Glimpses Of My Books

The Girl He Used to Know Can you believe is that time of the year again? For the last few years I have been unable to find one favorite book for the year and gave you all one or two choices a month. I will do that this year again, however, there was ONE book (out of 145) that stood out from all the others this year for me. One with a story I could not forget and that I even managed to get non-romance readers to give a try!  *for you with sensitivities, there is a picture of a butt somewhere in this post.... just saying...

Forever and a Duke, Grace Burrowes. Pic by  @glimpses_of_my_books Where to begin? Grace Burrowes is a master of her craft. If historical romance is something you enjoy reading she is one of those authors that can never fail. On top of that, The Rogues and Riches  series happens to be a favorite of mine. Needless to say, I loved the book :)

Spun Out, Lorelei James New York Times  bestselling author Lorelei James returns for another wild ride in Wyoming with a new Blacktop Cowboys® novel.

Wolf Gone Wild, Juliette Cross Will I ever not like a Juliette Cross book? No, no I won't!  Wolf Gone Wild was the perfect mixture of shifter glory, humor and sexiness.  Yes, 'shifter glory' is a thing. Go with it! 

I adored the first book in this series,  The Good Ones   and I was looking forward to The Christmas Keeper.  It wasn't as good as the first, but it still was a pleasurable read and perfect for Christmas!

Another day another Rockstar Romance. Ready?

Renegade by Chantal Fernando New York Times  bestselling author of the Knights of Fury MC series Chantal Fernando is back with trouble in the form of a  renegade  .

Leave me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas. Pic by  @glimpses_of_my_books "From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man series comes a sexy and emotional follow up to her wildly popular standalone romance The Protector. Ryan Willis has spent years in the protection business, a job that requires constant vigilance and quick thinking. His only chance to truly relax is at his secluded cabin in a small town where there are never any surprises. So when Ryan returns after an assignment and encounters a beautiful stranger, he isn't only surprised, he's also instantly intrigued. Hannah Bright is a breath of fresh air, and Ryan is soon completely consumed, unable to stop from falling for her. As the two grow closer, his instinct tells him something is amiss. Yet nothing could prepare him for what he discovers when he starts digging into her past. Hannah spends her days painting, running her arts and crafts store...and hiding too many secrets. ...

Puppy Christmas by Lucy Gilmore I think this is my favorite holiday romance so far. I ended the book feeling good about a life!  Who doesn't want that?

We readers all have our weakness, genres and sub-genres we do not know how to say no to. Rock-Star Romance, Mafia, and Shape-shifters are mine. So needless to say, when Sarah Darlington announced Never Trust a Rockstar  I had to read it. And I am so very glad I did.

Well Met by JenDeluca All's  faire  in love and war There has been a lot of romantic comedies coming out this year and to find one that stands out from the rest is no easy task. Well Met  was a delight to read and I have no doubt this debut author has a long career ahead of her. It did not just stood out, it exceeded all expectations!

Hook by Gina Maxwell Gina Maxwell is a fantastic writer! There hasn't been one book by hers that I have not loved -and I've read a few-. Hook  is the second book in her Neverland series and it is an mm romance, which is absolutely, 100%, not my thing. That alone should be testament to how much I love this woman's work! Simply put: what are you waiting for? Go read her books! 

It is no secret I am a big fun of Helena Hunting and will read anything she writes. A Lie for a Lie was yet another great work by her. A favorite? nope, but it might just be yours. It was a great book.

Faker by Sarah Smith  @glimpses_of_my_books Debut author Sarah Smith nails this fun and sexy multicultural romance where two office foes hammer out their differences to build a love that will last...

And Juliette does it again!  This author is an a roll. If paranormal is your jam, as it is mine, read read read! "It’s just that…sometimes…the past can leave scars that dig too deep. That can never be erased. And so, we have to be content with a half-life once we’ve flown our course and made it through to the other side without burning.” (uncorrected arc quote)

A jilted-at-the-altar bride reunites with her high school sweetheart in Lori Wilde’s sensational new Twilight, Texas Christmas novel.

Another Day, another Christmas book. It's that time of the year!

Do you love small town cowboy romances? Shirley Penick writes some great ones :) Here are some questions my fellow Romance Book Club* Readers asked her this past month (minus the spoiler ones)!  *To join the Book Club go  here

Easy to read romance!  ...but not at all what I hoped for...

Christmas with a Cowboy, Carolyn Brown @glimpses_of_my_books Hello Sunnies :) Can you believe is October already? Christmas themed books have started to come out and here is my first read of the year!  It was exactly what you would expect from a Christmas romance. Sweet, family oriented, whimsical.  Blurb: A rugged Texas cowboy gets into the Christmas spirit to prove himself to the woman he loves in this heartwarming fifth novel of the USA Today bestselling series. Maverick Callahan lives up to his reputation as a freewheeling cowboy. But a year ago he fell head-over-heels for an extraordinary woman he met while on vacation, a woman he was convinced he'd never see again. So when she appears on his doorstep like a Christmas miracle, Maverick is determined not to waste his lucky break. Bridget O'Malley's world has flipped upside down. As the new guardian of her best friend's baby, she hasn't had a moment to think about the Texas rancher who bro...

I will forever have a special place in my heart for Nevernight and Godsgrave. Darkdawn ? Not so much... This last book doesn't even compare in quality to its predecessors.  Nevernight ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Godsgrave ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Darkdawn ⭐️⭐️

Do you remember when cheesy vampire books were popular in the Young Adult world? Well, I don't know if Renee Ahdieh will successfully bring that back or not, but that is exactly what this book was!

I don't even know what to say exactly... my biggest disappointment in 2019 so far...

The Fairy Tale Quartet by Linda Kage is a wonderful adult fairy tale retelling series. Monster Among the Roses  will be my ultimate favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling for a very long time still, if not forever and always! ( Review Here ). Book 2, Kissing the Boss,  a Cinderella retelling, was just as good ( Review Here ). And  now I am happy to say that B & E Ever After  was also a fantastic. I don't know much or like Hansel and Gretel's story, so that is saying something!

How to Catch a Wicked Viscount, Amy Rose Bennett  @glimpses_of_my_books This was my very first book by Amy Rose Bennett and I would imagine that the fact I am already looking forward to the upcoming books in this series says it all!  It wasn't perfect, but I did love it!

Another intense Paranormal romance by the fabulous Gena Showalter! From Gena Showalter, the  New York Times   bestselling author of the Lords of the Underworld saga, comes  Frost and Flame   , the second book in the scorching paranormal romance series Gods of War.

"An unlikely pair take on their pasts together in this endearing contemporary tale of love through emotional hardship. Hazen writes with grace and compassion about life after trauma, smoothly addressing racism, sexual assault, and large-scale disasters without pat answers or platitudes."— Publishers Weekly

I was in a mood for a dark romance this week, so I raided my shelves and these are the books I came up with. I liked them both :)

Helena Hunting never ceases to amaze me. Handle With Care  was yet another fabulous book by this fabulous writer!

YES!!! Another amazing paranormal romance author to add to the list. The Rogue King  was phenomenal in every way and I cannot recommend it enough.

A historical romance for the feminist you didn't know you had in you! The Blurb: They are sworn enemies…  Theodore Prescott the Third, one of Manhattan’s Rogues of Millionaire Row, has really done it this time. The only way to survive his most recent, unspeakably outrageous scandal is marry someone respectable. Someone sensible. Someone like Daisy Swan. Of all the girls in Gilded Age Manhattan, it had to be her. Pretending to be lovers...  Daisy Swan has plans and they do not involve a loveless marriage with anyone. But when a devastating family secret threatens to destroy her standing in society, suddenly a fake engagement with Theo is just the thing to make all her dreams come true. And now it’s time to kiss and make up…  Daisy Swan aspires to sell cosmetics that she has created, but this brainy scientist needs a smooth talking charmer’s flair for words and eye for beauty to make it a success. Before long, Daisy and Theo are trading kisses. And...

I haven't read an Young Adult Romance in a very long time, and considering how picky I am with it, this one was surprisingly good!

This is the right book for you if you enjoy chick lit! 

Don't you just love discovering new authors? It is even better when you absolutely love the book and you know you will be meeting them soon. And this is just the case here :)

I am so so so glad I got this one! It had me laughing and swooning all along! It’s a case of mistaken identities and unmistakable attraction in   New York Times  bestselling author Lynsay Sands’ classic historical romance, previously published as  The Reluctant Reformer!

Stella Williams will be at the store I work at for Bookstore Romance Day , so of-course I had to read her book before hand!

He was sent to guard her body… he didn’t expect her to steal his heart. I have mixed emotions on this one. I liked it, but I also thought it dragged a little at times...

It has been a while since I've read a Mafia Romance, which is sad. It is by far one of my favorite romance sub-genres but with so many arcs coming through my doors -and none being for MR- my love for it has been neglected. I took a break from arcs to read Salvatore  by Natasha Knight and I am so so very glad I did. It was everything I hoped for and more :) 

What is not to love about a well written, funny, and charming historical romance? Blurb: One little wager will determine their fate—a daring escape or falling into temptation with a rakish lord.   Lady Betsy Wilde’s first season was triumphant by any measure, and a duke has proposed—but before marriage, she longs for one last adventure. No gentleman would agree to her scandalous plan—but Lord Jeremy Roden is no gentleman. He offers a wager. If she wins a billiards game, he’ll provide the breeches. If he wins…she is his, for one wild night. But what happens when Jeremy realizes that one night will never be enough? In the most important battle of his life, he’ll have to convince Betsy to say no to the duke. The review: 5 Stars Betsy was an easy character to relate too. She longs to be independent and be able to do and say the same things any other man can. Wearing breeches and bidding at auction houses to name a few. She is determined and brave and unwilling to settle....

This book had been sitting on my kindle for a while, and now that the second one was released - War - I thought it was time to stop procrastinating and read it. I am glad I did :) Blurb: They came to earth—Pestilence, War, Famine, Death—four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all. When Pestilence comes for Sara Burn’s town, one thing is certain: everyone she knows and loves is marked for death. Unless, of course, the angelic-looking horseman is stopped, which is exactly what Sara has in mind when she shoots the unholy beast off his steed. Too bad no one told her Pestilence can’t be killed.  Now the horseman, very much alive and very pissed off, has taken her prisoner, and he’s eager to make her suffer. Only, the longer she’s with him, the more uncertain she is about his true feelings towards her … and hers towards him.  And now,...

Home at Chestnut Creek by Laura drake. Pic by   @glimpses_of_my_books From an award-winning author who "writes real cowboys with heart and soul" (Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author) comes an unforgettable western romance about two strangers who learn that home is where the heart is. . . Blurb: First rule of life on the run: never get attached. Nevada Sweet knows that better than anyone-it's just too dangerous to stay put. And until now, she's never wanted to. But she gets more than she bargained for when she walks into the Chestnut Creek Café looking for a job. Despite the protective wall she's built, her coworker Joseph has her imagining a life she isn't yet convinced she deserves... While Unforgiven, New Mexico has always been home, Joseph "Fishing Eagle" King still feels like an outsider-no matter how much he tries to give back to his Navajo community. Beneath Nevada's biting wit, he glimpses a similar vulnerability. Agai...

The  New York Times  bestselling author of the Marked Men series delivers a romance about a rugged Texas sheriff who must protect the woman who was once his sworn enemy...

Fix Her Up- Tessa Bailey New York Times bestseller Tessa Bailey launches a super sexy new series featuring the blue collar men who work for a HGTV-esq house flipping business.  And its first book is nothing short of perfection! 

I don't read romantic suspense often, but when I do, I always enjoy it. Her Deadly Secrets  kept me entertained and curious about where the story was going next. What else could I ask for? :)

I love Christina Lauren and I never thought I would have to write a review less than positive for one of their books. But, here we are... I both loved it and hated it!

I have not posted a review for a book published this many years ago in a while, and I was almost not going to... but I need to rant. I love V and his book was lacking in so many levels...

Humm.... what to say what to say... I really liked The Friend Zone . A lot of it was relatable, fun, funny, charming... but I can't say it was perfect. "Food was my currency. Hungry was an emotion for me. I felt that shit in my soul."

Yet another great book by the fabulous Jayne Frost! I am so very glad I got introduced to her work last year, every single one of her books is better than the last. It has been a wonderful journey going back and reading her first book in the series and now the last and seeing how much her writing has changed/progressed since than. To say I have fallen in love with her work is an understatement.  So, with that in mind, lets chat Another Sky :)

Paranormal Romance is my weakness, it is not surprising than that I absolutely loved this one. The third book in  the Psy-Changeling Trinity  series delivered as much heat, humour, romance and heart as the previous two books. Cannot recommend enough :)

Another great book by the fabulous Gina Maxwell!  I am only two books away from having read all her stuff. It's a proud moment :)

Another good read provided by  Read Forever Pub ! Some romance, some thriller...

2019, Book 65 My FAVORITE so far! What an amazing read!!!! What else did this amazing writer has out there? I must know!

Never Fall n Love with a Rockstar I have a weakness for Rock Star Romances... So needless to say, there was a good chance I was going to love this from the gecko. And love it I did!!!

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn The romance was beautiful. The rest needed some work...

Apparently Maxym M. Martineau is a debut author... Can all debut authors write fabulous stories like this please? Thanks :) Needless to say----> 5 Stars!!!

I wanted to love it... ...that didn't happen.

How delightful! I laughed, I swooned, I laughed some more... From the  USA Today  bestselling author of  The Kiss Quotient  comes a romantic novel about love that crosses international borders and all boundaries of the heart..

Don't you just love discovering new authors? Read Forever  has been introducing me to quite a few authors since I started working with them through  my instagram  and I love it! :) This week I discovered  Carolyn Brown !  Also, is this the year of cowboy romances and I somehow lost the memo? So many have come out and are still coming out. I didn't even know I liked cowboy romances this much!!!!

“Knowledge always has the potential to be dangerous. It is a more powerful weapon than any sword or spell.” What a delightful read! Margaret Rogerson left me with a smile at the end of   An Enchantment of Ravens   and yet again here. This was a nice sweet read for fans of easy read young adult fantasies. Although very different than  her first book it still carries the same light hearted style of writing. 

Co-parenting with her best friend. What could go wrong? Overall a very sweet read. Kelly Rimmer did a great job!

Maisey Yates is a new author to me and I am happy to say I will be reading from her again. This book was everything I didn't know I wanted. Once I started reading it I could not stop!

Quick read with great potential!

This was not what I was expecting, but not in a bad way. I LOVED the story.  It was sweet and touching and had plenty of steamy moments too.  A good romance book all around!

And Helena Hunting did it again! This fabulous author will never cease to amaze me.  The book was utterly adorable

“April Hunt’s romantic suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat.” New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster   True that! I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. This romantic suspense was perfectly written.

I fell in love with Linda Kage's writing when I was introduced to her work with Monster Among the Roses  - It was AMAZING!  I wanted to love this one too, but I neither loved it or hated it. Some parts were brilliant, others really annoyed me.

Sunnies..... this was ADORABLE! I wanted a fast, sweet and light read last night and that is exactly what I got. Heart of  the Texas Doctor  was all I was looking for and more. I smiled the whole way and went to bed happy. What else can one ask out of a romance novel?

Yet another amazing work by the fabulous Nalini Singh. There was nothing not to love.  Fantastic paranormal world, swoon worthy characters, and a perfect romance!

Christina Lauren is the penname of longtime writing partners Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the New York Times , USA Today , and #1 International bestselling authors of The Beautiful Series, Roomies, and others. I absolutely love their work and so it is unsurprising that I also loved The Unhoneymooners ! It had the perfect blend of humor, romance and drama. Give me more!

Another sweet read by the fabulous Erin! Needing to Love You  was fast paced, charming and the main characters had just the right amount of chemistry.

I am speechless and lost in a tsunami of emotions.  Kathleen Glasgow surprised me and shocked me with  Girl in Pieces , and it is no different here.  Grief sucks Grief stinks There is no happy ending in grief So needless to say (and true to what I now consider Kathleen Glasgow's style), there is no happy ending here either...

Adult content   Greek Mythology meets Romance and Erotica! I wasn't sure what to expect but boy did it delivered. I loved everything about it. “There is no shame in wanting to live inside your favorite stories.”

Adult Content I absolutely love Juliette Cross and it is always a great day when I get to read one of her books.

Did I like The Princess and the Fangirl? Yes I did. Did I like it as much as  Geekerella  ? No way...

Every once is a while you read a book that can be easily described with one word. This is one of those times. Realism  was adorable . Everything about it put a smile on my face.

@glimpses_of_my_books Do you ever go into a book completely blind? I almost never do that these days, specially when it comes to Young Adult books. But... blind into it I went. I read the blurb after I had started the book and I have no regrets. Outside of romance YA Fantasy is a favorite genre of mine and I would have picked this one out regardless.

Hard Loving Cowboy was a wonderful heartfelt story about facing your demons and finding your way. It was emotional, touching, and most importantly: so very romantic! 

4.5 Stars :) Best selling author Grace Burrowes has once again delivered a phenomenal historical romance. When a Duchess Says I Do  was -as the fabulous author Mary Balogh put it- "Smart, sexy, and oh-so romantic". Duncan Wentworth tried to help a damsel in distress once and things did not go well, he promised not to do so again.  Matilda is clever, sweet, and very capable of taking care of herself. But she is in trouble and in need of a 'knight in shinning armor'. She is running away from problems that could destroyed her life and those who discover her secrets.  When their paths cross Duncan can't resist it. His good and honorable heart takes over. He has to help her. I absolutely loved their friendship and courtship. Duncan and Matilda were perfect for each other. Duncan's never ending patience and faith on Matilda is praiseworthy and made their slow burn romance all the more touching. It was absolutely adorable how they talked to eac...

"You can't put the brakes on love..." -Thank you  Harlequin Publicity Team  for the free book-

I have finally caught up with the Text series! It has been a wonderful ride and at least one of the books in the series is likely to make into my end of the year list of favorites.

Day of the Dragon by Katie MacAliste r I feel about this book very close to how I felt towards the other book in this 'series':  Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter. It  was good in some parts, but some things just didn't work...

Every now and than you get on the 'trend' train and regret it. This was one of those instances. For some reason a lot of people loved this book. I can't say I share the sentiment. It was not for me at all.  As I often tell my friends on bookstagram: there is a book for everyone!

This is the best book in the series so far! No offense to all the others but I am all for Robbie...

Just what the doctor recommended :) A light hearted, funny, charming and very well written romantic comedy! A huge thank you goes to my beautiful friend  Megan@watchmereadingnerdy  for the Text series books. Starting the second book straight away.

Hello Hello sunnies! Don't you just love discovering new authors? I most certainly do :)  R.C. Ryan, I am your new fan! A huge thanks to the  Read Forever Team  for providing me with a copy of this book.

Congratulations Juliette Cross on another phenomenal book! Needless to say it, I loved it. The Blurb: The tattooed demoness, Bone, doesn’t like anything except the magical weapons she makes. But she has hidden talents few know about. When I was brought to her near death, she used her Seraph song to manipulate flesh and bone to save me. But she wasn’t happy about it.  Now I must return the favor. Even though she refuses to take sides in the apocalypse, there’s one job she’s not willing to do for the demon prince Rook. If she doesn’t, her head will end up on a spike. Of course, there’s a good chance we’re all going to die anyway, but I will do anything to protect this fierce woman—and not just because she saved me. So now we’re both off to kill a demon—or three—and possibly save the world.   5 Stars I really really love the world Juliette created. It's original, it's exciting, it's enthralling... I was captivated by the story and its sett...