Waiting on Wednesday {35}: The House Between Tide by Sarah Maine

“Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, a secret in the basement, atmospheric, an author compared to Kate Morton? Yes, please! This one looks so good I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

Title: The House Between Tides

Author: Sarah Maine

Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: August 2, 2016

 

 

Fans of Kate Morton will love this atmospheric and immersive debut novel of a woman who returns to her ancestral home in Scotland and discovers a century-old secret buried in the basement.

 

Following the deaths of her last living relatives, Hetty Deveraux leaves her strained marriage behind in London and returns to her ancestral home, a crumbling estate in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, with the intention of renovating and reselling it as a hotel, much to the dismay of the locals. As she dives headfirst into the repairs, she discovers human remains beneath a rotting floorboard in the basement, with few physical clues to identify the body. Who was this person? And why the makeshift grave?

 

Hungry for answers, Hetty sets out to unravel the estate’s secret—and those of its former inhabitants, including Beatrice Blake, a woman who moved there a century ago with her husband Theo, a famous painter who seemed to be more interested in Cameron, a young local man, than his own wife.

 

Following whispered rumors and a handful of leads, Hetty soon discovers that no one knows exactly what happened to Beatrice, only that her actions have reverberated throughout history, affecting Hetty’s present in startling ways.

What are you waiting on?

Head In The Clouds by Karen Whitemeyer

When a recovering romantic goes to work for a handsome ranch owner, her heart’s not the only thing in danger.

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.

When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

Publisher: | Genre: Historical Inspiration Romance| Rating: 4 Cups

When Adelaide follows a potential husband to Texas only to discover he’s not interested, she takes a job as governess to Isabella, a five-year-old little girl living on a sheep ranch. Although she vows to give up her romantic notions, she soon finds herself falling for her employer.

 

Against his family’s wishes, Gideon Westcott turned his back on his life of privilege and left England to become a player in America’s wool industry. He expected to be busy tending sheep, he never expected to become a father and now he has a little girl who hasn’t spoken since the death of her mother. And a new governess that seems to be running through his mind when he should be focused on the suspicious events happening at his ranch.

 

Things are going relatively smoothly until Isabella’s uncle shows up wanting to take the girl to get his hands on her inheritance. Now Adelaide and Gideon must come together to protect the little girl and soon they find themselves falling for each other.

 

So, I’m going to be completely honest, I totally forgot I had this book. I received it as a Christmas gift, then stuck it on one of my bookshelves and forgot it was there. I’m really glad that I found it and gave it a read because it was such a cute governess/employer romance.

 

Even though Adelaide would rather live her life as though she was the heroine in a romance, she was very easy to like. And it was fun watching her trying to live in the ‘real world’ and manage a little girl.

 

I really liked Gideon. He was such a fun hero and I wanted to see him succeed on his own without relying on his family’s name.

 

The romance between Adelaide and Gideon was slow to start and very light because this was an inspirational romance.

 

There’s a bit of suspense thrown in in the form of events happening at the ranch and Isabella’s uncle trying to take her away. While the suspense was light, it was interesting and held my attention.

 

I really enjoyed the many references to Jane Eyre that was thrown in and it was fun looking into it.

Overall, I liked this one. It was cute and light and left me smiling. There were a few parts that dragged but it eventually evened out.

Waiting On Wednesday {34}: Race the Darkness by Abbie Roads

“Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

So this one is being billed as ‘a dark, gritty, emotional and sexy romantic suspense by debut author Abbie Roads’. Seriously, who can resist that? Oh, and that cover, it just makes me want to see what kind of creepy goodness this book will offer. Plus, this is a paranormal romantic suspense and that totally has me interested.

Title: Race the Darkness

Author: Abbie Roads

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: October 6, 2016

 

 

Cursed with a terrible gift

 

Criminal investigator Xander Stone doesn’t have to question you—he can hear your thoughts. Scarred by lightning, burdened with a power that gives him no peace, Xander struggles to maintain his sanity against the voice that haunts him day and night—the voice of a woman begging him to save her.

 

That threatens to engulf them...

 

Isleen Walker has long since given up hope of escape from the nightmare of captivity and torture that is draining her life, her mind, and her soul. Except…there is the man in her feverish dreams, the strangely beautiful man who beckons her to freedom and wholeness. And when he comes, if he comes, it will take all their combined fury and faith to overcome a madman bent on fulfilling a deadly prophecy.

 

An excerpt from Race the Darkness:

 

 No fucking way was he going to die running. He stopped, turned and faced the truck barreling toward them. The tires ate up the ground at an indecent rate. He clutched Isleen tighter to his chest. For her sake, he wanted it to be a quick death. No more lingering. No more pain.

 

 That thought infuriated him. None of this was right. They shouldn’t be on the verge of death. Again.

 

 The truck kept coming—twenty-five feet.

 

 Everything slowed, happened as if through the quicksand of time. A white dandelion floaty meandered on the breeze directly between them and the truck. His heart no longer ran a staccato rhythm. Duh…duhm. Pause. Duh…duhm.

 

 Pause.

 

 His life didn’t flash before his eyes. The future did. Isleen’s future. In an ethereal dream beyond time, her skin was gilded by firelight, her eyes void of sadness and fear, her body whole and healthy. She smiled, an expression so full of warmth and tenderness and undiluted joy that it plunked itself down inside his heart and wouldn’t leave.

 

 He ached to create that kind of smile on her face, but their lives were over and it all could’ve gone so differently if he’d only listened to her, believed in her, found her years before now.

 

What are you waiting on?

Again, Alabama by Susan Sands

Cammie Laroux is back in Alabama—again.

 

Dragged back to her small town to help her mother recover from surgery while rescuing the family event planning business should be a cinch. Even for a disgraced television chef, right? Wrong.

 

Among the many secrets Cammie’s family’s been hiding is the fact that their historic home is falling down. Oh, and the man hired to restore the house, Grey Harrison, is the same high school and college love of her life who thrashed her heart and dreams ten years ago. Yeah, that guy.

 

Grey, a widower with a young daughter, has never stopped loving Cammie, and when they are face to face once again, the chemistry is off the charts. Cammie may be in full-blown denial, but letting go is no longer in Grey’s vocabulary, even when winning Cammie’s forgiveness and renovating their love may seem like an impossible build even for a master architect and carpenter.

 

As Cammie finds herself forgetting all the reasons she can’t trust Grey or love again, he finds himself remembering all the reasons he wants her to stay with him in Alabama… forever.

 

Publisher: Southern Born Books, an imprint of Tule Publishing | Genre: Contemporary Romance| Source: Publisher | Rating: DNF

 

I absolutely love second chance romances, so I knew I had to read this one, sadly, it didn’t work for me.

 

Cammie’s returning home after ruining her career as a television chef to help with her family’s event planning business while her mother recuperates. Grey, her high school sweetheart, has been hired to restore Cammie’s family’s home. He’s a widower and single father, and there’s still a spark of chemistry between him and Cammie.

 

Sounds good, right? Even though the book was a little slow and slighty choppy, I was enjoying this one….until it’s revealed that Cammie and Grey broke up because after getting into an argument, Grey gets drunk and sleeps with another woman who ends up pregnant.

 

I was over the book. My gran used to say, ‘once a cheater, always a cheater’ and, for me, a character can’t be redeemed in my eyes after discovering they’re a cheater.

Do cheating characters turn you off a book?

Waiting on Wednesday {33}: Where the Wild Things Bite by Molly Harper

“Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

More yummy craziness from Half-Moon Hollow! YAY! So, I’ve been waiting for Where the Wild Things Bite (love the title!) since reading an excerpt in the back of Molly’s latest release. I’m just addicted to this series. If you like paranormal comedy and romance, this one should definitely be on your To Be Read list.

 

Title: Where the Wild Things Bite

Series: Half-Moon Hollow  #8

Author: Molly Harper

Publisher: Pocket Books

Release Date: 7/26/2016

 

In Molly Harper’s witty new paranormal romance, a rare-book expert is delivering a package to Half Moon Hollow when her plane goes down, and a sexy vampire comes to her rescue. He’s clearly got ulterior motives, but does he want to date her…or devour her?

 

 

Delivering a rare book to a valued customer is definitely part of mild-mannered archivist Anna Whitfield’s job description. You know what isn’t? Protecting her precious cargo from mid-flight theft by the very pilot who is flying her to Half-Moon Hollow…while trying to appear as unappetizing as possible to the only other passenger, a vampire. Undead bookstore owner Jane Jameson could be waiting a very long time for her book. Possibly forever.

 

Fortunately, Anna’s dashing fanged companion Finn Palmeroy helps her fend off the attack, but not before their plane crash lands in the forest hundreds of miles from civilization. Great, now she’s stranded with a priceless tome and a rakish vampire whose bedtime is fast approaching. Why does everyone want this book so badly, anyway? Anna just wants to get it to Jane before Finn decides to turn her into dinner—or sweep her off her feet. Okay, the second option is really tempting. But they’re not out of the woods yet…

 

 

What are you waiting on?

The Best of Miranda by Miranda Hart

Well hello to you, Dear Book Peruser and thank you for your kind interest in my book o'Miranda.

 

Here you will find my favourite six scripts, hand-picked from all three series, with introductions by moi, and some other tit-bits, and silliness. Because no book of this ilk should be without tit-bits and silliness. If nothing else it's fun to say tit-bits. Repeat after me: tit-bits. You're welcome.

 

I hope you enjoy seeing the scripts in their pure written form on the page before they translated to what you have seen on screen. And if you're a lovely young person still at school let me know if your drama teacher ever lets you do an episode for the school play. Nothing would make me happier. Though I bagsy play Miranda.

 

Your favourite, number one bestselling, comedian Miranda Hart is giving you an access-all-areas VIP backstage pass to her award-winning sitcom.

 

Miranda Hart has won bundles of awards, written a bestselling book and completed a sell-out nationwide tour.

 

But it was her award-winning BBC sitcom Miranda which first made her a much-loved household name. Miranda's identifiable and loveable character, unique wit and physical comedy struck a chord with millions making the show a national institution and Miranda the "Queen of Comedy".

Here Miranda gives us an access-all-areas VIP backstage pass to Miranda the sitcom.

 

The Best of Miranda contains the full scripts of Miranda's six favourite episodes (including her original revises and annotations) so that you can, if you wish to, cast your family to re-enact choice moments in your living room. The book also includes Miranda's own account of just what goes in to the process of writing, rehearsing and filming, hilarious gossip from the making of the sitcom, previously unpublished photographs and material which didn't make the final edits.

 

Other extras include recipes for Gary's favourite cakes, cringeworthy childhood photos of our favourite comedian, a step-by-step guide to making your own Fruit Friends and Vegetapals and a Marry Gary Board Game.

 

The Best of Miranda is a beautiful and hilarious book which will delight Miranda's many fans and earn her many new ones.

 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton | Genre: Entertainment, Television Series Tie-In | Source: Purchased | Rating: 4 Cups

About the Author:  Miranda Hart made her mark appearing in shows including Smack the Pony, Absolutely Fabulous and Not Going Out. But when her sitcom Miranda burst on to our screens in 2009, her popularity rocketed. Miranda has since been crowned the Queen of Comedy at the British Comedy Awards and won Best new TV comedy, as well as winning best actress in 2010 and 2011. She has also won three RTS comedy awards and has been nominated for four BAFTAs. Her book Is It Just Me? was the non fiction number one Sunday Times bestseller of Christmas 2012 and to date it has sold over 580,000 copies. In 2014 her stand up show - My, What I Call, Live Show - was a sell-out With the DVD of the show released in November 2014.

 

I absolutely love Miranda. It’s one of my favorite telly shows—too bad it ended. So when I spotted this book, I knew I had to have it.

 

This book is a lovely addition to the series. It contains six of Miranda’s favorite scripts in their original form along with handwritten notes from Miranda, behind the scenes tid-bits, recipes, pictures, and more.

 

I loved getting to read the scripts in their original forms along with the production edits and Miranda’s own notes and learning about what goes on backstage. I also liked seeing how and why Miranda Hart created this series. My only problem with this book that I wanted to see a bit more and would have loved it if they would have had included more scripts.

 

Overall, this is the perfect gift if you’re a Miranda fan.

Do you have a favorite telly show?

Necessary Risk by Tara Wyatt

Trained to protect against all danger, a professional bodyguard can provide all the muscle a woman needs. But when their hearts are on the line, love is the riskiest business . . .

 

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

 

Former child star Sierra Blake is making a stunning Hollywood comeback-and attracting a scary amount of attention. When her home is vandalized and her safety threatened, she knows it's time to bring in the professionals. But from the moment she sets eyes on her indecently sexy new bodyguard, Sierra's thoughts are anything but professional . . .

 

Few things in this world scare Sean Owens-until he realizes he's in serious danger of losing his heart to his new client. No matter how much he wants to, Sean won't let his feelings for the smart and gorgeous Sierra get in the way of doing his job. Because as the attacks against her escalate, crossing the line between business and pleasure could get them both killed.

 

Series: Bodyguard Series #1 | Publisher: Forever | Release Date 2/25/2016: | Genre: Contemporary Romance | Source: Publisher | Rating: DNF

This one caught my attention because I have a thing for bodyguard romances. It’s the whole danger-brings-them-together thing that I find appealing. Although this one just didn’t work for me.

 

So, this one started off on the wrong foot with me. The source of Sierra’s problems stems from her support of Choices—an organization like Planned Parenthood. Nothing turns me off a book more than a character shoving her pro-choice views in my face. Because of this, I couldn’t really connect with Sierra.

 

I tried giving this book a chance, but it wasn’t just the heroine’s pro-choice beliefs that made me disconnect, the book seemed a bit over-described to me. I like a vivid description, it has the potential to bring the book to life, but too much description about every single thing becomes annoying. I also struggled with characters’ over-eager dialogue and actions. Most of the book read like this:

 

He looked up from the police report, anger hardening his features. “They’re messing with you. Trying to scare you.”

 

She took a breath, and her words tumbled out in a rush. “I’d like to hire you, if you—”

 

He cut her off by gently laying a hand on her knee. Warmth radiated outward from where he touched her. “Yes. Absolutely, yes.”

 

Overall, this one wasn’t my cuppa tea. I really wish that her work with Choices would have been mentioned in the blurb because I would have skipped this one.

 

When do you DNF a book?

Waiting on Wednesday {32}: 'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick

 

“Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

I’ll be honest, it was the cover that caught my attention. Although when I noticed it was by Amanda Quick, I knew I needed to read this book. Plus, the synopsis looks intriguing with the heroine receiving creepy little gifts more suited for those in morning rather one who operates a Victorian dating agency.

Title: 'Til Death Do Us Part

Author: Amanda Quick

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: April 19, 2016

 

The author of the New York Times bestseller Garden of Lies returns to Victorian London in an all-new novel of deadly obsession. 

 

 

 Calista Langley operates an exclusive “introduction” agency in Victorian London, catering to respectable ladies and gentlemen who find themselves alone in the world. But now, a dangerously obsessed individual has begun sending her trinkets and gifts suitable only for those in deepest mourning—a black mirror, a funeral wreath, a ring set with black jet stone. Each is engraved with her initials.

 

 

 Desperate for help and fearing that the police will be of no assistance, Calista turns to Trent Hastings, a reclusive author of popular crime novels. Believing that Calista may be taking advantage of his lonely sister, who has become one of her clients, Trent doesn't trust her. Scarred by his past, he's learned to keep his emotions at bay, even as an instant attraction threatens his resolve. 

 But as Trent and Calista comb through files of rejected clients in hopes of identifying her tormentor, it becomes clear that the danger may be coming from Calista's own secret past—and that only her death will satisfy the stalker...

 

What are you waiting on?

Nail Polish Review: Onyx Rush (Maybelline) & Luxe Lace (Sally Hansen)

Brand Name: Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer

Shade Name: Onyx Rush (430)

What it states:

·        Long lasting

·        Chip Free Nail Color

·        Easy-flow brush

Have I used this product before? No

 

Availability: Widely Available

 

Price Range: $2.98-$4.29 (Wal-Mart being the cheapest, CVS being the highest)

 

My thoughts: So, I received this as part of Allure’s fashion panel. I’ve actually never tried Maybelline before so I was eager to give this a go.

 

When I opened the package, the first thing I noticed was the size of the bottle. It’s .23 FL. OZ. (or 7 ml) so it’s a bit smaller than the bottles of polish I normally purchase. The second thing I noticed was the color. I love a good black polish. Black goes with just about anything, so it’s definitely on my Top Ten Polishes to have list.

 

In the bottle, Onyx Rush is a nice deep black. Although to achieve that deep black color on your nails, it requires at least three coats, otherwise it comes off as this charcoal gray color. While this polish does go on smooth and dries super quick, the polish is very thin and runny and tends to drip is you do not wipe the excess off the brush.

 

My problem with this polish was that it wasn’t long lasting or chip free. It started to chip about four hours after applying it. I definitely would recommend using a good top coat over this one.

 

Would I Buy It? Not this particular shade, but I would like to try their Color Show line again to see of the consistency changes or remains thin.

Brand Name: Sally Hansen

Collection: Luxe Lace

Shade Name: Eyelet

What it states:

•Lace fabric--inspired effect

•Wear alone or layer for a unique look

Have I used this product before? No

Availability: Finding this was a bit hit and miss, one store would have it, the another wouldn’t.

Price Range: $4.49-$9.99 (Wal-Mart being the cheapest, Walgreens being the highest, other stores fell in between)

 

My thoughts: Every month, my local Sally Beauty Shop sends out sample boxes and this lovely bottle of Luxe Lace in Eyelet was included. I was intrigued by the fact this was supposed to have a lace fabric effect and eager to give it a go.

 

So, let me start out by saying what this actually is. It’s four sizes of snow-white hexagon glitter in a clear top coat. You can either use it on bare nails (which, I wouldn’t do using the white) or use it over colored polish (I used the black mentioned above).

 

This actually goes on really smooth and I was surprised given the varying sizes of glitter. It also seals in the glitter so it’s not rough. As per the directions on the bottle, I applied two coats, it said 2-3 but I think that would have been a bit much. Honestly, I think 1 coat would probably do me just fine. I did notice that most of the glitter that went on my nails was the mini, small, and medium. There were only two specks of the large, which was fine with me as I feel that the large glitter was a bit too much.

 

I didn’t used a top coat but this definitely has staying power. I had this on for about 9-10 days without the glitter flaking off. One thing I did notice was that instead of chipping, the clear polish started taking on a frosted look.

 

My only problem with this was removal. I tried the standard cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover approach only to end up with bits of cotton stuck to the glitter. The polish underneath came off, but the majority of the glitter stayed on. I ended up having to soak my nails in the remover for about 1-2 minutes to get the glitter off.

 

Overall, I really liked this one. Although it doesn’t really have a lace look, instead it gives off the look of splattered paint, minus the mess.

 

Would I Buy It? Definitely! I’d also like to try the black.

 

Have you tried glitter nail polish?