tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65283953657712638642024-03-28T14:39:28.246-04:00We Live and Breathe BooksSharing our love of books since 2013Kiersten Kozbialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00538943081866009856noreply@blogger.comBlogger2209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-41799242912066209972024-03-28T03:00:00.065-04:002024-03-28T03:00:00.455-04:00In a Nutshell Reviews
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNJEWcKOJRnaIDSSdT4k9vuJ2P4-t-d_0gURDzTs46RS9v3zy80RJpWRkS2mfqf61I69j8cOj8Rb_b4zSeLYE7DK0CPvBNzS4izguSCRlJF5Tzwu2G5BybeU-f175JnDmarPz9r6nEl6neRoDVrYm4wZF6vPniCqpSObebr_hrSyLkJvvSLqDt58QTRuK/s393/Welcome%20Home%20Caroline%20Kline.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNJEWcKOJRnaIDSSdT4k9vuJ2P4-t-d_0gURDzTs46RS9v3zy80RJpWRkS2mfqf61I69j8cOj8Rb_b4zSeLYE7DK0CPvBNzS4izguSCRlJF5Tzwu2G5BybeU-f175JnDmarPz9r6nEl6neRoDVrYm4wZF6vPniCqpSObebr_hrSyLkJvvSLqDt58QTRuK/s320/Welcome%20Home%20Caroline%20Kline.png" width="208" /></a></div><br />Welcome Home, Caroline Kline</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Courtney Preiss</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> G.P. Putnam's Sons on April 16, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1XY0Orgp89DxyYzC-Kq3RAAIq6_2sJcVVVCoM_N7IiW3CvFS1g15bmIdBFfJINSoB9V_79DfynBHqYTdJ3LKA0nKsvxZDN34-tBKs7liYQMyPi9JQTu2f-EgSwWhnz2rSMuz-hj4NLiRLwWk8PFwr0JAckpqz29v7dg3Um5Oy-zGXd69lvFSeT1I1Q/s1600/four-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152948970-welcome-home-caroline-kline" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">A young woman's reluctant return to her Jersey Shore hometown gives her the second chance she didn’t know she needed.
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In New York City, newly single Caroline Kline is stumbling her way through the recent implosion of her life. After a surprise breakup leaves her with no job, no apartment, and no backup plan, she’s unsure what to do next. That is, until her father, Leo, injures himself in a bad fall and asks her to move home to the Jersey Shore suburb she was always desperate to escape. But Leo doesn’t want his daughter to be his caretaker; he needs her to replace him as third baseman in his local men’s softball league. This isn’t just any season, he claims. This is the year they have a real shot at the World Series, the pride and joy of Glen Brook, New Jersey.
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Caroline agrees to move home, concerned that Leo is hiding a more serious health condition than he’s willing to admit. As the first female player in a league full of old-school men, she’s up against more than a few challenges. And when a night gone wrong lands her in the path of her hometown crush—and first love—Caroline struggles to reconcile the life she thought she’d have with the life she might actually want.</span>
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<p>Caroline couldn't wait to escape her New Jersey hometown. But while she was jobless, homeless, and loveless, Caroline was summoned home to help her father as he healed from a fall. Little did she know that the place she had been running from would be a place of healing and clarity for her.
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Look, you are going to judge Caroline. I judged Caroline. I just couldn't help it. Every time she made some forward progress, she seemed to slip back into her self destructive ways. But have patience with her. Some people need more time to realize what they really want or need, and well in this story, Caroline is "some people".
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Though this story focused on Caroline's personal struggles, it was rather funny. I found the book to be packed with lots of humor. I laughed often as I hoped Caroline would make better decisions. Lo and behold, some of her poor decisions actually led to better things.
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Take her DUI, that led to a reunion with her first and unrequited love, Crispin. I liked his character and thought he was someone who could be a positive part of Caroline's life. I was very invested in those two and had high hopes for their future. </p><p>I also enjoyed the softball stuff. Caroline got special permission to take her father's place in the men's league. She had to deal with some very toxic men but let her talent as a ball player do all the talking. I really liked the progress she made out on the field, and there were lots of fun moments captured, too.
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Can I talk about the setting? It's rare that I read a book set in NJ, and this story actually took place in an area I am familiar with. I remember seeing my first Stone Pony show back in 1991 (I believe) and tooling around adorable Ocean Grove with my daughter before the Jonas Brothers show back in 2007. Ah, a nice walk down memory lane and a fun setting for Caroline's (mis)adventures.
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Overall, I appreciated Caroline's struggles, and though her journey was far from a straight line, I was so proud of her when she finally reached that point of realization that allowed her to commit to positive changes in her life.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;"><span style="background-color: initial; color: #bc0151; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER</span></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSYCl4S32eK89R_Lj1CH2hqyCeZdmA57ngoow5aE9P0mHC5b86nPD8ZGEDY6S3fSkkqUEi81N1cV7u3-qyJET20RwcPLxchEkvUZmePJKpxK3qvHh4HLw7dhj0QJQcNsQDQT9fWdOQ37lyXiFLUqjldpQkVxs_8cEVv74hJ92comyJrTGk-6TgXA4g139/s2400/The%20Bookbinders%20Guide.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1594" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSYCl4S32eK89R_Lj1CH2hqyCeZdmA57ngoow5aE9P0mHC5b86nPD8ZGEDY6S3fSkkqUEi81N1cV7u3-qyJET20RwcPLxchEkvUZmePJKpxK3qvHh4HLw7dhj0QJQcNsQDQT9fWdOQ37lyXiFLUqjldpQkVxs_8cEVv74hJ92comyJrTGk-6TgXA4g139/s320/The%20Bookbinders%20Guide.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br />The Bookbinder's Guide to Love</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Katherine Garbera</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Afterglow Books by Harlequin on January 23, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1XY0Orgp89DxyYzC-Kq3RAAIq6_2sJcVVVCoM_N7IiW3CvFS1g15bmIdBFfJINSoB9V_79DfynBHqYTdJ3LKA0nKsvxZDN34-tBKs7liYQMyPi9JQTu2f-EgSwWhnz2rSMuz-hj4NLiRLwWk8PFwr0JAckpqz29v7dg3Um5Oy-zGXd69lvFSeT1I1Q/s1600/four-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/197042720" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">A witchy, witty, wickedly sexy tale about love, books, friendship and the unexpected connections that bind us together…
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Bookbinding (verb): the art of creating something magical out of fabric, leather and paper.
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As a lonely foster kid, Serafina Conte sought refuge in handmaking journals—and writing her wishes within their pages. Now, in the quirky new age store she shares with her two best friends, Sera’s intentions have paid off. Her journals are in the spotlight—and rumored to manifest great things. Whether it’s witchy skills, real magic or not, Sera’s finally ready to be the leading lady of her life story…
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Until her plot hits a twist.
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After the death of her mentor, Ford Sitwell, all the loneliness and insecurity of her past returns. The only balm is the box of antique books he left to her. But Ford’s suspicious brooding grandson, Wes, is ready to think the worst of her—and get his grandfather’s books back! The first part doesn’t bother her. The second? Forget it. Sera won’t give Wes the books so easily. But it’s clear he’s seeking something more, an emotional connection no book can replace. So she offers a deal—work in her store for six weeks, and in return, she’ll help him get closure by sharing memories of his late grandfather.
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Yes, Wes seems grumpy, but actually he’s hot …and maybe kind? Deep down? And when desire and vulnerability work their charms, Sera begins to wonder if the best stories aren’t the ones you intend, but the ones that take you where you least expected…</span>
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<p>A book about books will always endear itself to me, but a romance featuring two slightly wounded characters is even better.
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Wes and Serafina were brought together with the passing of Wes' grandfather, Ford. Ford and Sera had struck up an unlikely friendship over their shared love of books. Ford became a very important person in Sera's life, filling the role of the grandparent she never knew. Her heart was broken when she learned of his death, and what did she get? A nasty letter barring her from the funeral and demanding return of the books Ford left to her.
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Needless to say, the relationship between Wes and Sera didn't start off on the best foot, but they did form a connection as Sera shared her memories of Ford with Wes. I think the fact that they both struggled with abandonment issues also gave them a common thread which tied them together.
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It was that baggage that also kept their relationship from going forward. Both Wes and Sera had to make peace with their past before they would be able to give their hearts to each other. I truly appreciated their inner struggles and how difficult this was for them while also being happy that they were finally taking the time to tackle this part of themselves.
<br /><br />Sera had such a wonderful family with the Wicked Sisters. These women had a rock solid friendship and endless support for each other. Their shared business was a magical place where they could find comfort and be themselves.
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I had a great time reading this book, though there were two things that niggled at me. One is a me thing in that I thought there were a few too many sex scenes. The other was that I felt it wrapped up quite quickly at the end. I am able to move past both, especially the ending because there is another book on the horizon where I feel I will get what I am looking for, and I am looking forward to returning to the world of the Wicked Sisters.
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Have you ever been to the Jersey shore?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-49135585851866560582024-03-27T03:00:00.048-04:002024-03-27T03:00:00.148-04:00Can't Wait Wednesday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53aSI_fcqzE516965HJ6bPIP2DtqXmbpqo1WzVrt_EB1FK82lZPuSz6c1osC6P8rhkUH0E8dXSOD3DtDjCHVpLZMeQqong041vVYxI8yjzoc0q_9Opk96ZAhXmJo6N24vwAY8F2jujUVin5OE01xbZmTSjQ48Ggz4dbfboT5HZqVsqX2WstWMFW9jnFRE/s2040/cant%20wait%20wednesday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53aSI_fcqzE516965HJ6bPIP2DtqXmbpqo1WzVrt_EB1FK82lZPuSz6c1osC6P8rhkUH0E8dXSOD3DtDjCHVpLZMeQqong041vVYxI8yjzoc0q_9Opk96ZAhXmJo6N24vwAY8F2jujUVin5OE01xbZmTSjQ48Ggz4dbfboT5HZqVsqX2WstWMFW9jnFRE/w640-h188/cant%20wait%20wednesday.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<p><b>
Can’t-Wait Wednesday</b> is a weekly event hosted by <b><a href="https://www.wishfulendings.com/" target="_blank">Tressa at Wishful Endings</a></b> that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.<br /><br />
I am combining CWW with <b>Books From the Backlog</b> hosted by <b><a href="https://carolesrandomlife.com/" target="_blank">Carole at Carole's Random Life</a></b> in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">This week I can't wait for</h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvTIb0wfmIogLqqI62MblusYSAEBC5Zm6yFml6k9I4PqiH1oZpgxAkQH3CCo9HjkUJg1Qoq-4Pqyjg5s6Z3EW6PdL7wHjfcTsyE1AGoU9Uka-w7ksm3r9QgfXyG7PfVbj6HoS47MtfjjN3KtB7RWkxIVgoUpM9UJCmOiezA_hbpBNSp_syP2ySNYlY7a9/s390/The%20Second%20Chace.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvTIb0wfmIogLqqI62MblusYSAEBC5Zm6yFml6k9I4PqiH1oZpgxAkQH3CCo9HjkUJg1Qoq-4Pqyjg5s6Z3EW6PdL7wHjfcTsyE1AGoU9Uka-w7ksm3r9QgfXyG7PfVbj6HoS47MtfjjN3KtB7RWkxIVgoUpM9UJCmOiezA_hbpBNSp_syP2ySNYlY7a9/s320/The%20Second%20Chace.jpeg" width="209" /></a></div><br />The Second Chance</b> by Charlotte Butterfield</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Avon on May 9, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199618120-the-second-chance" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Nell has always known her expiry date.
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After a psychic predicted her death date twenty years ago, she’s lived life accepting she would never see forty – embracing adventure and travelling the world, choosing fun over commitment and laying down roots.
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So, when the fateful date comes, Nell feels ready. She posts five excruciatingly honest confessions to her sister, parents and past loves, knowing she won’t be around to face the consequences. With her heart laid bare, all that's left to do is check into a glamorous hotel and wait for the inevitable… And wait…
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But when Nell unexpectedly wakes up the next morning broke, single and very much alive, she questions exactly how to seize this second chance at life. And then it also hits
<br /><br />
What on earth happens now that everyone knows exactly how she really feels?
<br /><br />
Hilarious, poignant and emotional, The Second Chance is the perfect book club read for fans of Holly Smale, David Nicholls and Beth O’Leary, asking what it is that makes for a life well lived.</span>
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<p>When I was a teacher, we discussed what we would say at parent-teacher conferences if we were going to quit. The general consensus is that we would burn it all down. Though not the exact situation, this story involves a woman who lived her life under the impression that she would die on a certain date. When that date came and went, Nell was left with a lot of pieces to pick up. I love this, and I am excited to see how Nell handles this second chance, this new start. </p><p><br /></p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkQzGrKkjR97lQ9DaMkIQBXnBFCBHRbtXWayfaRCK8GfjcoSZwJLCDo1LI7T5GemMZ8m3pNOb6VXGCszSZObwlQdWGsbnsTN2gTVfN3CbqM8VN6nnoQ2NQbClCdtmhEPnZUH14ZTT0CMWVQ4-uUDTMRMnuJr5SRx-LGtNvG3YVZWe_h6wTUIZzs1cuOvm/s664/books%20from%20the%20backlog%20text.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="664" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkQzGrKkjR97lQ9DaMkIQBXnBFCBHRbtXWayfaRCK8GfjcoSZwJLCDo1LI7T5GemMZ8m3pNOb6VXGCszSZObwlQdWGsbnsTN2gTVfN3CbqM8VN6nnoQ2NQbClCdtmhEPnZUH14ZTT0CMWVQ4-uUDTMRMnuJr5SRx-LGtNvG3YVZWe_h6wTUIZzs1cuOvm/w640-h104/books%20from%20the%20backlog%20text.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2H5L-TFo_QM94glyhRb-RiOkYT9DNxfeUnPAFsSlnxbYulCmjs35Medr9n-BGCHM6hovBTRU1vB_s8Cg_7dbock__Np3kq_2vPl5BWY_Qh_vuuk8GZmj9BdEgEmkbRe06KGSi8gNUE-Bhhw4Mjib1Ksm8iILufLblnS2BnU_8NCcYRN4Rw3AFoH4irjbV/s400/All%20Good%20People%20Here.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2H5L-TFo_QM94glyhRb-RiOkYT9DNxfeUnPAFsSlnxbYulCmjs35Medr9n-BGCHM6hovBTRU1vB_s8Cg_7dbock__Np3kq_2vPl5BWY_Qh_vuuk8GZmj9BdEgEmkbRe06KGSi8gNUE-Bhhw4Mjib1Ksm8iILufLblnS2BnU_8NCcYRN4Rw3AFoH4irjbV/s320/All%20Good%20People%20Here.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><br />All Good People Here</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Ashley Flowers</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Bantam on August 16, 2022</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Mystery/Thriller</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60142750" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Everyone from Wakarusa, Indiana, remembers the case of January Jacobs, who was found dead in a ditch hours after her family awoke to find her gone. Margot Davies was six at the time, the same age as January—and they were next-door neighbors. In the twenty years since, Margot has grown up, moved away, and become a big-city journalist, but she’s always been haunted by the fear that it could’ve been her. And the worst part is, January’s killer has never been brought to justice.
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When Margot returns home to help care for her sick uncle, it feels like walking into a time capsule. Wakarusa is exactly how she remembered: genial, stifled, secretive. Then news breaks about five-year-old Natalie Clark from the next town over, who’s gone missing under eerily similar circumstances. With all the old feelings rushing back, Margot vows to find Natalie and solve January’s murder once and for all.
<br /><br />
But the police, the family, the townspeople—they all seem to be hiding something. And the deeper Margot digs into Natalie’s disappearance, the more resistance she encounters, and the colder January’s case feels. Could the killer still be out there? Could it be the same person who kidnapped Natalie? And what will it cost to finally discover what truly happened that night?
<br /><br />
In the propulsive debut novel from the host of the #1 true crime podcast "Crime Junkie," a journalist uncovers her hometown’s dark secrets when she becomes obsessed with the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbor—and the disappearance of another girl twenty years later.
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<p>Confession - I needed a book for one of my reading challenges. I don't tend to read much in this genre, so when I found this book with all it's great ratings, I added it to my TBR. It also checks off one of those tough to find middle states, so how could I resist a twofer? Anyhow, this does sound like a compelling story. A copycat type crime, twenty years since the original, AND one of the reporters on the scene was the neighbor of the first victim. I think that will add something as she was directly affected by the event. I am sure this will have a plot that will pull me in. </p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What are you waiting on?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-67975830147284880352024-03-26T03:00:00.047-04:002024-03-26T03:00:00.131-04:00Top Ten Tuesday - Quiet on the Set!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfr-h4i4zWeJKh3ez4OVxZd3bQ_OKo1nLliaFAee9pyDmre4G_bwhUtVbnpk56PV4vTIeY05QfBzp47mKXOBHvxRWsx2Gdbo5wuuRfh6fCer0TUx4IPntg1zPXBMeEuUY2vNXkiDN3BP4oIjxuy6BBiJIBA6kq3dUUsAAkbeU8YAQ77x5Z2r3fG878w/s2040/top%20ten%20tuesday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfr-h4i4zWeJKh3ez4OVxZd3bQ_OKo1nLliaFAee9pyDmre4G_bwhUtVbnpk56PV4vTIeY05QfBzp47mKXOBHvxRWsx2Gdbo5wuuRfh6fCer0TUx4IPntg1zPXBMeEuUY2vNXkiDN3BP4oIjxuy6BBiJIBA6kq3dUUsAAkbeU8YAQ77x5Z2r3fG878w/w640-h188/top%20ten%20tuesday.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by </span><a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1ca0d2; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;">That Artsy Reader Girl</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">. This week's topic is...</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Quite on the Set!</b></i></span></div>
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<div>Happy Tuesday! Today we are supposed to talk about books we think would make great movies or TV shows. I feel like any book I love should be adapted, so instead, I am sharing books which involve movies or TV shows and their stars. </div>
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<div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/02/isnt-it-romantic-five-star-edition.html" target="_blank">Right on Cue</a></b> by Falon Ballard</li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/04/amreading_27.html" target="_blank">Built to Last</a></b> by Erin Hahn</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55660420-if-the-shoe-fits" target="_blank">If the Shoe Fits</a></b> by Julie Murphy</li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/05/isnt-it-romantic_01490582598.html" target="_blank">Will They or Won't They</a></b> by Ava Wilder</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58988426" target="_blank">Nora Goes Off Script</a></b> by Annabel Monaghan</li></ol>
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<ol start="6" style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/06/amreading-library-loans.html" target="_blank">The True Love Experiment</a></b> by Christina Lauren</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790873-this-is-what-happy-looks-like" target="_blank">This Is What Happy Looks Like</a></b> by Jennifer E. Smith</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52658303" target="_blank">Enjoy the View</a></b> by Sarah Morgenthaler</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40969415-waiting-for-tom-hanks" target="_blank">Waiting for Tom Hanks</a></b> by Kerry Winfrey</li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2020/01/isnt-it-romantic-companion-edition.html" target="_blank">Headliners</a></b> by Lucy Parker</li></ol>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ICj7WqEmklq6kWy6bvjYAGtxKDAsQE8w_iWLesJhUsbzf8xtG3qZ32KHuwE5FwgWj6hVNiqpvSClvhmLo2pQnKQHS8_MdiRHNwqhRaxFXaq8oJzwDj1C6NaKfDdXW-MMqY_idIYQb_aBK1V8YCDPq_FMDtAajGCWo9MXalsDxedVzF6kif6nFO98og/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ICj7WqEmklq6kWy6bvjYAGtxKDAsQE8w_iWLesJhUsbzf8xtG3qZ32KHuwE5FwgWj6hVNiqpvSClvhmLo2pQnKQHS8_MdiRHNwqhRaxFXaq8oJzwDj1C6NaKfDdXW-MMqY_idIYQb_aBK1V8YCDPq_FMDtAajGCWo9MXalsDxedVzF6kif6nFO98og/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Favorite film fiction?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
</div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-32921508251163189422024-03-25T03:00:00.070-04:002024-03-25T03:00:00.145-04:00#AmReading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmdZwVE8hnHvozyfj4zwiBNJ19MXcsTzuMKWMRSY5QK-Zxkhs-054AYd6ydmwEWJy02O8FUIVx7L-BnY_q4uFAwSMhqNSDgcz_4pl1PDyD_-P8I-F5AF0XTFYSlj0sc4a_t5F-lgKAoqNrCqH5sN2C56HZqb3o_tUFTGy-dwfejIVCLCg877ps_juhA/s750/AmREading.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="750" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmdZwVE8hnHvozyfj4zwiBNJ19MXcsTzuMKWMRSY5QK-Zxkhs-054AYd6ydmwEWJy02O8FUIVx7L-BnY_q4uFAwSMhqNSDgcz_4pl1PDyD_-P8I-F5AF0XTFYSlj0sc4a_t5F-lgKAoqNrCqH5sN2C56HZqb3o_tUFTGy-dwfejIVCLCg877ps_juhA/w640-h188/AmREading.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4k8KE_uZyaFDVt21D_uMGMC9wRkl1SCNJLBZIXF5ohcSgFrtwZ0all1RtrP6gyy3ByrZVRmiijzlqy-7P1GOKmmlxX9yUJ1-7djkUMFfsp0AgeaF3O7amnjqCy1-AfD8ibKP0bE5JWL2_eDBCoYj8HZ4Hn-cwxKInMcfWnIg4YFfIdMKaaRtwsOsRXI9/s1200/AR%20032524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="1200" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4k8KE_uZyaFDVt21D_uMGMC9wRkl1SCNJLBZIXF5ohcSgFrtwZ0all1RtrP6gyy3ByrZVRmiijzlqy-7P1GOKmmlxX9yUJ1-7djkUMFfsp0AgeaF3O7amnjqCy1-AfD8ibKP0bE5JWL2_eDBCoYj8HZ4Hn-cwxKInMcfWnIg4YFfIdMKaaRtwsOsRXI9/w640-h498/AR%20032524.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId9ws0wR5KWZwuVUW0TNqTKq8FRb9rGhxTDDfuuljUeN_bdsxXEe8Xr9cRaoPT5wfTUpXS5ud4pntUCkP5HUH8iA-XEOw4neC6FlyZuUIGR4yujRHS7b55XTJwjXLMYPC_VLtwHHXMtxUmWk1tvTiPu4lbBArUrnO5JpyLZiEOqij1t44i88Nh1JV8oJl/s2475/The%20Library%20of%20Borrowed%20Hearts.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId9ws0wR5KWZwuVUW0TNqTKq8FRb9rGhxTDDfuuljUeN_bdsxXEe8Xr9cRaoPT5wfTUpXS5ud4pntUCkP5HUH8iA-XEOw4neC6FlyZuUIGR4yujRHS7b55XTJwjXLMYPC_VLtwHHXMtxUmWk1tvTiPu4lbBArUrnO5JpyLZiEOqij1t44i88Nh1JV8oJl/s320/The%20Library%20of%20Borrowed%20Hearts.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br />The Library of Borrowed Hearts</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Lucy Gilmore</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Sourcebooks Casablanca on April 30, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/179947229-the-library-of-borrowed-hearts" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">A.J. Fikry meets The Bookish Life of Nina Hill in this charming, hilarious, and moving novel about the way books bring lonely souls together.
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Librarian Chloe Sampson has been struggling: to take care of her three younger siblings, to find herself, to make ends meet. She's just about at the end of her rope when she stumbles across a rare edition of a book from the 1960s at the local flea market. Deciding it's a sign of her luck turning, she takes it home with her―only to be shocked when her cranky hermit of a neighbor swoops in and offers to buy it for an exorbitant price. Intrigued, Chloe takes a closer look at the book only to find notes scribbled in the margins between two young lovers back when the book was new…one of whom is almost definitely Jasper Holmes, the curmudgeon next door.
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And when she begins following the clues left behind, she discovers this isn't the only old book in town filled with their romantic marginalia. This kickstarts a literary scavenger hunt that Chloe is determined to see through to the end. What happened to the two tragic lovers who corresponded in the margins of so many different library books? And what does it have to do with the old, sad man next door―who only now has begun to open his home to Chloe and her siblings? In a romantic tale that spans the decades, Chloe discovers that there's much more to her neighbor than meets the eye. And in allowing herself to accept the unexpected friendship he offers, she learns that some love stories begin in the unlikeliest of places.
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<p>Chloe uncovers a romance in the margins of a book and embarks on a search for the rest of the story.
<br /><br />
This is my seventh <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18573441.Lucy_Gilmore" target="_blank">Lucy Gilmore</a></b> book, and she continues to delight me with her touching stories that are filled with humor and warmth. I loved the premise of this one - two lovers sharing their thoughts and feelings via notes in classic books. As with her previous book, <b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/07/amreading-library-loans.html" target="_blank">The Lonely Hearts Book Club</a></b>, Gilmore did a wonderful job picking well known literature to illustrate the power of books. The way they can offer us comfort, clarity, and connection was put on display in this story, and as book lover, I couldn't resist this aspect.
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I also loved the bit of mystery in this tale. The search for the other books plus a few OH WOW! twists had me turning the pages. I loved the hunt for the books as Chloe sought some answers as to what happened to these literary lovers. We get that story, in pieces, via flashbacks. I swear. There were two flashbacks that reduced me to tears. My heart ached!
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Chloe quickly figured out that some of those book notes were written by her crotchety, old neighbor who was not a Mr. Rogers type of neighbor. Chloe's bookish discovery opened the door to an unlikely friendship that bloomed into something really special. It meant so much to me that Jasper cracked open his heart again for Chloe and her siblings because they were not dealt the easiest hand in life. Their mother and respective fathers all abandoned them. Chloe stepped up to care for her younger siblings, but it was no easy task and required a lot of sacrifice on her end.
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Though she was reluctant to ask for help, Chloe had a great group of people who supported her on the sly. She had an A+ best friend and few others in her small circle who were always there for her. And the love her brothers and sisters had for her was crystal clear. I am also complete garbage for found family, so the community element was a special treat for me. I will admit that I wanted a bit more from the ending, but it's because I grew to love these characters so much. The ending wasn't bad, but it seemed a bit abrupt.
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Once again, Glimore has crafted a lovely story packed with bookish love, quirky and lovable characters, and tons of heart.</p><p><br /></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdyXTus9O8N_SQY_HVPmiP3EfLXgLOxojaJf89QI_kQj2g-gS3Y_fLIYkL45AmRffaDwAiscT3421ie6u1PRQUaDrWlMulpM6Mxt-lpA87KgTjpaUvFaD_4JS28M2hVwqCzEzP9AaEPQ3_ZwW2tKhYPWj7YclUatPZJoIP1-R-68kVNmIGJA8XP8p7UDi/s1558/Christa%20Comes%20Out.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1010" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdyXTus9O8N_SQY_HVPmiP3EfLXgLOxojaJf89QI_kQj2g-gS3Y_fLIYkL45AmRffaDwAiscT3421ie6u1PRQUaDrWlMulpM6Mxt-lpA87KgTjpaUvFaD_4JS28M2hVwqCzEzP9AaEPQ3_ZwW2tKhYPWj7YclUatPZJoIP1-R-68kVNmIGJA8XP8p7UDi/s320/Christa%20Comes%20Out.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><br />Christa Comes Out of Her Shell</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Abbi Waxman</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Berkley on April 16, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/192723842" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<blockquote style="background: rgb(231, 139, 154); border-radius: 1px; border: 1px solid rgb(188, 1, 81); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 15px 15px; padding: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Just when she thought she’d gotten far enough away . . . a life-changing phone call throws an antisocial scientist back into her least favorite place—the spotlight. A hilarious and insightful new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.
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After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Liddle has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father—long thought dead after a plane crash—turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren’t enough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both want to act on . . . if they can just keep a lid on it. When her father’s story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and—most importantly—any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely.</span>
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<p>When her father is discovered alive after 25 years, Christa is forced to return home and confront her past.
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Christa Comes Out of Her Shell</b> was another delightful story from Waxman. I have grown to expect engaging and quirky characters and amusing and snappy dialog from her. While this was very much in the vein of Waxman's previous books, I felt as though the romance was a bigger part of the main character's story. I cannot say I was disappointed at all because I adored Nate and found him to be a perfect match for Christa. I not only liked each of them, but I loved them together and for each other.
<br /><br />
At one point, Christa talked about how she had known Nate her whole life, but he was older than her, so she didn't really *know* him back then, and she definitely didn't know him now. But she wanted to, and Nate wanted to know grown up Christa as well. The things he said, let me tell you, he had me swooning. Nate seemed like the perfect person to be there when Christa came out of her shell since he was also there when she hit rock bottom in her teens. This was a sad event which Christa struggled with for many years. <br /><br />
There sure was a good dose of romance in this tale, but it made sense, since this was Christa's return from a self-imposed seclusion and her attempt to reclaim her life from those who used her, those who hurt her, those who exploited her, and those who let her down. I was glad she had Nate by her side as she took back parts of her life, slowly revealed pieces of herself, and opened her heart up to people again.
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The dad part of this story was wild, and where it went was even more wild. Buckle up for that part. It was interesting the way it all affected Christa's life, and I liked the way she chose to tackle it. I also found her family to be rather wonderful. I do understand that their relationship was strained due to Christa's teen antics, but time and personal growth gave everyone in Christa's family a different perspective, and it was a positive one. It was wonderful seeing them bond and their love and affection for each shine through.
<br /><br />
This is a story that could have easily slipped into heavy territory, but Waxman kept it packed with humor and some very over the top shenanigans which gave the story an overall light and fun feel. I had a fantastic time with Christa and her family as they processed their past and embraced their future. There were great things on the horizon for them all, and I was glad to be part of this entertaining and heartwarming journey.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;"><span style="background-color: initial; color: #bc0151; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER</span></p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What book would be part of your love story?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-59377951147255173952024-03-24T03:00:00.123-04:002024-03-24T03:00:00.135-04:00Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p>Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by <a href="http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/">Caffeinated Book Reviewer</a> and Stacking the Shelves hosted by <a href="http://www.tyngasreviews.com/">Tynga's Reviews</a>.
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">My Week in Review</h2>
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<p>Happy Sunday! I hope everyone is doing well. Can you believe this is the last week of March? This month flew with its whiplash weather. It may be a bit premature with it still being in the 30s in the morning, but it is officially spring! I know I am eager for the mornings to warm up a bit. </p><p>We started our two days work-from-home last week. Thursday was super windy and very cold, and I was thinking about how lucky I was to be working from home. No commute for four days definitely had a positive effect. I exercised after work on both Thursday and Friday, since I only work until 3:30 pm, and then did my regular Saturday and Sunday. I needed to find more time to increase my activity, and my new schedule will definitely support that. I found I had more energy this week and slept a bit better, too. </p><p>I had a nice surprise. My daughter forwarded her itinerary to me. She is coming for Mother's Day this year! It's been quite a while since I spent the actual Mother's Day with my child. Her showcase was usually close to the day, so we celebrated when I was in Chicago, but it wasn't actually Mother's Day. I was impressed with the great deal she got on the ticket. It's like Covid prices. I paid double for my last trip out there. Anyways, something for me to look forward to. </p><p>We have a short week due to the Easter holiday. The stock market closes on Good Friday, and thus, so does my business. I don't really have any plans. I am getting my hair cut on Friday and going for an early dinner to my sister's on Sunday. </p>
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<p><b><u>On the Blog</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/isnt-it-romantic_02114809014.html" target="_blank">Monday</a></u></b>: Reviews - The Happiness Blueprint, Old Flames and New Fortunes</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/top-ten-tuesday-my-spring-tbr.html" target="_blank">Tuesday</a></u></b>: TTT - My Spring TBR</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/cant-wait-wednesday_0601380085.html" target="_blank">Wednesday</a></u></b>: CWW - Savor It, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/in-nutshell-reviews_01821540884.html" target="_blank">Thursday</a></u></b>: Reviews - Nosy Neighbors, Weekends With You</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/six-degrees-of-separation-out-on-limb.html" target="_blank">Friday</a></u></b>: Six Degrees of Separation - Out on a Limb</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/sloth-goes-places-maine.html" target="_blank">Saturday</a></u></b>: Sloth Goes Places - Maine</li>
</ul>
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<p><b><u>Let's Discuss</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.chapteradventure.com/bookmarked/bookmarked-2024-week-12/" target="_blank">Chapter Adventure</a></b> shares some great articles </li><li><b><a href="https://blacklibrarianblogging.blogspot.com/2024/03/lets-discuss-are-you-ever-afraid-to.html" target="_blank">Kym</a></b> asks if you are ever afraid to talk about books</li><li><b><a href="https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2024/03/22/discussion-post-give-it-away-give-it-away-give-it-away-now-or-do-you-still-host-giveaways-on-your-blog-or-enter-on-other-blogs/" target="_blank">Lisa</a></b> talks giveaways</li>
</ul>
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<div><br /></div>This is not animal or book related, but it was really heartwarming and made me cry<div><br />
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C33qg3bA_GR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C33qg3bA_GR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; 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line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C33qg3bA_GR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Why We Love Sport (@whywelovesport)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">Stacking the Shelves</h2>
<div>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMw1ZtmYN3cNJ9N0dAVyTrVEoiaUImgXLxvXYAqat693_2p3pdjQvMEmrFvy3ly4PW-whGmgmp7Uf5b31jcF-J_ZlquS-pKivCp9b5PKTEUsjCprjkH3oZrDAztQxipfE0DvNIjU1SxRRjiIS-wprJYzHJGJ1m7lRzrv1-z-USVVcOVDAYDQEu9Abh0Ry/s500/Point%20of%20Origin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="322" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMw1ZtmYN3cNJ9N0dAVyTrVEoiaUImgXLxvXYAqat693_2p3pdjQvMEmrFvy3ly4PW-whGmgmp7Uf5b31jcF-J_ZlquS-pKivCp9b5PKTEUsjCprjkH3oZrDAztQxipfE0DvNIjU1SxRRjiIS-wprJYzHJGJ1m7lRzrv1-z-USVVcOVDAYDQEu9Abh0Ry/w129-h200/Point%20of%20Origin.jpeg" width="129" /></a></div><br />I got two invites this week, but they were for books I already had. Otherwise, it's been a really slow week. I have a bunch of books marked to download when I am ready to read them, but no new approvals. <p></p>
<p><b><u>Free</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43793516-point-of-origin" target="_blank">Point of Origin</a></b> by Rebecca Yarros</li>
</ul><div><br /></div>
<p><br /></p></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Read Last Week</h2>
<div>
<p>I didn't read as much as I wanted to. You can see I swapped a novella for a book below, but the quality was great. My favorite book was not as I expected. It was <b>Lovers and Liars</b>. I had read and loved <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58537352" target="_blank">The Lifeguards</a></b> by Ward a while back, but this was even better for me. I was very absorbed in this story. The setting, the sibling relationship at the heart of the story, and all the secrets kept me flipping those pages. It was funny, a bit painful, and terribly heartwarming. Loved it! </p>
<p><b>Find all my reviews on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/25774455-samantha-wlabb?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=read" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZonlvlz-liq7KuJLS2eHFJ5sfxSniBK30Z22ohyvoKMuNkl6fqwGw2rj_M-dKC6CcKPNuNNSIcBYcj-OL3Le62KqbEYwRk4uCCi4C_mC9Pe8y0sR9ykPk1g-WfYIMhbMNK1TYgNepCDZh4lvnuqDzbw5oe2ftX6xUT97upYJZaDeSxRN-oXUKpPh0ThbZ/s1200/Read%20032424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1161" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZonlvlz-liq7KuJLS2eHFJ5sfxSniBK30Z22ohyvoKMuNkl6fqwGw2rj_M-dKC6CcKPNuNNSIcBYcj-OL3Le62KqbEYwRk4uCCi4C_mC9Pe8y0sR9ykPk1g-WfYIMhbMNK1TYgNepCDZh4lvnuqDzbw5oe2ftX6xUT97upYJZaDeSxRN-oXUKpPh0ThbZ/w620-h640/Read%20032424.jpg" width="620" /></a></div>
<p><b><u>Books</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30068929-the-guests-on-south-battery" target="_blank">The Guests on South Battery</a></b> by Karen White - ★★★★ 1/2</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13227454-the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry" target="_blank">The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</a></b> by Rachel Joyce - ★★★★ 1/2</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206756992-catch-a-wave" target="_blank">Catch a Wave</a></b> by Savannah Scott - ★★★★</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196845456-lovers-and-liars" target="_blank">Lovers and Liars</a></b> by Amanda Eyre Ward - ★★★★★</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201867518-a-risk-worth-taking" target="_blank">A Risk Worth Taking</a></b> by Jessica Joyce - ★★★★</li>
</ul>
<p><b><u>Audiobooks</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/107525361-next-to-you" target="_blank">Next to You</a></b> by Hannah Bonam-Young - ★★★★ 1/2</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Currently Reading</h2>
<div>
<p>I am not very far into How to Dance, but I am loving Done and Dusted. I wasn't sure what to expect based on that cover, but it's a lot of fun. I guess it's enemies to lovers, but what I love is how the hero and heroine have always been part of each other's lives. I suppose there is a touch of brother's best friend in there, too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqgQ_D7fFNRGjxgqgnoqhO5uoH_1CVTZy-eXYdHFV6jQ0cbCL9GpRmX2Up0mt1i48XqQ-RHzLVmVO-8J1kPRUBWXIeNgHzr0Iia4r0IqQXuGnCZXk8kzxPldz4WcJnO8hj67Vyn4MS-pUTqRszJTkVWnnIHfRjSXfq-fSBPpsjeF9tiM2Dh3xX7PD_A8Z/s1548/Currently%20032424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1548" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqgQ_D7fFNRGjxgqgnoqhO5uoH_1CVTZy-eXYdHFV6jQ0cbCL9GpRmX2Up0mt1i48XqQ-RHzLVmVO-8J1kPRUBWXIeNgHzr0Iia4r0IqQXuGnCZXk8kzxPldz4WcJnO8hj67Vyn4MS-pUTqRszJTkVWnnIHfRjSXfq-fSBPpsjeF9tiM2Dh3xX7PD_A8Z/s320/Currently%20032424.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/173476221-how-to-dance" target="_blank">How to Dance</a></b> by Jason B. Dutton</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123179008-done-and-dusted" target="_blank">Done and Dusted</a></b> by Lyla Sage (audiobook)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">To Be Read</h2>
<div>
<p>Of course I have SIX library holds comes through. I delayed one but snagged all the others since I have been waiting quite a while for them. So, I will be working on May ARCs along with my library loans this week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjK6fauapLrR-XgtPC8Aon3WxwCg4OZ-0a7ofn3e8QqBEp0nrA2-0fIwZRwU-qiPJP7qWtVWw715rr4pG-3s1WsS6l-k-L5Z4717BBOuwz9jui5qnCNe_L9cj2MmQ0IGpDVNzPcl0rtiXP-wGa6r9iuwcq_4luOoZZU8Vzowj-KtEwzrBnuuawZWl4C8V0/s3000/TBR%20032424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="3000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjK6fauapLrR-XgtPC8Aon3WxwCg4OZ-0a7ofn3e8QqBEp0nrA2-0fIwZRwU-qiPJP7qWtVWw715rr4pG-3s1WsS6l-k-L5Z4717BBOuwz9jui5qnCNe_L9cj2MmQ0IGpDVNzPcl0rtiXP-wGa6r9iuwcq_4luOoZZU8Vzowj-KtEwzrBnuuawZWl4C8V0/w640-h240/TBR%20032424.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/134117190" target="_blank">Say You'll Be Mine</a></b> by Naina Kumar</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60142750" target="_blank">All Good People Here</a></b> by Ashley Flowers</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/198493739" target="_blank">Mistakes We Never Made</a></b> by Hannah Brown</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/197449176" target="_blank">Summertime Punchline</a></b> by Betty Corrello</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>How was your week?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
</div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-81252639123483778062024-03-23T03:00:00.064-04:002024-03-23T03:00:00.141-04:00Sloth Goes Places - Maine<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89GpJ7VpKbHLHMrtg47xm9Rz-5hmuliXhWNEdYBdxOwNBJ5fgTwVPeyfbR0-RkLYk8CVVB7ZaBZwtBTTaYbwVUMf_yY1Ai2FYc7u0oe8C-N6Tha40cBiowwBbIN4HAJ429cG8q4nEbCvN_sIXAG4FdbSup6hpgo_xasvQuPjLRII2jCKJmDQEaQXQSYgx/s3000/sloth%20goes%20places.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="3000" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89GpJ7VpKbHLHMrtg47xm9Rz-5hmuliXhWNEdYBdxOwNBJ5fgTwVPeyfbR0-RkLYk8CVVB7ZaBZwtBTTaYbwVUMf_yY1Ai2FYc7u0oe8C-N6Tha40cBiowwBbIN4HAJ429cG8q4nEbCvN_sIXAG4FdbSup6hpgo_xasvQuPjLRII2jCKJmDQEaQXQSYgx/w640-h396/sloth%20goes%20places.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span><a name='more'></a></span>
<p><strong>Sloth Goes Places</strong> is a feature where I share books I have tracked from previous <strong>Literary Escapes</strong> reading challenge hosted by <strong><a href="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/">Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book</a></strong>. </p>
<p>Today we are looking at books set in ....</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Maine</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSN-jalsSDu8rAYt7-WQ3vRw1hzyYF5zV158dI90y0UEs7P5JWR4mFs_-k50uT-8Uktpigj5LSE7PODxWOvr-rpVbcneSgB7jprZCVzZMYvsijFs4c6qi20Kltiwq1skBdQkvwnniqcO2cxSQ1aCpTiVWV93SYZxeH0IaMy8ZvAD9Pxu8CTBYQKAGzCXh/s2000/ME.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSN-jalsSDu8rAYt7-WQ3vRw1hzyYF5zV158dI90y0UEs7P5JWR4mFs_-k50uT-8Uktpigj5LSE7PODxWOvr-rpVbcneSgB7jprZCVzZMYvsijFs4c6qi20Kltiwq1skBdQkvwnniqcO2cxSQ1aCpTiVWV93SYZxeH0IaMy8ZvAD9Pxu8CTBYQKAGzCXh/w400-h300/ME.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Maine is a beautiful New England state well known for its lobsters. Sloth did have the pleasure of visiting Maine twice and a good time was had by all. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3A8PcZnMqRdwOm7DriHRsB_ZyucvC5NFR4askiwaAUY35tEGhbj0wpjk1rCxzoQzIbAeX7QaNiEon8_6tnHvqgTvv1HSnF9N227-c6UJJnRdrFFbv8-2Z1XDJgSpBKFiHJbMHSqEKKTUWexVdGbTmHaMbn5DFEr752kxqCE5ZlyEGMkn6fAmBDaTEi96/s2280/SGP%20ME.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="1766" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3A8PcZnMqRdwOm7DriHRsB_ZyucvC5NFR4askiwaAUY35tEGhbj0wpjk1rCxzoQzIbAeX7QaNiEon8_6tnHvqgTvv1HSnF9N227-c6UJJnRdrFFbv8-2Z1XDJgSpBKFiHJbMHSqEKKTUWexVdGbTmHaMbn5DFEr752kxqCE5ZlyEGMkn6fAmBDaTEi96/w496-h640/SGP%20ME.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZpsfBfKFg9FxvF_3pOymTdOV3I0h5KM9eP6e0VknlWPINKgC-BfsbzvX_lyOWbtlhQgzVXvAxTCM0Nh5y26ASINacYSp1j_iZ8V2rG-L-8soI4zMJmrySN2eebgNsK7kvC6jXpDrAgcFRt0zCkCli6vQVR_5s0gm_9CTEqs0V-oarCYy8NBlb-zI4oDm/s2625/Effie%20Olsen.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2625" data-original-width="1725" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZpsfBfKFg9FxvF_3pOymTdOV3I0h5KM9eP6e0VknlWPINKgC-BfsbzvX_lyOWbtlhQgzVXvAxTCM0Nh5y26ASINacYSp1j_iZ8V2rG-L-8soI4zMJmrySN2eebgNsK7kvC6jXpDrAgcFRt0zCkCli6vQVR_5s0gm_9CTEqs0V-oarCYy8NBlb-zI4oDm/s320/Effie%20Olsen.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><br />Effie Olsen's Summer Special</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Rochelle Bilow</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Berkley on April 30, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="five-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinysjd0wSvhtptoCrztw3nUcUWDkDS2mKpBA0qPDPwC-obAXxc4DsSeyzrL87jkJ5NB01oOdA4FzBD9L8CZIUDFEfciVBSeujM5bMInG3yx-v8P1i9rj_59uLp7NAK4y7dAz6hfwDxHvgeg0Whbs0FNXpsyIVubpD1TIReYZZ-ChrRRQese6_kTNIGkg/s1600/five-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195430704-effie-olsen-s-summer-special" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<blockquote style="background: rgb(231, 139, 154); border-radius: 1px; border: 1px solid rgb(188, 1, 81); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 15px 15px; padding: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">These childhood best friends swore they’d never speak again. But that was before a surprise summer reunion gives them a chance to turn up the heat.
<br /><br />
Effie Olsen thought she’d never settle down on the tiny Maine island where she grew up, but she’s returning from a whirlwind sixteen years as a professional chef in far-flung countries for one summer and one summer only. Her hometown boasts one of the best restaurants in the US, and lucky for her, Brown Butter needs a sous chef. Effie is eager for a chance at redemption after her last job went up in flames, but reluctant to set down roots in a place that reminds her of the ghosts of her past.
<br /><br />
Until, that is, she runs into Ernie Callahan, her onetime best friend who now works in the very same restaurant. Early morning swims and late-night games of truth or dare with Ernie remind her of what she’s been missing while traveling the world. He knows her better than anyone, and it doesn’t hurt that his smile lights her up brighter than the lighthouses dotting the craggy coastline.
<br /><br />
But Brown Butter has a secret that’s bursting at the seams, and if Effie doesn’t keep it, her job will vanish into the foggy Maine air. As summer draws to a close, she realizes a second chance at her dream job and the perfect guy are both within reach. The salty seaside town of Alder Isle is the key to Effie’s sweet ending.... All she has to do now is learn to let her heart lead the way.</span></p></blockquote>
<p>I LOVED this book! I wore a grin from beginning to end, and I found it hard to set this one down. I just wanted to keep spending time with Effie and Ernie. I loved all the history they shared and the ease with which they were able to resume their friendship. Things were the same but they were different, and that was a good thing for both Effie and Ernie. As much as this was a romance, it was also about Effie's personal journey. I was happy she was able to find her happy in a place she thought she left behind, and the future looked bright for her. </p><p><br /></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3IwzV9kv7ggskjyFssnoHHB5YKASoWxryC143_ewFaodaxCV2clssFOpwKYvAN7ppPetT4ANeMC0FBhXsoTh2DAzNOTUkBOY6xj0xauWMinxddI344FtSqQx-zyY-tFcu4kSup9mcBJNblSppq_pKS_k1mWo-7wYrOAuFuxgsvijxa-nQLImPqJ5mn99/s635/2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3IwzV9kv7ggskjyFssnoHHB5YKASoWxryC143_ewFaodaxCV2clssFOpwKYvAN7ppPetT4ANeMC0FBhXsoTh2DAzNOTUkBOY6xj0xauWMinxddI344FtSqQx-zyY-tFcu4kSup9mcBJNblSppq_pKS_k1mWo-7wYrOAuFuxgsvijxa-nQLImPqJ5mn99/s320/2.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><br />Evvie Drake Starts Over</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Linda Holmes</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Ballentine Books on June 25, 2019</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="five-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinysjd0wSvhtptoCrztw3nUcUWDkDS2mKpBA0qPDPwC-obAXxc4DsSeyzrL87jkJ5NB01oOdA4FzBD9L8CZIUDFEfciVBSeujM5bMInG3yx-v8P1i9rj_59uLp7NAK4y7dAz6hfwDxHvgeg0Whbs0FNXpsyIVubpD1TIReYZZ-ChrRRQese6_kTNIGkg/s1600/five-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/40514431" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">In a sleepy seaside town in Maine, recently widowed Eveleth “Evvie” Drake rarely leaves her large, painfully empty house nearly a year after her husband’s death in a car crash. Everyone in town, even her best friend, Andy, thinks grief keeps her locked inside, and Evvie doesn’t correct them.
<br /><br />
Meanwhile, in New York City, Dean Tenney, former Major League pitcher and Andy’s childhood best friend, is wrestling with what miserable athletes living out their worst nightmares call the “yips”: he can’t throw straight anymore, and, even worse, he can’t figure out why. As the media storm heats up, an invitation from Andy to stay in Maine seems like the perfect chance to hit the reset button on Dean’s future.
<br /><br />
When he moves into an apartment at the back of Evvie’s house, the two make a deal: Dean won’t ask about Evvie’s late husband, and Evvie won’t ask about Dean’s baseball career. Rules, though, have a funny way of being broken—and what starts as an unexpected friendship soon turns into something more. To move forward, Evvie and Dean will have to reckon with their pasts—the friendships they’ve damaged, the secrets they’ve kept—but in life, as in baseball, there’s always a chance—up until the last out.</span></p></blockquote>
<p>I absolutely loved EVERY second of this book! At first, I was won over by the humor. I audibly laughed so many times, and laughing is one of my favorite pastimes. Then, the romance took a hold of me, and I was swooning and smiling and just enjoying watching Evvie finally know what it's like to be properly loved by someone. And, finally there was all the deep emotional stuff. Some of it was really painful, but I was so proud of Evvie and the way she finally conquered her past and starting making her future.</p><p><br /></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmBowUsjVrpbNWSc3BZl1ydZzfxOtMLFmgZo0LE0OsEb0FO0DPfRBE0yXdLey4I3G4FN2BWVRlAzchSj9q-C2ju-N3bx7XhsHYBvyWolQpNZE0DnNUHK5ObM-SX7m224dpjGIQpofPw0xMe5fWaL4Ev9QMG1DEcJ0kNwtMVnPedqfpw_jD1rfQcRiHNPT/s475/3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmBowUsjVrpbNWSc3BZl1ydZzfxOtMLFmgZo0LE0OsEb0FO0DPfRBE0yXdLey4I3G4FN2BWVRlAzchSj9q-C2ju-N3bx7XhsHYBvyWolQpNZE0DnNUHK5ObM-SX7m224dpjGIQpofPw0xMe5fWaL4Ev9QMG1DEcJ0kNwtMVnPedqfpw_jD1rfQcRiHNPT/s320/3.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><br />This Is What Happy Looks Like</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Jennifer E. Smith</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Headline on April 2, 2013</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="five-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinysjd0wSvhtptoCrztw3nUcUWDkDS2mKpBA0qPDPwC-obAXxc4DsSeyzrL87jkJ5NB01oOdA4FzBD9L8CZIUDFEfciVBSeujM5bMInG3yx-v8P1i9rj_59uLp7NAK4y7dAz6hfwDxHvgeg0Whbs0FNXpsyIVubpD1TIReYZZ-ChrRRQese6_kTNIGkg/s1600/five-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790873-this-is-what-happy-looks-like" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
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When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
<br /><br />
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?</span></p></blockquote>
<p>It's been a long time since I read this book, but it still evokes warm and fuzzy feelings for me. It was a sweet and fun celebrity romance where the small town played a big role. I was utterly charmed by G and E and didn't want it to end. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Have you read any books set in Maine?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-12205550616992483432024-03-22T03:00:00.046-04:002024-03-22T03:00:00.276-04:00Six Degrees of Separation - Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80_wHHmLyrZc4hTRjQcriCjDo7nM084Xl1OPNawguYqI3ZUXSjzW3_fUFA2-Ztp3cxklLSyRg6V2XEpVEeMDV2NxiiXQieST5rV1_5o1zAl3Tuagxc_jmOh5umcy0UpLCK3a5DUoseiRcc9qKPUdRAF_WYJLN-opsu-HufmhFxf54hbN5nqtmWq-zO9du/s2240/SIX%20DEGREES%20OF%20SEPARATION.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80_wHHmLyrZc4hTRjQcriCjDo7nM084Xl1OPNawguYqI3ZUXSjzW3_fUFA2-Ztp3cxklLSyRg6V2XEpVEeMDV2NxiiXQieST5rV1_5o1zAl3Tuagxc_jmOh5umcy0UpLCK3a5DUoseiRcc9qKPUdRAF_WYJLN-opsu-HufmhFxf54hbN5nqtmWq-zO9du/w640-h360/SIX%20DEGREES%20OF%20SEPARATION.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<p>Six Degrees of Separation is hosted by Kate at <strong><a href="https://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.com/6-degrees-of-separation-meme/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">booksaremyfavoriteandbest</a></strong>. A book is selected each month as the starting point for us to link to six other books. I go a bit rouge by selecting my own book from the previous months’ Five Star Friday, but still maintain the spirit of the meme. </p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">This Month's Book</h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUG2cIPrYBUTfAJu__ty4a8zzZuoO86AIS6HbSLNP4unNv3rciPmarIm6n7zWT0GbVVL22r1I9f8i1wyfB3yz7PA92p-ZdD-GS_zl4-lUajBQxQEOCBdQKhG3OKsaH0lObtRuUxKikyn-N93pwZuhcT9D-QrwL4hiMhDJz-c5O64ZdYJwfiImXylY_gRf/s2700/Out%20on%20a%20Limb.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUG2cIPrYBUTfAJu__ty4a8zzZuoO86AIS6HbSLNP4unNv3rciPmarIm6n7zWT0GbVVL22r1I9f8i1wyfB3yz7PA92p-ZdD-GS_zl4-lUajBQxQEOCBdQKhG3OKsaH0lObtRuUxKikyn-N93pwZuhcT9D-QrwL4hiMhDJz-c5O64ZdYJwfiImXylY_gRf/s320/Out%20on%20a%20Limb.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Out on a Limb</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Hannah Bonam-Young</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;">on July 11, 2023</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinysjd0wSvhtptoCrztw3nUcUWDkDS2mKpBA0qPDPwC-obAXxc4DsSeyzrL87jkJ5NB01oOdA4FzBD9L8CZIUDFEfciVBSeujM5bMInG3yx-v8P1i9rj_59uLp7NAK4y7dAz6hfwDxHvgeg0Whbs0FNXpsyIVubpD1TIReYZZ-ChrRRQese6_kTNIGkg/s1600/five-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198563657-out-on-a-limb" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Winnifred "Win" McNulty has always been wildly independent. Not one to be coddled for her limb difference, Win has spent most of her life trying to prove that she can do it all on her own. And, with some minor adjustments, she's done just fine.
<br /><br />
That is until she has a one-night stand with the incredibly charming Bo, a perfect stranger. And that one night changes everything.
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While Bo is surprisingly elated to step upto the plate, Win finds herself unsure of whether she can handle this new challenge on her own or if she’ll need a helping hand.
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Together, Win and Bo decide to get to know one another as friends and nothing more. But, as they both should know by now, life rarely goes according to plan.</span>
</p></blockquote>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryaCHNcak8anRAJv2Y2svSylg7MSVtFch6M9HNGgd9QoQeL-omgmtqoq2i3sDn7jiUcRt3GYLs-xX4pcqDTBFpdVleLFLCULvSC_m-bLbxE4OLgHv6FGuPpgA64gZ8LPf9ZjxSkT4iyXxmgJ_5NYMBbP9WZYRU7u9ZHj2LgFLrJAvVpOlB3OX-AQV2MKy/s6912/SDMar2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="6912" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryaCHNcak8anRAJv2Y2svSylg7MSVtFch6M9HNGgd9QoQeL-omgmtqoq2i3sDn7jiUcRt3GYLs-xX4pcqDTBFpdVleLFLCULvSC_m-bLbxE4OLgHv6FGuPpgA64gZ8LPf9ZjxSkT4iyXxmgJ_5NYMBbP9WZYRU7u9ZHj2LgFLrJAvVpOlB3OX-AQV2MKy/w640-h320/SDMar2024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<ol>
<li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/02/isnt-it-romantic_01740803153.html" target="_blank">Out on a Limb</a></b> involved an accidental pregnancy as did <b>Ready or Not</b>. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/01/isnt-it-romantic_0831437518.html" target="_blank">Ready or Not</a></b> is a best-friend's-brother romance, same as <b>Fix Her Up</b>.</li><li>In <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39854434-fix-her-up" target="_blank">Fix Her Up</a></b>, they do home renovations which was also a big part of <b>Maggie Moves On.</b></li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59228193" target="_blank">Maggie Moves On</a></b> had an interesting historical subplot and so did <b>Something Wilder</b>.</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59345253-something-wilder" target="_blank">Something Wilder</a></b> takes place in Utah, same as <b>In a Holidaze</b>.</li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2020/10/isnt-it-romantic.html" target="_blank">In a Holidaze</a></b> is a time-loop story similar to <b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/12/isnt-it-romantic-time-travel-edition.html" target="_blank">The Deja Glitch</a></b>. </li>
</ol>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What books can you connect to the starter book?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-81349401941704522022024-03-21T03:00:00.055-04:002024-03-21T03:00:00.254-04:00In a Nutshell Reviews
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPjOFSY5D_GvwNtY4w8HU09-YLpgkqE8mBX3v2211XKRuZ4BMbYUc4kKZ33PAjfop5JJJNXn1x7UbuPQNPhRs-jGkkBhRHi8IlVy8e-C-EgN2M-wTG8XS-LlTfiJLeq2q0g5RYX47X2GJImIOjaCZX2vAEgo6nmVBvVHt5m52e6Nz4UrsTEdPNn5RPA/s2040/nutshell.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXFD-3mVmFEKCQTwe9wBILqrrX3EiBe_spYPUq6kFY4IrRv3PYfDxAq6IDCctgpdtvEYp7-CiUZKJGvN9jCIDe85kxIbF7Yy8D6b4cyCSVeIcdyOEjNDJerEzTWY9UjSDrKHwdBNYWotLwdAYZii1-1vuJg-neemk8Z7cF0AMpiWtye53Er4rJKYIgYQ2/s1500/Nosy%20Neighbors.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="973" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXFD-3mVmFEKCQTwe9wBILqrrX3EiBe_spYPUq6kFY4IrRv3PYfDxAq6IDCctgpdtvEYp7-CiUZKJGvN9jCIDe85kxIbF7Yy8D6b4cyCSVeIcdyOEjNDJerEzTWY9UjSDrKHwdBNYWotLwdAYZii1-1vuJg-neemk8Z7cF0AMpiWtye53Er4rJKYIgYQ2/s320/Nosy%20Neighbors.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><br />Nosy Neighbors</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Freya Sampson</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Berkley on April 2, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182484343-nosy-neighbors" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Two neighbors-at-war band together to stop a dangerous criminal in their midst in this enthralling new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Ticket.
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Twenty-five-year-old Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere, and especially not in crumbling Shelley House. According to her neighbors, she’s prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat is plagued by guilt from her past.
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Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling is Shelley House’s longest resident, and if you believe the other tenants, she’s as cantankerous and vindictive as they come. Except there’s a good reason Dorothy spends her days spying on her neighbors—a closely guarded secret that no else knows and the reason Dorothy barely leaves her beloved home.
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When their building faces demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy become unlikely allies in their quest to save their historic home. But when someone starts to play dirty and viciously targets one of the residents, Dorothy and Kat suspect foul play in their community. After the police close the investigation, it's up to this improbable pair to bring a criminal to justice.</span>
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<p>It all started when the girl with the pink hair showed up at Shelley House. In this case, "it all" encompasses both good and bad things, but also a lot of changes for all the residents of Shelley House.
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Sampson really knows how to worm her way into my heart. Once again, she assembled a wonderful group of mismatched characters who came together to form a perfectly imperfect "family". The inhabitants had mostly kept to themselves until things begin going awry following their notice to vacate the premises. They bonded over their desire to save their home, and along the way, true friendships were born.
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I struggle with calling this a mystery, though there were some small unknowns that needed to be uncovered. There were a lot of secrets being kept inside Shelley House, and Dorothy and Kat were both affected in major ways by the weight of their secrets.
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Both their stories truly broke my heart. They carried their pain and guilt for so many years, and it kept them from really living their lives. As a sucker for unlikely friendships, I adored seeing a friendship born between a pensioner and a twenty-something. They pushed each other while providing support and the strength to move forward. These themes of friendship, love, and forgiveness were woven throughout this story and really tugged at my heartstrings. <br /><br />
But I don't want to leave out the other residents. This was quite a fantastic group of quirky characters, and they really endeared themselves to me. The journey from strangers to more was a wonderful one which brought me lots of joy.
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Overall, this was a warm and touching tale and I adored rooting for the denizens of Shelley House while they fought to save their home and each other.</p><p><br /></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlXNsueV_4XMR-hpqIe8lRa_S1eUbpHjjy917hcbx0rp8cDgY2AOtBauW-3-hj0dhlCcEJKN3JxEA8uR_okVagySq-WbyEXsUudEMzk0YChQfIfDy8-AnYI1qpG4jmH84bBunD1jCK5-CPRkbc_ObncG24CrMRMR3RvTvOO7x0itNByQIgPNvQ6G85Dkr/s384/Weekends%20with%20You.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlXNsueV_4XMR-hpqIe8lRa_S1eUbpHjjy917hcbx0rp8cDgY2AOtBauW-3-hj0dhlCcEJKN3JxEA8uR_okVagySq-WbyEXsUudEMzk0YChQfIfDy8-AnYI1qpG4jmH84bBunD1jCK5-CPRkbc_ObncG24CrMRMR3RvTvOO7x0itNByQIgPNvQ6G85Dkr/s320/Weekends%20with%20You.png" width="213" /></a></div><br />Weekends with You</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Alexandra Paige</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Avon on April 9, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1XY0Orgp89DxyYzC-Kq3RAAIq6_2sJcVVVCoM_N7IiW3CvFS1g15bmIdBFfJINSoB9V_79DfynBHqYTdJ3LKA0nKsvxZDN34-tBKs7liYQMyPi9JQTu2f-EgSwWhnz2rSMuz-hj4NLiRLwWk8PFwr0JAckpqz29v7dg3Um5Oy-zGXd69lvFSeT1I1Q/s1600/four-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/181109961" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<blockquote style="background: rgb(231, 139, 154); border-radius: 1px; border: 1px solid rgb(188, 1, 81); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 15px 15px; padding: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">For fans of Beth O’Leary and Josie Silver, a heartwarming and romantic debut told over the course of one year in monthly weekend installments, about found family, new love, and the magic of London.
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Flowers have always been the best communicators. They’ve mastered falling over one another in the perfect way to announce exactly what they need: sunlight, water, space. They do not rush. They do not bloom before their time. They do not take without giving in return…
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They are nothing like the rest of London.
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Between trying to keep her north London flower shop, The Lotus, afloat and falling for a flatmate, Lucy Bernstein is going to have to rethink everything she knows about “creative arrangements.”
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Unwillingly becoming one of eight flatmates in a quirky warehouse conversion would have been difficult enough without any romantic entanglements, but when Lucy lays eyes on Henry Baker, the traveling photographer who only comes home twelve weekends a year, she knows her hands will be full with more than just posies. As each weekend progresses, Lucy also finds herself unexpectedly falling for all her new flatmates, along with this bustling but ultimately sweeter home.
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Can Lucy learn from the flowers she tends to and bravely reach for all that she needs to bloom?</span>
</p></blockquote>
<p>When Lucy was unable to afford the rent hike on her place, she took a room in her friend's warehouse flat. Though she was initially leery of being one of eight inhabitants, she found life with the roommates to be quite lively, especially warehouse weekends.
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Those special weekends were reserved for the roommates to spend time together. The bonding sessions were made even more special because they were the only time Henry was home from his travels. Though there were sparks between Lucy and Henry, could they really form a meaningful relationship in one weekend per month?
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I want to set the expectations right for this one. For me, it felt like Lucy's story with a very strong romantic subplot. The move, her career struggles, new friendships, and the challenges of trying to form a relationship with Henry all played a big part in Lucy's personal growth. I really enjoyed seeing her grow and change. It took quite a few nudges, but Lucy eventually embraced the changes while taking on some new challenges in her work life. There were setbacks but Lucy also enjoyed some success, and I celebrated that with her.
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This story had an interesting format. It was told over the period of year focusing on one weekend per month - the warehouse weekend. I loved the whole concept of these weekends, and bits and pieces of the time between the weekends was filled in via the update that each roommate gave at the beginning of the weekend. This was clever and effective, in my opinion, and were a great lead in to these boisterous events. The events were rather fabulous, but what I really adored was seeing the roommates in action. They had an interesting and great dynamic. They truly formed a family, and I am such a sucker for found family.
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I have to admit, the romance between Lucy and Henry drove me up the wall. There were aspects I really loved, and in the end, I had happy tears in my eyes, but it was frustrating. I understood Henry's position of trying to find himself and his place via all this traveling, but often, his actions didn't line up with his words. While Lucy was over there trying to really form a relationship with Henry and learning to open her heart, he was waffling on previous decisions. Despite that, there were some very sweet and tender moments between the two that were able to convince me that this could be a good idea. Just be prepared for a bumpy ride.
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Overall, I enjoyed this story of friendship and love. It was a fun take on new adulthood when you are trying to figure out what and who you want to be, and it was great that Lucy and her friends had each other as they attempted to discover these things.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;"><span style="background-color: initial; color: #bc0151; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER</span></p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What would you plan for a warehouse weekend?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-63435977084974218272024-03-20T03:00:00.049-04:002024-03-20T03:00:00.153-04:00Can't Wait Wednesday! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53aSI_fcqzE516965HJ6bPIP2DtqXmbpqo1WzVrt_EB1FK82lZPuSz6c1osC6P8rhkUH0E8dXSOD3DtDjCHVpLZMeQqong041vVYxI8yjzoc0q_9Opk96ZAhXmJo6N24vwAY8F2jujUVin5OE01xbZmTSjQ48Ggz4dbfboT5HZqVsqX2WstWMFW9jnFRE/s2040/cant%20wait%20wednesday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53aSI_fcqzE516965HJ6bPIP2DtqXmbpqo1WzVrt_EB1FK82lZPuSz6c1osC6P8rhkUH0E8dXSOD3DtDjCHVpLZMeQqong041vVYxI8yjzoc0q_9Opk96ZAhXmJo6N24vwAY8F2jujUVin5OE01xbZmTSjQ48Ggz4dbfboT5HZqVsqX2WstWMFW9jnFRE/w640-h188/cant%20wait%20wednesday.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<p><b>
Can’t-Wait Wednesday</b> is a weekly event hosted by <b><a href="https://www.wishfulendings.com/" target="_blank">Tressa at Wishful Endings</a></b> that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.<br /><br />
I am combining CWW with <b>Books From the Backlog</b> hosted by <b><a href="https://carolesrandomlife.com/" target="_blank">Carole at Carole's Random Life</a></b> in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">This week I can't wait for</h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDyp1eYS1VpVPBMuESyWMOopiV1K1tqDnbiMtC8XephNgHyT4IsfllPDAv5VAglYB6Tww0fjnGmFU9vcHnKg50QxOZkqSP71DSV_3C3JHRPpbx9n86Xew47xc59bA1KpfrD9XMq0PMeZZbANGadO94mGj-qu4pqjARyGe2cJNy5_BVLpbGVlPVDTCy8Rp/s1500/Savor%20It.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="978" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDyp1eYS1VpVPBMuESyWMOopiV1K1tqDnbiMtC8XephNgHyT4IsfllPDAv5VAglYB6Tww0fjnGmFU9vcHnKg50QxOZkqSP71DSV_3C3JHRPpbx9n86Xew47xc59bA1KpfrD9XMq0PMeZZbANGadO94mGj-qu4pqjARyGe2cJNy5_BVLpbGVlPVDTCy8Rp/s320/Savor%20It.jpeg" width="209" /></a></div><br />Savor It</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Tarah Dewitt</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> St. Martin's Griffin on May 21, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/195790899" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Summer won't last forever.
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Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She's learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win―something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.
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Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.
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A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like...
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Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.</span>
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<p>I have to tell the truth - this was a cover-love TBR add. Look at that cover? The colors, the mood -- I want to read that story. DeWitt is an author I have been meaning to read. I even bought <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/123395266" target="_blank">Funny Feelings</a></b><span> </span>(which I will read someday). This pairing really appeals to me, too. A grieving hero and a betrayed heroine. I already know they will be perfect for each other. I like the sound of this competition as well. So many possibilites! </p><p><br /></p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkQzGrKkjR97lQ9DaMkIQBXnBFCBHRbtXWayfaRCK8GfjcoSZwJLCDo1LI7T5GemMZ8m3pNOb6VXGCszSZObwlQdWGsbnsTN2gTVfN3CbqM8VN6nnoQ2NQbClCdtmhEPnZUH14ZTT0CMWVQ4-uUDTMRMnuJr5SRx-LGtNvG3YVZWe_h6wTUIZzs1cuOvm/s664/books%20from%20the%20backlog%20text.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="664" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkQzGrKkjR97lQ9DaMkIQBXnBFCBHRbtXWayfaRCK8GfjcoSZwJLCDo1LI7T5GemMZ8m3pNOb6VXGCszSZObwlQdWGsbnsTN2gTVfN3CbqM8VN6nnoQ2NQbClCdtmhEPnZUH14ZTT0CMWVQ4-uUDTMRMnuJr5SRx-LGtNvG3YVZWe_h6wTUIZzs1cuOvm/w640-h104/books%20from%20the%20backlog%20text.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdahsJnCZzddInrG7JwjXeVSZoXCcBfmcpDF4dUADPFFUS9WR6ZJHujuxkKDURSe0tokB8MvVLnsFeRSoDn1MvRqagvFFXT6LvhL-vUCvA7nDezhl21lH0qQl0TtgPX0y4Brw2NKRLaZh0Ea4_WD3blzEkqanpklGiIJ2cKIM77DVoHFvDWZj4s8rGXChX/s475/Harold%20Fry.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdahsJnCZzddInrG7JwjXeVSZoXCcBfmcpDF4dUADPFFUS9WR6ZJHujuxkKDURSe0tokB8MvVLnsFeRSoDn1MvRqagvFFXT6LvhL-vUCvA7nDezhl21lH0qQl0TtgPX0y4Brw2NKRLaZh0Ea4_WD3blzEkqanpklGiIJ2cKIM77DVoHFvDWZj4s8rGXChX/s320/Harold%20Fry.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br />The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Rachel Joyce</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Random House on July 24, 2012</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13227454-the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<blockquote style="background: rgb(231, 139, 154); border-radius: 1px; border: 1px solid rgb(188, 1, 81); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 15px 15px; padding: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye.
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Harold pens a quick reply and, leaving Maureen to her chores, heads to the corner mailbox. But then, as happens in the very best works of fiction, Harold has a chance encounter, one that convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. And thus begins the unlikely pilgrimage. Harold Fry is determined to walk six hundred miles from Kingsbridge to the hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed because, he believes, as long as he walks, Queenie Hennessey will live.
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Still in his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold embarks on his urgent quest across the countryside. Along the way he meets one character after another, each of whom unlocks his long-dormant spirit and sense of promise. Memories of his first dance with Maureen, his wedding day, his joy in fatherhood, come rushing back to him - allowing him to also reconcile the losses and the regrets. As for Maureen, she finds herself missing Harold for the first time in years.
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And then there is the unfinished business with Queenie Hennessy.</span>
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<p>I adored <b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/04/in-nutshell-review-library-edition.html" target="_blank">The Music Shop</a></b> and have been wanting to read more by Rachel Joyce. This intrigues me. A man walking six hundred miles to deliver this message in person, and what is Queenie Hennessy's unfinished business with him? I want to know, and I am sure Joyce will tell this story in a most charming and engaging way. </p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What are you waiting on?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-27526707988927860042024-03-19T03:00:00.034-04:002024-03-19T03:00:00.156-04:00Top Ten Tuesday - My Spring TBR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfr-h4i4zWeJKh3ez4OVxZd3bQ_OKo1nLliaFAee9pyDmre4G_bwhUtVbnpk56PV4vTIeY05QfBzp47mKXOBHvxRWsx2Gdbo5wuuRfh6fCer0TUx4IPntg1zPXBMeEuUY2vNXkiDN3BP4oIjxuy6BBiJIBA6kq3dUUsAAkbeU8YAQ77x5Z2r3fG878w/s2040/top%20ten%20tuesday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfr-h4i4zWeJKh3ez4OVxZd3bQ_OKo1nLliaFAee9pyDmre4G_bwhUtVbnpk56PV4vTIeY05QfBzp47mKXOBHvxRWsx2Gdbo5wuuRfh6fCer0TUx4IPntg1zPXBMeEuUY2vNXkiDN3BP4oIjxuy6BBiJIBA6kq3dUUsAAkbeU8YAQ77x5Z2r3fG878w/w640-h188/top%20ten%20tuesday.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by </span><a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1ca0d2; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;">That Artsy Reader Girl</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">. This week's topic is...</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>My Spring TBR!</b></i></span></div>
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<div>Spring! One of my favorite seasons, and you know what time it is? Time to read the summer books. I was scanning my ARC list for the next three months and was shocked by how many titles had the word "summer" in it. I included a few in the list below which is dominated by authors I know and love, but there are a few new-to-me authors in there, too. </div>
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<div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/197449176" target="_blank">Sumertime Punchline</a></b> by Betty Corrello</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195790730-one-last-shot" target="_blank">One Last Shot</a></b> by Betty Cayouette</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197577126-this-summer-will-be-different" target="_blank">This Summer Will Be Different</a></b> by Carley Fortune</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198563727-seven-summer-weekends" target="_blank">Seven Summer Weekends</a></b> by Jane L. Rosen</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/200121624" target="_blank">One Last Summer</a></b> by Kate Spencer</li></ol>
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<ol start="6" style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/199344908" target="_blank">Dad Camp</a></b> by Evan S. Porter</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199142186-the-summer-escape" target="_blank">The Summer Escape</a></b> by Jill Shalvis</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/199927030" target="_blank">The Lost Story</a></b> by Meg Shaffer</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199926331-the-ex-vows" target="_blank">The Ex Vows</a></b> by Jessica Joyce</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/199605487" target="_blank">The Faculty Lounge</a></b> by Jennifer Mathieu</li></ol>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ICj7WqEmklq6kWy6bvjYAGtxKDAsQE8w_iWLesJhUsbzf8xtG3qZ32KHuwE5FwgWj6hVNiqpvSClvhmLo2pQnKQHS8_MdiRHNwqhRaxFXaq8oJzwDj1C6NaKfDdXW-MMqY_idIYQb_aBK1V8YCDPq_FMDtAajGCWo9MXalsDxedVzF6kif6nFO98og/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ICj7WqEmklq6kWy6bvjYAGtxKDAsQE8w_iWLesJhUsbzf8xtG3qZ32KHuwE5FwgWj6hVNiqpvSClvhmLo2pQnKQHS8_MdiRHNwqhRaxFXaq8oJzwDj1C6NaKfDdXW-MMqY_idIYQb_aBK1V8YCDPq_FMDtAajGCWo9MXalsDxedVzF6kif6nFO98og/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What's on your spring TBR?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
</div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-53438507489404156562024-03-18T03:00:00.079-04:002024-03-18T03:00:00.252-04:00Isn't It Romantic?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcokihnCsDgps11IcQoPr-lc7WgiTDuv8lrLJBs-MTXSIghpH2xDE5MculPS7t2Xa-Qacvw5H63P2MOIdoRZQuIV0T33s7fIEmrjE4hK2bkz67cLj-oh9J1_uoLWsMo3E6M5k3s97lXPJjRAVbzMAtufeIf3OmpObMgM9n6H5JZFHg3BFoNVffoSLOQ/s2040/isnt%20it%20romatic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcokihnCsDgps11IcQoPr-lc7WgiTDuv8lrLJBs-MTXSIghpH2xDE5MculPS7t2Xa-Qacvw5H63P2MOIdoRZQuIV0T33s7fIEmrjE4hK2bkz67cLj-oh9J1_uoLWsMo3E6M5k3s97lXPJjRAVbzMAtufeIf3OmpObMgM9n6H5JZFHg3BFoNVffoSLOQ/w640-h188/isnt%20it%20romatic.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSvtU6JZjU78g_Vzzv4GAY0Qox6ozTjF437ujhAptqImZDKKC_KkgLA4e5dGRVBNTRHCk4jENXjlDS34aoRvS3oaVYsBKq53sMzaBjjei8I2aEcpp_nNEiVHZzfNCdJ8HArGFoiEZLNmBhXWwkS95foD_s8IoA73GCQFKAjH9pBCRKg3W4J8f3tkMuZOB/s1200/IIR%20031824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1200" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSvtU6JZjU78g_Vzzv4GAY0Qox6ozTjF437ujhAptqImZDKKC_KkgLA4e5dGRVBNTRHCk4jENXjlDS34aoRvS3oaVYsBKq53sMzaBjjei8I2aEcpp_nNEiVHZzfNCdJ8HArGFoiEZLNmBhXWwkS95foD_s8IoA73GCQFKAjH9pBCRKg3W4J8f3tkMuZOB/w640-h506/IIR%20031824.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS012Ty8QVagktrtFPv6cDz10nbwdYHfGtH1T9r7AHhE-KoVq1nEYf4rcPkAWOefow-__fjHtSEt0jDBjoYUJzSwR0VwBXVyO4JyGR6vV-nHLAmS-coLby4q80c_hJTfjUuHczJ2TFBgZWGTXgFqB54mXPH2-5DLaExlnapwsBLsCyejewoPV_9kovgPcN/s2560/The%20Happiness%20Blueprint.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1706" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS012Ty8QVagktrtFPv6cDz10nbwdYHfGtH1T9r7AHhE-KoVq1nEYf4rcPkAWOefow-__fjHtSEt0jDBjoYUJzSwR0VwBXVyO4JyGR6vV-nHLAmS-coLby4q80c_hJTfjUuHczJ2TFBgZWGTXgFqB54mXPH2-5DLaExlnapwsBLsCyejewoPV_9kovgPcN/s320/The%20Happiness%20Blueprint.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br />The Happiness Blueprint</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Ally Zetterberg</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> MIRA on April 2, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/178565829" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<blockquote style="background: rgb(231, 139, 154); border-radius: 1px; border: 1px solid rgb(188, 1, 81); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 15px 15px; padding: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Klara and Alex are having trouble connecting, but at least their calendars are in sync.
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Klara—who’s always thought of herself as a little different, a sneaker in a world full of kitten heels and polished boots—is feeling a disconnect these days. She has type 1 diabetes, currently works in a dead-end job, and is in desperate need of a change. When her dad falls ill, Klara begrudgingly agrees to help run his small construction company while he recovers, even though it means moving back home and pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone to the extreme.
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Alex has been a shell of himself since his brother died in an accident. He’s unemployed, has bills piling up, and is distant from friends and family. His therapist is encouraging him to keep things manageable by setting up a calendar, checking off tasks each day, and looking for work to help get him back on his feet. When an ad pops up for a carpenter position at a small construction company, he jumps at the chance to take a step forward.
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Klara's and Alex’s stories unfold through a series of miscommunications in this clever and witty novel from debut author Ally Zetterberg that’s about finding acceptance and even love in unexpected places.</span>
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<p>Both Klara and Alex were struggling in different ways, but things started looking up when they found each other.
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I honestly wasn't sure what I was expecting, but this was such a fun, sweet, and touching tale. Let me get this out of the way, the shared calendar was wonderful! What an interesting way for a couple to communicate and connect. Some of the entries were precious while others created some rather laughable moments. Regardless, it was a unique and standout part of this story for me. <br /><br />
All that aside, Klara and Alex really were the stars of this tale. I instantly wanted to hug and protect them because it was easy to see both were kind of stuck and experiencing some personal difficulties.
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Klara had moved from Sweden to England with many aspirations, but the pieces had yet to fall into place for her. When her family asked her to return to Sweden while her father underwent chemotherapy, Klara really had to go outside of her comfort zone. This effort paid off in a big way for Klara as she discovered a lot about herself and grew tremendously. I was so happy for her and proud of everything she accomplished. It was not easy, but Klara succeeded in more ways than she could ever have imagined.
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One of the benefits of being back in Sweden was meeting Alex. He had been battling his mental health issues since his brother's death. Getting a job was the first of many steps in the right direction, and the universe worked some magic when it brought him to Klara's business. Though it was a bit rocky at first, a beautiful friendship grew between Alex and Klara. It was really wonderful the way Alex embraced the whole of Klara and delighted in her quirks. Klara finally found someone worthy of her, and I simply adored seeing these two grow fonder of each other.
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The story was packed with lots of smile-worthy rom-com moments which were made even better with a great cast of characters. Zetterberg also did a lovely job incorporating heavier topics without weighing down the story. The combination of heavy and light was perfectly balanced resulting in a fun and fantastic reading experience.
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Overall, I am so glad I had this opportunity to travel to Sweden with Klara. It was a pleasure rooting for her as she pushed beyond her boundaries which resulted in self-discovery while also leading to her finding love and clarity for her future.
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwZspeMaUd2eyvOJp8XRwFG1Fpf6SQjJ3qEgefzHOgQMeEiHxu7Vcl8LteKxLw4EDWwpLNLFNgvFkduzSG4a_3oZi46teKvjk5QDmWJmp8_Dkml4AoDN2srK4llV47IhGoqVlDg50ySa3M19fNnc1clQFarRE8hD5qcG768SWzjbs34dizWJPqJ6U-puV/s2560/Old%20Flames%20and%20new%20Fortunes.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwZspeMaUd2eyvOJp8XRwFG1Fpf6SQjJ3qEgefzHOgQMeEiHxu7Vcl8LteKxLw4EDWwpLNLFNgvFkduzSG4a_3oZi46teKvjk5QDmWJmp8_Dkml4AoDN2srK4llV47IhGoqVlDg50ySa3M19fNnc1clQFarRE8hD5qcG768SWzjbs34dizWJPqJ6U-puV/s320/Old%20Flames%20and%20new%20Fortunes.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><br />Old Flames and New Fortunes</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Sarah Hogle</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> G.P. Putnam's Sons on April 2, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Fiction, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/194802762" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<blockquote style="background: rgb(231, 139, 154); border-radius: 1px; border: 1px solid rgb(188, 1, 81); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 15px 15px; padding: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">From the celebrated author of You Deserve Each Other and Just Like Magic, a steamy second-chance romance about a magical florist’s unexpected reunion with her high school sweetheart as she fake dates his soon-to-be stepbrother.
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A small, magical town tucked away in rural Ohio, Moonville is the perfect place for flora fortunist Romina Tempest to expand her shop, where she uses the language of flowers to help the hopeful manifest their love lives. After giving up on her own big romance eleven years ago, at least she can bask in the promise of others’.
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So, when the shop’s potential financier shares news of his wedding, Romina jumps on the opportunity to discuss buying the business. What better place to negotiate a deal than at a wedding, even if she has to fake-date her chaotic colleague Trevor to get an invitation? But all hell breaks loose when she discovers Trevor’s soon-to-be stepbrother is none other than Alex her high school sweetheart. Her greatest love. The boy who, eleven years ago, broke her heart, and who now thinks she and Trevor are dating.
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What starts as an innocent misunderstanding becomes a week-long fake dating scheme, as Romina resolves to make Alex pay for breaking her heart. The only issue? She can’t deny their still-burning connection. Caught between proving to Alex what he lost, and coming clean and risking her business, Romina must decide whether giving Alex another chance means going back on herself, or finally releasing her hold on the past.</span>
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<p>Romina had returned to Moonville over a decade ago with a broken and hardened heart. Though she no longer believed in romance, she had made a career in the love industry as a flora fortunist - telling fortunes via flowers. When, Alex, her first love returns to Moonville, Romina found those long dormant love flutters return, but is Romina willing to put her heart on the line again?
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This book was such a delight! Maybe my summary up there sounds a bit gloomy, but I feel confident in calling <b>Old Flames and New Fortunes</b> a rom-com. There were laughs and smiles galore while some parts of both Romina and Alex's past give the book some emotional heft. Hogle did a beautiful job weaving these elements together resulting in a tantalizing tale. <br /><br />
The Tempest family was a definite highlight for me. The three sisters along with Romina's niece had a great dynamic. There were the usual family antics, but I could also feel the love. These ladies were there for each other and supported one another as they built a successful business together. It was a pleasure getting to know them all.
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One plot point revolved around the expansion of the family business - The Magick Happens. This shop had been in the family for many years, and the girls grew up there watching their grandmother share her "magic" with others. It was fantastic being in the shop, and I relished learning about all the Tempest magic and the services and products they purveyed.<br /><br />
It was this expansion plot that lead to the fake dating between Romina and her friend/boss Trevor. I would say that some of the best rom-com moments in the book were a direct result of Trevor and Romina's fauxmance. Trevor was already hilarious on his own, so over the top, but add in a pretend relationship and two exes, and there was plenty of comedy gold to be mined.
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The fake dating trope was lots of fun, but I was really here for that second chance romance. Romina and Alex's love story, as well as its demise, was shown via flashbacks, but the whole story wasn't revealed until Alex and Romina actually discussed it. They were young, it was sad, but the best part was that they still had such strong feelings for each other, and here they were, both unattached and maybe ready to embark on something together. And there was the wedding week which was packed with fun activities and provided the perfect backdrop for their reunion to unfold. I am sure Hogle fans will appreciate the initial sparring while also getting a thrill out of seeing the sparks fly between these old flames.
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I would be remiss in not mentioning how wonderful Moonville was. I instantly fell in love with this charming little town. Lovely in its description and filled with some fabulous characters, the town was the perfect setting for this second chance romance.
<br /><br />
Overall, I had such a wonderful time seeing Alex and Romina reconnect and reignite their love for each other. Great characters, fun rom-com moments, and a bit of magic made this a brilliant and heartwarming read for me. I am crossing my fingers that we will get a chance to return to Moonville, as each of the Tempest sisters deserve their HEA.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;"><span style="background-color: initial; color: #bc0151; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER</span></p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Would you want your flower fortune?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-65888422639158869682024-03-17T03:00:00.173-04:002024-03-17T03:00:00.149-04:00Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p>Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by <a href="http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/">Caffeinated Book Reviewer</a> and Stacking the Shelves hosted by <a href="http://www.tyngasreviews.com/">Tynga's Reviews</a>.
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">My Week in Review</h2>
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<p>Happy Sunday and Erin go Bragh! I am not really a St. Pat's day person, but my mother likes to celebrate her heritage. I am up for some soda bread and corned beef. Anyone else doing anything? </p><p>Last Sunday, my daughter and I went out for <b><a href="https://thegundis.com/" target="_blank">Kurdish breakfast</a></b>. It was excellent (and the service was great, too). She then took me to the <b><a href="https://disney100exhibit.com/" target="_blank">Disney100</a></b> pop-up. They had some really neat items on display. I was most impressed with the costumes. Seeing them up close revealed some interesting details. I got to try <b>Raising Cane's</b>, too. I don't have one near me, and I must admit, it was tasty. All the hype about the Cane's sauce is true (in my opinion). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYpRufPM2mfE0OldTJXvEfr3Tu5pmLjMtZZeyVd8ZvLeZ0Lo1kYogK6YFQzJhOyd81gUTtmXJDTmCOrUfeETzbwMAUv52mf80GD0Bbyp2-fxus4PV3T9ACazszEnTdTNdL2qVlASSdwTAh7Xywt-Mm-HNK7kWiQPaVzl0p4aQqC7p8J3ULVyR9vqkTQ_R/s3000/Chicago%20032024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2098" data-original-width="3000" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYpRufPM2mfE0OldTJXvEfr3Tu5pmLjMtZZeyVd8ZvLeZ0Lo1kYogK6YFQzJhOyd81gUTtmXJDTmCOrUfeETzbwMAUv52mf80GD0Bbyp2-fxus4PV3T9ACazszEnTdTNdL2qVlASSdwTAh7Xywt-Mm-HNK7kWiQPaVzl0p4aQqC7p8J3ULVyR9vqkTQ_R/w640-h448/Chicago%20032024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Monday, I came home. My flight was almost delayed due to high winds in Newark, but we left on time. Whew! Then, it was work every day, though, we got some great news on Thursday. They are going to let us work from home two days a week now. I was excited. It's good timing with the NJ Transit hikes. I am going to travel Monday through Wednesday, and then work from home Thursday and Friday. I am hoping I am motivated and use the extra time well. </p>
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<p><b><u>On the Blog</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/one-old-one-new-jesse-q-sutanto.html" target="_blank">Monday</a></u></b>: Reviews - The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties; Well, That Was Unexpected</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/top-ten-tuesday-animal-antics.html" target="_blank">Tuesday</a></u></b>: TTT - Animal Antics</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/cant-wait-wednesday_01500485750.html" target="_blank">Wednesday</a></u></b>: CWW - I Hope This Finds You Well; The Guests on South Battery</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/isnt-it-romantic.html" target="_blank">Thursday</a></u></b>: Reviews - Kilt Trip; The Takeover</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/spell-month-in-books-march-2024.html" target="_blank">Friday</a></u></b>: Spell the Month in Books - March 2024</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/five-on-my-tbr-artsy-books.html" target="_blank">Saturday</a></u></b>: Five on My TBR - Artsy Books</li>
</ul>
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<p><b><u>Let's Discuss</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://gregsbookhaven.blogspot.com/2017/01/would-you-live-forever-if-you-could.html" target="_blank">Greg</a></b> wants to know if you would want to live forever</li><li><b><a href="https://theorangutanlibrarian.wordpress.com/2024/02/18/more-weird-books-i-like/" target="_blank">The Orangutan Librarian</a></b> shares some weird books they like</li><li><b><a href="https://pagesunbound.wordpress.com/2024/02/26/if-we-are-replaced-by-ai-who-will-hear-our-stories/" target="_blank">Krysta</a></b> wonders who will hear our stories if we are replaces by AI</li>
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line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2cbdYpPFjx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Beautiful Animals (@pandasareawsm)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
</div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">Stacking the Shelves</h2>
<div>
<p>I got a bunch of invites. The new ones are below. Some were for books I already had. I may download the <b>Rimmer</b> book. I have enjoyed her books in the past. I took advantage of a read-now situation for <b>If I Stopped Haunting You</b> because it was for a book that was on my TBR (and not releasing in June like every other book). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR-hSCxYWvAu6MlaR4UFnSXD-ZrUbN12-St7vXfl82XpZ7JOMMgwuUiyCoE_e_G4Xy7-B5O3qjZqYcvxQeHWdp53HR1HsAptRFeGIxQGb0Ko2yqe_ezx5ErkxAqt5DTWKiQokpyIxv5mZjRbjejvosYdkzA4lt7dlEtSKzB9pEV5UBMCohT-d_aUMubl5/s2219/STS%20031724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="2219" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR-hSCxYWvAu6MlaR4UFnSXD-ZrUbN12-St7vXfl82XpZ7JOMMgwuUiyCoE_e_G4Xy7-B5O3qjZqYcvxQeHWdp53HR1HsAptRFeGIxQGb0Ko2yqe_ezx5ErkxAqt5DTWKiQokpyIxv5mZjRbjejvosYdkzA4lt7dlEtSKzB9pEV5UBMCohT-d_aUMubl5/w640-h258/STS%20031724.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p><b><u>Netgalley/Edelweiss</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/203578889" target="_blank">If I Stopped Haunting</a></b> You by Colby Wilkens</li>
</ul>
<p><b><u>Invites</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/194803871" target="_blank">Archangel's Lineage</a></b> by Nalini Singh</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/199605682" target="_blank">The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh</a></b> by Claudia Gray</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75673972-when-i-lost-you" target="_blank">When I Lost You</a></b> by Kelly Rimmer</li>
</ul>
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<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Read Last Week</h2>
<div>
<p>The week started out solid, but it ended with a bang! <b>Effie Olsen</b> was my favorite book of the week. It was just everything I love. A great friends-to-lovers romance that was packed with humor, great banter, and fabulous characters. I was laughing or smiling at almost every moment as I read this book. It was also a wonderful coming home tale, and food! So much food. I loved it! </p>
<p><b>Find all my reviews on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/25774455-samantha-wlabb?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=read" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></p>
<p><b><u>Books</u></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SYa4_aNZEXvnNNFWvjjCdmnilsAb6KoSMdgo3Dh83Tcv6GfRg95xpk8Pp3unz1wZd-P2j8IRTGglVxVL2yp5-Ppfa08Ids3Z4bb_MVvhtiKb8QiPeE8yXQTeQzISluZKc0rBRutgoHXVKGTVLlH3TelukVblRoL46awvoh6qpJ6UZTUNkvh-RI3HMxQq/s2148/Read%20031724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="2148" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SYa4_aNZEXvnNNFWvjjCdmnilsAb6KoSMdgo3Dh83Tcv6GfRg95xpk8Pp3unz1wZd-P2j8IRTGglVxVL2yp5-Ppfa08Ids3Z4bb_MVvhtiKb8QiPeE8yXQTeQzISluZKc0rBRutgoHXVKGTVLlH3TelukVblRoL46awvoh6qpJ6UZTUNkvh-RI3HMxQq/w640-h196/Read%20031724.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><p></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112975158-asap" target="_blank">ASAP</a></b> by Axie Oh - ★★★★</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152948970-welcome-home-caroline-kline" target="_blank">Welcome Home, Caroline Kline</a></b> by Courtney Preiss - ★★★★</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/195597337" target="_blank">Secrets of Starshine Cove</a></b> by Debbie Johnson - ★★★★</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/154488299-the-kamogawa-food-detectives" target="_blank">The Kamogawa Food Detectives</a></b> by Hisashi Kashiwai - ★★★★ 1/2</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195430704-effie-olsen-s-summer-special" target="_blank">Effie Olsen's Special Summer</a></b> by Rochelle Bilow - ★★★★★</li>
</ul>
<p><b><u>Audiobooks</u></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjICOSAcs2cAdE1aCviE4JhFLSXqOO5oDvbxjDO4QYCrSR8Al10vB6tyuJZEN52GrtiMZN5oAAjHzccESGm3n9E1exKkPPwBWNVSOgrmc1pVPvoZadD0rWP8uvSydBZLRSKkWpYJt7pFE5LrgBFC7NysWntAJa63uwnPWYjbTv1BKhZo1aeubOFgQQcpg/s1098/Listen%20031724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1098" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjICOSAcs2cAdE1aCviE4JhFLSXqOO5oDvbxjDO4QYCrSR8Al10vB6tyuJZEN52GrtiMZN5oAAjHzccESGm3n9E1exKkPPwBWNVSOgrmc1pVPvoZadD0rWP8uvSydBZLRSKkWpYJt7pFE5LrgBFC7NysWntAJa63uwnPWYjbTv1BKhZo1aeubOFgQQcpg/s320/Listen%20031724.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/38136879" target="_blank">The Lovely and the Lost</a></b> by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - ★★★★</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129537428-coyote-lost-and-found" target="_blank">Coyote Lost and Found</a></b> by Dan Gemeinhart - ★★★★ 1/2</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Currently Reading</h2>
<div>
<p>I bumped my backlog book because I had to read a library book. I am sure I will enjoy the <b>White</b> book though. <b>Next to You</b> is fun. The hero is a total cinnamon roll. So far, the other <b>Bonam-Young</b> books I read have been good but they have not been able to surpass <b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/02/isnt-it-romantic_01740803153.html" target="_blank">Out on a Limb</a></b>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJk_LjIM5K1sPV6VCA7GcUOMyePmg99fwB-FJv7yGp_ryzVoncoM7JLQUoWnq8W3mNn4UbpRkqhTmk2k9FhQesyoDUXl83jMs8uccSeyiRXhK9vLDfOwaqWPmIZgQavNqhD9Ki1mE-K8hj69okMCBYfs24AtJjEpI-sFkfw3P4qLX5trHT9FH0ed8AEPM/s1098/Currently%20031724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1098" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJk_LjIM5K1sPV6VCA7GcUOMyePmg99fwB-FJv7yGp_ryzVoncoM7JLQUoWnq8W3mNn4UbpRkqhTmk2k9FhQesyoDUXl83jMs8uccSeyiRXhK9vLDfOwaqWPmIZgQavNqhD9Ki1mE-K8hj69okMCBYfs24AtJjEpI-sFkfw3P4qLX5trHT9FH0ed8AEPM/s320/Currently%20031724.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30068929-the-guests-on-south-battery" target="_blank">The Guests on South Battery</a></b> by Karen White</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/107525361-next-to-you" target="_blank">Next to You</a></b> by Hannah Bonam-Young</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">To Be Read</h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEgr6emOC5KxRZi85YG_zik0gdZ_iwHOvjGZns4vAZ4LTZKZYJGLpoKwj0UW8WcyXkQmMF0e9JB8x9cNw6WptBUiwoYCVychvTjmE78M6h9bXOzDWAMc2r8CQmnXIV-scOrgbe_V5K_OEvMiGNF59JS7psY3jZ-b5QyS_EzDQpD1XYB-N4PqBDQl28Qch/s2219/TBR%20031724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="2219" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEgr6emOC5KxRZi85YG_zik0gdZ_iwHOvjGZns4vAZ4LTZKZYJGLpoKwj0UW8WcyXkQmMF0e9JB8x9cNw6WptBUiwoYCVychvTjmE78M6h9bXOzDWAMc2r8CQmnXIV-scOrgbe_V5K_OEvMiGNF59JS7psY3jZ-b5QyS_EzDQpD1XYB-N4PqBDQl28Qch/w640-h246/TBR%20031724.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13227454-the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry" target="_blank">The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</a></b> by Rachel Joyce</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206756992-catch-a-wave" target="_blank">Catch a Wave</a></b> by Savannah Scott</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/198493739" target="_blank">Mistakes We Never Made</a></b> by Hannah Brown</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196845456-lovers-and-liars" target="_blank">Lovers and Liars</a></b> by Amanda Eyre Ward</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>How was your week?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-67284987951220976282024-03-16T04:00:00.060-04:002024-03-16T04:00:00.255-04:00Five on My TBR - Artsy Books<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTNskSexd6UhL1Pc8oJ0jr93kndxPEL7tpe8hiF8oOCSttzfJ--BUZXI--OA5i2RwgEvCeUEU7lLAUfJlMON3lq5W1ZkGWu1dVWb4haAXawGkn8BzFV9DpnPfgXpBtzBUX8MsQjXZF65jtukzujTvWmcSlqLNQTYyO4VnAI4WYtXh9j3bWj8SrD_vVolF/s2240/Five%20on%20My%20TBR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTNskSexd6UhL1Pc8oJ0jr93kndxPEL7tpe8hiF8oOCSttzfJ--BUZXI--OA5i2RwgEvCeUEU7lLAUfJlMON3lq5W1ZkGWu1dVWb4haAXawGkn8BzFV9DpnPfgXpBtzBUX8MsQjXZF65jtukzujTvWmcSlqLNQTYyO4VnAI4WYtXh9j3bWj8SrD_vVolF/w640-h360/Five%20on%20My%20TBR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div>
<p>
#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by <b><a href="https://localbeehuntersnook.home.blog/" target="_blank">E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook</a></b>. Learn more about it <a href="https://localbeehuntersnook.home.blog/5onmytbr/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Artsy Books</h2>
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<span><a name='more'></a></span>
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<div> I love any opportunity to feature more books and found this meme an interesting way to take a look at my TBR. I hope to also get some feedback from you. Should I keep these books on my TBR? Should I push them up the list? Without further ado, below are five books that seem to be artsy be it the character, the setting, the subject matter, and so forth. </div>
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<div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5U2GafEEoQ5vfixJC1437g3eeHOF1EEBE5quMi5Jq6BZyZ_vziarjHuT6btqjQ1hivBgLslBX0NCO0TMDuRTKmoOFUtMYlAJJk85j4p5acgfUx_FPj_KOrQ7Unnu2PrDKYDCfWxVYoPhAGDFQGox_hOVnVvRZlnfcgjxt4UbhL7lInWCYCEGsHTA71-s/s5550/1.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5550" data-original-width="3675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5U2GafEEoQ5vfixJC1437g3eeHOF1EEBE5quMi5Jq6BZyZ_vziarjHuT6btqjQ1hivBgLslBX0NCO0TMDuRTKmoOFUtMYlAJJk85j4p5acgfUx_FPj_KOrQ7Unnu2PrDKYDCfWxVYoPhAGDFQGox_hOVnVvRZlnfcgjxt4UbhL7lInWCYCEGsHTA71-s/s320/1.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150246174-mrs-quinn-s-rise-to-fame" target="_blank">Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame</a> </b>by Olivia Ford
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A huge-hearted, redemptive coming-of-old-age tale, a love story, and an ode to good food
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Nothing could be more out of character, but after fifty-nine years of marriage, as her husband Bernard’s health declines, and her friends' lives become focused on their grandchildren—which Jenny never had—Jenny decides she wants a little something for herself. So she secretly applies to be a contestant on the prime-time TV show Britain Bakes.
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Whisked into an unfamiliar world of cameras and timed challenges, Jenny delights in a new-found independence. But that independence, and the stress of the competition, starts to unearth memories buried decades ago. Chocolate teacakes remind her of a furtive errand involving a wedding ring; sugared doughnuts call up a stranger’s kind act; a simple cottage loaf brings back the moment her life changed forever.
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With her baking star rising, Jenny struggles to keep a lid on that first secret—a long-concealed deceit that threatens to shatter the very foundations of her marriage. It’s the only time in six decades that she’s kept something from Bernard. By putting herself in the limelight, has Jenny created a recipe for disaster?</blockquote>
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<div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgfbt1b544ZnE1u2S3cUoNg3TavYljEPhE7phsofS6B5QASxH2eqIoptl0Dcu4onujBmcGyJJinnMaPiB8e9cASeZ64i57mFoet0hhp3CN_j54bEvu7QvbrGimgMMce_tit_pJ7TtsliCmfVJLgFNdqM_xjbJGRx_qRvhZ03ryEF15P_rMm3VXfx_SrlL/s2400/2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgfbt1b544ZnE1u2S3cUoNg3TavYljEPhE7phsofS6B5QASxH2eqIoptl0Dcu4onujBmcGyJJinnMaPiB8e9cASeZ64i57mFoet0hhp3CN_j54bEvu7QvbrGimgMMce_tit_pJ7TtsliCmfVJLgFNdqM_xjbJGRx_qRvhZ03ryEF15P_rMm3VXfx_SrlL/s320/2.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203164444-no-one-does-it-like-you" target="_blank">No One Does It Like You</a> </b>by Katie Shepherd<blockquote>
College sweethearts reunite to restore more than just an old inn in this new romance by Katie Shepard, author of Sweeten the Deal.
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When’s the best time to tell your ex that you want them back?
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Probably not in the middle of a Category 3 hurricane. But when Broadway actor Tom Wilczewski is about to dive into the floodwaters to rescue his co-lead, he calls the ex-wife he hasn’t seen in ten years to swear he still loves her and ask for a chance to make things right.
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Two months later, Rose Kelly is tired of seeing pictures of her ex-husband Tom rescuing Hollywood darling Boyd Kellagher. Not that she’s jealous. Of course not. She’s far too busy taking care of her elderly aunt and worrying about the storm damage to the family B&B on Martha’s Vineyard to miss the love of her life. But after belatedly hearing Tom’s voicemail, Rosie asks him to follow through on his promises for once by helping her fix the inn. Thinking this is the perfect way to win her back, Tom agrees.
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When they get there, things are…less than ideal. Rosie expected the inn to be in better shape. She expected it to have more beds. And she expected more help from her actual family—not from Tom and the rest of his Broadway cast. But Rosie begins to wonder if maybe the life she expected isn’t the one she really wants. If she and Tom can repair the inn together, can they possibly repair the damage to the relationship they both thought was long gone?</blockquote>
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<div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FolbWKQt1NMtKtkumwxmm3ewCNUe9HGlwJJa5bGOigcCgSPQshyphenhyphenH3r3zfTHnq-c2WEaOIEH2dfhCuKdO5MrFGAN5j77piRuczoKD6lAz1fHlSj9HEN-3wcT8O_Qz25VOR14ZeYmHSGEYX0maSmCeMy2AFqbQ15hcyIxENHbr6ZT0lJhAt7K9IpxktliF/s500/3.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FolbWKQt1NMtKtkumwxmm3ewCNUe9HGlwJJa5bGOigcCgSPQshyphenhyphenH3r3zfTHnq-c2WEaOIEH2dfhCuKdO5MrFGAN5j77piRuczoKD6lAz1fHlSj9HEN-3wcT8O_Qz25VOR14ZeYmHSGEYX0maSmCeMy2AFqbQ15hcyIxENHbr6ZT0lJhAt7K9IpxktliF/s320/3.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/195430688" target="_blank">The Paris Novel</a></b> by Ruth Reichl<blockquote>
Bestselling author Ruth Reichl takes readers on an adventure of food, art, and fashion in 1980s Paris in this dazzling, heartfelt novel
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Stella reached for an oyster, tipped her head and tossed it back. It was cool and slippery, the flavor so briny it was like diving into the ocean... Oysters, she thought, where have they been all my life?
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When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual a one-way plane ticket and a note reading Go to Paris . But Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a childhood trauma has kept her confined to the strict routines of her comfort zone. When her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother’s last wishes.
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Alone in a foreign city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. Then she stumbles across a vintage store where she tries on a fabulous Dior dress. The shopkeeper insists that this dress was meant for Stella and, for the first time in her life, Stella does something impulsive. She buys the dress and together they embark on an adventure.
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Her first iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots, where Stella tastes her first oysters, and then meets an octogenarian art collector who decides to take her under his wing. As Jules introduces her to a veritable who’s who of the 1980s Paris literary, art, and culinary worlds, Stella begins to understand what it might mean to live a larger life.
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As weeks—and many decadent meals—go by, Stella ends up living as a “tumbleweed” at famed bookstore Shakespeare & Company, uncovers a hundred-year-old mystery in a Manet painting, and discovers a passion for food that may be connected to her past. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.</blockquote>
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<div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0N1j5c7F8MYm_t5MVH5WlDMLuzzAC7pzHVUUohp5473-Evh6i5QfxZFnNAW7Mi_HijsOHZkSim-d4FfcI5kh-Fh41r3lQ8eMVl0gZkwiotQhbz9zfAAVm_cqP0ZItdTtJpiz52zK2nynaYjCLAWUscaw3egFfXEHtrvbitK5F5clMYYcw2u9B_67OB8O5/s2173/4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2173" data-original-width="1399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0N1j5c7F8MYm_t5MVH5WlDMLuzzAC7pzHVUUohp5473-Evh6i5QfxZFnNAW7Mi_HijsOHZkSim-d4FfcI5kh-Fh41r3lQ8eMVl0gZkwiotQhbz9zfAAVm_cqP0ZItdTtJpiz52zK2nynaYjCLAWUscaw3egFfXEHtrvbitK5F5clMYYcw2u9B_67OB8O5/s320/4.jpeg" width="206" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/199798015" target="_blank">Under Your Spell</a></b> by Laura Wood<blockquote>
The daughter of an aging rock star finds herself working for the hottest musician on the planet and is shocked when sparks start to fly—especially since she swore she’d never, ever date a celebrity—in this unputdownable romance that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Emily Henry.
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She wants three things. He isn’t one of them...
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Dumped by her cheating ex, fired from her dream job, and about to lose her Clementine Monroe is not having a good day. So when her sisters get her drunk and suggest reviving a childhood ritual called the Breakup Spell, she doesn’t see the harm in it.
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But now Clemmie has accidentally ruined a funeral, had her first one-night stand, and she’s stuck with a new job she definitely doesn’t want—spending six weeks alone with the gorgeous and very-off-limits rock star, Theo Eliott.
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He’s the most famous man on the planet. Her life’s a disaster. As their summer together turns into its own kind of magic, is Clemmie cursed to repeat the mistakes of her past—or will her future see all her wishes come true?</blockquote>
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<div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7f2oa_KHthGIn4UjOSPUIpZdGMzKOSQWgee_lkvV6B1j735pPdTzieaVUZbDy8TxCmpigrC7gavMKkOogLdqp4P7YKcw2J-79XYjuaPdSoZ1WqSluUACMQyu6S6wUGE7v3wkkeblgiONRzW0ambNhdhwTEH__xeSn3tqL8t6HGbnBYIOQGymxOMxit8f/s445/5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7f2oa_KHthGIn4UjOSPUIpZdGMzKOSQWgee_lkvV6B1j735pPdTzieaVUZbDy8TxCmpigrC7gavMKkOogLdqp4P7YKcw2J-79XYjuaPdSoZ1WqSluUACMQyu6S6wUGE7v3wkkeblgiONRzW0ambNhdhwTEH__xeSn3tqL8t6HGbnBYIOQGymxOMxit8f/s320/5.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/184598233" target="_blank">Wedding Issues</a></b> by Elle Evans<blockquote>
Competition for a bridal magazine cover unleashes frenemy mayhem and family sparring in this hilarious, frothy debut. Olivia “Liv” Fitzgerald, soon-to-be-lawyer, can talk anyone into anything. Well, almost anything. When her scheming aunt throws her cousin, Kali, into a competition for a bridal magazine cover alongside Liv’s best friend, Leighton, all hell breaks loose. To save the day, Liv only has to
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a) Secure the Southern Charme cover for Leighton,<br />
b) Keep Aunt Charlotte happy and Kali’s wedding running smoothly,<br />
c) Finish her final year of law school and nab a coveted NYC big-law job, and<br />
d) Win over the guy of her dreams.<br /><br />
What, like it’s hard? With sparkling prose, debut author Elle Evans gives us a hysterical, moving twist on the classic bride wars story. Readers will root for Liv as she balances her schemes, dreams, and double Maid of Honor duties, discovering that integrity might be more important than smooth talking―even if it means she can't please everyone at once.</blockquote>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What artsy books are on your TBR?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-76389599275150170392024-03-15T04:00:00.033-04:002024-03-15T04:00:00.136-04:00Spell the Month in Books - March 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOxIdE0ZCRgDAyQS4DfhTzUmZ_wfUT5dU7AUDrmQfm-8w4QqLNRwqXmevXYxdY0aNKMZRXGdHMArqN4lyths02pvPPnyFHGG6_lAjd75XGUMOEXgOWu468GvcIbn97Bf4RFOCsKP-7qMA7apDEbcS1cJPKXFmBO_-zUpYRNfbdq1j4xwAl-UefFOpUAHQ/s2240/SpellMonth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOxIdE0ZCRgDAyQS4DfhTzUmZ_wfUT5dU7AUDrmQfm-8w4QqLNRwqXmevXYxdY0aNKMZRXGdHMArqN4lyths02pvPPnyFHGG6_lAjd75XGUMOEXgOWu468GvcIbn97Bf4RFOCsKP-7qMA7apDEbcS1cJPKXFmBO_-zUpYRNfbdq1j4xwAl-UefFOpUAHQ/w640-h360/SpellMonth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<p>Spell the Month in Books is hosted by <strong><a href="https://reviewsfromthestacks.wordpress.com/">Reviews From the Stacks</a></strong>. The goal is to spell the current month with the first letter of book titles, excluding articles such as 'the' and 'a' as needed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbGkVXVq1m_wJDphu39ooXOq1FG6zLft7RNM1huWjWgltJ7EWsXv1nrftkRZhDv8JILdOedSiP8hui_Gxg3jq3FPHN4tknoOrkDpbM8-GlGkVRM6GpxgwzkpQEkcbWJOfF1LkEunV0uQS5WubV68je6oz3uoIF-28HNSFq_jCxWaCeyB3GsCzAUtPp97O/s2229/March.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="2229" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbGkVXVq1m_wJDphu39ooXOq1FG6zLft7RNM1huWjWgltJ7EWsXv1nrftkRZhDv8JILdOedSiP8hui_Gxg3jq3FPHN4tknoOrkDpbM8-GlGkVRM6GpxgwzkpQEkcbWJOfF1LkEunV0uQS5WubV68je6oz3uoIF-28HNSFq_jCxWaCeyB3GsCzAUtPp97O/w640-h70/March.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtEIwfZHQq9QoKFC6R4ZmWrW2mMVjfmSg-hiUkNHXxrc3kSntX1PBirYyhsy9g5EL1AOQ_eHHaAtgrd-BxzWPaAV66sWEr41qFbezsZ1Iv-CiPKNNp_Tp0zp7JdKiDpbHLzytViXgXvIWM-aA7R_BeDlA0s-2UV0fnqlg_CJkG4zgU4-lz1Ric5aaCjjf/s2415/STM%20March%2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="2415" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtEIwfZHQq9QoKFC6R4ZmWrW2mMVjfmSg-hiUkNHXxrc3kSntX1PBirYyhsy9g5EL1AOQ_eHHaAtgrd-BxzWPaAV66sWEr41qFbezsZ1Iv-CiPKNNp_Tp0zp7JdKiDpbHLzytViXgXvIWM-aA7R_BeDlA0s-2UV0fnqlg_CJkG4zgU4-lz1Ric5aaCjjf/w640-h202/STM%20March%2024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />
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<p><b>M</b> - <b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/02/one-old-one-new-coyote-canyon-edition.html" target="_blank">The Messy Life of Jane Tanner</a></b> by Brenda Novak</p><p><b>A</b> - <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/177185880-after-annie" target="_blank">After Annie</a></b> by Anna Quindlen</p><p><b>R </b>- <b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/02/isnt-it-romantic-five-star-edition.html" target="_blank">Right on Cue</a></b> by Falon Ballard</p><p><b>C</b> - <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58100280" target="_blank">The Cheat Sheet</a></b> by Sarah Adams</p><p><b>H</b> - <b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/02/isnt-it-romantic-five-star-edition.html" target="_blank">The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley</a></b> by Courtney Walsh</p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>How would you spell the month?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-64933828948487721002024-03-14T04:00:00.076-04:002024-03-14T04:00:00.145-04:00Isn't It Romantic? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcokihnCsDgps11IcQoPr-lc7WgiTDuv8lrLJBs-MTXSIghpH2xDE5MculPS7t2Xa-Qacvw5H63P2MOIdoRZQuIV0T33s7fIEmrjE4hK2bkz67cLj-oh9J1_uoLWsMo3E6M5k3s97lXPJjRAVbzMAtufeIf3OmpObMgM9n6H5JZFHg3BFoNVffoSLOQ/s2040/isnt%20it%20romatic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcokihnCsDgps11IcQoPr-lc7WgiTDuv8lrLJBs-MTXSIghpH2xDE5MculPS7t2Xa-Qacvw5H63P2MOIdoRZQuIV0T33s7fIEmrjE4hK2bkz67cLj-oh9J1_uoLWsMo3E6M5k3s97lXPJjRAVbzMAtufeIf3OmpObMgM9n6H5JZFHg3BFoNVffoSLOQ/w640-h188/isnt%20it%20romatic.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1XdaTCLRWd4CexdYvVZ5fBJbvZsx_vVhPXTrsQtCdpL0Cw6TVggv_yluaEVv186oNGXEMmBIqXPzMp-ltf1MXEVD_YSfL-vWauc4ru6ZtoWp0rhOLG9o9xpx0Xnw2HAhOTXTj_Tec_Lf4GE6q_HR6-bZsvz1CatRkdlebKGXnjnJckkANnJIdVyHIavu/s1200/IIR%20031424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1200" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1XdaTCLRWd4CexdYvVZ5fBJbvZsx_vVhPXTrsQtCdpL0Cw6TVggv_yluaEVv186oNGXEMmBIqXPzMp-ltf1MXEVD_YSfL-vWauc4ru6ZtoWp0rhOLG9o9xpx0Xnw2HAhOTXTj_Tec_Lf4GE6q_HR6-bZsvz1CatRkdlebKGXnjnJckkANnJIdVyHIavu/w640-h496/IIR%20031424.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAr3DeYQHa-boAimfgXBwzw2CAHXKrUBlgkWjFH0rE1LufT7oqJuiwcExFUYW_7LHh2ZXMCLxIgNH3Flu3fAO4RlY6MWqkMIxSH0Pqx2Q1nShc4_rWtglhz3m3CTHqKBX7e9F9SkWj0ZOofHbFQsXGXzc9pIomuDcSc25XLQv8jxm2sfe52pVFTpEgt9u/s3200/Kilt%20Trip.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAr3DeYQHa-boAimfgXBwzw2CAHXKrUBlgkWjFH0rE1LufT7oqJuiwcExFUYW_7LHh2ZXMCLxIgNH3Flu3fAO4RlY6MWqkMIxSH0Pqx2Q1nShc4_rWtglhz3m3CTHqKBX7e9F9SkWj0ZOofHbFQsXGXzc9pIomuDcSc25XLQv8jxm2sfe52pVFTpEgt9u/s320/Kilt%20Trip.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Kilt Trip</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Alexandra Kiley</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Canary Street Press on March 5, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150444412-kilt-trip" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<blockquote style="background: rgb(231, 139, 154); border-radius: 1px; border: 1px solid rgb(188, 1, 81); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 15px 15px; padding: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Ready or Scot...
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Globetrotter Addie Macrae always follows her wanderlust. As a travel consultant, she jet sets around the world—anywhere but Scotland. But when she’s sent on assignment to help a struggling family-run tour company in the Highlands—and save her own job—Addie packs away her emotional baggage and turns on the professional charm.
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Rugged as the land he loves, Logan Sutherland’s greatest joy is sharing the beauty of Scotland’s hidden gems…even if it means a wee bit of red ink on the company’s bottom line. The last thing Logan wants is some American “expert” pushing tourist traps and perpetuating myths about the Loch Ness Monster—especially when Addie never leaves her desk to experience the country for herself.
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As they wage an office war, Logan discovers Addie’s secret connection to Scotland: a handful of faded Polaroids of her late mother. Hoping for a truce, he creates a private tour to the places in the pictures to help Addie find closure and appreciate the enchantment in less-traveled destinations, never expecting the off-limits attraction sparking between them. But Addie’s contract is almost up, and magic won’t pay the bills. They can’t afford distractions, but how can Addie do her job if she hasn’t explored all Scotland—and Logan—have to offer?</span>
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<p>When Addie was hired as a travel consultant for <i>Heart of the Highlands</i> tour company, she was excited since it would give her an opportunity to retrace her late mother's trip to Scotland. While this may have initially been a way to remember and reconnect with her mother, it became a way for Addie to heal and reconnect with herself.
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Scotland is one of those bucket list places for me, and I always jump at the chance to read stories set there. But that was not the only draw with <b>Kilt Trip</b>. I found so many things to love as I smiled, laughed, and swooned my way through this sweet and heartfelt romance.
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Scotland definitely had a starring role in this tale. Since a big part of this story was the tour packages from <i>Heart of the Highlands</i>, I was treated to several really amazing trips. I commend Kiley on the vivid descriptions which pulled me out of New Jersey and into the Highlands. I saw the sights and heard the sounds while also learning some interesting historical facts.
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Then there was Logan who totally stole my heart. I loved his commitment with trying to help visitors fall in love with his country. A big thing was his aversion to the "tourist trap" type attractions, but I have to say, I think I would be happy to be on his tours any day. His affection for his history and country shined brightly, as did his love for his family and Addie. I adored how he wanted to help Addie with her quest to find all the sites in her mother's pictures while also just wanting to be a part of her personal journey.
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I felt so much compassion and empathy for Addie. It may have been ten years since her mother's death, but it had a profound effect on her life. Losing her mother, and in a sense, her father at the same time, forced Addie to keep people at arm's length. She adopted a nomadic lifestyle that she thought she loved until Logan and everyone at <i>Heart</i> began breaking through those barriers.
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This was a healing journey for Addie, and I was glad she had so many wonderful people to support her along the way. I adored Logan's family and his co-workers who embraced Addie as one of their own. It was beautiful to see her want to put down roots while also attempting to mend her relationship with her father.
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Overall, this book satisfied my wanderlust while touching my heart. It was funny and sweet, and it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of this Kilt Trip.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;"><span style="background-color: initial; color: #bc0151; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER</span></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhC138b0LDfH69A87o8eEJDKRHzJSkdx8MSFh_e3V6gO18F-JtBrRSoDSkL4vpqWKs-5qSYXpCeR5GNgSOyFEbFvIK0CifeVtr1JSQf4EKZ7rzufgUiDVKeh6B-2V-t-I7OhU3Rj6TAYHfKS8hi76sEb10RqWos8rvqliPdLJpaGTwgTFRoN5RY9FbfP/s400/The%20Takeover.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbhC138b0LDfH69A87o8eEJDKRHzJSkdx8MSFh_e3V6gO18F-JtBrRSoDSkL4vpqWKs-5qSYXpCeR5GNgSOyFEbFvIK0CifeVtr1JSQf4EKZ7rzufgUiDVKeh6B-2V-t-I7OhU3Rj6TAYHfKS8hi76sEb10RqWos8rvqliPdLJpaGTwgTFRoN5RY9FbfP/s320/The%20Takeover.jpeg" width="209" /></a></div><br />The Takeover</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Cara Tanamachi</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> St. Martin's Griffin on January 30, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127284123-the-takeover" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<blockquote style="background: rgb(231, 139, 154); border-radius: 1px; border: 1px solid rgb(188, 1, 81); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 15px 15px; padding: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Sometimes, when you ask the universe for your soulmate, you wind up with your hate mate instead.
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On Nami's 30th birthday, she’s reminded at every turn that her life isn’t what she planned. She’s always excelled at everything – until now. Her fiancé blew up their engagement. Her pride and joy, the tech company she helped to found, is about to lose funding. And her sister, Sora, is getting married to the man of her dreams, Jack, and instead of being happy for her, as she knows she ought to be, she’s fighting off jealousy.
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Frustrated with her life, she makes a wish on a birthday candle to find her soulmate. Instead, the universe delivers her hate mate, Nami’s old high school nemesis, Jae Lee, the most popular kid from high school, who also narrowly beat her out for valedictorian. More than a decade later, Jae is still as effortlessly cool, charming, and stylish as ever, and, to make matters worse, is planning a hostile take-over of her start-up. sharp elbows and even sharper banter as the two go head-to-head to see who’ll win this time. But when their rivalry ignites a different kind of passion, Nami starts to realize that it's not just her company that's in danger of being taken over, but her heart as well.</span>
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<p>When Nami made her birthday wish, she never imagined the universe would reunite her with her high school nemesis, Jae. Although she tried to resist his charms, Nami found herself falling for the enemy who came to take her company and ended up taking her heart.
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I have a difficult relationship with enemies-to-lovers romances. The good news is that this one fell on the positive side for me. I feel like <b>The Takeover</b> was a success because only Nami saw Jae as the enemy. Jae held more fond memories of Nami. He credited her with challenging him in high school. He was also happy to be back in Nami's orbit as he was growing bored with his job and life, and he knew Nami would inject some excitement into it.
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Lucky me that I got to witness their reunion and subsequent meetings because these two were something special together. The banter, the teasing, the pranks -- my face hurt from how much I smiled and laughed. They were so competitive, too! I just knew if someone threw a dare out there, the other would jump on it. They did some crazy stuff to try and best the other, but what was really amazing was the way they worked so well together. It was a beautiful thing watching that hate turn to love because these two belonged to one another.
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Adding to my delight was a great group of quirky co-workers and loving families. As much as Jae complained about his family, all their interactions were bursting with affection. I had such a nice time with the Lees. And the office antics were terribly amusing. The chair-napping and the whiteboard debates were some of the highlights. But what I really loved was the family-vibe they had in the office. It was something I would really be thrilled to be part of.
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Overall, I had a fantastic time rooting for Nami and the Toggle family as she tried to fight the corporate takeover while allowing the takeover of her heart.</p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Would you rather visit<br />tourist traps OR local gems?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-76513460616333849622024-03-13T04:00:00.047-04:002024-03-13T04:00:00.146-04:00Can't Wait Wednesday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53aSI_fcqzE516965HJ6bPIP2DtqXmbpqo1WzVrt_EB1FK82lZPuSz6c1osC6P8rhkUH0E8dXSOD3DtDjCHVpLZMeQqong041vVYxI8yjzoc0q_9Opk96ZAhXmJo6N24vwAY8F2jujUVin5OE01xbZmTSjQ48Ggz4dbfboT5HZqVsqX2WstWMFW9jnFRE/s2040/cant%20wait%20wednesday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53aSI_fcqzE516965HJ6bPIP2DtqXmbpqo1WzVrt_EB1FK82lZPuSz6c1osC6P8rhkUH0E8dXSOD3DtDjCHVpLZMeQqong041vVYxI8yjzoc0q_9Opk96ZAhXmJo6N24vwAY8F2jujUVin5OE01xbZmTSjQ48Ggz4dbfboT5HZqVsqX2WstWMFW9jnFRE/w640-h188/cant%20wait%20wednesday.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<p><b>
Can’t-Wait Wednesday</b> is a weekly event hosted by <b><a href="https://www.wishfulendings.com/" target="_blank">Tressa at Wishful Endings</a></b> that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.<br /><br />
I am combining CWW with <b>Books From the Backlog</b> hosted by <b><a href="https://carolesrandomlife.com/" target="_blank">Carole at Carole's Random Life</a></b> in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">This week I can't wait for</h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S4dyX1PYzF3JTay6nnnypWDtLfDg8j2PnyvvxepS8JlaGoRkia880DK3bNZHWgFyKqEq5GbYyTO1eG_ftBTkvmNhojxTbm_wqy9lZhCIIe_zrnlhAbtS4UcYly78ACHqxeOl3-0MLU4v8DKddyB_sLA3rU_HDmSVk0VufstD4JL3lpPOusPjGMqYIU3O/s984/I%20Hope%20This%20Finds%20You%20Well.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S4dyX1PYzF3JTay6nnnypWDtLfDg8j2PnyvvxepS8JlaGoRkia880DK3bNZHWgFyKqEq5GbYyTO1eG_ftBTkvmNhojxTbm_wqy9lZhCIIe_zrnlhAbtS4UcYly78ACHqxeOl3-0MLU4v8DKddyB_sLA3rU_HDmSVk0VufstD4JL3lpPOusPjGMqYIU3O/s320/I%20Hope%20This%20Finds%20You%20Well.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><br />I Hope This Finds You Well</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Natalie Sue</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> William Morrow on May 21, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/200987323" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">In this office comedy, an admin worker accidentally gains access to her colleagues’ private email and direct messages and decides to use the intel to save her job.
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As far as Jolene is concerned, her interactions with her colleagues should start and end with her official duties as an admin for Supershops, Inc. Unfortunately, her irritating, incompetent coworkers don’t seem to understand the importance of boundaries. Her secret to survival? She vents her grievances in petty email postscripts, then changes the text color to white so no one can see—until one of her hidden messages is exposed. Her punishment: sensitivity training (led by the suspiciously friendly HR guy, Cliff) and rigorous email restrictions.
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When an IT mix-up grants her access to her entire department’s private emails and DMs, Jolene knows she should report it, but who can resist reading what their coworkers are really saying? And when she discovers layoffs are coming, she realizes this might just be the key to saving her job. The plan is simple: Gain her boss’s favor; convince HR she’s Supershops material; and beat the competition.
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But as Jolene is drawn further into her coworker’s private worlds and realizes each are keeping secrets, her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble—especially around Cliff, whom she definitely cannot have feelings for. Eventually she will need to decide whether she’s ready to leave the comfort of her cubicle, even if that means coming clean to her colleagues.</span>
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<p>I have done "office work" for most of my life, and my co-workers and I would often joke about our situation and shows and movies that satirize our experience. I think that's what drew me to this book. It will give me the opportunity to laugh at my life as I laugh at Jolene's circumstances. Sounds like it will be a good time. </p><p><br /></p>
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<div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4pSrcLLuN379aFi4aXvXeVOe8urcyZG75Fn70IhW1lFKFYmGKkSjzu3D4cRm7kjxwIbsIhRlmGRH6ye-DFxtNLdu5j4YGD-JLVegAVtGxg2t42iXJWuxJljd9aWSic6TRVaK0J-VjMojLaGS56e5tnurvyNa2HdyjZSYZCoKAGfri3OxLj9MOb8POyys/s500/%20The%20Guests%20on%20South%20Battery.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4pSrcLLuN379aFi4aXvXeVOe8urcyZG75Fn70IhW1lFKFYmGKkSjzu3D4cRm7kjxwIbsIhRlmGRH6ye-DFxtNLdu5j4YGD-JLVegAVtGxg2t42iXJWuxJljd9aWSic6TRVaK0J-VjMojLaGS56e5tnurvyNa2HdyjZSYZCoKAGfri3OxLj9MOb8POyys/s320/%20The%20Guests%20on%20South%20Battery.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><br />The Guests on South Battery</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Karen White</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Berkley on January 10, 2017</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Paranormal</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30068929-the-guests-on-south-battery" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Karen White invites you to explore the brick-walked streets of Charleston in her fifth Tradd Street novel, where historic mansions house the memories of years gone by, and restless spirits refuse to fade away...
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With her extended maternity leave at its end, Melanie Trenholm is less than thrilled to leave her new husband and beautiful twins to return to work, especially when she’s awoken by a phone call with no voice on the other end—and the uneasy feeling that the ghostly apparitions that have stayed silent for more than a year are about to invade her life once more.<br /><br />
But her return to the realty office goes better than she could have hoped, with a new client eager to sell the home she recently inherited on South Battery. Most would treasure living in one of the grandest old homes in the famous historic district of Charleston, but Jayne Smith would rather sell hers as soon as possible, guaranteeing Melanie a quick commission.
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Despite her stroke of luck, Melanie can’t deny that spirits—both malevolent and benign—have started to show themselves to her again. One is shrouded from sight, but appears whenever Jayne is near. Another arrives when an old cistern is discovered in Melanie’s backyard on Tradd Street.
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Melanie knows nothing good can come from unearthing the past. But some secrets refuse to stay buried....</span>
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<p>It's been a while since I read the last <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/53562-tradd-street" target="_blank">Tradd Street</a></b> book, so I thought I would make it my backlist book for this week. I have been enjoying this series with the last book FINALLY delivering on the romance that had been simmering for way too long. I am excited to return to this world and see how Melanie is handling her new circumstances. </p><p><br /></p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What are you waiting on?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-43550088732761203492024-03-12T04:00:00.069-04:002024-03-12T04:00:00.142-04:00Top Ten Tuesday - Animal Antics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfr-h4i4zWeJKh3ez4OVxZd3bQ_OKo1nLliaFAee9pyDmre4G_bwhUtVbnpk56PV4vTIeY05QfBzp47mKXOBHvxRWsx2Gdbo5wuuRfh6fCer0TUx4IPntg1zPXBMeEuUY2vNXkiDN3BP4oIjxuy6BBiJIBA6kq3dUUsAAkbeU8YAQ77x5Z2r3fG878w/s2040/top%20ten%20tuesday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfr-h4i4zWeJKh3ez4OVxZd3bQ_OKo1nLliaFAee9pyDmre4G_bwhUtVbnpk56PV4vTIeY05QfBzp47mKXOBHvxRWsx2Gdbo5wuuRfh6fCer0TUx4IPntg1zPXBMeEuUY2vNXkiDN3BP4oIjxuy6BBiJIBA6kq3dUUsAAkbeU8YAQ77x5Z2r3fG878w/w640-h188/top%20ten%20tuesday.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by </span><a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1ca0d2; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;">That Artsy Reader Girl</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">. This week's topic is...</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Animal Antics!</b></i></span></div>
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<div>I recently finished reading <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/192723842" target="_blank">Christa Comes Out of Her Shell</a></b> by Abbi Waxman which was about Christa, a zoologist. She specialized in marine life, but lots of animals were mentioned in this book which also featured an adorable pup. That had me thinking about other books that were made better by animals. Below are the first that came to my mind. </div>
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<div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204796292-love-chickens" target="_blank">Love & Chickens</a></b> by Kasey Morris - The chickens are right there in the title, and it was a lot of fun learning about competitive poultry with a few standout birds incorporated into this tale. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/02/library-loans_01961071721.html" target="_blank">Situationship</a></b> by Marina Adair - The family dog, Garbage Disposal, was not always on his best behavior, but his antics were comedy gold. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/06/isnt-it-romantic.html" target="_blank">Love, Theoretically</a></b> by Ali Hazelwood - My love for hedgehogs runs deep, and the one featured in this book was forever throwing shade at the heroine. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/01/in-nutshell-reviews_0189574674.html" target="_blank">Clover Hendry's Day Off</a></b> by Beth Morrey - During Clover's day off, she encounters a rabbit locked in a car, and well, claims it as her own. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/01/in-nutshell-reviews_0123714451.html" target="_blank">The Bright Spot</a></b> by Jill Shalvis - This book took place on a farm, so there were lots of animal, but the baby goat, Dammit Ziggy, stole the show. </li></ol>
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<ol start="6" style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/01/amreading-ya.html" target="_blank">Even If It Breaks Your Heart</a></b> by Erin Hahn - This book was set in the rodeo world, so lots of horses and bulls. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/08/in-nutshell-reveiws.html" target="_blank">The Travelling Cat Chronicles</a></b> by Hiro Arikawa - Nana was a special cat who accompanied Satoru on this important trip. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2020/03/isnt-it-romantic_26.html" target="_blank">The Tourist Attraction</a></b> by Sarah Morgenthaler - Ulysses the moose played a role in all three books, as did Jake, the blind dog who was always well dressed. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37827184-wild-on-my-mind" target="_blank">Wild on My Mind</a></b> by Laurel Kerr - This romance is set in a zoo, so many, many interesting animal interactions, but a feisty honey badger named fluffy was given a point of view which was quite amusing. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58733693-remarkably-bright-creatures" target="_blank">Remarkable Bright Creatures</a></b> by Shelby Van Pelt - This book also had another non-human narrator - Marcellus the octopus. He was a highlight for sure. </li></ol>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Have you met any great animals in books?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
</div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-15272847799139216022024-03-11T04:00:00.017-04:002024-03-11T04:00:00.140-04:00One Old, One New - Jesse Q. Sutanto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mbgZCyGVDWMKhZV4Pb3qfULiUpwu4GLzmvd1L-k8l1QGHKsI8Ldo68-SaFbBmNGgob9cpJwqg8LPm81KOqlwnWzPEyHQGyKidj_GoVQl3GVn4w_vhAhCy5kZeLVeOgOuMfZQxkikQBvkgB8wDylnZbqdiX0xzx7HvC0ov64MA5Mo0cu9S5vS-d1q8Q/s664/one%20old%20one%20new.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="664" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mbgZCyGVDWMKhZV4Pb3qfULiUpwu4GLzmvd1L-k8l1QGHKsI8Ldo68-SaFbBmNGgob9cpJwqg8LPm81KOqlwnWzPEyHQGyKidj_GoVQl3GVn4w_vhAhCy5kZeLVeOgOuMfZQxkikQBvkgB8wDylnZbqdiX0xzx7HvC0ov64MA5Mo0cu9S5vS-d1q8Q/w640-h104/one%20old%20one%20new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><p><b>One Old, One New</b> features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Jesse Q. Sutanto.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqThp-2t8B4ehD1bXJZbVDSlAsO1LiwwzB2olLvxGYWGRKaCd5qdL36SOzL2WvBR4DJP3INGCNRoiQ0AkW2l1dVRd0UELw3_VR8-NyuqvK1q_-WXqEiQCmg3i_yKYxc8wQlrcVQ15eD58zMfx20oAgb_DygHjFPDsQx1hB1uwK_vX7i683Nw_bt5KqyeP1/s1200/OOON%20031124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1200" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqThp-2t8B4ehD1bXJZbVDSlAsO1LiwwzB2olLvxGYWGRKaCd5qdL36SOzL2WvBR4DJP3INGCNRoiQ0AkW2l1dVRd0UELw3_VR8-NyuqvK1q_-WXqEiQCmg3i_yKYxc8wQlrcVQ15eD58zMfx20oAgb_DygHjFPDsQx1hB1uwK_vX7i683Nw_bt5KqyeP1/w640-h496/OOON%20031124.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kLZFA-RI8g1U8ROqwHprA3l0sUcCNN5Zeq5sidtVDOE49Ufr35jrnpnVypknLDSy3yT8I8XJfR4H8PTGk4rgEUOq34JeZIrrYOkXFz7f3VqrWZWwJx_ze5d8pk8vKui_CqKRHj475IrRK8xoR1O2UZjwEz5nTSVs6ggw26suG0Fs8rsPEAqQC0sP43YM/s2560/The%20Good%20the%20bad%20the%20aunties.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1706" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kLZFA-RI8g1U8ROqwHprA3l0sUcCNN5Zeq5sidtVDOE49Ufr35jrnpnVypknLDSy3yT8I8XJfR4H8PTGk4rgEUOq34JeZIrrYOkXFz7f3VqrWZWwJx_ze5d8pk8vKui_CqKRHj475IrRK8xoR1O2UZjwEz5nTSVs6ggw26suG0Fs8rsPEAqQC0sP43YM/s320/The%20Good%20the%20bad%20the%20aunties.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br />The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Jesse Q. Sutanto</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Berkley on March 26, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Ficton, Mystery</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/196522663" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">What should have been a family celebration of Chinese New Year descends into chaos when longtime foes crash the party in this hilariously entertaining novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.
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After an ultra-romantic honeymoon across Europe, Meddy Chan and her husband Nathan have landed in Jakarta to spend Chinese New Year with her entire extended family. Chinese New Year, already the biggest celebration of the Lunar calendar, gets even more festive when a former beau of Second Aunt’s shows up at the Chan residence bearing extravagant gifts—he’s determined to rekindle his romance with Second Aunt and the gifts are his way of announcing his courtship.
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His grand gesture goes awry however, when it’s discovered that not all the gifts were meant for Second Aunt and the Chans—one particular gift was intended for a business rival to cement their alliance and included by accident. Of course the Aunties agree that it’s only right to return the gift—after all, anyone would forgive an honest mistake, right? But what should have been a simple retrieval turns disastrous and suddenly Meddy and the Aunties are helpless pawns in a decades-long war between Jakarta’s most powerful business factions. The fighting turns personal, however, when Nathan and the Aunties are endangered and it’s up to Meddy to come up with a plan to save them all. Determined to rescue her loved ones, Meddy embarks on an impossible mission—but with the Aunties by her side, nothing is truly impossible…
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<p>The Aunties are back, and as expected, they brought their special brand of chaotic warmth. This installment finds Meddy and the Aunties in Jakarta to celebrate Chinese New Year. A man from the Aunties' past gets them implicated in a situation with some people who may or may not be law-abiding business people. When Nathan is taken captive, Meddy and the Aunties must set things right or face the consequences.
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I know, that last line sounds terribly ominous, but this was an Aunties book, so I knew hilarity would ensue. I always find it difficult to put a label on an Aunties book. They are sort of cozy capers with some suspense/criminal/mystery element. Here, Meddy had to recover the lost title deed while she tried to convince herself that these perfectly law-abiding business people were not really criminals. Of course Meddy and her family had a plan, and of course, it went awry, but that's what I love and expect from this clan.
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As always, the story was fast paced and packed with shenanigans and mayhem. Nathan was his adorable, precious self while Meddy was simultaneously exasperated and appreciative of her zany family as the Aunties wrecked their own special brand of havoc.
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Though I am sad to say goodbye to these characters, I was happy to have this last adventure with them. It was a rollicking good time filled with humor, merriment, and lots of heart.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;"><span style="background-color: initial; color: #bc0151; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER</span></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRW3HM-JNoehA0EUca575rvaDDWTjac9jIPtkgIISrpN2a5kjs-k0GK0k_EEWJYwogpFccTPSoTLvsGUXXzd4NTAoLJZmHityNDHMZhnN4qBpDWaacjsACtXu2XSp8Qv35wDDj0-VZU4-s2qinoLu2hvi2XE36EQ277Erz94Uy85jQA6t17fzxPoIKLgl/s400/Well%20That%20Was%20Unexpected.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRW3HM-JNoehA0EUca575rvaDDWTjac9jIPtkgIISrpN2a5kjs-k0GK0k_EEWJYwogpFccTPSoTLvsGUXXzd4NTAoLJZmHityNDHMZhnN4qBpDWaacjsACtXu2XSp8Qv35wDDj0-VZU4-s2qinoLu2hvi2XE36EQ277Erz94Uy85jQA6t17fzxPoIKLgl/s320/Well%20That%20Was%20Unexpected.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><br />Well, That Was Unexpected</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Jesse Q. Sutanto</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Delacorte Press on September 27, 2022</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1XY0Orgp89DxyYzC-Kq3RAAIq6_2sJcVVVCoM_N7IiW3CvFS1g15bmIdBFfJINSoB9V_79DfynBHqYTdJ3LKA0nKsvxZDN34-tBKs7liYQMyPi9JQTu2f-EgSwWhnz2rSMuz-hj4NLiRLwWk8PFwr0JAckpqz29v7dg3Um5Oy-zGXd69lvFSeT1I1Q/s1600/four-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59382071-well-that-was-unexpected" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">An outrageous, laugh-out-loud YA rom-com about a girl who's whisked from LA to her mother's native Indonesia to get back to her roots and finds herself fake-dating the son of one of the wealthiest families there, from the author of Dial A for Aunties.
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After Sharlot Citra's mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother's native Indonesia. It'll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.
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When George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.
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To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot's mother and George's father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.
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When the kids find out about their parents' actions, they're horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?</span>
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<p>After being caught in a compromising position by her mother, Sharlot was banished to Indonesia where she embarked on many new experiences resulting in her learning a lot about her culture, her mother, and herself.
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I am a big fan of Sutanto's adult books, so I thought I would give her young adult books a try. I was happy to find that this book was brimming with Sutanto's signature humor and filled with warm and wacky characters who would give the Aunties a run for their money.
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The catfishing plot was rather hilarious, and the way Sharlot and George tried to maintain the stories their parents told resulted in some great comedic moments. But the best was when George and Sharlot started seeing the true version of the other person. It was sweet when they started warming to each other and began to really SEE each other.
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The romance was charming, and it was wrapped in a whole lot of fun. As the fake dating plot took center stage, George and Sharlot not only went on dates, but they also traveled together. Of course there were lots of family members along for the excursions which kept me amused, but it was also a wonderful way to showcase the beauty of Jakarta and Bali, as well as Indonesian culture. The sights, the sounds, the food! I felt fully immersed in all the wonderful things these islands had to offer, and Sutanto's love of it all shined making it a very special part of this story.
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Both Sharlot and George had aspects of their life that they struggled with, and it was wonderful to see them make progress in these areas. Sharlot and her mother had a very strained relationship, but this trip allowed Sharlot to see her mother as more human. It allowed them to connect in ways they never had before when her mother kept her past under wraps.
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George always questioned his place in the family business, and he always felt the absence of his mother. He gained a lot of clarity about what he wanted in his future while also making some inroads with his father.
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Well, That Was Unexpected</b> was a coming of age story punctuated with first love and packed with family and humor which amused me while also tugging at my heart strings.
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Are you a coffee lover?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-57078593040681231942024-03-10T04:00:00.159-04:002024-03-10T05:59:23.739-04:00Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p>Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by <a href="http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/">Caffeinated Book Reviewer</a> and Stacking the Shelves hosted by <a href="http://www.tyngasreviews.com/">Tynga's Reviews</a>.
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">My Week in Review</h2>
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<p>Happy Sunday! I may have worked less last week, but I sure was busy. Tuesday is what I am calling "O" doctor day. I visited the ophthalmologist and the orthopedist. </p><p>I had to tell the eye doctor that unless it's life or death, I cannot afford all these medications he is suggesting. He decided to plug my tear ducts. I am not sure if it's making a difference yet, but I am keeping an open mind. The orthopedist is treating me for neuropathy with an oral medication. I was told it would take time for the medication to work, but again, trying to keep an open mind. </p><p>Friday, I flew into Chicago. My daughter and I got dinner at bb.q Chicken. It's a chain, but there is not one near me, and I had read an article that ranked it number one for fried chicken. It was excellent. Then, I went to watch her showcase. Her piece was beautiful, and one of her dancers was sick, so I got to see her perform an extra piece. </p><p>Yesterday, we went to <b><a href="http://www.annsather.com/" target="_blank">Ann Sather</a></b> for breakfast. My daughter had two shows, and I didn't want to get in her way, so I read and blogged. Today, we are going for Turkish Breakfast. My daughter loved it so much when she visited Turkey. I am game for trying something new. I think we are going to the Disney pop-up, too. On Monday, I head home. I hope there is no plane drama like my last trip from here. </p><p><br /></p>
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<p><b><u>On the Blog</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/in-nutshell-reviews.html" target="_blank">Monday</a></u></b>: Reviews - The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County, Good Material</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/top-ten-tuesday-i-would-like-to-learn.html" target="_blank">Tuesday</a></u></b>: TTT - I Would Like to Learn More</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/cant-wait-wednesday.html" target="_blank">Wednesday</a></u></b>: CWW - The Rule Book by Sarah Adams</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/amreading-ya.html" target="_blank">Thursday</a></u></b>: Reviews - In the Orbit of You, The Atlas of Us</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/discussion-reading-rate.html" target="_blank">Friday</a></u></b>: Discussion - Reading Rate</li>
<li><b><u><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/sloth-goes-places-ohio.html" target="_blank">Saturday</a></u></b>: Sloth Goes Places - Ohio</li>
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<p><b><u>Let's Discuss</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://theorangutanlibrarian.wordpress.com/2024/02/11/why-is-there-an-obsession-with-rehabilitating-villains/" target="_blank">The Orangutan Librarian</a></b> wonders why there is an obsession with rehabilitating villains </li><li><b><a href="https://pagesunbound.wordpress.com/2024/02/25/the-first-annual-libby-book-awards-and-another-missed-opportunity-for-childrens-literature/" target="_blank">Krysta</a></b> talks the Libby Awards and missed opportunities</li><li><b><a href="https://www.spiritblog.net/why-i-dont-read-about-being-a-veterinarian/" target="_blank">Heather</a></b> doesn't want to read about being a veterinarian and this is why</li>
</ul>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">Stacking the Shelves</h2>
<div>
<p>I was so excited to get the invite to <b>Kate Robb</b>'s new book. I LOVED <b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/12/isnt-it-romantic-time-travel-edition.html" target="_blank">This Spells Love</a></b> and actually had a pending request on Netgalley. I am hoping <b>Prime Time Romance</b> is just as amazing. <b>Perfect Fit</b> looks cute, too. My daughter was happy to hear we got the new <b>Ali Hazelwood</b>. I am looking forward to it as well. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5tLgZ6EmxkWUCHYepbH1stvf1ZIvWw1sow7bO628Yahn_MHyBvG1o7iN8bFpQ2LCWY3UIIDSqKUkVeiKe31fItjoN5DhHYwHHhRk3nolgvOwzQpV5DoJ4Qc5qfHtCEBdV1JEt_jMLj7BayvYzPOschitIdmSoR06morWmSj7n0MVCF_0GCI_EqARanQ6/s3000/STS%20031024%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="3000" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5tLgZ6EmxkWUCHYepbH1stvf1ZIvWw1sow7bO628Yahn_MHyBvG1o7iN8bFpQ2LCWY3UIIDSqKUkVeiKe31fItjoN5DhHYwHHhRk3nolgvOwzQpV5DoJ4Qc5qfHtCEBdV1JEt_jMLj7BayvYzPOschitIdmSoR06morWmSj7n0MVCF_0GCI_EqARanQ6/w640-h244/STS%20031024%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq05p9x_3uuXcUqLIKct64o2hqIn87SV8iEWIkCBjvbHj2aZrTlk9dzAb99gNQnLcHE7a_JPr9QtS9BeIu2WNtb8DOI4Fvq3yaBUSpryGPOuCFJciX_i2wcO-idJz3s6SeN-vAsB0A-IH3EePtMJrHb-_YTMCg8XPGxFFCqKONU33f2Dbq3Akmjy9o80NQ/s3000/STS%20031024%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="3000" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq05p9x_3uuXcUqLIKct64o2hqIn87SV8iEWIkCBjvbHj2aZrTlk9dzAb99gNQnLcHE7a_JPr9QtS9BeIu2WNtb8DOI4Fvq3yaBUSpryGPOuCFJciX_i2wcO-idJz3s6SeN-vAsB0A-IH3EePtMJrHb-_YTMCg8XPGxFFCqKONU33f2Dbq3Akmjy9o80NQ/w640-h244/STS%20031024%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p><b><u>Netgalley/Edelweiss</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/198716261" target="_blank">Not in Love</a></b> by Ali Hazelwood</li>
</ul>
<p><b><u>Invites</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/207714948-recipe-for-confidence" target="_blank">Recipe for Confidence</a></b> by Samantha Picaro</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/203578971" target="_blank">Perfect Fit</a></b> by Clare Gilmore</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205846802-prime-time-romance" target="_blank">Prime Time Romance</a></b> by Kate Robb</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/174156328" target="_blank">Speculations in Sin</a></b> by Jennifer Ashley</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/205886573" target="_blank">Together in a Broken World</a></b> by Paul Michael Winters</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/192724118" target="_blank">When I Think of You</a></b> by Myah Ariel</li>
</ul><div><p><b><u>Purchased</u></b></p><ul><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23483731-the-lake-season" target="_blank">The Lake Season</a></b> by Hannah McKinnon<br /></li></ul></div>
</div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Read Last Week</h2>
<div>
<p>I had to alter my TBR because of all the time spent with doctors visits, traveling, and visiting with my daughter. I got most of the books read though, and the top book was <b>After Annie</b>. This is another example of book I knew I would like, but it really exceeded my expectations. I loved the way the author explored and work through this family's pain, grief, and healing. Very thoughtful and well done. </p>
<p><b>Find all my reviews on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/25774455-samantha-wlabb?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=read" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lk1BSWPBzP0S5LKjEHp26XLtzUvi9a8sxaouVHzwco7LC59M7LWR0BC4ObXLikGDqfBEdkTY-jO0gv3DAJF1AtSIQPatOyI019zc_TJHsWEzomjDCSZpoEYx16VfF0UwkmMyyf9ruGISvd4lTdMQdBnNvGiCNt9VgH2-MTC3X3if_-XP9G3-4sLR9y_a/s1664/Read%20031024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="1662" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lk1BSWPBzP0S5LKjEHp26XLtzUvi9a8sxaouVHzwco7LC59M7LWR0BC4ObXLikGDqfBEdkTY-jO0gv3DAJF1AtSIQPatOyI019zc_TJHsWEzomjDCSZpoEYx16VfF0UwkmMyyf9ruGISvd4lTdMQdBnNvGiCNt9VgH2-MTC3X3if_-XP9G3-4sLR9y_a/w640-h640/Read%20031024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p><b><u>Books</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/160047094" target="_blank">Dungeons and Drama</a></b> by Kristy Boyce - ★★★★ 1/2</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/177185880" target="_blank">After Annie</a></b> by Anna Quindlen - ★★★★★</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204796292-love-chickens" target="_blank">Love & Chickens</a></b> by Kasey Morris - ★★★★</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/192723842" target="_blank">Christa Comes Out of Her Shell</a></b> by Abbi Waxman - ★★★★ 1/2</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200034157-with-any-luck" target="_blank">With Any Luck</a></b> by Ashley Poston - ★★★★</li>
</ul>
<p><b><u>Audiobooks</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45294613-dear-edward" target="_blank">Dear Edward</a></b> by Ann Napolitano - ★★★★ 1/2</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Currently Reading</h2>
<div>
<p>It's great to be back in the <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/54618808" target="_blank">XOXO</a></b> world. The life of a K-Pop idol is a little crazy, but I am rooting for these two. I am listening to <b>The Lovely and the Lost</b> for a reading challenge. I don't tend to read thrillers, but I do enjoy Barnes' books, so it seemed like a good choice. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz4LINHPN9kNN5jJhiyB9NRYYU3GExgOMhuM6l5vK0FOlH5WljOaB4Ca3T3qJrGve9bgE6ttuMqRahLxu8AZafsE6RlUDQBRoThNqbdjKPYUhZrI1BwF0InBtFwVrsMaxJw54MhD5OCSGSRWtqbnb8uSEXx5au__PcXuLV4KEJ9zYAEHTccHnFCXw59hM/s2180/Currently%20031024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="2180" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz4LINHPN9kNN5jJhiyB9NRYYU3GExgOMhuM6l5vK0FOlH5WljOaB4Ca3T3qJrGve9bgE6ttuMqRahLxu8AZafsE6RlUDQBRoThNqbdjKPYUhZrI1BwF0InBtFwVrsMaxJw54MhD5OCSGSRWtqbnb8uSEXx5au__PcXuLV4KEJ9zYAEHTccHnFCXw59hM/s320/Currently%20031024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112975158-asap" target="_blank">ASAP</a></b> by Axie Oh</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/38136879" target="_blank">The Lovely and the Lost</a></b> by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (audiobook)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">To Be Read</h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStp1pywbh62L_DAy3BfUi0cIlhEX3S22jSSX8tHgWLPC456t_-bfoAjQZvGHGPmXKD0Z1Dobun-Tz-KnuHeMC1WWWLt2UZv7fhfgqOeHEx4AmghJu6D1Qn18C2RM6Trs1K1NWkr2AwXQaHMf44T_4w7n9w6swAZTukOWeil1qFPxeMkEZhocfCzn1nlLo/s3000/TBR%20031024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="3000" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStp1pywbh62L_DAy3BfUi0cIlhEX3S22jSSX8tHgWLPC456t_-bfoAjQZvGHGPmXKD0Z1Dobun-Tz-KnuHeMC1WWWLt2UZv7fhfgqOeHEx4AmghJu6D1Qn18C2RM6Trs1K1NWkr2AwXQaHMf44T_4w7n9w6swAZTukOWeil1qFPxeMkEZhocfCzn1nlLo/w640-h244/TBR%20031024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152948970-welcome-home-caroline-kline" target="_blank">Welcome Home, Caroline Kline</a></b> by Courtney Preiss</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30068929-the-guests-on-south-battery" target="_blank">The Guests on South Battery</a></b> by Karen White</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/195597337" target="_blank">Secrets of Starshine Cove</a></b> by Debbie Johnson</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195430704-effie-olsen-s-summer-special" target="_blank">Effie Olsen's Special Summer</a></b> by Rochelle Bilow</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>How was your week?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-657142905444593452024-03-09T03:00:00.064-05:002024-03-09T03:00:00.130-05:00Sloth Goes Places - Ohio<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89GpJ7VpKbHLHMrtg47xm9Rz-5hmuliXhWNEdYBdxOwNBJ5fgTwVPeyfbR0-RkLYk8CVVB7ZaBZwtBTTaYbwVUMf_yY1Ai2FYc7u0oe8C-N6Tha40cBiowwBbIN4HAJ429cG8q4nEbCvN_sIXAG4FdbSup6hpgo_xasvQuPjLRII2jCKJmDQEaQXQSYgx/s3000/sloth%20goes%20places.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="3000" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89GpJ7VpKbHLHMrtg47xm9Rz-5hmuliXhWNEdYBdxOwNBJ5fgTwVPeyfbR0-RkLYk8CVVB7ZaBZwtBTTaYbwVUMf_yY1Ai2FYc7u0oe8C-N6Tha40cBiowwBbIN4HAJ429cG8q4nEbCvN_sIXAG4FdbSup6hpgo_xasvQuPjLRII2jCKJmDQEaQXQSYgx/w640-h396/sloth%20goes%20places.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span><a name='more'></a></span>
<p><strong>Sloth Goes Places</strong> is a feature where I share books I have tracked from previous <strong>Literary Escapes</strong> reading challenge hosted by <strong><a href="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/">Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book</a></strong>. </p>
<p>Today we are looking at books set in ....</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Ohio</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRJEGbXFkGEzwarZVs1_STS02aOHPlkoqiZeBgYzD7Uc7awgLpvZFaXFU4b5LpQpDFH0lHfZ5GU_eK5QU-33m6ATcDQEBDTEDlCzlYHjIfjs07XHL4Ma2jo9EV1bcfG10hgzAeBzE5ePUpgm_KLUnDtoE7VTOHB4t5FHVTtCEI3iWWX35d7xVn6LF30SN/s2000/OH.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRJEGbXFkGEzwarZVs1_STS02aOHPlkoqiZeBgYzD7Uc7awgLpvZFaXFU4b5LpQpDFH0lHfZ5GU_eK5QU-33m6ATcDQEBDTEDlCzlYHjIfjs07XHL4Ma2jo9EV1bcfG10hgzAeBzE5ePUpgm_KLUnDtoE7VTOHB4t5FHVTtCEI3iWWX35d7xVn6LF30SN/w400-h300/OH.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I have briefly visited Ohio several times. Once, for a Delta Gamma conventions, another time for a Paramore meet and greet, and an overnight on my way to Chicago. When I think of Ohio, I immediately think of Kerry Winfrey who often sets her books there. I also think of midwestern charm, and many books I have read do capture that. In the past week, I read TWO wonderful books set in Ohio, so I felt that was the state I needed to share. </div><div><br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6UMqlfF0WyaQ7wz2TtMzDLmIwjYxWUatNVoyeK3dGtILtvhtSTe4bbIqaRYMmUebhGdxTt69xVv-d9lGE8PYd58mJjRy47Cw21MChoHh4kg6Tla_qFXr37dgiC9Z4KG9Du3VfYMBBHt3Gr3MKtEGC5JTVp17UI5gZtRA8fsWDlslXyrsMTRHqGKjN1J5/s2560/Old%20Flames.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6UMqlfF0WyaQ7wz2TtMzDLmIwjYxWUatNVoyeK3dGtILtvhtSTe4bbIqaRYMmUebhGdxTt69xVv-d9lGE8PYd58mJjRy47Cw21MChoHh4kg6Tla_qFXr37dgiC9Z4KG9Du3VfYMBBHt3Gr3MKtEGC5JTVp17UI5gZtRA8fsWDlslXyrsMTRHqGKjN1J5/s320/Old%20Flames.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><br />Old Flames and New Fortunes</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Sarah Hogle</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> G.P. Putnam's Sons on April 2, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Fiction, Rom-Com</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/194802762" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">From the celebrated author of You Deserve Each Other and Just Like Magic, a steamy second-chance romance about a magical florist’s unexpected reunion with her high school sweetheart as she fake dates his soon-to-be stepbrother.
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A small, magical town tucked away in rural Ohio, Moonville is the perfect place for flora fortunist Romina Tempest to expand her shop, where she uses the language of flowers to help the hopeful manifest their love lives. After giving up on her own big romance eleven years ago, at least she can bask in the promise of others’.
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So, when the shop’s potential financier shares news of his wedding, Romina jumps on the opportunity to discuss buying the business. What better place to negotiate a deal than at a wedding, even if she has to fake-date her chaotic colleague Trevor to get an invitation? But all hell breaks loose when she discovers Trevor’s soon-to-be stepbrother is none other than Alex her high school sweetheart. Her greatest love. The boy who, eleven years ago, broke her heart, and who now thinks she and Trevor are dating.
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What starts as an innocent misunderstanding becomes a week-long fake dating scheme, as Romina resolves to make Alex pay for breaking her heart. The only issue? She can’t deny their still-burning connection. Caught between proving to Alex what he lost, and coming clean and risking her business, Romina must decide whether giving Alex another chance means going back on herself, or finally releasing her hold on the past.</span></p></blockquote>
<p>This story took place in a fictional Ohio town, but they name dropped a lot of real places in the state. I absolutely loved the setting for this book as it was the perfect quaint backdrop for this second chance romance that had a touch of magic. I feel confident in my rom-com label because there were so many fun and laugh out loud moments which added to my delight. </p><p><br /></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLg0f1TfxyCXtrZX4-PiB4x3dGCKRIizfffOMRr2fAu6hLc1toC2hr9WSyOvet2vH_VmRnIDycrbYD1qhCqe5EGmAtTN_sNqW_BJJPDDduif7_2AMHFN4B220p1A87PfO6WwhCicFWdeIQ7tVpmIVug21toD-mBkNKzkylRmuZOfcdTiRtn0rAAnOU5qi/s400/Faking%20Christmas.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLg0f1TfxyCXtrZX4-PiB4x3dGCKRIizfffOMRr2fAu6hLc1toC2hr9WSyOvet2vH_VmRnIDycrbYD1qhCqe5EGmAtTN_sNqW_BJJPDDduif7_2AMHFN4B220p1A87PfO6WwhCicFWdeIQ7tVpmIVug21toD-mBkNKzkylRmuZOfcdTiRtn0rAAnOU5qi/s320/Faking%20Christmas.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><br />Faking Christmas</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Kerry Winfrey</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Berkley on September 26, 2023</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="five-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinysjd0wSvhtptoCrztw3nUcUWDkDS2mKpBA0qPDPwC-obAXxc4DsSeyzrL87jkJ5NB01oOdA4FzBD9L8CZIUDFEfciVBSeujM5bMInG3yx-v8P1i9rj_59uLp7NAK4y7dAz6hfwDxHvgeg0Whbs0FNXpsyIVubpD1TIReYZZ-ChrRRQese6_kTNIGkg/s1600/five-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/75665923" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Laurel Grant is playing house for the holidays--complete with a fake husband and kids--in this delightful, cozy rom-com by Kerry Winfrey.
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Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She is most definitely not an owner of a farm...but one tiny misunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly's farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she's happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired.
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And keep it going she must when Gilbert, recently dumped by his wife, invites himself over for the farm's big holiday dinner (as advertised on Meadow Rise Farm's Instagram, thanks to Laurel herself). Laurel immediately goes into panic mode to figure out how she can trick Gilbert into thinking she's basically the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio and keep her job in the process.
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Laurel and Holly come up with a plan--all Laurel has to do is pretend to own the farm for one dinner. But when Laurel shows up at the farm, an unwelcome guest is there: Max Beckett, her nemesis since Holly's wedding. The annoyingly attractive man she hates will be posing as Laurel's husband just for the evening, but when a snowstorm traps them all for the entire weekend, Laurel is going to have to figure out how to survive with her job and dignity intact. Whatever the case, this promises to be the most eventful Christmas in ages...</span></p></blockquote>
<p>Winfrey took us out to a farm for this book which was great on its own, but it was also Christmas. Snow and holiday magic combined with quirky characters and some fake dating made this book fun and adorable. There was also plenty of heartwarming moments that made this holiday romance shine. </p><p>[<b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/09/isnt-it-romantic.html" target="_blank">review</a></b>] </p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdvcAJIFy9wWTo_PnqgdltBShm_vgJZzGYkD7n6wHvyNoTA3XXXdYxti5GbER6MOTe1X5O__2-s-QotNtnCMofeKYUXi71dxjvfVs-vZHl7jmzuiwT3HCeEldkzEqH3MX7o4fzFDIwcXbCkcBNC8-Qgev9J7yNRz7aUUmKgSlv4qqjZCMO1u6SzXLcapC/s400/Lucy%20on%20the%20Wildside.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdvcAJIFy9wWTo_PnqgdltBShm_vgJZzGYkD7n6wHvyNoTA3XXXdYxti5GbER6MOTe1X5O__2-s-QotNtnCMofeKYUXi71dxjvfVs-vZHl7jmzuiwT3HCeEldkzEqH3MX7o4fzFDIwcXbCkcBNC8-Qgev9J7yNRz7aUUmKgSlv4qqjZCMO1u6SzXLcapC/s320/Lucy%20on%20the%20Wildside.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><br />Lucy on the Wildside</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Kerry Rea</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Berkley on September 13, 2022</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59850008" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">A charming and wildly funny new romantic comedy by Kerry Rea, author of The Wedding Ringer.
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Lucy Rourke has two great loves in her life: the gorilla troop she cares for as a primatologist and the laundry list of reality TV shows she watches to escape the fact that her actual love life doesn’t exist. And like a reality contestant gunning for the final rose, Lucy’s laser-focused on one thing: getting promoted to head keeper. So when a wildlife docuseries hosted by hotshot TV personality Kai Bridges chooses her zoo as its summer filming location, she sees an opportunity to showcase her beloved gorillas to the world and land a starring role in her department.
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When Kai and his film crew arrive, however, it's obvious to Lucy that Kai cares more about sky-high ratings than the gorillas, and he considers her a camera-averse know-it-all whose wardrobe consists entirely of khaki. But she’s surprised to discover there’s more to him than his rugged good looks and cheesy catchphrases...and that maybe a promotion isn’t the only thing she wants. But when secrets from their pasts threaten to complicate everything, Lucy discovers that happiness and success aren’t the same thing—and that finding joy just might mean getting a little wild.</span></p></blockquote>
<p>Animals always tend to make my heart pitter patter, and this fine romance was set in the Ohio Zoo. Zoo + Gorillas + Reality TV had me fully engaged, but it was the romance that stole my heart. Kai and Lucy were such a great couple, and I was cheering for them immediately. There was a really sad part that had me sobbing, but mostly this was a lot of fun. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Have you read any books set in Ohio?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-47074293832752551852024-03-08T03:00:00.150-05:002024-03-08T03:00:00.344-05:00Discussion - Reading Rate<div style="text-align: center;">
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">This Week's Topic</h2>
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Reading Rate</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUxQyfymIhLj3Ii6AUxGuen04ijQVy_-AnL9dXfcxZX08WNUs9oJ_trmMJj1n8jzy4x90tm9ErINahCupt8OkdP7MEVCYTXdfdL2QXLQo8BcsB1nB0f2mW1wuiKWLlSdKsa3a0_5B9qh_iLrzhmyBOioZJH21j5vddIfulvTz-eK98Sc8zUtCQS3ZLdeC/s498/Speed%20Reading.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUxQyfymIhLj3Ii6AUxGuen04ijQVy_-AnL9dXfcxZX08WNUs9oJ_trmMJj1n8jzy4x90tm9ErINahCupt8OkdP7MEVCYTXdfdL2QXLQo8BcsB1nB0f2mW1wuiKWLlSdKsa3a0_5B9qh_iLrzhmyBOioZJH21j5vddIfulvTz-eK98Sc8zUtCQS3ZLdeC/w400-h225/Speed%20Reading.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
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<br />Last week, <b><a href="https://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-sunday-post-359-march-3-2024.html" target="_blank">Tanya</a></b> was talking about if the type of book affects your reading experience. It made me think about my own reading experience and what factors affect my rate of reading. <div><br /></div><div>Factors that affect my reading include:</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b><u>Environment</u></b> - I read best when it's quiet. This is sort of ironic as I was raised in a noisy home, but it's true. I have to put on my white noise machine to drown out chatter from the TVs or people talking. I also find it more difficult to read outside of my home. I read a lot at the train station and on the train, but I am easily distracted or trying to be aware of my surroundings. I cannot never really allow myself to really get carried away by the story. </li><li><u style="font-weight: bold;">The genre of book</u> - I have always found contemporaries to be the quickest reads for me with contemporary romances being the type of books I fly through. Fantasy books tend to be the slowest. It's a combination of details and the difficult names of the characters. Seriously, I have to slow down to say their names in my head even when I am trying not to "voice" my reading. </li><li><u style="font-weight: bold;">Intended audience</u> - Back when I was reading mostly all young adult, I found my reading rate to be much faster. I was reading a full 10 pages per hour faster than I do now. There are some authors whose writing is more dense, but in general, I read young adult books with more ease. </li><li><u style="font-weight: bold;">Author's Nationality</u> - I wasn't sure how to put this, but when I read books by non-US authors and they use a lot of local lingo in their books, I read a bit slower. This is not a bad thing. for example, an English author writing a story set in England would naturally use the local vernacular, but that's not the way I speak, and it usually takes me a bit longer to work through the text. </li><li><u style="font-weight: bold;">Time of day</u> - I am tired at night. I know I read so much slower, but it's ok because the reading puts me in a nice quiet mood as I wind down for bed. </li></ol><div>What affects your reading rate or experience? </div><div><p>Now it's your turn!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOYLgioUAP8oK6hPsGjprA2mLYScXi98ZzT5hDlGYan8w3B-fmxrZOFU0gQKu0F1hlbIHZXv7LnHRxH6euI0R_ENzaF-5e28GE_CqGu6yMerHEzm3BumKFj-unpCRAw-NVGeDle12Zo7nLhdwMszXMISZlVXXzc1jalqDE6Eq80UBqjbsx_b6BwQ4fA/s566/Discuss.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="566" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOYLgioUAP8oK6hPsGjprA2mLYScXi98ZzT5hDlGYan8w3B-fmxrZOFU0gQKu0F1hlbIHZXv7LnHRxH6euI0R_ENzaF-5e28GE_CqGu6yMerHEzm3BumKFj-unpCRAw-NVGeDle12Zo7nLhdwMszXMISZlVXXzc1jalqDE6Eq80UBqjbsx_b6BwQ4fA/s320/Discuss.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What affects your reading rate?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
</div></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-77744191705099628072024-03-07T03:00:00.078-05:002024-03-07T03:00:00.149-05:00#AmReading YA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmdZwVE8hnHvozyfj4zwiBNJ19MXcsTzuMKWMRSY5QK-Zxkhs-054AYd6ydmwEWJy02O8FUIVx7L-BnY_q4uFAwSMhqNSDgcz_4pl1PDyD_-P8I-F5AF0XTFYSlj0sc4a_t5F-lgKAoqNrCqH5sN2C56HZqb3o_tUFTGy-dwfejIVCLCg877ps_juhA/s750/AmREading.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="750" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmdZwVE8hnHvozyfj4zwiBNJ19MXcsTzuMKWMRSY5QK-Zxkhs-054AYd6ydmwEWJy02O8FUIVx7L-BnY_q4uFAwSMhqNSDgcz_4pl1PDyD_-P8I-F5AF0XTFYSlj0sc4a_t5F-lgKAoqNrCqH5sN2C56HZqb3o_tUFTGy-dwfejIVCLCg877ps_juhA/w640-h188/AmREading.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPZ4RlvvF2m7yl5CMzN06JFPoTwAkg76GgXVrPaoJkrhd82SHkQ8bjOPnVYXWoG0hs-dcYDMZMj8HrUk0l6etCqQ5Td_bh11NrZP8Z9PKFsDhyphenhyphenEYCLiAdG_RSpO8zNWvDL0L62h0seS9CfJ7KkVm3JpmR13BrN7ygo_HkWXGApuVMwVdVIwVkDRsDSfPC/s1200/AR%20030724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1200" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPZ4RlvvF2m7yl5CMzN06JFPoTwAkg76GgXVrPaoJkrhd82SHkQ8bjOPnVYXWoG0hs-dcYDMZMj8HrUk0l6etCqQ5Td_bh11NrZP8Z9PKFsDhyphenhyphenEYCLiAdG_RSpO8zNWvDL0L62h0seS9CfJ7KkVm3JpmR13BrN7ygo_HkWXGApuVMwVdVIwVkDRsDSfPC/w640-h508/AR%20030724.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IOOPQNXUkYs5rzCvuLggs-FbTEoYx75Shhuers97IbKfzI1eDZ3VYG9mUh22bgsb7Yn2kp-BO4vhpX3CBviWrchK2q16_nsrrG1LNF_5WefA5227Mj2OGGw4rLsQ6-CAjWobD5CypNiclgJHvop8JJvWETKg1MtOgBKCYNb3bTcjsflT261Qc_rx9rhn/s1520/In%20the%20Orbit%20of%20You.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IOOPQNXUkYs5rzCvuLggs-FbTEoYx75Shhuers97IbKfzI1eDZ3VYG9mUh22bgsb7Yn2kp-BO4vhpX3CBviWrchK2q16_nsrrG1LNF_5WefA5227Mj2OGGw4rLsQ6-CAjWobD5CypNiclgJHvop8JJvWETKg1MtOgBKCYNb3bTcjsflT261Qc_rx9rhn/s320/In%20the%20Orbit%20of%20You.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><br />In the Orbit of You</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Ashley Schumacher</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Wednesday Books on March 19, 224</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127305939-in-the-orbit-of-you" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">In the Orbit of You is a YA story of enduring love from acclaimed author Ashley Schumacher, where a personality test reunites two friends and makes them second guess their careful plans.
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It's been years since Nova Evans last saw Sam. She was too young then to understand why he had to move away―and what it had to do with the cuts and bruises he got from home and never wanted to talk about. All she knew is that they promised to find each other when they were older, something she thought was impossible thanks to her and her mom moving around constantly. Until she bumps into Sam in her new school, and realizes he has clearly forgotten their childhood promise.
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Sam Jordan has a plan for his accept his college football scholarship, date his girlfriend Abigail, and―most importantly―hide how much he wants to do something, anything other than The Plan™ his parents and coaches have set before him. It doesn't matter if sometimes he finds himself thinking about the new girl he met in the cafeteria, a girl who reminds him of a past that hurts to remember.
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When a school-wide personality test reveals Nova and Sam to be each others' top matches―not only that, but a match of 99%, the highest in the school―they begin to remember why they were such close friends, all those years ago. As well as the myriad of reasons this new-yet-familiar, magnetic, sparkling thing between them will never, ever work out.
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In the Orbit of You is a story about the enduring and changing nature of friendship, of the strange struggle between who you are and who you want to be, and finding your voice after trauma.</span>
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<p>Nova and Sam were childhood friends who found comfort in each other. When Sam, who lived in an abusive home, was leaving to live with his uncle, he made a "promise, promise" to find Nova again when they were "big". It seemed the universe thought it was time, and they found themselves reunited when they both seemed to need each other most.
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I have adored Schumacher's books since my very first one, <b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2021/02/blog-tour-amelia-unabridged-ashley.html" target="_blank">Amelia Unabridged</a></b>. There is something special about the way she crafts her characters and takes such care with their personal journeys. I am always moved as I read these characters' stories and extremely happy for where it takes them.
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I found the idea of fate bringing these two in and out of each others lives at vital points so beautiful. When they were five, Nova provided comfort to Sam as he endured physical abuse at the hands of his father. Further down the line, they were at a crossroads in their lives, and it seemed they each had something to offer the other.
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Due to his traumatic past, Sam worked hard to avoid conflict, and often found himself agreeing to or stuck in situations that he really wasn't onboard with. Now, in his senior year, he was struggling with his future - playing football, dating the cheerleader, not pursuing his love of woodwork. His desire not to hurt others was keeping him from his happiness.
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Then there was Nova. She moved around constantly for her mother's job. She was a junior and this was her SIXTH high school. In order to survive, she became a chameleon, adapting to her surroundings. Due to this defense mechanism, she was suffering a personal crisis of not really knowing who she was or what she wanted. This scared her because the future was knocking on her door.
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I believe so many people will be able to relate to Nova and Sam's personal struggles in some way and will root for these two the way I did. I was so happy they found each other when they did because it helped them make those hard decisions and have those honest discussions with the people they loved. The connection between Nova and Sam was undeniable, and I couldn't help but celebrate each step they took that brought them closer to each other as it was easy to see that they needed to tap into that special bond they shared.
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Overall, this was a beautiful story filled with love and friendship. It was about figuring out who you are, what you want, and not being afraid to ask for it. I know I was elated that the universe brought Sam and Nova back into each others orbits, and I was filled with glee at where their journeys took them.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;"><span style="background-color: initial; color: #bc0151; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER</span></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgwNptrUxxC4wxq6HmN2z0HHHtOgPUOq1b5jIZA4nPkG1njmtQyySRFTlf0MIOfTECpRHTXlt8rHzUvePJ5UXxpmktS7Rei7T_NOC0dxdlL1CP8-SOYmZpZ46YSob8JrlH9r6y83nvOB0nKc9u8r_HsoVb5hVfC35inQA2BKmMFMZCx30E4rRykvtwrX8/s400/The%20Atlas%20of%20Us.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgwNptrUxxC4wxq6HmN2z0HHHtOgPUOq1b5jIZA4nPkG1njmtQyySRFTlf0MIOfTECpRHTXlt8rHzUvePJ5UXxpmktS7Rei7T_NOC0dxdlL1CP8-SOYmZpZ46YSob8JrlH9r6y83nvOB0nKc9u8r_HsoVb5hVfC35inQA2BKmMFMZCx30E4rRykvtwrX8/s320/The%20Atlas%20of%20Us.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div><br />The Atlas of Us</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Kristin Dwyer</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> HarperTeen on January 9, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1XY0Orgp89DxyYzC-Kq3RAAIq6_2sJcVVVCoM_N7IiW3CvFS1g15bmIdBFfJINSoB9V_79DfynBHqYTdJ3LKA0nKsvxZDN34-tBKs7liYQMyPi9JQTu2f-EgSwWhnz2rSMuz-hj4NLiRLwWk8PFwr0JAckpqz29v7dg3Um5Oy-zGXd69lvFSeT1I1Q/s1600/four-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/127823336" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<blockquote style="background: rgb(231, 139, 154); border-radius: 1px; border: 1px solid rgb(188, 1, 81); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 15px 15px; padding: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Atlas James has lost her way.
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In a last-ditch effort to pull her life together, she’s working on a community service program rehabbing trails in the Western Sierras. The only plus is that the days are so exhausting that Atlas might just be tired enough to forget that this was one of her dad’s favorite places in the world. Before cancer stole him from her life, that is.
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Using real names is forbidden on the trail. So Atlas becomes Maps, and with her team—Books, Sugar, Junior, and King—she heads into the wilderness. As she sheds the lies she’s built up as walls to protect herself, she realizes that four strangers might know her better than anyone has before. And with the end of the trail racing to meet them, Maps is left counting down the days until she returns to her old life—without her new family, and without King, who’s become more than just a friend.</span>
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<p>Feeling alone and untethered following her father's death, Atlas looked to the trail to find some answers.
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And he always said the trail was a place for answers.
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Dwyer blew me away with her debut, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55818239" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Some Mistakes Were Made</a>, and once again, she immersed me in someone else's pain which had me experiencing a myriad of emotions. While her father was ailing, Atlas wasn't the best at expressing what she was feeling. She acted out and made bad decisions. After her father passed, Atlas found a list of things he had wanted to do before his death and made a decision to do those tasks for him.
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I know, I know, you have read many books with a similar premise, but there was a lot more to this story. It wasn't just about checking items off a list. In fact, the story really only focused on one - reopening a hiking trail which was special to her father.
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I feel like I’m drowning and failing and I’m scared and angry and I’ve lost myself somewhere along the way.
</blockquote><p>Being on the trail resulted in both a physical and emotional journey for Atlas. She was so angry and was weighed down by the poor decisions she made and the negative labels she accumulated leading up to her father's death. Atlas did experience some healing on the trail, but she also began to find her way back to herself and embarked on forgiving her past transgressions.
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These people see me. They make loving me seem easy. It makes me want to let them.
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Atlas' personal journey was a central part of this story, but so were the connections she made with the other "blues" on the trail. Her group was comprised of four other hikers, two leaders and two "bad kids". In their attempt to survive their arduous trek through the Sierras, they formed a bond that Atlas may have tried but ultimately failed to resist. The relationships among these intrepid hikers were special, and it was so wonderful to see how their friendships flourished off the trail.
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This was a beautiful portrait of one person's attempt to pick up the pieces of her world after it had imploded. Dwyer did a lovely job guiding me through Atlas' emotions and made this journey even more meaningful by coupling it with some wilderness survival. I adored the group assembled to support Atlas through this process, and I reveled in the ending. A very touching tale.</p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Have you ever been camping?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-79034362247784187662024-03-06T03:00:00.032-05:002024-03-06T03:00:00.237-05:00Can't Wait Wednesday! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53aSI_fcqzE516965HJ6bPIP2DtqXmbpqo1WzVrt_EB1FK82lZPuSz6c1osC6P8rhkUH0E8dXSOD3DtDjCHVpLZMeQqong041vVYxI8yjzoc0q_9Opk96ZAhXmJo6N24vwAY8F2jujUVin5OE01xbZmTSjQ48Ggz4dbfboT5HZqVsqX2WstWMFW9jnFRE/s2040/cant%20wait%20wednesday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53aSI_fcqzE516965HJ6bPIP2DtqXmbpqo1WzVrt_EB1FK82lZPuSz6c1osC6P8rhkUH0E8dXSOD3DtDjCHVpLZMeQqong041vVYxI8yjzoc0q_9Opk96ZAhXmJo6N24vwAY8F2jujUVin5OE01xbZmTSjQ48Ggz4dbfboT5HZqVsqX2WstWMFW9jnFRE/w640-h188/cant%20wait%20wednesday.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<p><b>
Can’t-Wait Wednesday</b> is a weekly event hosted by <b><a href="https://www.wishfulendings.com/" target="_blank">Tressa at Wishful Endings</a></b> that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.<br /><br />
I am combining CWW with <b>Books From the Backlog</b> hosted by <b><a href="https://carolesrandomlife.com/" target="_blank">Carole at Carole's Random Life</a></b> in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">This week I can't wait for</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgym8_NOaQLNGpL91hyphenhypheniCu0xdgt_7i7SkxRg8vBEj5sTyi_8XkmkEcEK4CeHQ59wqghX6XkbDAjlTn0LKQMqL9Gh16gDQQtRX8GqnOdRneGbSZJnKK3PNUpGVZxUyXIo8iKhOkgNxxh4O-gWgK15MZoW9l7vCEzRKooOFNuzWaS50CG8kHvGSqAGJ-1LzNf/s3200/The%20Rule%20Book.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2075" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgym8_NOaQLNGpL91hyphenhypheniCu0xdgt_7i7SkxRg8vBEj5sTyi_8XkmkEcEK4CeHQ59wqghX6XkbDAjlTn0LKQMqL9Gh16gDQQtRX8GqnOdRneGbSZJnKK3PNUpGVZxUyXIo8iKhOkgNxxh4O-gWgK15MZoW9l7vCEzRKooOFNuzWaS50CG8kHvGSqAGJ-1LzNf/s320/The%20Rule%20Book.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><div><br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL5zyWXlWWq8vBjONn0YpeWNZpPJr5k31EFWiBZ4Vz49AxFx45rW7dZMjUrnklD1fb7A5egHZvLUhYw7Od0SXqKHNZXSt7kWnlpv27KQ07TgvQtMxq1NNDwpD1m1xtCo9zA7pn-qX-VlbTlqhR4aKvuD-jVUxd76VGp003N-kxozc9ML1O_FKBFUSJHj8/s3200/The%20Rule%20Book.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2075" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL5zyWXlWWq8vBjONn0YpeWNZpPJr5k31EFWiBZ4Vz49AxFx45rW7dZMjUrnklD1fb7A5egHZvLUhYw7Od0SXqKHNZXSt7kWnlpv27KQ07TgvQtMxq1NNDwpD1m1xtCo9zA7pn-qX-VlbTlqhR4aKvuD-jVUxd76VGp003N-kxozc9ML1O_FKBFUSJHj8/s320/The%20Rule%20Book.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><br />The Rule Book</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Sarah Adams</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Dell on April 2, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Contemporary, Romance</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/182484354" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">College sweethearts meet again years later, in this highly anticipated romance and companion story to the viral TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet.
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Nora Mackenzie’s entire career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender who also happens to be her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things as gracefully as she could have back then, and now it’s come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent and he’s holding a grudge.
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Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, oh he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily.
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Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship be the thing to save their careers?</span>
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<p>I have too many library loans to get through, so I will only be featuring an anticipated read. After reading and being blown away by <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58100280" target="_blank">The Cheat Sheet</a></b>, I had to add Sarah Adams upcoming release to my TBR. I have enjoyed her Rome books, so I probably would have added it anyhow because I really enjoy the way Adams crafts a fun and sweet romance. As this is billed as a companion to <b>The Cheat Sheet</b>, I am looking forward to returning to that world. I also hope for a bit of that humor and mayhem as it delighted me to no end. With this involving exes, it's a second chance romance which are my favorite! I suspect this will be another hit for me. </p><p></p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWY9Lyl7qFyre3sjLJRZojBYOW0FGsP5UutFWbcRyoawYP3FReYekxyoAJQyOqbff2iOD3Pucnl_ja5NwJSt7u_N1CmEed2tLT4mlimF2O-5-XFav6K46okPspKUsT8jb695cnKGaihZiX_ileoCJyCeh_BPFIHLK0kPXhaoTWo1Fy1-W_CAfXWmYMw/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What are you waiting on?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-46937532007904531752024-03-05T03:00:00.059-05:002024-03-08T17:13:55.396-05:00Top Ten Tuesday - I would like to learn more<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfr-h4i4zWeJKh3ez4OVxZd3bQ_OKo1nLliaFAee9pyDmre4G_bwhUtVbnpk56PV4vTIeY05QfBzp47mKXOBHvxRWsx2Gdbo5wuuRfh6fCer0TUx4IPntg1zPXBMeEuUY2vNXkiDN3BP4oIjxuy6BBiJIBA6kq3dUUsAAkbeU8YAQ77x5Z2r3fG878w/s2040/top%20ten%20tuesday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfr-h4i4zWeJKh3ez4OVxZd3bQ_OKo1nLliaFAee9pyDmre4G_bwhUtVbnpk56PV4vTIeY05QfBzp47mKXOBHvxRWsx2Gdbo5wuuRfh6fCer0TUx4IPntg1zPXBMeEuUY2vNXkiDN3BP4oIjxuy6BBiJIBA6kq3dUUsAAkbeU8YAQ77x5Z2r3fG878w/w640-h188/top%20ten%20tuesday.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by </span><a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1ca0d2; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;">That Artsy Reader Girl</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">. This week's topic is...</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>I would like to learn more!</b></i></span></div>
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<div>Today, we are talking about things we wanted to learn more about after reading a book. I love when I learn something or learn more about something as I am read. Since I read mostly contemporary fiction, the books I read are grounded in reality. Since I read on my kindle, I can get that instant gratification of going right to Wikipedia, but there have been times that I wanted to know even more. I am struggling with coming up with the exact things I googled. Honestly, it's usually food, places, or diseases. So, here are some books that had me googling something. </div>
<div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/06/in-nutshell-reviews.html" target="_blank">The Music of Bees</a></b> by Elieen Garvin - Beekeeping </li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/178565829-the-happiness-blueprint" target="_blank">The Happiness Blueprint</a></b> by Ally Zetterberg - Foods and Sweden in general, as well as diabetes. </li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127823336-the-atlas-of-us" target="_blank">The Atlas of Us</a></b> by Kristin Dwyer - The western Sierras</li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/03/in-nutshell-reviews.html" target="_blank">The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County</a></b> by Claire Swinarski - Casseroles</li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/01/library-loans-five-star-edition.html" target="_blank">The Last Love Note</a></b> by Emma Grey - Neurodegenerative disorders</li></ol>
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<ol start="6" style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2024/01/amreading-ya.html" target="_blank">Even If it Breaks Your Heart</a></b> by Erin Hahn - Professional Bull Riders</li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/12/isnt-it-romantic.html" target="_blank">The Fake Mate</a></b> by Lana Ferguson - The Omegaverse</li><li><b><a href="https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2023/10/amreading_01537407506.html" target="_blank">A December to Remember</a></b> by Jenny Bayliss - Nut loaf and other vegan foods </li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59382071-well-that-was-unexpected" target="_blank">Well, That Was Unexpected</a></b> by Jesse Q. Sutanto - Indonesia and many food references</li><li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150444412-kilt-trip" target="_blank">Kilt Trip</a></b> by Alexandra Kiley - Scotland</li></ol>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ICj7WqEmklq6kWy6bvjYAGtxKDAsQE8w_iWLesJhUsbzf8xtG3qZ32KHuwE5FwgWj6hVNiqpvSClvhmLo2pQnKQHS8_MdiRHNwqhRaxFXaq8oJzwDj1C6NaKfDdXW-MMqY_idIYQb_aBK1V8YCDPq_FMDtAajGCWo9MXalsDxedVzF6kif6nFO98og/s1037/sam%20signature1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1037" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ICj7WqEmklq6kWy6bvjYAGtxKDAsQE8w_iWLesJhUsbzf8xtG3qZ32KHuwE5FwgWj6hVNiqpvSClvhmLo2pQnKQHS8_MdiRHNwqhRaxFXaq8oJzwDj1C6NaKfDdXW-MMqY_idIYQb_aBK1V8YCDPq_FMDtAajGCWo9MXalsDxedVzF6kif6nFO98og/s320/sam%20signature1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What have you googled?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>
</div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6528395365771263864.post-16356241288141492862024-03-04T03:00:00.075-05:002024-03-04T03:00:00.138-05:00In a Nutshell Reviews
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPjOFSY5D_GvwNtY4w8HU09-YLpgkqE8mBX3v2211XKRuZ4BMbYUc4kKZ33PAjfop5JJJNXn1x7UbuPQNPhRs-jGkkBhRHi8IlVy8e-C-EgN2M-wTG8XS-LlTfiJLeq2q0g5RYX47X2GJImIOjaCZX2vAEgo6nmVBvVHt5m52e6Nz4UrsTEdPNn5RPA/s2040/nutshell.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="2040" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPjOFSY5D_GvwNtY4w8HU09-YLpgkqE8mBX3v2211XKRuZ4BMbYUc4kKZ33PAjfop5JJJNXn1x7UbuPQNPhRs-jGkkBhRHi8IlVy8e-C-EgN2M-wTG8XS-LlTfiJLeq2q0g5RYX47X2GJImIOjaCZX2vAEgo6nmVBvVHt5m52e6Nz4UrsTEdPNn5RPA/w640-h188/nutshell.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwYZALDANVyVFbXA3O17kgD4uK1-w2JYv9x2l3TkxTiEraONMy1k5C2FH9YKa4SOHgA_N3Ewb-FdYXDFEHJdXg5BnNAmt7pnYAWF2o5DN3KuleVOc-9F1wmoq-bo6N5Ld8In-HmLne2dH9XC-BckeHvqVfFDuM6LAQpXL3v2UTnpJLDZzMIqz_LLTOAVu/s1200/NS%20030424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1200" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwYZALDANVyVFbXA3O17kgD4uK1-w2JYv9x2l3TkxTiEraONMy1k5C2FH9YKa4SOHgA_N3Ewb-FdYXDFEHJdXg5BnNAmt7pnYAWF2o5DN3KuleVOc-9F1wmoq-bo6N5Ld8In-HmLne2dH9XC-BckeHvqVfFDuM6LAQpXL3v2UTnpJLDZzMIqz_LLTOAVu/w640-h508/NS%20030424.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="post_content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5u5ggOiIUCFctH0DfKfC08FO-YSALl4ctog3Ur1MJ7QhK7gVL6kPzrdlH2dajN0fzbKq7FzQFx1Gf9USibUgxkqsExHq6atIgEKdfgaskiwQNLkUqR0MXMi__19qGqa7DxSEQXo68ADlnIrVlgvHB5R-68feprH04lZH2PoD_V5DEwpHvyS1urDUasm_x/s385/The%20Funeral%20Ladies.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5u5ggOiIUCFctH0DfKfC08FO-YSALl4ctog3Ur1MJ7QhK7gVL6kPzrdlH2dajN0fzbKq7FzQFx1Gf9USibUgxkqsExHq6atIgEKdfgaskiwQNLkUqR0MXMi__19qGqa7DxSEQXo68ADlnIrVlgvHB5R-68feprH04lZH2PoD_V5DEwpHvyS1urDUasm_x/s320/The%20Funeral%20Ladies.png" width="212" /></a></div><br />The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Claire Swinarski</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Avon on March 12, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span>
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/187016422-the-funeral-ladies-of-ellerie-county" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Armed with a Crock-Pot and a pile of recipes, a grandmother, her granddaughter, and a mysterious young man work to bring a community together in this uplifting novel for readers of The Chicken Sisters.
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Esther Larson has been cooking for funerals in the Northwoods of Wisconsin for seventy years. Known locally as the “funeral ladies,” she and her cohort have worked hard to keep the mourners of Ellerie County fed—it is her firm belief that there is very little a warm casserole and a piece of cherry pie can’t fix. But, after falling for an internet scam that puts her home at risk, the proud Larson family matriarch is the one in need of help these days. Iris, Esther’s whip-smart Gen Z granddaughter, would do anything for her family and her community.
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As she watches her friends and family move out of their lakeside town onto bigger and better things, Iris wonders why she feels so left behind in the place she is desperate to make her home. But when Cooper Welsh shows up, she finally starts to feel like she’s found the missing piece of her puzzle. Cooper is dealing with becoming a legal guardian to his younger half-sister after his beloved stepmother dies. While their celebrity-chef father is focused on his booming career and top-ranked television show, Cooper is still hurting from a public tragedy he witnessed last year as a paramedic and finding it hard to cope. With Iris in the gorgeous Ellerie County, though, he hopes he might finally find the home he’s been looking for.
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It doesn’t seem like a community cookbook could possibly solve their problems, especially one where casseroles have their own section and cream of chicken soup mix is the most frequently used ingredient. But when you mix the can-do spirit of Midwestern grandmothers with the stubborn hope of a boy raised by food plus a dash of long-awaited forgiveness—things might just turn out okay. Includes Recipes </span>
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<p>I am going to start by saying that this was not what I was expecting. I was thinking this would be a fun and light multigenerational story, and it started out that way, but then it moved into some heavy territory with death, PTSD, and mass shootings. That was unexpected, and probably what kept this from being a five-star read for me. With that said, I did truly enjoy a majority of <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County</span>.
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Right from the start, I adored Esther. She was that type of salt-of-the-earth person who I could not resist. She believed in being kind, working hard, and giving back. That came in handy when Esther found herself in a terrible situation. Now she was in need, and it was wonderful the way everyone in the community rallied to help her.
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If I had to pick some of the standout elements in this book, the community focus would make my list. This was one of those precious small towns where everyone knows everyone else's business and will be there to lend a hand when needed. They repay kindness with more kindness and never forget those who helped them in their time of need.
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I also adored the family focus. Esther, her daughter, and her granddaughters were quite close. Their love for their family shined, over and over again in this story, and the bonds they shared were something to be jealous of. There was also a strong found family vibe that warmed my heart. It was lovely the way the town embraced Cooper and his family and were there for them in their time of need.
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I will admit, I came for a story about midwestern old ladies, and oh, how I loved those ladies. The story ended up a bit heavier than I had anticipated, but in the end, this was a very hopeful tale about love, loss, family, friendship, and healing which touched my heart.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto 20px;"><span style="background-color: initial; color: #bc0151; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER</span></p>
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyX-M-2vIOzdBK5spEfX_kMSwXs8uyepPRq1VgyTPaAsVoX-Ks0__d-ge0GOfPLNIEGDaOEVN5GoeJG9aRZRmlOs-YBUwB1Z0hCrMfUw0xhucHX2fnKUFXsS2ohx2hoxt542OHeLu9TzgED9XtpOw7oMhLfudt7I3SnVzGwM9jSV4gVzfdQM9F78QTIGJR/s2622/Good%20Material.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2622" data-original-width="1630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyX-M-2vIOzdBK5spEfX_kMSwXs8uyepPRq1VgyTPaAsVoX-Ks0__d-ge0GOfPLNIEGDaOEVN5GoeJG9aRZRmlOs-YBUwB1Z0hCrMfUw0xhucHX2fnKUFXsS2ohx2hoxt542OHeLu9TzgED9XtpOw7oMhLfudt7I3SnVzGwM9jSV4gVzfdQM9F78QTIGJR/s320/Good%20Material.jpeg" width="199" /></a></div><br />Good Material</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> by Dolly Alderton</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Published by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Knopf on January 30, 2024</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Age/Genres:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;"> Adult, Fiction</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; height: auto;"><img alt="four-half-stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAC34tKpl_rn2_3zrJ6h3D2SVc-WsqyA_Gr1VUfJV2r6NR0B2BfCYYk7G_Y-oQTPqPgU94AA1yRGyZkgtnPFroj5ZxOk-1uYEaZaWHNotY9L_gJqYf_iF8Y7CcjNTeSKOSwMBU8t6aWpwUJCmG_zSsi7f2SbnNkimFNG0E5_EJZYnVxFyyl6km5CIXQ/s1600/four-half-stars.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="font-family: Lato;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198688460-good-material" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">From the New York Times best-selling author of Ghosts and Everything I Know About a story of heartbreak and friendship and how to survive both
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Andy loves Jen. Jen loved Andy. And he can't work out why she stopped.
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Now he is. . .
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Without a home
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Waiting for his stand-up career to take off
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Wondering why everyone else around him seems to have grown up while he wasn't looking
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Set adrift on the sea of heartbreak, Andy clings to the idea of solving the puzzle of his ruined relationship. Because if he can find the answer to that, then maybe Jen can find her way back to him. But Andy still has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend's side of the story…
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In this sharply funny and exquisitely relatable story of romantic disaster and friendship, Dolly Alderton offers up a love story with two endings, demonstrating once again why she is one of the most exciting writers today, and the true voice of a generation.</span>
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<p>This was one of those funny stories about something that isn't really funny. Andy was a 35-year old hardly working comedian who was reeling from a breakup. His girlfriend, Jen, ended their four year relationship, and Andy was stuck on why.
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The story took me through Andy's lows as he mourned not having Jen in his life while putting a spotlight on all those related parts of ones life that are affected by a breakup. There was tons of humor infused in all these situations, but anyone who has experienced a breakup will recognize the pain running underneath it all.
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As Andy obsessed over his failed relationship, he also eventually moved forward. He started making progress on himself and his life. I was rather pleased with his growth and a lot of the aha! moments he had. I was delighted with him and this tale, and THEN! Alderton did something I loved.
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I have previously mentioned that Andy was on some search to find out what went wrong, why Jen broke up with him. He may never know, but I do! The bulk of this book was told via Andy's perspective, but the final chapter belonged to Jen. I was ecstatic to get her point of view and get to see their relationship through her eyes. I won't lie, I was sobbing by the end of it. I hate seeing love die and the demise of a relationship will always cause me pain, but I found some solace in seeing both Jen and Andy forward, but on separate trajectories with their lives.
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There I was, crying on my kindle, but also wondering what would happen next. Both Andy and Jen had these life changing plans. But, it was early 2020 and people were talking about a "killer virus" which I know from experience changed everyone's plans that year. I can't help but wonder how the pandemic would have altered their lives and those plans.
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Overall, this was a thoughtful and often humorous look at relationships, both romantic and platonic which I greatly enjoyed.</p>
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<div style="background-color: #e78b9a; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Favorite dish to cook?<br />Let us know in the comments!</b></span></div>Samantha@WLABBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.com14