Release Day! Chloe Baker's Lost Date by Katie Wicks ~ My Thoughts #ChloeBakersLostDate @CEMcKenzie1 @WbyWattpadBooks

Happy Release Day!

Chloe Baker's Lost Date by Katie Wicks

Romance, Fiction, Adult, 358 pages

Published May 7, 2024 by W by Wattpad Books

Happiness and happenstance go hand-in-hand in this delightful rom-com from the author of Hazel Fine Sings Along.

Chloe Baker has a brand new life in New York City with a great job but zero dating life. When she agrees to go on a blind date, she’s nervous but excited. But then, Jack is late. Ten minutes. Twenty. Thirty. 

Just when she’s given up all hope, he shows up–and they spend a magical day together. An afternoon at the Met. A walk in Central Park. One amazing kiss. The perfect date.

Chloe’s on cloud nine, and she can’t wait to see Jack again. But when she texts to say thanks for the great date, she doesn’t get the reply she’s expecting. Suddenly, Jack’s unfindable. And Chloe will go to any lengths to figure out what happened–because true love is worth blowing up your life for . . . or is it?

  

My thoughts about Chloe Baker's Lost Date ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"He was late. Late for our date. Five minutes, seven, ten."

Chloe Baker's Lost Date is an entertaining, fun story but I have to be honest, I was a little frustrated with the relationship that Chloe had with 'Jack'. Why couldn't they be on the same page at the same time? So much back and forth. But I guess that's what makes for a compelling story and it definitely made me keep turning the pages. But seriously, get it together guys! 

Putting aside my tiny bit of frustration, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the characters. Some of the predicaments they found themselves in were so much fun to be a part of. And watching the relationship come together and blossom was totally satisfying. 

I've read both of Katie Wick's novels and love them both. Chloe Baker's Lost Love was the perfect escape read that I needed right now. I highly recommend it for a fun, summer read. 

I received a copy of Chloe Baker's Lost Date via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Katie Wicks was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, where she now lives and writes full-time. An amateur guitar and tennis player, Katie has been obsessed with reality TV singing competitions since American Idol debuted twenty-years ago but has never worked up the courage to audition herself. Hazel Fine Sings Along is Katie’s debut novel.

Katie Wicks is also the pen name for USA Today bestselling novelist Catherine McKenzie. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Katie

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Release Day! Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews ~ My Thoughts #SummersAtTheSaint @mkayandrews @StMartinsPress

Happy Release Day!

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

Women's Fiction, Mystery, 448 pages

Published May 7, 2024 by St. Martin's Press

Welcome to the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper. . . .

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help—including the daughter of her estranged best friend—Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way. Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s warmth, humor, knack for twists, and eye for delicious detail about human nature, Summers at the Saint is a beach read with depth and heart.

  

My thoughts about Summers at the Saint ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"The first time Traci Eddings saw the Saint she was six or seven."

Summers at the Saint is another perfect summer read from one of my favorite authors. There was just enough romance with plenty of drama, suspense, and danger to keep me turning the pages. And the cast of characters was outstanding!

Traci has her hands full, trying to maintain the family property after her husbands death, keeping the customers happy, dealing with problem staff, and wanting a childhood friendship to be the way it used to be. So many secrets and drama to unravel!

I always get so caught up in MKA's novels, so much that I never want to leave. Summers at the Saint is no exception. I loved my stay at the Saint and the people I met. I didn't want to leave, I didn't want the story to end. I love this story and highly recommend it. You really need to add it to your summer reading list!

I received a copy of Summers at the Saint via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Mary Kay Andrews is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels (including The Homewreckers, The Santa Suit, The Newcomer; Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia. After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.

Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by twelve more New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.

She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in two restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide—both named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and both available to rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses.  ~ Goodreads

Connect with Mary Kay

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? May 6, 2024 #IMWAYR

         

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

The Girl with Three Birthdays

by Patti Eddington

print ARC from publisher

Pub date ~ May 7

Daughter of a Promise

by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg

print ARC from publisher

Published ~ April 2024

What I recently finished

Chloe Baker's Lost Date

by Katie Wicks

eARC from NetGalley

Pub date ~ May 7

Summers at the Saint

by Mary Kay Andrews

eARC from NetGalley

Pub date ~ May 7

Fires to Come

(Amazon Blaze Collection)

by Asha Lemmie

audio-book from my collection

Published February 2024

What I am going to read next

Life, Loss, and Puffins

by Catherine Ryan Hyde

eARC from NetGalley

Pub date ~ May 14

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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A Heart Like Home by Christine Nolfi ~ My Thoughts #AHeartLikeHome @christinenolfi @LUAuthors

A Heart Like Home by Christine Nolfi

Fiction, Contemporary, 319 pages

Published April 16, 2024 by Lake Union Publishing

Finding family is a journey of love, risk, secrets, and healing in a powerful novel by the bestselling author of A Brighter Flame, The Passing Storm, and The Road She Left Behind.

When Nova Doubeck is asked to foster two children, she can’t say no. With her own childhood wounds healed by adoptive parents, Nova understands the rewards of a caring guardian―even an impermanent one. But nine-year-old Henry and his seven-year-old sister, Bella, are more than Nova bargained for.

Combative Henry is at risk of becoming like his abusive father, Egan Croy. Timid Bella, clutching a tin box of treasures, cowers at the slightest noise. Yet Nova gradually earns their trust and affection as they bring unexpected love and joy to her guarded life. Now she can’t help but wonder: How will she stop her heart from breaking when the time comes to say goodbye?

As Egan aggressively battles to regain control over the children, Nova’s protective instincts prove just as fierce. In fighting to save Henry and Bella, she’ll unlock the secrets hidden in their past―and learn more about herself and the true meaning of family than anyone imagined.

  

My thoughts about A Heart Like Home ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"Spring 1982 - Lights of red and blue flashed through the living room curtains and leaped into the ceiling. Bella's heart jumped."

Oh my gosh! I love this book so much! First of all—Christine Nolfi—when have I never loved her stories? Secondly, this book has a cover that drew me in before I even started reading. It's dark and ominous while also feeling like it's full of love and hope.

I immediately fell for Henry and Bella and just wanted to take care of them, especially that little Bella. What a sweet little person she is. Henry has his good qualities too, it just took Nova some time to break through his shell.

And then there is Nova, living her damaged life, trying to make things a little better for these two little people. No one knew how intertwined their lives were and would become. The hands of fate are very strong in some cases. 

This is a story with plenty of drama and suspense, balanced with plenty of love, compassion, and healing. I've love all of Christine's stories and this one is over the top good. I highly recommend A Heart Like Home for a beautiful story that will fill up your heart. 

I received a copy of A Heart Like Home via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Christine Nolfi is the award-winning and bestselling author of fifteen novels, including The Passing Storm, cited by Publishers Weekly as “Tautly plotted, expertly characterized, and genuinely riveting” and gold medal winner in general fiction, International Book Awards. Look for Christine’s 2022 release, A Brighter Flame.

Other works include The Road She Left Behind, a top book club pick by Working Mother and Parade magazines, and the award-winning Sweet Lake Series: Sweet Lake, The Comfort of Secrets, and The Season of Silver Linings.

Earlier works include Second Chance Grill, highly recommended by The Midwest Book Review and Treasure Me, recognized by the Next Generation Indie Awards and Put Your Heart in a Book Awards. The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge was cited by The Midwest Book Review as “Poignant and powerful, as much a saga of learning to survive, heal, and forgive as it is a chilling crime story, unforgettable to the very end.”

A native of Ohio, Christine now resides in South Carolina with her husband and their crazy wheaten terrier, Lucy. For more information, visit www.christinenolfi.com ~ Goodreads

Connect with Christine

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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This OR That #Giveaway № 147! The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers OR Under the Java Moon by Heather B. Moore #TheStarAndTheStrangeMoon #UnderTheJavaMoon

 

I have sooooo many books!

The This or That Giveaway! feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to cull my collection and to share some of the many books I have. I get to clear off some of my shelves to make room for more books and give someone else the chance to enjoy these treasures.

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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The Star and the Strange Moon

by Constance Sayers

ARC ~ Published November 2023

Read my thoughts here

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the author of A Witch in Time comes a haunting tale of ambition, obsession, and the eternal mystery and magic of film.

1968: Actress Gemma Turner once dreamed of stardom. Unfortunately, she’s on the cusp of slipping into obscurity. When she’s offered the lead in a radical new horror film, Gemma believes her luck has finally changed. But L’Etrange Lune’s set is not what she expected. The director is eccentric, and the script doesn’t make sense.

Gemma is determined to make this work. It’s her last chance to achieve her dream—but that dream is about to derail her life. One night, between the shadows of an alleyway, Gemma disappears on set and is never seen again. Yet, Gemma is still alive. She’s been transported into the film and the script—and the monsters within it—are coming to life. She must play her role perfectly if she hopes to survive.

2015: Gemma Turner’s disappearance is one of film history’s greatest mysteries—one that’s haunted film student Christopher Kent ever since he saw his first screening of L’Etrange Lune. The screenings only happen once a decade and each time there is new, impossible footage of Gemma long after she vanished. Desperate to discover the truth, Christopher risks losing himself. He’ll have to outrun the cursed legacy of the film—or become trapped by it forever.

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Under the Java Moon

by Heather B. Moore

ARC ~ Published September 2023

Read my thoughts here

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Based on a true story, this gripping WWII novel captures the resilience, hope, and courage of a Dutch family who is separated during the war when the Japanese occupy the Dutch East Indies.

Java Island, 1941

Six-year-old Rita Vischer cowers in her family’s dug-out bomb shelter, listening to the sirens and waiting for a bomb to fall. Her charmed life on Java—living with other Dutch families—had always been peaceful, but when Holland declares war on Japan and the Japanese army invades Indonesia, Rita’s family is forced to relocate to a POW camp, and Rita must help care for her little brother, Georgie.

Mary Vischer is three months pregnant when she enters the Tjident women’s camp with thousands of other women and children. Her husband, George, is somewhere on the Java Sea with the Dutch Navy, so she must care alone for her young children, Rita and Georgie, and her frail mother. The brutal conditions of the overcrowded camp make starvation, malaria, and dysentery a grim reality. Mary must do everything she can to keep her family alive.

George Vischer survives the bombing of his minesweeper but feels little hope floating on a small dinghy in the Java Sea. Reaching the northern tip of the Thousand Island would be a miracle. Focusing on the love of his life, Mary, and his two children, he battles against the sea and merciless sun. He’ll do whatever it takes to close the divide between him and his family, even if it means risking being captured by the Japanese.

Under the Java Moon highlights a little-known part of WWII history and the impact of war on Indonesia, its people, and the more than 100,000 Dutch men, women, and children who were funneled into prison camps and faced with the ultimate fight for survival.

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