Sandpiper Shore by Debbie Mason

Jenna Bell loves her job as a wedding planner and loves a happy ever after even more. Until the day she meets with her newest client and discovers that the bride's fiancé is the man she's had a crush on for years. But she knows the #1 work rule: Never fall in love with the groom.

Secret Service Agent Logan Gallagher arrives at Tie the Knot to make plans with his bride-to-be. But coming face to face with Jenna after all these years brings back feelings that he's fought long and hard to forget. Does his attraction to Jenna mean that he's about to make the biggest mistake of his life?

 

Series: Harmony Harbor #6 | Publisher: Forever | Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source:  Publisher | Rating: 3.5 Cups

Challenges Read For:  Literary Pickers  Engagement Ring

 

Why have I missed so many Harmony Harbor books? I really need to remedy that ASAP.

 

Logan and Jenna…oh my, so many things went wrong. So many things…I was starting to wondering if they would ever catch a break but, no matter what happened, they were there for each other. And they were such a perfect fit.

 

Here’s what’s going on. After realizing her fiancé was a conman, Jenna starts doubting happily ever afters. Although when Logan Gallagher becomes her knight in shining armor, she soon realizes that he’s her one and only. There’s just a few small problems standing in the way, the first being Logan’s not looking for a committed relationship, the second being he has somehow become mysteriously engaged. Now Jenna has to figure out what’s going on before she gives away her fantasy wedding—and groom—to another woman.

 

I really enjoyed diving back into a Debbie Mason romance. When I pick up one of her books, I know I’m in for a treat and Sandpiper Shore did not disappoint.

 

Oh, Jenna, I felt so bad for her. She’s been dealt a rather lousy hand but rather adopting a woe is me attitude, she starts fighting for what she wants. I loved seeing that given that she’s not as loud as some of the other heroines. I couldn’t help but like Logan. He put up a good fight but Jenna won him over. There were a few times I wanted to shake him but, for the most part, he was a good guy, even though I had to question some of his questions in the last few chapters.

 

The romance was brilliant. I enjoyed watching the way Logan and Jenna figured out their feelings for each other. They had a ton of bumps in the road but they eventually got it right.

 

I do want to say that while Logan does end up engaged to another woman, it’s not what it seems—keep in mind he is a secret service agent.

 

I love how this was tinged with just the right amount of suspense. I knew what was going on but, at times, it kept me on my toes.

 

My only problem with this one was how much was going on. It sort of felt like it drew inspiration from Murphey’s Law, and I’m not saying all this crazy couldn’t happen to one person but I think it would have been a bit smoother if a few of the incidents would have been left out.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this one. I jumped headfirst into the sixth book of the series and found myself drawn in by the romance, suspense, and the paranormal aspect.

Mini Blog Ahead Starts Today!

Anna over @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup is hosting another mini blog ahead and I’m in desperate need of it because, frankly, 2018 has been a time suck.

Timeframe: June 22^nd -July 6^th

The Goal is to add 15 extra scheduled posts.

I have 3 scheduled posts—but I’m hoping to end with at least 20 extras.

I’m hoping to finally tackle some discussion posts I’ve been wanting to write, some leftover book reviews, and a few diy posts. There’s also a few memes that I’ve been wanting to participate in.

So, here’s hoping that this mini Blog Ahead will help me find my blogging groove again.

Almost Jamie by Gina Robinson

One lonely doctor. One sexy guy in a kilt. No, not that Jamie…but almost.

 

Fresh from London, Blair Edwards is Seattle’s newest cancer doctor. She’s been burned by love before, but that isn’t stopping her from looking for the kind of passion she sees in Jamie, the dashing Highland laird of a wildly popular TV series.

Austin MacDougall is a charming cosplaying Seattle millionaire. After a little help from his matchmaker, he’s a reformed geek who looks hot in a kilt. So hot, in fact, that he’s often mistaken for the actor who plays Jamie. But that still hasn’t found him love.

A chance meeting at Jet City Comicon and a twist forces them to play lookalikes for TV's most popular Scottish Highlander and his lady.

Series: Jet City Kilts #1  | Source: Amazon Freebie  | Rating: 1 Cup

Challenges Read For:   Literary Pickers : Costume

 

Why did I read this? Because the struggle of Droughtlander is real, people, and it was a freebie.

 

I thought this one was going to be a Finding Fraser or Looking for Captain Poldark type of read instead it was like viewing Outlander—book, show, and behind the scenes of the show—through a funhouse mirror while at Comic-Con.

 

The book mirrors the Outlander universe. There’s stones, and tealeaf readings with odd romantic prophesies, a heroine rescued by a man wearing a full Highland rig from said hero’s nemesis named ‘Randy’, a daring red dress, and a show/book series named ‘Jamie’ that features a handsome highlander and his feisty leading lady. There’s also a swirl of rumors about the actors of the show ‘Jamie’.

 

While it definitely wasn’t original, it made for a light, entertaining read until it came to an abrupt ending with the characters only having met twice and those two dreaded words, ‘Next  Up’. Turns out, what I thought was a complete romance WAS A BLOODY SERIAL.  Yeah, I’m not paying a total of $14.97 for the other three parts of this book.

 

Overall, this was a bloody waste of time. This is what lands authors on my Never Again list.

What are your thoughts on serials?

How to Date Your Dragon by Molly Harper

Concerned that technology is about to creatures out into the open (how long can Sasquatch stay hidden from Google maps?), the League for Interspecies Cooperation is sending Jillian to Louisiana on a fact-finding mission. While the League hopes to hold on to secrecy for a little bit longer, they're preparing for the worst in terms of human reactions. They need a plan, so they look to Mystic Bayou, a tiny town hidden in the swamp where humans and supernatural residents have been living in harmony for generations. Mermaids and gator shifters swim in the bayou. Spirit bottles light the front porches after twilight. Dragons light the fires under crayfish pots.  

Jillian's first assignment for the League could be her last. Mystic Bayou is wary of outsiders, and she has difficulty getting locals to talk to her. And she can't get the gruff town sheriff, Bael Boone, off of her back or out of her mind. Bael is the finest male specimen she's seen in a long time, even though he might not be human. Soon their flirtation is hotter than a dragon's breath, which Bael just might turn out to be....

Series: Mystic Bayou #1 | Publisher: Audible | Narrators: Amanda Ronconi & Jonathan Davis | Length: 6 hrs 33 min | Genre: Paranormal Romance | Source: Publisher | Rating: 4.5 Cups 

Challenges Read For:  Literary Pickers: Specialty Tea or Coffee

 

I’m not going to lie, I get a little giddy when a new Molly Harper book comes out so I was ecstatic when I received an audio copy of How to Date Your Dragon.

 

This is the first book in her new Mystic Bayou series but, don’t fear, it still has that charming Molly Harper snark, which I can’t seem to get enough of.

 

Here’s what’s happening. When the League for Interspecies Cooperation sends Jillian Ramsay to the small town of Mystic Bayou, Louisiana to observe how the human and supernaturals have been living in harmony, Jillian discovers more than she’s counted on. Namely, the town’s sexy but gruff sheriff. As Jillian starts feeling more comfortable in town and more turned on by the sexy sheriff, whose supernatural being she can’t seem to identify, things take a creepy turn when a few of the residents she’s spoken with turns up dead.

 

Okay, so *cue the happy little Snoopy dance* lol. I loved this one.

 

Jillian and Beal were such fun. I think they’ve edged their way into being on my top five list of favorite Molly Harper characters. They were such a hoot and I loved their snarky banter.

 

The residents of Mystic Bayou were the classic mix of zany and snarky that makes them rather endearing.

 

So, there was a mystery aspect in this book and, while I found it entertaining, I had the who and why figured out pretty much from the start. But don’t let the easy whodunit dissuade you from devouring this novel.

 

Amanda Ronconi (always a delight to listen to) and Jonathan Davis were brilliant at bringing the characters to life. There was a bit of an audio problem with the first copy but that has now been fixed so it’s good to go.

 

Overall, such a great start to a new series and I’m looking forward to the next book, which I believe will be Zed’s story (yay!).

Mystic Bayou Series

#1 How to Date Your Dragon

#2 Love and Other Wild Things

#2.5 Even Tree Nymphs Get the Blues 

#3 Selkies are a Girl’s Best Friend  

Boxy Charm April Box Review

In each box you will receive 4 to 5 full-size beauty items ranging from makeup to skincare, beauty tools to color cosmetics and each box has a value of $100 and up. Brands range from emerging to established, and you're guaranteed to find a few new favorites in each box.

 

Subscription Price: $21/month (Free US Shipping)

 

I’ve been hearing so many people rave about Boxy Charm and for $21 a month for 4-5 full-size products (one of which is usually an eyeshadow palette), I decided to give it a go. So, I filled out a lengthy beauty survey then waited for my first box to arrive.

 

While I was waiting for my box, I spotted a teaser on Instagram saying that the April boxes would include 1of 5 ColourPop eyeshadow palettes. That was great; I’d heard good things about their eyeshadows, so I was thrilled. Then I spotted the My Little Pony (yes, you read that right) eyeshadow palette—honestly, I don’t know any adult that would want a My Little Pony eyeshadow palette. Thankfully, I didn’t received that one.

 

I was rather disappointed with what I did receive. Not only will I not use three of the five products I received, two were in the wrong shade and one I’m allergic to. I specifically marked no cleaners or peels because my skin is way too sensitive for these types of products.

 

I do like the lipstick—it’s not something I would normally buy just because it feels more like a gloss than a liquid lipstick but I like the shade. The eyeshadow palette is nice but a bit bolder and more sparkly than I normally wear. So, it’s not a palette I would use on it’s own but rather layer a few of the shades with something I already have.

 

Here’s what I received in my April box: (Prices found on product’s website)

Adesse in Haute Cocoa (liquid lipstick) $24

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner (pore purifying mask) $42

ColourPop Eyeshadow in Element of Surprise $16

Tarte Tarteist Pro Glow in Stunner (highlighter) $29

The BrowGal Tinted Eyebrow Gel in Light Hair $22

 

Total of Products I received according to product’s website $133

Total of Products I received according to Boxy Charm card $138 (they marked up the Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner by a few dollars)

 

Overall: While paying $21 for $133 worth of makeup/beauty products seems like a good deal on paper, I will only use 2 out of the 5 products I received. This one just seemed like it was curated for teens rather than adults. I’m not into the sparkly highlighted look.

 

Apparently, I’m the odd one out because this one was definitely a cancel. 3 out 5 were products I said I didn't want and never used. And they obviously paid no attention to the fact I ticked the box saying I had dark brown hair because they sent me brow gel (which I never use) for light hair.

 

So, out of 5 products, I’ll only use the lipstick and a few of the eyeshadows.

Other Subscription Box Reviews: 

Julep Beauty Box

Times Change by Nora Roberts

Twenty-third century cynic Jacob Hornblower followed his brother Caleb into the past, determined to bring him home. But when Jacob meets Sunny Stone, he suddenly loses track of his mission, and begins to wonder if all of his opinions about love are wrong.

 

Series: Time and Again, Book 2 | Publisher: Brilliance Audio | Narrator: Luke Daniels | Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins | Genre: Time Travel Romance/ Sci-Fi | Source: Purchased | Ratings: 1.5 Cups

Challenges Read For: All About the Trope  Forced Proximity -  Literary Pickers  Shuttle/Small Space Ship - Reading Through Nora Roberts 

 

Apparently, this series isn’t my cup of tea. Time Was, which was the first book, didn’t thrill me and, sadly, Times Change pretty much bored me.

 

Here’s what’s going on. Jacob Hornblower’s on mission to bring his brother back to the twenty-third century but he when arrives in the past and ends up spending a few weeks with Sunny Stone he finds himself falling for the sister of the woman he believes trapped his brother.

 

I really struggled with this one. I pretty much had to force myself to finish this one and it seemed to take forever.

 

I wasn’t overly fond of Jacob or Sunny. Rather than being one of those cocky yet lovable alpha male types, he was over the top and just plain annoying. Sunny was just too unsettle and unfocused for me. Together they were just annoying. It was a constant argument. Not only was Jacob fighting his feelings for Sunny, he was determined to fight with Sunny every time he opened his mouth. And Sunny was just bent on claiming Jacob as her own.

 

Overall, I just couldn’t get into this one. The characters were annoying, the romance lacked believability, and the plot was predictable.

Time and Again Series

Time Was

Times Change

The Child in Time (Movie Review)

Adapted from Ian McEwan’s Whitbread Prize winning novel, and directed by Julian Farino (The Newsroom, Entourage), The Child In Time is a lyrical and heart-breaking exploration of love, loss and the power of things unseen.

 

Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, Parade’s End) stars as Stephen Lewis, a successful writer of children’s books, who is confronted with the unthinkable: the loss of a child.

 

With tenderness and insight, the film explores the dark territory of a marriage devastated by the loss of a child. Kate’s absence sets Stephen and his wife on diverging paths as both struggle with an all-consuming grief. With the passage of time, a balance of sorts returns, until hope surfaces and triumphs unexpectedly.

 

So, this was part of review package I received from PBS and I was immediately intrigued when I noticed it starred Benedict Cumberbatch, but I was also a bit hesitant because, honestly, his movies can go either way for me. It was pretty much the same with Kelly Macdonald.

Here’s what the film’s about. When Stephen Lewis loses his young daughter in a grocery store, he and his wife are thrown into a tailspin of grief. As the years tick on, he and his wife bounce back and forth searching for a bit of hope until they find it in an unexpected way.

Okay, so I spent the majority of this movie wondering why a father would deem it fit to let their three-year-old daughter wonder to the front of the grocery store by the doors while they were still at the cash register ringing up and paying for their groceries. Seriously, you would leave your crap and go get your kid.

I wasn’t impressed with this one. It sort of felt like this was one of those movies that kept going but didn’t go anywhere. I think I was expecting something different more along the lines of a mystery type rather than what felt like an odd study of human emotions.

Mixed in with the anguish and guilt is a side story involving the mental breakdown of Stephen’s editor as well as what I can only describe as a bit of woo-woo involving a place Stephen had thought he had been before but had only been there in utero. Yeah, like I said, it was an odd movie.

This was one of those come to your own conclusion movies as nothing about Kate’s disappearance is addresses. I have my own thoughts regarding what happened and that’s all I’m going to have.

Overall, this was 90 minutes I’ll never get back. I had intended to read the book this was based on but that’s not going to happen now for fear of wasting more of my time.

What’s the last movie or show you’ve enjoyed?

Lone Wolf (Shifters Unbound #4.6) By Jennifer Ashley

 

Ellison Rowe, a Lupine Shifter, makes it his goal to protect Maria, once held captive by ferals, from male Shifters looking for mates. He likes Maria's resilience and fire, but she's been broken, and Ellison wants more than anything to heal her. When a new danger threatens Shiftertown's cubs, Maria partners with Ellison to stop a cold-blooded criminal.

 

Series: Shifters Unbound #4.6 | Publisher: Penguin | Genre:  Paranormal Romance | Source: Purchased | Rating: 4 Cups

Challenges Read For: Literary Pickers  - Motorcycle

 

I’m finally working my way through the Shifters Unbound books that I’ve missed and I’m enjoying every minute of it. This one is Ellison and Maria’s story and I couldn’t put it down.

 

I loved Ellison and Maria together. She’s been through so much having been held captive by a pack of feral shifters so, even though Ellison’s attracted to her, he’s been holding back allowing her to get comfortable around him. Although when Broderick starts sniffing around Maria and threatening to claim her as his mate, Ellison’s not about to let that happen. And now that there’s a group of criminals kidnapping their cubs, Ellison and Maria find themselves growing closer as they work together to bring down the kidnappers.

 

Ellison has to be one of my favorites. He knows what he wants but he also knows that he needs to let Maria heal before making his move. Ellison is also dealing with his sister, Deni, who has been having bouts of going feral after having been hit by car. So, he’s got a lot going on but he’s always there for Maria and she knows she can turn to him. And I have to say, he had some adorable moments while figuring out how to handle his relationship with Maria.

 

Maria’s a tough cookie. She’s broken and unsure but she ready to step up and fight for the cubs and I have to admire her fighting spirit. She’s also willing to let others in and I like that she hasn’t cut herself off from other people.

 

Okay, so I’m probably the only person who will admit this, but I like Broderick. It could be because I’ve already read his story but, I can’t help it, I like him.  Yes, he’s a bit of a wanker most of the time but there’s just something about him. When he pops up in a book, I know something interesting is going to happen.

 

Overall, another great novella in this amazing series. The pacing was the spot on and the characters were fleshed-out. And it gave just enough information on Deni to make me want to pick up her story.

Shifters Unbound Series

Shifter Made #0.5 novella 

Pride Mates #1

Primal Bonds #2

Bodyguard #2.5 novella

Wild Cat #3 

Hard Mated #3.5 novella

Mate Claimed #4 

Perfect Mate  #4.5 novella

Lone Wolf  #4.6 novella

Tiger Magic #5 

Feral Heat  #5.5  novella

Wild Wolf  #6

Bear Attraction #6.5 novella

Mate Bond #7 

Lion Eyes #7.25 novella

Bad Wolf #7.5 novella

Wild Things #7.75 novella

White Tiger #8

Guardian's Mate #9 

Red Wolf  #10

Midnight Wolf  #11

Tiger Striped #11.5 novella