Book Review: Didn't Sea it Coming by Andie M. Long

Didn't Sea it Coming

by Andie M. Long

Goodreads /Amazon

The tides are changing in Withernsea.

Shelley's adoptive parents make waves after they catch their daughter, Polly, with Drake Lord, a royal of the sea.

Holding Shelley responsible for the supernatural world invading their lives once more, they demand she splits them up or else they’ll expose the supernaturals of Withernsea to the rest of the world.

The residents of the sea aren't keen on a human dating their royal either, especially a sea nymph intent on hooking Drake for herself.

Can Shelley intervene so that Polly and Drake can make love, not war?

Another hilarious read from the Supernatural Dating Agency series 

Rest of Series 

1 - The Vampire wants a Wife 

2 - A Devil of a Date 

3 - Hate, Date, or Mate? 

4 - Here for the Seer 

Books 1-3 available in a box set. 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:


He could have asked me anything at that moment. I was so sucked in I’d have given him a kidney.


…he is a fine steak all right. I’m worshipping at the feet of the guy who from now on shall be known as Sir Loins.


Who you gonna protest to? The only royalty you’re going near is Burger King.


My Review:


I have enjoyed this series and have no idea what manner of creature or tribulations will next befall this quirky mix of humans and paranormals. Andie M. Long has rewritten the rulebook on interspecies mingling and mangling. The cleverly amusing storylines are rife with irreverent humor, witty banter, bawdy quips, and peculiar characters. I am eager for yet dreading the next installment, as it is supposedly the last in the series. Surely she could keep going as there are infinitely more potential love matches for the dating agency to make.

Empress DJ

About The Author 

After twenty+ years of thinking about it, at the age of forty, I decided it was time to finally WRITE THE BOOK or forget about it. I studied two Open University Courses in Creative Writing and finally wrote my first novel. I've now written a ton of novels and have the ideas for so many more!

I live in Sheffield with my son and long-suffering partner. We now have a beautiful fur-baby called Bella. When not being a partner, mother, employee (I also work for the NHS) or writer I can usually be found on Facebook or Pinterest.

Stalk Andie Here:

Website  Goodreads   Facebook   Twitter   Instagram

Book Review: The Stylist by Rosie Nixon

The Stylist

by Rosie Nixon

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks 

In the tradition of The Devil Wears Prada comes Rosie Nixon’s debut novel, which follows a young woman who is thrown into the fast-paced world of fashion and glamour as she’s forced to navigate the treacherous Hollywood red carpets…while finding a fairytale love of her own.

“A stylish, fun read, I absolutely loved it!”—Jackie Collins

Amber Green loves working at Smith’s, London’s ultra-exclusive boutique frequented by everyone who’s anyone, including Mona Armstrong, the stylist to the stars. She is fierce, demanding, and can make or break a career with a snap of her manicured nails.

When Mona’s latest assistant walks out and with awards season arriving faster than you can say “Rodeo Drive”, Amber finds herself agreeing to work for one of the most infamous—and volatile—women in Hollywood. And the stars aren’t much better. Amber’s life is turned inside out as she becomes familiar with all Hollywood has to offer, on and off the red carpet.

As she begins to enjoy life in the dressing rooms of the hottest stars, Amber discovers she’s the one in the spotlight when she catches the attention of two very different men. But Mona’s behavior is growing increasingly erratic and unless Amber can out-style everyone in Hollywood, she’s in danger of being Mona’s latest fashion victim.

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:


I stayed very still, waiting for her to throw a fit. Mona had the ability to scare me on a deep, primal level, like spiders.



It had been a while since I’d had a proper snog, but I didn’t remember it being quite as aggressive as this. The experience was beginning to feel more like a dental procedure than a kiss as his tongue explored my mouth.



My Review: 

The Stylist was a wryly amusing, high energy, and frantically paced story of a fish out of water shop girl thrown into the shark-infested waters of celebrities, award shows, and high fashion. I enjoyed the comical and clever observations made of hungry models and celebrities behind the scenes by the jet-lagged and frequently hung-over assistant who was kept unfed and largely unwashed as she scurried about covering for the increasingly unreliable and unstable stylist to the stars. The entertaining storylines moved quickly and were laced with levity and a large cast of quirky characters as well as a leather jacket wearing micro pig named Pinky, who, of course, was a hero. Additions to my Brit Vocab list include "stodge,” which Mr. Google tells me is heavy and substantial food, and "squits,” an informal British word that is much more fun to say than diarrhea, and honestly, one can never have enough words for that.  I was provided with a review copy of this engaging read by TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins. 

Empress DJ

About Rosie Nixon

Rosie Nixon is Editor-in-Chief of HELLO! where she has worked for the past eight years and has a love of all things celebrity, royal and fashion-related. Rosie previously held senior positions at glossy women’s magazines including Grazia, Glamour and Red. In her career, she has been lucky enough to attend a multitude of glamorous award ceremonies, premieres and showbiz weddings all around the world. Ever discreet and protective of the big stars she has worked with, Rosie’s experience has undoubtedly enabled her to write her debut novel, The Stylist, and the sequel, Amber Green Takes Manhattan.

ᐧ

Book Review, Giveaway: Hidden Hearts by Lindsay Detwiler

Author: Lindsay Detwiler
Title: Hidden Hearts

Series: Lines in the Sand, prequel
Genre: Gay Romance
Release Date: September 29, 2018

Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing

Cover Designer: Claire Smith

 On sale now for 99c 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2O697xc 

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2LqnhLc 

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2Llc4vp 

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2L60vJn 

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Nook: http://bit.ly/2MaGKzW 

“All along, Reed Wilder’s been this crazy rebel just waiting for me to let my guard down. And so, here we are, standing at the bar waiting to get the party started.”

Sexy entrepreneur Lysander Wyatt has always believed in happily-ever-after thanks to his picture-perfect family. Now orphaned, he’s made a family of his own at his popular beach bar, Midsummer Nights. There’s just one thing missing—the forever kind of love he’s been looking for.

Reed Wilder, a guarded corporate man from Philadelphia, is looking for himself when he moves to Ocean City, Maryland. However, a rocky childhood makes him afraid of commitment. When he walks into Midsummer Nights and meets the attractive bartender who owns it, he’ll have to decide if love might actually be worth the risk. Will Lysander and Reed get on the same page about commitment, or will they continue hiding the true desires and fears of their hearts?

This sweet m/m standalone 35,000-word novella is also a prequel to the popular Lines in the Sand series.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

It’s unfortunate. My mom always told me the good ones are either serial killers or gay.

Now, listen, when the wedding comes along, I think you should pick purple as your color. I know, I know, you’re not crazy about it, but I look ravishing in purple.

I really couldn’t pin down when I’d “come out.” Jodie jokes I never went in to come out. I’ve just always been me. My family was always proud of me. My sexuality never had anything to do with defining who I am.

I ended up in the foster care system. I floundered around for a few years, tossed like a sack of unimportant belongings from house to house… It was so damn hard to find myself or to even know what love was because it was always temporary in my mind… But I think it’s why I struggle so much with the forever thing. Forever was never part of my vocabulary.

My Review:

Hidden Hearts was an engaging, quick, and easy to follow novella and written with a thoughtful and observant hand. I cherished these endearing and sensitive characters and enjoyed the forging of their sweet and tender romance. Ms. Detwiler’s storylines were perceptively detailed, keenly insightful, and delicately laced. I have thoroughly enjoyed each book in this series and eagerly await the next installment.

Empress DJ

* * * 

 Lines in the Sand Series 

Inked Hearts

(book 1)

books2read.com/inkedhearts

Wild Hearts

(book 2)

On sale for half price!

books2read.com/wild-hearts

Texan Hearts

(book 3)

Only 99c!

books2read.com/texan-hearts

Facebook I Twitter I Website

A high school English teacher, an author, and a fan of anything pink and/or glittery, Lindsay's the English teacher cliché; she love cats, reading, Shakespeare, and Poe.

She currently lives in her hometown with her husband, Chad (her junior high sweetheart); their cats, Arya, Amelia, Alice, and Bob; and their Mastiff, Henry.

Lindsay's goal with her writing is to show the power of love and the beauty of life while also instilling a true sense of realism in her work. Some reviewers have noted that her books are not the “typical romance.” With her novels coming from a place of honesty, Lindsay examines the difficult questions, looks at the tough emotions, and paints the pictures that are sometimes difficult to look at. She wants her fiction to resonate with readers as realistic, poetic, and powerful. Lindsay wants women readers to be able to say, “I see myself in that novel.” She wants to speak to the modern woman’s experience while also bringing a twist of something new and exciting. Her aim is for readers to say, “That could happen,” or “I feel like the characters are real.” That’s how she knows she's done her job.

Lindsay's hope is that by becoming a published author, she can inspire some of her students and other aspiring writers to pursue their own passions. She wants them to see that any dream can be attained and publishing a novel isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

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Book Review, Giveaway: Liar Liar (Nicole Graves Mysteries #3) by Nancy Boyarsky

Liar Liar

(Nicole Graves Mysteries #3)

by Nancy Boyarsky

Goodreads

Amazon / B&N

Nicole Graves finds herself in the crosshairs when she reluctantly agrees to babysit a witness in a high-profile rape trial. Mary Ellen Barnes is suing her university’s star quarterback for rape when the authorities won’t act. In the court of public opinion, Mary Ellen appears to be the quintessential, pious, good girl. But her lies and mysterious comings and goings lead Nicole to suspect that she’s not what she seems.

Read an Excerpt

Later, Nicole would ponder the truth and its elusive nature. She’d realize how many lies people would tell to protect themselves from it. And, worst of all, how many she herself would tell to get at it. She’d always considered herself a truthful person. Yet she’d find herself lying to others, to her fiancé, and even to herself.

She’d wonder if there was such a thing as the actual truth. Or was truth relative, the product of incomplete or faulty memories, or the limitations of the observer? How often was the truth tainted by what an individual wanted, or needed, to believe?

On this bright day in mid-March, Nicole stepped into the United Terminal at LAX and encountered a situation she could hardly believe. It was as if she’d slipped back in time to the previous year when the media was stalking her. This morning, they were massed in a corner of baggage claim. After the initial shock of seeing them, she noticed they weren’t looking in her direction, hadn’t noticed her at all. They were waiting for someone else, someone they expected to come down the escalator from the arrival gates.

My Rating: 

Favorite Quotes:



He was slightly built with a beaky nose and wire-rimmed glasses that gave him the look of a highly intelligent lizard.



What we call the SODDI defense… It’s an acronym. S.O.D.D.I. It stands for ‘Some other dude did it.’



My Review:


If ever I need a PI, I hope I find one as feisty and curious as Nicole Graves. I enjoyed this murder mystery, it wasn’t a heart-pounding thriller but it did hold my attention and interest throughout. The characters were well fleshed out and realistically flawed while everyone was of questionable veracity, even Nicole, as she was lying to her fiancé about her risk-taking and involvement in a case she promised not to take, just to keep the peace. The plot and writing style were easy to follow, well-paced, and adroitly crafted. The storylines and characters were appealing and enticing while the writing flowed smoothly with colorful details and descriptions that brought sharp visuals to mind. This was my first exposure to the series and Ms. Boyarsky’s work, and although this volume stood alone quite well, I enjoyed it enough to covet the previous installments, as Nicole’s past adventures were mentioned in passing.

Empress DJ

About the Author:

Nancy Boyarsky is the bestselling author of the award-winning Nicole Graves Mysteries. Before turning to mysteries, Nancy coauthored Backroom Politics, a New York Times notable book, with her husband, Bill Boyarsky. She has written several textbooks on the justice system as well as articles for publications including the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, and McCall’s. She also contributed to political anthologies, including In the Running, about women’s political campaigns. In addition to her writing career, she was communications director for political affairs for ARCO.

Liar Liar is the third Nicole Graves novel, following The Swap and The Bequest, each of which can be read as a stand-alone. Readers are invited to connect with Nancy through her website.

Website: http://www.nancyboyarsky.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9020987.Nancy_Boyarsky
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancyboyarsky

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nancy Boyarsky will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Book Review: The Boy at the Keyhole by Stephen Giles

The Boy at the Keyhole

by Stephen Giles

Amazon | B-A-M | B & N

 304 pages

 Hanover Square Press; Original edition 

Nine-year-old Samuel lives alone in a once-great estate in Surrey with the family’s housekeeper, Ruth. His father is dead and his mother has been abroad for months, purportedly tending to her late husband’s faltering business. She left in a hurry one night while Samuel was sleeping and did not say goodbye.

Beyond her sporadic postcards, Samuel hears nothing from his mother. He misses her dearly and maps her journey in an atlas he finds in her study. Samuel’s life is otherwise regulated by Ruth, who runs the house with an iron fist. Only she and Samuel know how brutally she enforces order.

As rumors in town begin to swirl, Samuel wonders whether something more sinister is afoot. Perhaps his mother did not leave but was murdered—by Ruth.

Artful, haunting and hurtling toward a psychological showdown, The Boy at the Keyhole is an incandescent debut about the precarious dance between truth and perception, and the shocking acts that occur behind closed doors.

“A fiendishly efficient, gorgeously written, nasty little thrill ride of a psychological thriller. I couldn’t put it down, and it’s entirely possible that I’ll never sleep again. A true tour-de-force of a debut novel.”–Lyndsay Faye, author of The Gods of Gotham and Jane Steele

“The Boy at the Keyhole is sinister and tight, amusing and intense, an emotional story of a sweet boy in a precarious psychological place. A fun and wicked read that is impossible to put down!”–Matthew Sullivan, author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Ruth could do that. Make a decree, like a queen or something, that certain topics had reached their end and that would be that.

Now that he stood on the precipice of this wrongdoing, he felt the fluttering in his chest that made every breath sound as if he were sitting on a rattling train.

The same wine his mother said made his father prone to unsettling fits of national pride and falling asleep midsentence.

Part of the reason Samuel was sent to the local school and not somewhere more distinguished, like his father and uncle had, was because his mother didn’t want him turning out like his uncle Felix, who she said was a pompous buffoon wrapped in tweed, dipped in gin and rolled in horsehair.

Samuel saw the lies easily enough; they practically leached from her skin like poisonous gas. She twisted everything, turning the truth in on itself until it looked like something else.

My Review:

I am in quite a pique over the ending, or lack thereof, so rating this skillfully crafted book puts me in a quandary. The story didn’t seem anywhere near a stopping point, yet it ended.  Gah – I am infuriated as I was riveted to my Kindle while reading and hissed in complaint at any interruption.  Needless to say, adulting did not happen today, as evidenced by my profane and childish reaction to hitting the last page.  Yet, I cannot deny that Stephen Giles is a master storyteller who is extremely gifted with the word voodoo.  His writing was mesmerizing and laced with observant details and massive insightfulness into the mind of a child.  His characters were compelling and deftly written, I was eager to learn every little nuance I could wring from the narrative.  His storylines were tautly written and adroitly textured, I was on edge and keenly interested throughout.  I couldn’t settle on a theory and developed and cast off several while reading.  The housekeeper was vile and monstrous, harsh on a good day; the mother was absent, irresponsible, and self-absorbed; and the child – oh, he squeezed my heart, I ached for him.  But that ending - he really left me hanging, would it have killed him to have kept going just a few more pages?  It rankles, but I have to give him his due.  Sigh, 5-Stars.  This would make an excellent movie. 

Empress DJ

About Stephen Giles

Stephen Giles is the Australian author behind the lauded children’s series “Anyone But Ivy Pocket”, penned under the pseudonym Caleb Krisp. The series, published in the US by HarperCollins/Greenwillow and the UK by Bloomsbury, appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List, has been translated into 25 different languages and was optioned by Paramount Pictures.

Prior to selling his first book, Stephen worked in a variety of jobs to supplement his writing including market research, film classification and media monitoring. “The Boy at the Keyhole” is Giles’ first work for adults and the film rights for this book have been acquired by New Regency.

Book Review: The Silver Shoes by Jill G. Hall

 The Silver Shoes

by Jill G. Hall

 Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: She Writes Press 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In her second novel, Jill G. Hall, author of The Black Velvet Coat, brings readers another dual tale of two dynamic women from two very different eras searching for fulfillment.

San Francisco artist Anne McFarland has been distracted by a cross-country romance with sexy Sergio and has veered from her creative path. While visiting him in New York, she buys a pair of rhinestone shoes in an antique shop that spark her imagination and lead her on a quest to learn more about the shoes’ original owner.

Almost ninety years earlier, Clair Deveraux, a sheltered 1929 New York debutante, tries to reside within the bounds of polite society and please her father. But when she meets Winnie, a carefree Macy’s shop girl, Clair is lured into the steamy side of Manhattan–a place filled with speakeasies, flappers, and the beat of “that devil music”–and her true desires explode wide open. Secrets and lies heap up until her father loses everything in the stock market crash and Clair becomes entangled in the burlesque world in an effort to save her family and herself.

Ultimately, both Anne and Clair–two very different women living in very different eras–attain true fulfillment . . . with some help from their silver shoes.

Praise

“The crash of 1929, speakeasies and musical reviews, artistic challenges, family secrets, secret desires, romantic complications?  These are just a few of the ingredients in Jill G. Hall’s wonderful new novel, The Silver Shoes. Clair and Anne are two compelling characters born decades apart into drastically different circumstances. Each must face her own dilemmas and neither has an easy solution.” —Judy Reeves, author of Wild Women, Wild Voices

“What a delight! Hall captivates and pulls the reader in; the story is as sparkling and fun as the silver shoes that connect the two women together–pure entertainment!” —Michelle Cox, Author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series

“You’ll be cheering for both of these heroines as they insist on finding their own way as artists, no matter what the men in their lives want them to be. Hall’s descriptions of Anne’s visual art, inspired by the silver shoes, are delicious.” —Janice Steinberg, art journalist and author of The Tin Horse

My Rating: 

Favorite Quotes:


We were from the South, and Ma had been fickle. Had five husbands… We called her the black widow. She’d always say, ‘Honey, they just keep on dying.’ At least she married Daddy for love. The others she said she married out of habit.”

“Always smile like dis.” Varinska demonstrated a blasé expression with a small relaxed smile and cool eyes. “Face say: No care in vorld.” Varinska lit a cigarette, stuck it in her ivory holder, and took a drag. “Rough up! Find tender spot, they poke till you break. Show me zat smile until sinks in.”



My Review:


Back in the day of Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King, I was an early card-carrying feminist, as such, I don’t often read historical fiction due to the poor manner in which women fared during history, and alas, such was the case with one of the timelines in this book. Yet Ms. Hall’s alluring style managed to quickly pull me into this tooth-gnashing tale of dual timelines and hold me captive, despite my irritation and annoyance with the restrictive patriarchal conditions of 1929. I was fully invested and curiously held in place by the writing quality and intriguing storylines even though I wanted to give the female characters in both timelines a sharp smack and a pinch or ten. I was fully exasperated with both for their dithering and weak spinal columns. Although, in her defense, 1929 was a desperately different age and Clair’s obnoxious father had been unforgivably conniving and controlling. I was intrigued by the premise and quite curious to learn Clair’s fate as well those of her friends, and in unraveling the near ninety-year path of the shoes. My favorite characters, by far, were the quirky and colorful burlesque players of Varinska and Winnie, as of course, I tend to favor the sassier broads ;)

Empress DJ

About the Author

Jill G. Hall is the author of The Black Velvet Coat, an International Book Award Finalist for Best New Fiction. Her poems have appeared in a variety of publications, including A Year in Ink, The Avocet, and Wild Women, Wild Voices. On her blog, Crealivity, she shares personal musings about the art of practicing a creative lifestyle. She is a seasoned presenter at seminars, readings, and community events. In addition to writing, Hall practices yoga, tap dances, and enjoys spending time in nature. 

Learn more at www.jillghall.com, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Book Review, Giveaway: Hot Winter Nights (Heartbreaker Bay – Book 6) by Jill Shalvis

In which our sexy hero wakes up with a woman in his bed and no memory of how that happened. Did he miss the good stuff?

Hot Winter Nights

Heartbreaker Bay – Book 6

Jill Shalvis

Avon Books

AMAZON | B&N |iBOOKS | KOBO | GPLAY

Who needs mistletoe?

Most people wouldn’t think of a bad Santa case as the perfect Christmas gift. Then again, Molly Malone, office manager at Hunt Investigations, isn’t most people, and she could really use a distraction from the fantasies she’s been having since spending the night with her very secret crush, Lucas Knight. Nothing happened, not that Lucas knows that—but Molly just wants to enjoy being a little naughty for once . . .

Whiskey and pain meds for almost-healed bullet wounds don’t mix. Lucas needs to remember that next time he’s shot on the job, which may be sooner rather than later if Molly’s brother, Joe, finds out about them. Lucas can’t believe he’s drawing a blank on his (supposedly) passionate tryst with Molly, who’s the hottest, smartest, strongest woman he’s ever known. Strong enough to kick his butt if she discovers he’s been assigned to babysit her on her first case. And hot enough to melt his cold heart this Christmas . . .

My Rating: 

Favorite Quotes: 

“I just got a text from Louise… It says, ‘Don’t be late for work tonight, Santa’s turned into Grinch. SMH.’” She blinked. “What does S-M-H mean?” “Shaking my head,” “Oh thank goodness… I thought it meant Sex Might Help.”

Welcome to adulthood, where having Home Advil and Purse Advil is everything.

I do miss cuddling. Sometimes I just need to be kissed and spooned, you know? I deserve that, I’m a decent person, I recycle.

“I thought you had more game than that.” “Game?” Virginia asked on a laugh. “Honey, last night you kissed me and farted at the same time.”

“I’m not sure what it says about me that a sixty-year-old Santa is getting more than I am,” she said. “Money or sex?” “Probably both.”

“How about when I pretended to be Santa Claus for Sami?” He pointed to his cousin. “I climbed onto your roof and made reindeer noises and everything. You bought it hook, line, and sinker.” “Yep, right up until you fell off and past my window, breaking your arm. For years I thought I’d killed Santa. It was traumatizing.”

They really should put prizes in our tampon boxes, like ‘hey, your period sucks, but here’s a fifty percent off ice cream coupon, you cranky bitch.’

My Review: 

Jill Shalvis is a guaranteed fun read. I am addicted to her clever humor and special brand of witty character banter. In addition to the secret romance (that wasn’t supposed to be happening) between co-workers, was the humorously well-crafted mystery they were investigating (that wasn’t supposed to be a case) involving a Christmas Village/Bingo parlor run by a felonious and licentious sixty-year-old Santa and his geriatric elves. The premise was original and ingeniously giggle-snort worthy. The storylines were highly amusing, continuously engaging, and cunningly crafted. But the treasure, as usual, was Ms. Shalvis’s compelling and captivating characters, who tend to be quick on the draw with sassy quips, highly capable and endearing yet deeply flawed, and good-hearted yet scarred and irreparably damaged. I enjoyed this book and this couple from beginning to end.

Empress DJ

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she’s also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

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