Blood on the Tide- Katee Robert

Title: Blood on the Tide

Author:  Katee Robert

Published date: May 2024

Source:  NetGalley
Synopsis:   via Goodreads
Set sail for adventure and love in the next spicy fantasy romance from Katee Robert, the New York Times bestselling author of the TikTok smash hit Neon Gods .

As a bloodline vampire, Lizzie has never had a problem taking what she wants, and right now what she wants are the family heirlooms that were stolen from her and a portal home. Too bad even that short list is impossible to accomplish on her own—and her allies have bigger things to worry about.

When they rescue a selkie from captivity, it’s the perfect solution to her problem. Lizzie needs a guide through Threshold and the selkie needs someone to help her get her skin back.  Maeve didn’t choose to give up her skin—it was stolen from her. Now she’s in an uneasy partnership with a dangerous woman who seems more apt to kill than to share a kind word. It’s terrifying…and a bit alluring. Even though she knows it will end in heartbreak, Maeve can’t help being drawn to Lizzie and her all-too-pleasurable vampire bite. 

Unfortunately, the danger to Maeve’s heart is the least of her worries. The ship Lizzie’s chasing belongs to the Cŵn Annwn, and they don’t take kindly to people who steal from them. Not even Lizzie’s viciousness or Maeve’s selkie strength will be enough to save them if the Cŵn Annwn seek retribution…

My thoughts:

Who doesn't love Katee Robert?  

Want steamy?  Katee.  

Want adventure?  Katee.  

Want deviously bad@ss characters?  Katee.

Want fast paced romantasy?  Katee.  

She never fails.  This book was no different in exceeding my expectations.  It was just the right amount of adventure, spice, and loveable characters that we all need.

In this FF romantasy, a beautiful dominant vampire needs to find something she's lost, and needs the help of a somewhat mousey selkie who's also lost something that she's hoping to find.  The two get lost in their adventures of attempting to find these personal items that mean so much to them and end up finding more than their missing items, but finding themselves and each other.  

The characters all fit their roles beautifully and were likeable. The storyline so well executed.  Katee is a pro.  I cannot wait to see what else she comes up with.  

Will 100000% be recommending this!

Star Rating:  5 stars

Mind Games- Nora Roberts

 

Title:  Mind Games

Author: Nora Roberts

Source: NetGalley, Amazon Pre-order here!

Publish Date: May 2024

Synopsis:  Given by Goodreads

As they do each June, the Foxes have driven the winding roads of Appalachia to drop off their children for a two-week stay at their grandmother’s. Here, twelve-year-old Thea can run free and breathe in the smells of pine and fresh bread and Grammie’s handmade candles. But as her parents head back to suburban Virginia, they have no idea they’re about to cross paths with a ticking time bomb.

Back in Kentucky, Thea and her grandmother Lucy both awaken from the same nightmare. And though the two have never discussed the special kind of sight they share, they know as soon as their tearful eyes meet that something terrible has happened.

The kids will be staying with Grammie now in Redbud Hollow, and thanks to Thea’s vision, their parents’ killer will spend his life in supermax. Over time, Thea will make friends, build a career, find love. But that ability to see into minds and souls still lurks within her, and though Grammie calls it a gift, it feels more like a curse―because the inmate who shattered her childhood has the same ability. Thea can hear his twisted thoughts and witness his evil acts from miles away. He knows it, and hungers for vengeance. A long, silent battle will be waged between them―and eventually bring them face to face, and head to head…

My thoughts:
Nora is a master at mind twisting plots and stories!  This book was no different and I LOVED IT.  I was here for all the pages of wonderment, romance, fantasy.  Every time I read one of her books I can't help but think, "she's amazing, how on earth did she think of that?"  BUT SHE DOES and she executes it with perfection! 

She gives the romance that she gives in every book, even if its a slow burn with this one.  She gives us the impossible with the women of sight who can also be hurt by it.  She gives HEA but turmoil within the pages of the story.  The characters are well thought of, well loved, and well put down on paper.  

I simply cannot say enough about this.  I read the book and listened to the audio and IMMEDIATELY told everyone I know to preorder.  And preordered it myself for my shelves.  Nora never lets me down, this book was no different.  In fact, some how she makes it so that I love every book I read better than the last.  HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!?

I raise my hands, glass and hat to you Ms Roberts.  Wonderful job!

Books, books, books

 I ran SO fast to pre-order Melanie Harlow's special edition paperback of Runaway Love.  It's the first book in the Cherry Tree Harbor series.  It's one of four, so it's a decent sized series.  Small town, nanny/boss romance.  It's great.  Y'all should pick it up yourselves!  Pre-Order here!

It's so, so pretty though!  I can't wait for July to see it in person!

Also, Amazon is doing their thing with boxed sets!  

 Kiera Cass has this 5 book set for $24 dollars.  I think that's like a 60% savings.  Yes please!  Get it here.... Kiera Cass Box Set

The Shatter Me series is also on tremendous sale!  Shatter Me

This series has held my eye for years now because of the beautiful covers!  Get it now while it's on the low!  

In LOVE!

 So I mentioned that I'm getting married.  In less than two months.  

I've been scouring the internet for "bookish" themes and ideas for months now.  Based on this blog, you know, I'm a reader.  

I've researched book folding and spraying edges.  I've gotten tons of ideas, and to be honest, I dont know if any of them are going to work.  But I'm going to continue to look and try.

One of the ideas I've come across and loved is book folding in different patterns.  

Amazon sells books called Art Folds.  They come in various different patterns, but they're so so so cute.  I want to do them all.  Here's the link to the one that most suits our wedding plans.... https://amzn.to/3U2t3Em

I didn't do this pattern for the wedding, but I want it for my home office asap.  https://amzn.to/43Xunws

It gives me Treasure Island vibes, which is what the book is.  Read it as you fold.  It's a genius idea and I wish I had come up with it.  

Meanwhile, I've also looked on Etsy for patterns and such.  I've gotten a heart, Mr&Mrs, and a bride/groom pattern.  They've come out so cute.  

Like I mean COME ON.  I added the veil but COME ON.  It took me a few hours of marking the pages with the measurements and then about an hour to do the folding and cuts.  I used Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for it.  One, because it's one of my favorite series, and two, it had around the right number of pages I needed.

I encourage all readers and lovers of books to try book folding.  Run to amazon and get the books.  They're super easy and self explanatory as well as perfect starters for the more intricate stuffs.

Been a long time coming

 Whoa!  Throwback!  

I've been reading left and right.  BUT I'm getting married!  And with this I've looked for anything and everything bookish related to decorate with.  

It's going to be a destination wedding for us.  I'll be getting married in upstate NY where the family home is.  Where my favorite spots are.  Where I feel safe and loved no matter what the time or day is.  Though the process has been alarmingly stressful, I've had the best people on my side to help make this day the best it can be.  I am truly blessed.  

Having said that.  I wanted to share some of the things I've come across that I'm taking with me for this destination wedding AND decorating my venue with for the big day.

So hear me out...

We have rented a bed and breakfast for the week and I want my hubby to be to be comfortable.  So I got him a little fridge for the room to keep his meds, some drinks, etc in.  You can buy it here.... https://amzn.to/3VSevtw

We also wanted to do a ceremony to celebrate with the ones we've loved and lost who cannot make it for our day.  The night before we plan on doing a small ceremony to remember them, toast to them and make them part of our time up there in the mountains.  These balloons are a remembrance item for that.

You can buy those here... https://amzn.to/4cORugO

Honestly, they make me so happy.  I know it wont be the same as having our loved ones there, but I dont' want anyone forgotten. 

Also, wedding tables!  I have gotten so so so many books, flowers, bookish items that I will post in another thread, but I want the tables to not be overlooked.  I could've hired someone to decorate for me, but at the end of the day, I wanted to put my own touch on things.

So these table runners were the perfect way to do that.  

They come in so many different colors and sizes.  They're going to look great on my tables next to all my books.  You can find those here.... https://amzn.to/3VSsK1g

I'll throw in one bookish item on this page.  I had visions.  BIG VISIONS for how I want things.  For the most part, they're achievable.  Some however are not.  But when it comes to decorating the dessert table, or the bride and groom table, I wanted things to be a little different than every other table.  So I picked up some books.  These books are ArtFolds books.  Let me tell you.  The end product of folding these book pages comes out SO FREAKING CUTE.  Y'all need them for your shelves.  I know they're coming back home with me and decorating my soon to be built house and library!  You can find them here... https://amzn.to/43PMFzI

Unfinished they look like any other book.  Completed they look like this:

They're adorable and I want one in every type now.  

But that's all for misc stuffs for the wedding.  I'll be back soon for other bookish related items.  

Mean People Suck

Title:  Mean People Suck- How empathy leads to bigger profits and a better life
Author: Michael Brenner
Source: NetGalley
Publish Date: October 2019
Synopsis:  Given by Goodreads
Are you happy? Like your job? Most people report low engagement and enthusiasm in their careers. And point their finger at a negative work culture, a mean boss... co-worker... or customer. Mean people suck.

Some leaders believe that they need to be mean in order to be effective. Their lack of compassion creates negative relationships that lowers performance and profits!

Michael Brenner's Mean People Suck uses real-life experience and proven research to show why instead of blaming others, we can look inside ourselves, and learn how to use empathy to defeat "mean" in every situation. This insightful guide shows leaders, and employees how more emotional communication increases profits and enhances lives. You'll learn:

Why employees are unhappy and the power of empathy to turn things around. How organizational charts disengage employees by neglecting the human element. Why empathy seems counter-intuitive to success. The secrets to a happy, meaningful and impactful career. If you're ready to enjoy a more gratifying professional and personal life, this book's stories and proven tips will help get you there - even if Mean People Suck

My thoughts:    Empathy is huge in todays world.  I see a lot of people lacking, while others struggle under the weight of it.  I requested to read this book from Netgalley because I am a practice manager always wanting to explore new ways, or new ideas on how to keep my staff engaged, satisfied and wanting to work.  This book touched on the views of employers and employees

The author explains how he has come about with his information, his many jobs over a span of decades working has given him insight on some great working atmospheres and some not so great.  He explains why being a mean employee may seem like the most effective way to get employees to do what they should, in reality, it may only hinder ambition to work.

This book is captures both the employee standpoint and the employer when it comes to empathy and success.  It's a great read for those getting into the role of leadership, or those who have been in leadership who may need to be refreshed on the smaller things that make employees happier.

Overall I would give this book a 3.5 star.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone within a leadership role who needs a reminder that we are all human, and we don't all have to be mean to make things work.

Relatively Happy- Whitney Dineen

Title:  Relatively Happy
Author:  Whitney Dineen
Published date: September 2019
Source:  NetGalley
Synopsis:   via Goodreads 
Sarah Hastings' life is chaotic. Between running her organic farm, her yurt-style holistic B&B, and her vegan café Eat Me!, she barely has time for an aura cleanse. What's more, her spirit guide just announced the universe is sending her a man.

Suddenly, a sexy pro-football player, a hipster photojournalist, and fellow organic farmer practically fall from the sky onto her doorstep. But which one is her cosmic soulmate?

While Sarah meditates on the answer, her parents show up unexpectedly throwing the mother of all monkey wrenches into her carefully laid plans.

With only morning yoga and her erotic book club to keep her sane, no wonder she's chucked her vegan diet in search of bacon. Will the stars of love align, or will the universe let her down in the biggest way possible?  


My thoughts:
I loved this novel.  While its in the Relative series from Dineen, this one could be read as a stand alone.  It has a the same characters, but the storyline focuses on a one of the supporting characters in the first two novels of the series.

Dineen creates characters that are happy, fun, loving.  I was drawn into Sarah from the previous novels, but was excited to see that Happy was her story.  She runs an organic farm, takes no crap from anyone and wants the very best for her family and friends.  She is constantly trying to help others at her holistic bed and breakfast.  She is constantly surrounded by friends.

It isn't until she gets a new/old set of neighbors and her father becomes ill that she realizes she needs to rely on the support from others as well.  She's looking for love, she is looking to continue on her vegan path and she is looking for guidance about her family's health. 

Overall, I loved this novel just as much as the first two.  I don't know that I've laughed so much with characters in a novel before.  I have already suggested it to all of my reader friends.  

Star Rating:  5 stars