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!

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

Whitney Dineen- Relatively Normal AND Relatively Sane

Guys!  Whitney Dineen!  I'm not sure where to start!  I read Relatively Normal and Relatively Sane in two days.  I was reeled in immediately by the characters.  I was laughing out loud at almost every page.  I was entranced.  Who doesn't love kilt wearing, bagpipe playing, and Scottish dancing fools? 

So, why did I pick up these books?  Well, the cover of Relatively Happy drew me in on Netgalley, and I was chosen to read that novel.  What I didn't know when I selected it was that it was the third book in the series.  So of course, I needed to read the first two before I could read the third!  I wasn't disappointed to say the least. 

I've never read anything by Whitney Dineen before.  I didn't know what to expect, but the covers of the stories drew me in and I had a feeling it was going to be a fun and quick read.  I was right.  I was immediately drawn in by the characters, Cat, Ethan, Sam, Sarah, and my personal favorite, Nan.  They were all so different, but melded so well together for the storyline. 

The novels touched on heartbreak, illness, laughter, and Sottish heritage among so many other things.  This was certainly a fun and easy read though.  I have rated 4-5 stars on Goodreads, and have already uploaded the books on others Kindles.  I will undoubtedly be reading more from Dineen in hopes that the rest of her storylines are just as catching.

Girl, Wash Your Face-Rachel Hollis

Title- Girl, Wash Your Face

Author- Rachel Hollis

Published- Feb 2018

Genre-Nonfiction, Kickass empowering 

Where I got the book- Netgalley

Synopsis- Can be found at Goodreads

My thoughts-

First, let me start of by saying that I can relate to Rachel on so many levels.  I understand that this kind of nonfiction may not be for the masses, but it's her version of her life, not everyone needs to read it. I, however, couldn't put it down. (Seriously, I spent two days hiding in my office at work reading.)

 Rachel brings about humor, tragedy, and real life issues to light.  I didn't know I was in need of "pick my up by the boot straps book" but this was the perfect book at the perfect time for me.  I laughed, I thought, I smiled.  That was all I needed.  I thoroughly appreciate her candor, her willingness to shed light on her trials and tribulations.  Reading her stories made me think about things in ways that I needed to, but was maybe too afraid to.  

I wouldn't consider this a self help book.  I do think this book keeps things in perspective and shows the struggles of most women.  We've all been in a relationship like hers, mothers I know struggle with thoughts like hers, every one I know hates their body at some point in their life.  This is truth.  We aren't alone, and it's nice to hear someone elses perspective on things once in a while. 

Since I've started this book I have researched and followed Rachel on all social media accounts.  I am excited to follow her and her crazy yet empowering self.  I read this as an ebook, but I may just have to pick up a hard copy to have.  

I'd recommend this to anyone, and have already told a few people they need to pick this up.  It was such a good read.  

 

Caterina- Patricia Paris

Title: Caterina: A Bonavera Novel
Author: Patricia Paris
Publishing Date: December 4, 2018
How:   ARC from BHC Press and Library Thing
Synopsis:  Caterina is one of four Bonavera sisters who inherited a winery.  She had ambitions to open a restaurant in NYC and become one of the top Chefs.  When things didn't go as planned she had to move back to the winery and with her sisters. 
Deciding to build her own restaurant on the winery property she meets Liam, the stubborn, hot headed, but attractive building construction contractor.  Caterina and Liam have a first instinct to dislike each other, but will that be all?  Will the family accept that?

My thoughts:  This was one of those good feelings books.  This is the first I've read of the Bonavera sisters novels, but with just reading this one, I look forward to reading them all. 
This novel was full of love, laughter, family, food and mystery. 

Caterina's character is strong, with a no nonsense vibe.  She wants to find love, but she views cooking and family as her heart.  When she meets Liam, it is immediate chemistry that she perceives as dislike on his behalf. 
Liam is a strong willed single parent to a little girl who has had to overcome a great deal of sadness and anger in his life.  Due to this, he is afraid to let just anyone in and around his daughter. 
Over time however, the chemistry between the two becomes overwhelming and undeniable.

Patricia Paris did a wonderful job putting this little feel good novel together.  She left the mystery until the perfect time, she let the love unfold, and gave a happy ending.  I will definitely be looking forward to seeing what else she comes up with, both within the Bonavera family and outside it.

I cannot say enough good things about this novel and will recommend it with joy as a feel good book of the season.

Stars:  5!

In the House in the Dark of the Woods

Title:  In the House in the Dark of the Woods
Author: Laird Hunt
Date Published:  October 16, 2018
How: ARC from Little Brown Publishing on Netgalley
Goodreads synopsis: link
In this horror story set in colonial New England, a law-abiding Puritan woman goes missing. Or perhaps she has fled or abandoned her family. Or perhaps she's been kidnapped, and set loose to wander in the dense woods of the north. Alone and possibly lost, she meets another woman in the forest. Then everything changes.

On a journey that will take her through dark woods full of almost-human wolves, through a deep well wet with the screams of men, and on a living ship made of human bones, our heroine may find that the evil she flees has been inside her all along. The eerie, disturbing story of one of our perennial fascinations--witchcraft in colonial America--In the House in the Dark of the Woods is a novel of psychological horror and suspense told in Laird Hunt's characteristically lyrical prose style. It is the story of a bewitching, a betrayal, a master huntress and her quarry. It is a story of anger, of evil, of hatred and of redemption. It is the story of a haunting, a story that makes up the bedrock of American mythology, but told in a vivid way you will never forget.


My thoughts:
My first thoughts are about the cover of this eerie novel. I loved it. It brings the title together with the content of the book. It's just enough to pique my interest of what could be within the pages under the cover.

The writing style is slightly different from most other reads I've read lately. It took me a bit to get into, but once I did I was not disappointed in the least. Hunts writing was almost poetic, but in a dreamlike, grim way. His foreshadowing was brilliant. It was symbolic and literary in so many ways, I can see this being on many TBR lists.

The content was a perfect read for this time of year. It was full of the colonial time period witches, dark magic, grim forest, revenge and creepy characters. It isn't too often a book will give me feelings other than love and happiness. This one, however, gave me the feels of something I couldn't quite put together while reading. I felt the chills, I felt entrapped in the words on the page wanting to know more and more. I felt my mind racing after about a quarter way through with dark thoughts and gloomy characters.


Overall:
Four stars. I would recommend this dark and twisted fairy tale to anyone, especially this time of year.

Fractured

Title:  Fractured
Author:  Olivia Flaggert
Published date:  9/14/2018
Genre: Adult fiction
Rating:  4 stars
Synopsis:   Love can be so blind. 
He's the perfect man. He's charming, sincere, intelligent, successful.  He's the man all the women fall for. 
Dr. Lenny Jameson has a way of luring women in.  His practice partner, Dr. Amanda Hemingway is head over heels in love with him, the drug reps are swooning, how could a girl like Emma Johnson possibly not fall in love? 
Fall she does.  Emma is a young and hopeful woman trying to piece together her life when it doesn't seem to be going her way.  After her first meeting with Lenny she starts to think that things can't get any better than him.  She places her trust, her life in his hands. 
When Emma starts to think that maybe this man having affairs and her mother ends up dead, she starts to wonder if the man she loves is too good to be true.

My thoughts: I immediately related to this book on so many levels.  The work place relationship, working in the medical field, the girl who doesn't quite have her life together, falling for the one that looks great on paper. 
The idea behind the story line was great.  Older man with younger woman whom he can manipulate into thinking she's crazy.  Love it.  I think what I was surprised most about the book, and maybe didn't like all that much, was the pace of the novel.  I feel like there could have been things described in a little more detail instead of just hopping around.  Though the ending answered a  lot of the questions, there still were a few I didn't feel were answered.  For example, what was the motive behind the murder? Why did Kyle suddenly flip a switch and decide he still loved Emma?
Let me talk about Emma.  I had mixed feelings about her.  She needed to be a weaker character in order for Lenny to be able to play her, but at the same time I wanted her to be so much stronger than she was. She would be the character on screen that I would be yelling at for being so stupid in the horror films.  Despite this, I think she was portrayed to be exactly as the author wanted her to be, and that's okay.
I think the book had some good structure and bones.  The voice was consistent throughout and made it an easier read.  Though I knew the ending would be with Lenny getting caught, I didn't foresee it playing out exactly how it did, and that was a plus for me. 
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and will look forward to reading more from Olivia Flaggert in the future.  I will definitely recommend it to friends.

Forget You Know Me

Title: Forget You Know Me

Author: Jessica Strawser

Publishing date:  2/2019

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Where I got it:  ARC from St Martins Press

Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis:  Liza and Molly are best friends from college now living in two different states and have two different lives.  In an effort to save a strained friendship, they have what they call girls night that consists of wine and catching up over Webcam.  When her daughter needs her, Molly steps away from the computer leaving Liza alone to watch, in horror, as a masked man enters her friends home.  

After frantically calling the police, Liza decides to take the eight hour drive to make sure her friend is unharmed and well.  Only when she arrives Molly slams the door in her face and acts like Liza crossed state lines for nothing at all.

Liza returns home to a burned down apartment complex, no where to live and not understanding the thought process of the person who she's called her best friend all these years.  While Liza is thinking her friendship is over, Molly is thinking she's dodged a bullet only to make another one in its place.  

They cant avoid each other forever though, and soon they'll face a reckoning that will show them just how much weight a shared history can take.

My thoughts: I was surprised by this novel.  I liked the synopsis.  However, I was surprised by the story line ending.  If I learned anything from this novel it's to trust no one.  Not your best friend for so many years and not your husband.  It took me a while to read this book.  When I was reading it I was into it, but the desire to continue reading after I put it down just wasn't there for me.  I didn't get connected to the characters, in fact, I can't even say I liked most of them.  However, I can say that the characters were well developed, to me they were just selfish, paranoid and psychotic.  

Characters and ending aside, Strawser did a good job at tying together all the unknowns that were dropped throughout the book.  Though I can't say I liked the ending.   To me I don't understand how two wrongs make a right, but she did not leave me with any questions unanswered.  

Though I can't say I would read this particular book again, I would like to look into some of her other novels and see how they compare.  Her writing was good, and her ideas where there.  

Things Left Unsaid- Courtney Walsh

 

Title:  Things Left Unsaid

Author: Courtney Walsh

Genre: Fiction, Adult fiction, maybe religion/spirituality

Stars: 5

Synopsis from Goodreads:

An emotional novel of family, friendship and forgiveness from Courtney Walsh, the New York Times bestselling author of Hometown Girl.

Lyndie St. James is thrilled that her best friend, Elle, is getting married but unprepared for the emotional storm of the wedding week and returning to her childhood summer home of Sweethaven. The idyllic cottage community harbors some of her best—and worst—memories. It’s not only the tragic death of her childhood friend Cassie that has haunted her for ten years, it’s the other secrets she’s buried that have kept her from moving on.

But Lyndie isn’t the only one with secrets.

Cassie’s mother, father and brother, still struggling with the loss, have been drifting further and further apart. And Elle herself, the last to see Cassie alive, carries an impossible burden of guilt. Now reunited, each of them has a choice: to reveal the truths of that night or continue to live in its shadow. That means embarking on a personal journey of the heart—to escape the darkness and all its regrets and to finally come to terms with the past and, especially, with each other.

The Competition-Cecily Wolfe

Book Tile:  The Competition
Author: Cecily Wolfe
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Stars:  3.5
Goodreads
For Mary Sofia, The Penultimate writing competition is more than a chance at a free college education; she wants to show her younger siblings that they can all rise above their violent family history. For Raiden, the pressure to succeed comes from within, although he knows that family traditions play a part in his determination. For Camara, writing fiction is almost compulsive, but her own dark secret may be the best story she can ever tell. For Michael, swimming and writing fit his introverted personality perfectly, but meeting a smart and beautiful girl at The Penultimate makes stepping outside of his comfort zone easy. All four will compete against each other along with 96 other high school juniors for the chance of a lifetime: a full scholarship to a prestigious private college. Some students will do anything to win, but others may pay the price.

My thoughts:  

This novel touches on some real life issues that many young adults face today.  Wolfe does a good job portraying the issues in a subtle, not overwhelming way.  Each character has his or her own struggles and it brings them all closer because of it. I loved the idea of the story line and think it was executed well. 
However, for me there were too many characters.  Even the synopsis from Goodreads only shows four of the main characters.  They are the ones with the twists within the novel, but there are four or five other characters that play an equally large role and it can get confusing to follow the story line from one to the other.  Especially when they all have dark past that isn't known to the reader yet.  Once the author gives away a little more information, the picture becomes clearer.  So it all ties together in the end. 
I think for the YA reading this, it shows how friends can be cruel, supportive, intelligent and loving.  I was surprised by the ending, I kind of wanted one of them to win, but then again it all worked out with the little twist as well.

It was a good read.  My first from Cecily Wolfe.  I would recommend it and would read more of her work.  

Sauced Up, Scarred and at Sleaze: An Anthology of 8 Short Stories- G.C. Mckay

This is transgressive fiction at it's finest! 

Mckay is an author who can write.  I didn't find at any time while reading this that it wasn't a well put together book of short stories.  However, short stories aren't really my thing.  I find that I'm always wanting more.

Some of the short stories in this anthology made me laugh out  loud.  Some were not in my taste.  The first two, Something Borrowed, Something Blue and The Importance of Safe Sex were dark and twisted but funny and witty.  I could easily read them. 

Bloodhound Lust was just not for me.  It was grotesque and brutal. 

Mother Nature Sends Her Love and SQUIRM are things one would think typical of boys of a certain age.  I could see my brother having similar stories with his friends. 

In between were like stories that were wonderfully grotesque and witty.  It is not something I normally would have picked up, but I don't regret reading it.  It pushed me to see a different genre of writing.
However, I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. Transgressive writing, I feel, is not for the weak hearted and takes a certain kind of person to appreciate it.  Though I thought some of the stories were a bit too much for me, I can appreciate the authors creativity and writing style.