Book Sojourner: November 2016

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Review: Shopping for a Billionaire's Wife by Julia Kent

Shopping for a Billionaire's Wife by Julia Kent

(Shopping for a Billionaire #8)

March 23, 2016

268 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Comedy 18+

Contains: strong language, explicit sex

Who needs a SWAT team to escape from their own wedding? Me.

My Momzilla turned us into hostages at our own ceremony, so Declan and I are getting married the good old-fashioned way, just like everybody else.

By calling in his private security team, stealing away before the ceremony by helicopter, connecting to his corporate jet and heading for Las Vegas.

The Boston wedding of the year is about to become a trashy Elvis drive-thru ceremony.

Until the best man spills the beans and Mom, Dad, my sisters, his brothers, my maid of honor, my friend Josh, and even my cat, Chuckles, all come along for the ride.

I can’t win, can I?

Oh. Yeah. I already did.

Love conquers all.

Even my crazy family.

***
Shopping for a Billionaire's Wife is the 8th book in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shopping for a Billionaire series. After Declan convinces Shannon to escape from their own wedding minutes before the ceremony begins, the madcap adventures are just getting started. When the mother of the bride pries their location out of the tortured best man, the whole crazy crew follows the bride and groom to Las Vegas in this romantic comedy from Julia Kent.

In this installment, we have the continuing story of Declan and Shannon trying to get to the altar. They'd almost gotten there in the last book, but with Marie's crazy momzilla nightmare wedding plans, Declan and Shannon finally jumped off the crazy train, realizing nothing in the wedding Marie planned for them was what they actually wanted. So here we are in Las Vegas, hoping that through the crazy, Declan and Shannon will finally get to say "I do."

I'm still enjoying this series, but this wasn't my favorite. For one thing, there was too much going around in circles. This could have easily been cut own to a novella. And Marie is killing me. She's become too much in these last two books. Her wackiness has taken over the storylines to the point of distraction. And I have mixed feelings about the actual wedding. I found one missing element disappointing, even though I was proud of Declan and Shannon for finally getting it together.

But I still love Declan and Shannon, and Andrew and Amanda. I look forward to more adventures with them (though, less Marie would be nice).

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Sunday Post: Weekly Wrap-Up (11.27)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, showcase books, share upcoming news, etc. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

What I Read Last Week:

My Kind of Wonderful by Jill Shalvis
Nobody But You by Jill Shalvis
Surviving Ice by KA Tucker

My Reviews Last Week:

My Kind of Wonderful by Jill Shalvis (my 4 star review)
The Siren's Dream by Amber Belldene (my 4.5 star review)

What I'm Listening To:

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

What I'm Reading Next:

Chasing Impossible by Katie McGarry

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Stacking The Shelves (187)

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

eARC Love:

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Used Book Finds:

With This Heart by RS Grey

Providence by Jamie McGuire

Friday, November 25, 2016

Review: The Siren's Dream by Amber Belldene

The Siren's Dream by Amber Belldene

(Siren #3)

November 22, 2016

Genre: Paranormal Romance 18+

Contains: language, explicit sex

Revenge never felt so sweet...Murdered by a bullet intended for her beloved, Katya Dvoynev's fate is to haunt the building where she took her last breath. That is, unless she can lure her killer into her clutches and find the vengeance her mara spirit seeks. But destiny has other plans, and handsome Nikolai Zurkov arrives instead, filling Katya with a desire so strong she must fight to remember it's revenge she seeks, not love...

Investigative journalist Nikolai is on a mission to bring down a corrupt corporation responsible for so many deaths. If the gorgeous ghost who enters his dreams holds the key, Nik has no problem sharing in the seductive beauty's nightly encounters. But when he discovers Katya's intent is murder, he'll do anything to keep her from getting blood on her hands. For only true justice can give her the love she longs for and keep her in his world.

This was another unique and fascinating read from Amber Belldene in her Siren series. This series drew me in with its Russian ghost lore - first with a rusalka, then a vila, and in this case, a mara. On top of the paranormal aspect, we also get beautiful love stories. I enjoyed the first two books, and this newest installment was no exception. Once again, I fell in love.

Katya was murdered about a year ago, but now as a mara, she will never find rest until she commits revenge on the murderer. Haunting the apartment building where she was murdered has become her lot in life. Fate intervenes, bringing Nikolai into Katya's path. Not only does Nikolai now live in Katya's old apartment, but he has his own mission, seeking out the very same murderer, but for different purposes. This could be a clear-cut double revenge, except Nikolai has a conscience. Add in the reality that these two star-crossed lovers are going from physical attraction to true love, and things are going to get messy before a HEA can even cross their minds.

I loved watching Katya and Nikolai together. There was a beautiful way they brought each other out. Both having been devastated in their pasts, they had a lot of healing to wade through. But together, they had a tenderness and sensitivity to the other that allowed them to heal in ways they hadn't expected. Of course, their scorching chemistry didn't hurt. They definitely had hoops to jump through. (There was this little thing called, Katya is a ghost.) But I flew through the pages, completely wrapped up in their touching and heart-warming story.

And as a bonus, we get to see some characters from the previous books. And not just a measly cameo. They made a difference in the story, and I loved it. Now, this story can be read as a standalone, but be warned, you may get a few spoilers from the previous books.

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Review: My Kind of Wonderful by Jill Shalvis

My Kind of Wonderful by Jill Shalvis

(Cedar Ridge #2)

December 22, 2015

368 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Contains: sex, language

UNEXPECTED AND UNDENIABLE...

Bailey Moore has an agenda: skiing in the Rockies, exploring castles in Europe, ballroom dancing in Argentina. Now that she has a second lease on life, she's determined not to miss a thing. What she doesn't realize is that item #1 comes with a six-foot-one ski god hot enough to melt a polar ice cap. She doesn't want to miss out on him either, but Hudson Kincaid isn't the type of guy to love and let go. And as gorgeous as Cedar Ridge is, she's not planning to stick around.

As head of ski patrol at his family's resort, Hud thinks he's seen it all. But never has he run into someone like Bailey. She might look delicate, but her attitude is all firecracker. And her infectious joy touches something deep within him that he's been missing far too long. Now he'll just have to convince Bailey to take a chance on her biggest adventure yet . . . something rare and all kinds of wonderful.

I enjoyed this one so much. Growing up as a skier, having been a volunteer ski patroller for a couple years, and having my dad as a volunteer ski patroller for 30+ years, I loved getting on the slopes with Hudson Kincaid. The whole Kincaid family, with their crazy resort, pulled me right in. And I did not read the previous book. This was my first in this series, but it easily reads as a standalone.

So we have Bailey, this sweet girl who has received a new lease on life, and is ready to live. She's been stifled for so long, that now that she has some room to breathe, she's got a list a mile long to fulfill. But life hasn't discouraged her - instead she is bright, beautiful, effervescent, and ready to live. Then we have Hudson, who is such the responsible son that he is buried in responsibility with no room leftover to actually live. Though he's one who fears romantic love, with his walls built up, he has incredibly deep love for his family. But with one glance at Bailey, who's breathing in life, Hudson doesn't stand a chance as his world gets totally rocked.

I loved getting to know Bailey and Hudson. They had incredible chemistry as well as a lovely mutual understanding of one another. Seeing them both take a chance on life and love was incredibly engaging and pulled me right in, and I was enchanted by them. I also loved the family dynamic with the siblings, and even Hudson's crazy mom. I loved my time at Cedar Ridge, and I look forward to returning for other sibling's stories (especially Hudson's twin, Jacob!).

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Monday, November 21, 2016

New Release: J.C. and the Bijoux Jolis by Katy Regnery

JC and the Bijoux Jolis by Katy Regnery is NOW LIVE!

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dQaZJ1

Nook: http://bit.ly/2d15qsq

iBooks: http://apple.co/2dPbTJ8

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dZigsU

Young passionate couple making love in bed

Blurb:

If the best man and maid of honor are both single, it’s practically an unwritten rule that they should pork.

…so begins a rocky acquaintance between Jean-Christian “J.C.” Rousseau and Libitz Feingold at the wedding of J.C.’s brother and Lib’s best friend. While manslut best man J.C. is surprised when maid of honor Libitz soundly spurns his advances, his curiosity is piqued. The girl he couldn’t have becomes the only one he wants.

So, when he finds a seventy-year-old portrait in the attic of his sister’s mansion that bears an uncanny resemblance to the prickly gallery owner, he enlists her help in solving a mystery seven decades in the making. Traveling from Philadelphia to New York to Marseille, a couple who started off as enemies will discover that even cynics can find true love…and mortal man is no match for destiny.

Get to know the families of Blueberry Lane!

*All books in The Blueberry Lane Series can be enjoyed as standalone novels.*

Young passionate couple making love in bed

Make sure you don't miss the start of the Rousseau series! Jonquils for Jax is now available!

BUY NOW:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dZgec2

Nook: http://ow.ly/4nopYG

iBooks: http://ow.ly/SWS8x

KOBO: http://ow.ly/SX0tX

Marry Me Mad is one swoonworthy read!

BUY NOW:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2dxxsyi

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2d1URTD

iBooks: http://apple.co/2djBVBg

Nook: http://bit.ly/2cGRO71

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dtAluD

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.

Twenty-five books later, Katy claims authorship of the multi-titled, New York Times and USA Today Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other standalone novels and novellas.

Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1-4, became a New York Times E-book bestseller.

In 2016, Katy signed a print-only agreement with Spencerhill Press. As a result, her Blueberry Lane paperback books will now be distributed to brick and mortar bookstores all over the United States.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

Author Links: