.  But you know what's funny?  Up until I wrote this review, I didn't know this was categorized as a Young Adult novel.  Not that it matters but if that is putting anyone off from reading it, it shouldn't because this could easily pass for an adult novel.

When the book opens, Mary Jekyll's mother has passed away.  Prior to her death, she suffered from an illness and madness which happened to start around the time Mary's father started some mysterious experiments.  This also coincided with the appearance of his strange assistant, Mr. Hyde.  Mary is left destitute but when she discovers her mother had been sending money each month for the care of someone named Hyde, Mary thinks this is the key to solving a cold case murder and earn a generous reward in the process.  But Mary stumbles onto an impulsive and opinionated young girl.  

This is the perfect "found family" novel.  Mary joins up with Sherlock Holmes and Watson to investigate the murders of some women in Whitechapel.  They also learn there is a secretive society of men who have been experimenting on young women who they feel obligated to rescue along the way. So by the end of the book, not only has the murder mystery fallen into place, but a group of women, each with varying backgrounds and talents, have teamed up to take down the secret society.

I really enjoyed all the characters but Diana, Mary's younger sister, is hilarious.  She's mouthy and snarky and has an opinion on everything.  She's uncultured and doesn't care.  And she drives Mary mad!  I also enjoyed the inclusion of Holmes and Watson and hope they are in the future installments as well.  I will say this book has a unique format which I believe is called "breaking the fourth wall."  So interspersed between the narrative are conversations between the characters about the novel being written.  It took some adjustment as first but soon I began to look forward to these often humorous comments.

The only real complaint I had was the pacing at times.  It was a book I was able to sit down and leave for a while, unlike others which I can barely put down.  However if you love classic monsters and are looking for a unique twist, look no further.  This book has adventure, snark, humor, all in a historical setting.  Bring on the next one!

RATING: 4 PAWS

 

Can't Wait Wednesday (322) - I'm Back

 

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

FROM GOODREADS:  The island was just the beginning...

In H G Wells' 1896 novel The Island of Dr Moreau a shipwrecked traveller finds himself alone on an island ruled by a mad doctor and inhabited by creatures who are at once both beast and human. He escapes to civilisation only after the scientist is dead and the beast-men have taken absolute control. Yet this is not the end of the matter. The peoples of the island are not done with humanity. Now the conflict between the two has begun in earnest.

The City of Dr Moreau presents a sprawling history of the islanders, and an alternative vision of our own times. Spanning more than a century, criss-crossing across numerous places and many lives, we witness the growth of Moreau's legacy, from gothic experiments to an event which changes the world. From the wharves of Victorian London to a boarding house with an inhuman resident, to an assassin on a twentieth-century train ordered to kill the one man who knows the truth to a diplomat whose mission to parley with beast-men will surely be her last, we follow secret skirmishes and hidden plots which emerge, eventually and violently, into the open.

A tribute to the genius of H G Wells from the author of Dracula's Child, The City of Dr Moreau is a visionary new horror novel in the style of Wells' creepiest and most enduring fictions. 

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I have always been fascinated by The Island of Dr Moreau so I'm really excited to see what this book brings!

CASSIUS'S PICK:

FROM GOODREADS:  When Molly Madison, dog-wrangler extraordinaire, stumbles upon a murder in her new hometown, she must track down a killer to save the day.

Ex-police officer and former P.I. Molly Madison is starting over. After the death of her husband, she and her golden retriever, Harlow, move cross-country to California. But as charming and peaceful as the beachside town seems, she soon learns its tranquil tides hold dark secrets.

On her first day in the new house, a large, slobbering Saint Berdoodle wanders in. Molly winds up taking on the responsibility of training Noodle since his owner is too busy to do the job. On one of their daily beachside walks, Noodle digs up a severed hand. Once Molly alerts the police and they run a background check on her, she's an immediate suspect--after all, Noodle's testimony to clear her name won't hold much water in court.

To prove her innocence, Molly must rely on instincts keener than a canine's to sniff out the real killer. But when Molly's life is put in danger, will her two very loyal pups be able to rescue her? 

WHY CASSIUS CAN'T WAIT:  What in the name of Dog is a Saint Berdoodle?  I want Mom to read this book just so she can tell me.  I think that's the real mystery here.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???