Book reviews from the week of July 3rd

 

This post is coming to you on a Monday because I traveled to Book Bonanza 2022 in Grapevine, Texas over the weekend.  It was amazing, and wonderful, and exhausting.  I loved every minute of it.  Meeting other readers and author that I love as well as authors that were completely new to me was a fantastic experience.  I have been to other signings.  The scale of Book Bonanza was out of this world. With over 180 authors and more than 20 narrators, this is the first signing where I did not get to meet everyone, even with two days of signing opportunity.  It also had panel discussions with many of the authors.  The ones I attended were some of my best memories of the weekend.  I wish I had taken more pictures but I will do a separate Book Bonanza post with what I have as soon as I get unpacked.

With all that, this post is late, but I managed to read two ARCs and a short story from Amazon First Reads. They all release officially between 7/12 and 8/1 and have preorders available.  I hope my reviews help you determine if you want to add them to your TBR.  I certainly recommend all of them.

Happy reading!

My Scorned Best Friend (Greene Family #7) 

by Piper Rayne

ARC: Release Date- 07/12/2022

#FriendsToLovers #SecondChance #Sports #SmallTown #FamilySeries #ARC

4 STARS

Book seven in the series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  Readers might find it more enjoyable to read the series in order though.  This is a family series with recurring characters and developing relationships that are helpful to understand as the series progresses.  It is written in first person from a dual POV.

I wasn’t sure how Xavier was going to make it right with Clara going into this book.  I had a good idea of what had happened between them to break their friendship.  I knew Xavier would have to redeem himself to win her and me over.  He does a fair amount of appropriate groveling, which I appreciated.  They slowly rebuild their friendship while exploring having their relationship be the “More” that the chemistry between them demands.  They must learn how to make a long-distance relationship work.  It is not easy, but I really appreciated that they put the effort into succeeding together.  I loved Clara and how well she knows herself.  Even though her confidence was shaken, she refuses to compromise her needs and dreams.  She is more forgiving than I would be.  I guess she loves Xavier more than I do.

As always, I love the Greene family, the small-town dynamics, and the grandmas (who never fail to crack me up). I liked reading the flashbacks to their past, especially their childhood.  Those scenes build an understanding of the depth of their friendship and their history together.  I am glad these two have finally worked out their relationship to be exactly where they should have been for a while now.

Signal Moon: A Short Story by Kate Quinn

Amazon First Reads: Release Date- 08/01/2022

#ShortStory #Military #FirstReads

5 STARS

I chose this short story through the Amazon First reads program for July 2022.  This is my first read by this author and now I want ot read more.

This short story is written in third person from a dual perspective.  Lily is a petty office of the Women’s Royal Navy in WWII.  Known as Wrens, these ladies played a huge role in intercepting German communications and sending them to code breaker teams.  In 1943, Lily is on duty when she intercepts communication from the future and hears what happens to a U.S. ship in 2023. Matt is a petty officer in 2023. It is his transmission that Lily hears. It impacts her in such a profound way that she does everything in her power to change the future she heard.

I adored this!

It is a quick read that made me think and makes me want to read more by this author.  The mystical element of communicating across a wormhole in time was fascinating.  I loved the relationship that Lily and Matt build.  They form a friendship, and a mutual respect. If they hadn’t been separated by 80 years, I am certain it would have been more.  Their connection was tangible.  Lily’s character is fierce as she does what she can to change the future she originally heard over her radio.  Matt is brave and persistent in using Lily’s knowledge to make sure the change actually happens.  I loved everything about this story.  Read it.  It only takes an hour or so and you will be afterward.

Pursued (An ABCs of Love Novel) by Andrea Johnston

ARC: Release Date- 07/21/2022

#FriendsToLovers #Stalker #SmallTown #HealingLove #RomanticSuspense #ARC

5 STARS

This novel is part of the ABCs of Love Series.  It is a standalone and ends with a HEA.  It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.

The book begins as Sophia is finishing her senior year of college.  She has acquired a stalker and goes from being an outgoing young woman to someone living in fear.  They meet the first time when Gage is an officer on the scene when something happens to her. Gage is at a crossroads in his life at that time and he makes a decision that will change him and his life forever.

In Part Two, readers pick up three years later where Sophia is still dealing with her stalker and still hiding in fear.  Gage has left a long undercover assignment and evaluating his choices for the future.  Neither one of them are who they used to be.  When they meet again, they form a friendship based on understanding each other in a way no one else can.  Their chemistry and the tenderness they share is palpable.

There is so much to love about this story.  Gage is fiercely protective while recognizing that he is broken and carrying a ton of baggage.  His friendship with Sophia helps him realize how much work he needs to do on himself to heal and how much acceptance of the present is important in his recovery.  Sophia has anxiety and panic attacks, and I could feel it in the writing as she struggles to be as normal as she can be while being stalked for so long.  The mental health aspect of both characters is incredibly important to their story and to their understanding of each other.

This book offers intricately layered characters. I loved both Gage and Sophia so much.  The suspense element of the stalker provides tension and produces a lurking fear. At the climax, Sophia is strong and fierce, and I loved that she was able to be that in that moment.  I adored how Gage made her feel safe.  I loved how she accepted Gage for who he is and loved him completely. Heat, deep emotion, and difficult issues are included in this book, which is my new favorite by this author.

TW: Heroine has a stalker. Mental health issues are explored.