Book Review: House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A Craig

House of Salt and Sorrows 

by Erin A Craig

Release Date: August 6, 2019

Source: Publisher

Goodreads

In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.

In today's publishing world, it's hard to find books that are truly unique, even in fantasy. I was super intrigued that this one was inspired by the twelve dancing princesses and I couldn't wait to dive in. 

Annaleigh has lived in her family's manor by the sea with her 11 sisters and their father for her entire life. Lately, though, her sisters have been mysteriously dying and Annaleigh knows it's not an accident or suicide. Someone is killing her sisters. Annaleigh sets out to find who did it, even if her father and sisters think she's crazy. When Annaleigh and her sisters find a way to attend the grandest balls and dance all night, Annaleigh isn't so sure the balls are as grand as they seem. Annaleigh has to find out what's really going on before all of her sisters are gone for good. 

From the very beginning, I was sucked into the magical world of the island world of Salt. The sea was everywhere and you could really feel it in the air, no matter where Annaleigh went. I loved the strange magic that was just there and never really explained. New things would pop up and just made sense in this world. I really enjoyed Annaleigh's character and how she interacted with her sisters. Her sisters were such strong characters in this book (some definitely more memorable than others) and I really loved seeing them all together and where they fell in their family hierarchy. 

There was definitely a mystery going on behind the deaths of Annaleigh's sisters and I'm still not sure how I feel about that ending. It was definitely shocking, but it was shocking because the answer was something we had no idea had existed (trying to be as vague as I can to avoid spoilers!). I really don't like books that lead you in a few different directions only to pull an answer that was literally impossible to guess. Other than that, I really enjoyed the mystery and the action that occurred, especially near the end. 

If you love a book with a very strong magical atmosphere, you would love House of Salt and Sorrows. I haven't read anything like this book and really enjoyed the world and mystery the author created.

Book Review: Love At First Like by Hannah Orenstein

Love At First Like

by Hannah Orenstein

Release Date: August 6, 2019

Source: Publisher

Goodreads

Eliza Roth and her sister Sophie co-own a jewelry shop in Brooklyn. One night, after learning of an ex’s engagement, Eliza accidentally posts a photo of herself wearing a diamond ring on that finger to her Instagram account beloved by 100,000 followers. Sales skyrocket, press rolls in, and Eliza learns that her personal life is good for business. So she has a choice: continue the ruse or clear up the misunderstanding. With mounting financial pressure, Eliza sets off to find a fake fiancé.

Fellow entrepreneur Blake seems like the perfect match on paper. And in real life he shows promise, too. He would be perfect, if only Eliza didn’t feel also drawn to someone else. But Blake doesn’t know Eliza is “engaged”; Sophie asks Eliza for an impossible sum of money; and Eliza’s lies start to spiral out of control. She can either stay engaged online or fall in love in real life.

There seem to be more and more books coming out about social media and this one sounded so cute! An accidental engagement announcement? How was our main character going to deal with that one? 

Eliza owns a jewelry shop with her sister and she has everything she's wanted. Except The One. And when her long-time ex-boyfriend gets engaged, Eliza is feeling lower than ever. To cheer herself up, she creates a fake instagram post announcing her engagement. But when Eliza wakes up the next morning, she realizes she accidentally posted that announcement...and now everyone thinks she's engaged. Eliza goes to make everything clear, until she sees how well the business is suddenly doing...because of her post. Can Eliza really find a man to be her fiancé? Or will she have to give up the charade and risk her business? 

In the beginning, this book sounded like such a good idea. I thought Eliza would find a guy to pose as a fiancé and actually fall in love. Instead, I found myself not really liking Eliza and how selfish she was. Most of this book was her trying to get this guy, Blake, to fall in love with her, even though she wasn't really into him. She spent the whole time saying how she felt bad and how she knew that she didn't really like him, she just liked the idea of being married to him. And that was pretty much the plot. There weren't really that many interesting moments and I was bored most of the time. 

I didn't really like Eliza, so it felt to me that she didn't even really change at all throughout the book. There was no growth to her character and I didn't like how other characters just kind of gave way to her throughout the book. The end felt too rushed and it didn't feel realistic at all. 

Overall, this was a huge miss for me. I didn't like the main character and the book was more boring than anything else.

Book Review: Coming Up Roses by Staci Hart

Coming Up Roses 

by Staci Hart
Release Date: August 1, 2019
Source: Author
Goodreads

Everyone hates parts of their job.

Maybe it’s the paperwork. Maybe it’s the day-to-day grind. Maybe it’s that client who never knows what they want, or the guy who always cooks fish in the microwave.

But not me. I love every corner of the Longbourne Flower Shop, every flower, every petal, every stem. I love the greenhouse, and I love Mrs. Bennet, my boss. I love creating, and I love being a florist. I don’t hate anything at all.

Except for Luke Bennet.

The Bennet brothers have come home to help their mom save the flower shop, and Luke is at the helm. His smile tells a tale of lust, loose and easy. He moves with the grace of a predator, feral and wild. A thing unbridled, without rules or constraint. 

When he comes home to save Longbourne, I almost can’t be mad at him. 

Almost.

He doesn’t remember that night I’ll never forget. That kiss, touched with whiskey and fire. It branded me like a red-hot iron. But it meant nothing to him.

Everyone hates part of their job, and I hate Luke Bennet.
Because if I don’t, I’ll fall in love with him.


*Spinoff of The Austen Series

As a huge Pride and Prejudice fan, I was so excited to see that Staci Hart was writing a book inspired by Lydia Bennet. With this gorgeous cover and the fact that it takes place in a flower shop, I couldn't wait to pick up this book. 

Tess has put her heart and soul into working at the flower shop. She's worked there since high school and feels as if Mrs. Bennet is her family. But when Luke Bennet comes waltzing in, ready to save the shop from going out of business with his siblings, Tess is anything but happy. Luke is used to doing whatever he wants and using his charm to get his way, but he hurt Tess in the past and she's not ready to forgive him that easily. 

I have to say, the whole premise of a family trying to save their floral shop was so stinking cute. I loved how everyone in the Bennet family had their own role and Luke could use his skills from his numerous past jobs to help out. It was fun watching them completely redo the flower shop, which forced Tess and Luke to work together, even though Tess hated him. Luke had such a lively personality and it was nice to see him take something seriously and break down Tess's walls. 

I will say, I'm not a huge fan when malicious people are the thing keeping a couple apart. There as an obviously manipulative character that Luke just kept letting affect his decisions and I was really annoyed. And so was Tess. I think Tess having that conversation with him about that person, though, made it less annoying to me. 

Overall, this was a super adorable romance between two people who definitely had some misconceptions about one another. Their relationship was so sweet and I really hope the rest of the Bennet siblings get their own books!

Book Review: Say You Still Love Me by KA Tucker

Say You Still Love Me

by KA Tucker

Release Date: August 6, 2019

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads

Life is a mixed bag for Piper Calloway.

On the one hand, she’s a twenty-nine-year-old VP at her dad’s multibillion-dollar real estate development firm, and living the high single life with her two best friends in a swanky downtown penthouse. On the other hand, she’s considered a pair of sexy legs in a male-dominated world and constantly has to prove her worth. Plus, she’s stuck seeing her narcissistic ex-fiancé—a fellow VP—on the other side of her glass office wall every day.

Things get exponentially more complicated for Piper when she runs into Kyle Miller—the handsome new security guard at Calloway Group Industries, and coincidentally the first love of her life.

The guy she hasn’t seen or heard from since they were summer camp counsellors together. The guy from the wrong side of the tracks. The guy who apparently doesn’t even remember her name.

Piper may be a high-powered businesswoman now, but she soon realizes that her schoolgirl crush is not only alive but stronger than ever, and crippling her concentration. What’s more, despite Kyle’s distant attitude, she’s convinced their reunion isn’t at all coincidental, and that his feelings for her still run deep. And she’s determined to make him admit to them, no matter the consequences.

I have been a long time fan of KA Tucker ever since I discovered her Ten Tiny Breaths series. When I saw this book on Netgalley, I didn't hesitate requesting a copy and reading this second chance romance! 

When Piper was 16, she fell in love with Kyle at camp Wawa. And never saw him again after that summer. Now, as a 29-year-old business women grooming to take over her father's business, Piper is shocked when she runs into Kyle in the lobby of her building. Kyle is their newest security guard. Old memories and emotions come rushing back. Why is Kyle back in her life? Can she really trust him with her heart again? 

From the beginning, I really loved how this book was a dual timeline between when Kyle and Piper first fell in love and when they reconnected years later. Piper then and Piper now were pretty different people, but her feelings for Kyle were definitely the same. I loved how Piper was fighting to prove to people she was just as capable as the men in the company. There was some drama in her company that I did feel was dragged out and a bit anticlimactic, but I enjoyed seeing her dedicate her life to a job she was passionate about. 

This book felt fluffy and fun, but definitely took a more serious, somber turn near the end. I really enjoyed the cast of characters in this book and the people that Piper had surrounded herself with, specifically her friends. This book reminded me to so much of my own teenage summers and spending time away at camps and with friends. Kyle was so adorable and I really wanted to see more of him with Piper in the current timeline. 

If you're looking for a second chance summer read, I would absolutely recommend Say You Still Love Me. You get to watch a couple fall in love as teens and reconnect many years later. There is so much more than the romance here and you won't want to put the book down.

Release Blitz: Coming Up Roses by Staci Hart

Everyone hates part of their job, and I hate Luke Bennet.

Coming Up Roses, an all-new must read enemies to lovers romantic comedy from Staci Hart is available now!

Everyone hates parts of their job.

Maybe it’s the paperwork. Maybe it’s the day-to-day grind. Maybe it’s that client who never knows what they want, or the guy who always cooks fish in the microwave.

But not me. I love every corner of the Longbourne Flower Shop, every flower, every petal, every stem. I love the greenhouse, and I love Mrs. Bennet, my boss. I love creating, and I love being a florist. I don’t hate anything at all.

Except for Luke Bennet.

The Bennet brothers have come home to help their mom save the flower shop, and Luke is at the helm. His smile tells a tale of lust, loose and easy. He moves with the grace of a predator, feral and wild. A thing unbridled, without rules or constraint.

When he comes home to save Longbourne, I almost can’t be mad at him.

Almost.

He doesn’t remember that night I’ll never forget. That kiss, touched with whiskey and fire. It branded me like a red-hot iron. But it meant nothing to him.

Everyone hates part of their job, and I hate Luke Bennet.

Because if I don’t, I’ll fall in love with him.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SLL0ac

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ComingUpRosesSH

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2F2RTOF

About Staci

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey.

From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

Connect with Staci

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2hv5OA5

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

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Website: http://stacihartnovels.com

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Book Review: Defying Gravity by KK Allen

Defying Gravity (Gravity #2)

by KK Allen

Release Date: July 25, 2019

Source: Author

Goodreads

Our greatest risk was the one we never took … 

It was an accidental spring fling three years ago—one week spent in the mountains of Big Sur and no one was the wiser. Ignore the fact that Tobias James was my neighbor and my best friend’s older brother. Or that upon our return his hoop dreams were waiting for him, robbing us of any potential future we could have shared. 

Now, I’m fulfilling my own dreams in L.A. and my biggest dream of all is about to come true. The last thing I expected was for my past and my present to collide.

Not now. Not here. Not him.

But he struts back into my life like he never even left. Unfortunately, I’ll never forget what happened after he did.

The ball is in my court, but Tobias isn’t below stealing—my power, my resolve, my heart… When he wants a second chance to reignite our connection, my answer is simple. We can’t.

Not unless we defy the rules our dreams were built on and risk everything.

I absolutely love sports romances and don't read nearly enough basketball romances. The romance market is saturated with football and hockey romances, so I get excited when I see a new basketball romance to pick up and give a chance! 

When Tobias and Amelia spend Spring Break together, they fall for each other deeper than they ever meant to. The problem? Tobias's sister happens to be Amelia's best friend and she could never betray her. Not to mention their lives are going different places. Three years later, Amelia is finally living in LA and Tobias is living his dream on the court. They're both trying to achieve their dreams, so how could they ever make something together work? 

First off, I would definitely recommend picking up the novella that takes place before this that shows Amelia and Tobias spending that spring break trip together and falling for one another. That gives so much more depth to their relationship and made me care about them as a couple before this book even began. The pacing in this one was definitely unique and spans the time frame of three years. We'll skip weeks, months, and then years because Amelia and Tobias's relationship isn't an easy road. I appreciated the realistic timeline they dealt with when trying to make it work. 

While this does span a few years, I did think that Amelia and Tobias were the ones sabotaging their own relationship. They were the ones saying no because of how other people felt. Then, Tobias made a decision that would put him closer to Amelia, but would also make it impossible for them to be together while having their dreams. I was pretty disappointed with Amelia's final decision at the end because it kind of defeated her whole journey towards chasing her dreams. By the end, I just wanted them to be smarter about what they were doing and stop being the problem in their relationship. 

While I really did love this one in the beginning and enjoyed the added youtube videos to watch that correlated with Amelia's dances, the characters made me frustrated and the pacing at the end kind of dragged. I really wanted to love this more than I did, but I'm definitely intrigued by this world and can't wait to pick up Center of Gravity, which is the first standalone book in this series.

Blog Tour + Review: One Fine Duke by Lenora Bell

One Fine Duke (School for Dukes #3)

by Lenora Bell

Release Date: July 23, 2019

Source: Publisher

Goodreads

Ready.

Raised in the countryside by her overprotective uncle, Miss Mina Penny's dream of a triumphant London season is finally here. She determined her perfect match long ago: Rafe Bentley, the wickedest rake of them all. There's only one very large, very unyielding obstacle: Rafe's brother Andrew, the reclusive Duke of Thorndon.

Aim.

This was supposed to be simple. Duke goes to London. Duke selects suitable bride. Love match? Not a chance. But when Drew meets Mina, she complicates everything. How can a lady armed with such beauty and brains fall for his irresponsible degenerate of a brother? Drew vows to save her from heartbreak and ruin, no matter the cost.

Desire!

But Mina is no damsel in distress. She's daring, intuitive, passionate...and halfway to melting Drew's cold heart. And although Mina thought she knew exactly what she wanted, one breathtakingly seductive kiss from Drew changes everything. Now Mina must decide between long-held dreams and dangerous new desires. Could her true destiny lie in the arms of a duke?

I fell in love with Lenora Bell's writing when I read her Disgraceful Dukes series. I had no idea she had a new series out, so I jumped at the chance to read One Fine Duke!

Mina Penny knows she must find herself a husband, and one of the Dukes her uncle picks out for her is not happening. Mina longs for a life of adventure and espionage, so she knows only a rakish man will give her what she wants. But when Mina ends up dancing with the brother of the man she has set her eyes on, the man her Uncle chose for her, Mina does everything to make herself as undesirable as possible. Too bad that only makes the Duke of Thorndon that much more interested...

When this book started, I absolutely loved Mina's character and how headstrong she was. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and did what she had to to go after it. I loved when Drew and Mina met and the banter that started right away. They were perfect for each other in the ways that they pushed each other to be their better selves and go after what they wanted. 

While this was a romance, there was so much more to the story. I loved how there was a whole world of spies and how Mina had so many cool skills like cracking codes and designing weapons. This definitely picked up the last 100 pages with lots of action and secret espionage. The romance was slow burn with all of this going on, but it was so worth the wait!

If you're a fan of historical romance and haven't picked up a Lenora Bell book yet, what are you doing!? Her books are full of swoon-worthy heroes and strong, bold heroines. Her plots are so engaging and I never want to put her books down.