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Showing posts from February, 2020

How to Build a Heart by Maria Padian

How to Build a Heart by Maria Padian was published 01/28/2020 by Algonquin Young Readers.  I was given a copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 16 year old Izzy Crawford has struggled to fit in somewhere since her father died in Iraq 6 years ago, never returning from his employment as a Marine.  Izzy’s mom has worked multiple jobs, moving them constantly in search of something better.  When they make it to Virginia, Izzy finally feels like she’s starting to fit in…even though she hides her school scholarship, mother’s job, and where she lives from her friends and super popular new boyfriend.  When Habitat for Humanity gives her family a new house, Izzy will struggle to keep all of her secrets from colliding with her the life she has worked so hard to build. Once I got past how shallow Izzy was acting, I really enjoyed this book.   I know what it’s like to hide your family from your “real life” as a teenager.   Her embarrassment was real to me, and brought b

The Holdout by Graham Moore

The Holdout, written by Graham Moore is scheduled for release on February 18, 2020 by Random House Publishing Group.  I was given an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  I also chose this as one of my February Book of the Month selections. Synopsis (From Goodreads):   Juror Maya Seale is convinced that African American high school teacher Bobby Nock is innocent of killing the wealthy white female student with whom he appears to have been involved and persuades her fellow jurors likewise. Ten years later, a true-crime docuseries reassembles the jurors, and Maya, now a defense attorney, must prove her own innocence when one of them is found dead in Maya's room. I originally requested this on NetGalley b ecause I found it on a list of 2020’s most promising books.  Once I found out BOTM would also be featuring it, naturally I had to have it.  I love all things true crime, so a fictional story about a true crime case could not have been more clearl

The Betrayed Wife - Kevin O'Brien

The Betrayed Wife by Kevin O'Brien was released on July 30, 2019 by Kensington Books.  I was given a copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Sheila O’Rourke and her husband Dylan have 3 kids and what seems to be the normal suburban life…too bad her husband is a piece of scum.   When 16 year old Eden shows up claiming to be his daughter from a past fling, Sheila tries to be a welcoming stepmom.   Eden is a nightmare, and Sheila feels like Eden is out to get her.   She’s been getting strange text messages for weeks, and now dangerous things are happening in her home.   Will Sheila find out what is going on before it’s too late? I’ve been really annoyed lately by the amount of books focusing on cheating spouses and partners, but this was slightly different.   The lives of these people were so wrecked and dramatic that I kept reading to find out what would happen to them.   This whole story felt like a mega episode of Snapped, which I really enjoyed.   Ever

Her Homecoming Wish by Jo McNally -- Tour Stop

This book is a part of the Harlequin Special Edition series.  I was given a copy from Harlequin and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Mackenzie Wallace hopes there’s still some bad boy lurking beneath single father Danny Adams’s upright exterior. Being the proverbial good girl left her brokenhearted and alone in the past. Now she’s back in town and wants excitement with her high school crush—not love. Dan knows their connection runs deep, despite Mackenzie’s protests. But will their new personas work together—especially when Dan’s secret is exposed? Okay.   I didn’t super love this one.   I didn’t even really like it...but this book has an average of almost 4 stars on Goodreads, so don’t just take my word for it!   To me, the characters didn’t seem genuine.   It seemed like the dialogue was trying too hard.   It felt really cheesy to me, and I rolled my eyes….A LOT.   Have y’all been back to your hometowns years after graduating from high school?   SPOILER ALERT

Temporary Wife Temptation by Jayci Lee -- Tour Stop

Today is my tour stop for Temporary Wife Temptation by Jayci Lee.  This book was released on February 4, 2020.   This book is part of the Harlequin Desire series.   I was given a copy from NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for my honest review.   Synopsis (from Goodreads):   Garrett Song is  this  close to taking the reins of his family’s LA fashion empire…until the Song matriarch insists he marry her handpicked bride first. To block her matchmaking, he recruits Natalie Sobol to pose as his wife. She needs a fake spouse as badly as he does. But when passion burns down their chaste agreement, the flames could destroy them all… This book was a super quick read, which I really appreciated.  The story wasn't drawn out longer than necessary.  Some parts were really cute...and some were just really cheesy.  I'm not a long time reader of Harlequin books, so I can't adequately say if all of their books make me feel this way.  I had a really hard time believing their

Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb -- Tour Stop

Happy February!  Today is my tour stop for Witness Protection Widow, by Debra Webb.  I was given a copy of this Harlequin Intrigue book in exchange for my honest review.  This book was released on January 21, 2020. Can the witness protection program keep her identity secret? After Allison James escapes her marriage to a monster, she becomes the star witness in the case against her deceased husband's powerful crime family.  Now it's up to US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali's ex-boyfriend, to keep the WITSEC widow safe.  But as danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws? This was apparently the fifth book in the Winchester, Tennessee series, but it was the first book for me both for the series and the author.  That being said, I didn't feel like I missed anything from the first books.  This very much felt like a stand-alone book.  This book was fast paced and full of action.  Ali may be a victim, but she's not go