I’ve been reading a lot lately and it’s been a wonderful respite from daily life. A book is always a big comfort item for me!
Last weekend, I attended an author event at the Christiana, Delaware B&N and it was absolutely lovely! I was so excited to meet Dylan Allen who is just the sweetest person and such a wonderful hugger! She’s been on my unicorn list forever!
Have you read Dylan Allen? My recommendations from her books are the following:
ALL OF THEM!
ok, ok, here’s a few to get you started, but do read all of them!
Next, I had the pleasure of meeting C.B. Noy. C.B.Noy is a new author with two books under her belt with one releasing in March. In preparation of this signing, I borrowed both book 1 & 2, Coming Home and Finding Home and was absolutely over the moon obsessed with this series. These books are insta love and insta love isn’t my first choice, but these books are pretty damn perfect. They are insta love, burn the world down for her, romantic suspense at it’s finest. An absolutely gem of a find for me!
I also saw Bryn Asher again after meeting her in Philly for the first time! She runs some kind of rabbit holes and calls them book series apparently. 😂 Seriously, I fell hard for both The Killers Series and The Montgomery Series! She’s simply amazing in person!
It’s been a while since I posted! I’ve mentioned before that’s I’m in school and that has taken a bit of my time as well as my reading time, however, I’m will be starting my last semester in January. YAY!!
During my break from school, I’ve read some fabulous books, both holiday and non holiday romances. I’m going to share some of them here. These are worth a re read if you have them, or, if you don’t add them to your holiday bookshelf. Some of these authors are new to me and, well, they are on my must read list from this day forward!
A new to me author, Sara Madderson, has taken me over like a storm. This author writes smart books with adult characters. I’ve read a Christmas book by her after reading her contemporary romance, The Rest is History. The title of the Christmas book is A Manny for Christmas. Molly and Max have quite a complicated back story. This is a second chance romance, and the best part is that they were together for years and apart for many more. How they arrive to their HEA, well, there are bumps and conversations and it’s all very adult and reasonable, and while it’s not a smooth road, they arrive and it’s such a great story. Please don’t skip this one!
Heat level 4/5
Triggers: bullying scene at child’s school and conversations about bullying.
length: 360 pages (print version)
stars: 5/5
KU: yes
Part of a series? Yes, book 3 in the Sorrel Farms Series, but I’m reading out of order. (You know me!)
Click to grab on Amazon!
Next up is debut author Tegan Hart! It’s been a busy year for Ms. Hart, there have been 4 releases by her in the fall: three Christmas books and one New Year’s book in the Hope Island Series, with more planned.for 2023. Personally, I have read book 1, Deck the Headlines and book 2, Sleigh Ride or Die. These have both been a delight to read! I have book 3, A Christmas for Carol and book 4, Auld Lang Mine on my TBR list for this week. The setting, Hope Island, is one that you’ll wish you could move to. These are excellent and I hope you’ll try them!
Click to go to the series page on Amazon
Next up is Meet Me in Los Feliz by Kelly Reynolds. This is a debut author and what a great story. This was a novella and it has me giddy with excitement to read what’s coming next from the author. As a tall girl, I loved that Nora, one of the main characters, was a tall girl and taller than her love interest, Bowie. The novella has a lot packed into it and reads like a novel; it’s a complete story and I promise you’ll love it to bits.
Spice level 4/5 (toys ya’all)
Triggers: none
Length: 148 pages (print version)
Stars: 5/5
KU: Yes
Part of a Series: I sure hope so.
Click to grab this on Amazon!
Next up to round up some of my favorite holiday books is My Big Fat Fabulous Christmas by Lyndsey Gallagher. Do you like rock stars? This book features a famous rock star as a main character. The story has a snippet at the beginning that is a life changing moment for both our main characters. Being that this is a second chance romance, the two main characters meet again and rekindle their relationship, but there are misunderstandings and hurts, but, honestly, it’s a great story but there is a pretty big twist. I will say if this ever goes to audio I will snatch it up. The bulk of the story takes place in Ireland and the two main characters are Irish.
This will be book 1 in a series and I’m very stoked about this series.
Spice level 4/5
Triggers: fatal car accident, loss of parents
Length: 356 pages (print edition)
Stars: 5/5
KU: Yes
Part of a series: YES, this is book one!
Click to grab this on Amazon!
Ok, that’s my holiday update! I hope you had the best holiday and wishing you a happy 2023! Enjoy a photo of my cat Gizmo, who really enjoys unmade beds. 😂
I have just a few weeks left of school and then I’m done. I’m so excited to have more time to read again. It’s been a very long time!
I wanted to talk about books that either just released or will be releasing that I’m excited to read.
Pippa Grant’s The Worst Wedding Date…I cannot even with this book! It’s perfectly balanced with sweet, sweet love and hilariously! Chapter 6: do not eat or drink…that’s my warning! I read this and give it 5 stars!
Next up is Green Jewel by LJ Evans. I haven’t read this yet, but it’s at the top of my list. This is book 2 of The Painted Daisies Series and, after reading Book 1, Sweet Memories, I cannot wait to read Green Jewel. This will be a 5 book series with each all female band member having their own story.
My next can’t wait for it book is Operation: Fire Bomb (Slater Security 4) by Charissa Gracyk. I love this series so much. These are novellas and are loosely connected to the author’s Reactivate series. This book releases on 5/4…and if you’re wondering May the 4th be with you! Lol.
That’s all I have for now. I’ll come back when I have time and add the links to these fabulous books!
Well, I’m going to several types of signing in 23-24. I’ve been to the first year of Charm City Romanticon last weekend and it was straight up lovely, and last November I attended my 5th Indies Invade Philly signing and it is always amazingly run and just a beautiful signing!
Moving forward, I’m attending A Day of Wine and Romance in Columbia, New Jersey and I’m looking forward to this all genre signing that is heavy with romance authors, but will have women’s lit, children’s, fantasy, etc. it’s at a winery, which is going to be amazing! The organizer is Roz Lee, a romance author.
Next will be another trip to New Jersey to meet Brenda Novak who will be on a book tour! She’s releasing The Seaside Bookstore on 4/11/23! She’s hauling a little air stream all around the country for her tour! Her hubby will be crafting up drinks and she’s going to have guest authors joining her. I’m attending the Haddonfield, NJ signing at Inkwood Books on 5/6. Click the box to find your location.
September will take me to Lilitz, PA to Books, Books, Book all genres signing! I must say I’m pretty excited for this one. This is hosted by Mary Walsh and 6 Feet Under Blog. This signing is September 23 from 12-4 at the Rock Lilitz-Pod 2. The organizers have food trucks lined up as well. There isn’t a website, but there is a Facebook group with all author information available. Click below!
My hope is to attend Indies Invade Philly in October of 2023. Fingers crossed I can attend! They have a wonderful author line up, but the tickets sell out in minutes because this signing has a really wonderful reputation and with good reason; it’s just an amazing signing that is extremely well organized. They also listen to feedback from attendees and alway do their best to adjust each year as necessary. This signing is held in Center City Philly at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The date, which I am loving, is October 14, 2023. This signing is normally held in November and I have mixed feelings about a November date. If you have an opportunity to attend this do not pass it up!
I also have tickets for The Sweetgrass Author Signing for 2024. This is the first really big event I’m attending. I’m excited about it! It’s being held at the Charleston Convention Center on March 23, 2024 and will be hosted by Southern Belle Book Events. Tickets are currently sold out, but, there is a resale thread in the Sweetgrass attendee group on Facebook.
This brings me right back to Charm City Romanticon 2024! This is held in Ellicot City, Maryland and will be on 4/6/24. This was a really wonderful signing, with a really relaxed vibe and clearly, this signing is for authors and readers alike. There is no separation and lunch and the gala are attended by both authors and readers, which is lovely. The organizers did a fantastic job with all of the details big and small. Right now, there is early bird pricing. This is a small signing which lends itself to a more comfortable atmosphere!
I had the absolute pleasure to attend the Inaugural signing event Charm City Romanticon. It was held at the turf Valley Resort in Ellicot City Maryland.
This is a Romanticon which means it’s more than a signing. Charm City Romanticon is the following:
Small, with approximately 25 attending authors.
Author panels: 3 panels that ticket holders rotate through over a time period of 3 hours (panels are 45 minutes long with a 15 minute break in between all the panels) If you attend with friends you can preselect the group when you purchase your tix.
Boxed lunches with authors and attendee sitting down to eat together.
After a 30 minute break, the signing occurs and is 3 hours in length.
Finally, there was an evening gala. Members of the Charm City attendee group on Facebook discussed the gala and voted that it would be a PJ/come as you want gala. Most attendees wore something they were comfortable wearing. This was also an attendee and author mingling event.
I enjoy author signings but I haven’t attended a signing that included events, so this was different from anything I have attended before. While the idea of socializing doesn’t appeal to every bookworm, this signing felt very supportive, kind and people were friendly. I did have friends who attended, and it was lovely to spend time with them but I also met people whom I knew on line but hadn’t met in real life.
The best part: my TBR is crying after this event! I met some wonderful new authors and I‘ve either read their books before the signing or will be reading them!
When I step out of romance, I never really step out, because this has a little romance vibe happening!
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher was a book club read and it was very good. This book is sort of a fairytale retelling and leans into Little Red Riding Hood meets D&D I think.
Our main character is Marra and she is the youngest of 3 princesses of a small kingdom. There is a large kingdom to the North and South and her oldest sister was in an arranged marriage with the Prince of the Northern kingdom. When her oldest sister mysteriously dies, the second sister is then sent to marry the prince. Marra, at this point, is at a convent dressing and functioning as a nun, but has not taken vows.
Marra slowly discovers the abuse being doled out by the Prince to her middle sister and vows to kill the prince. What results is a rag tag group of magical people, a demon chicken and Bone Dog, whom Marra created by putting together dead dog’s bones.
The topics touched on in this book are modern and relevant making this a feminist retelling. I enjoyed the writing and the adventure. My only complaint is that the first few chapters made it difficult to know what was going on, but once I got past those, it’s an incredible journey.
If you are in the mood for something a little different, may I suggest Unfurled by Elodie Hart? Elodie Hart is a new pen name for author Sara Madderson.
Click above to purchase or borrow Unfurled by Elodie Hart on Amazon
Unfurled by Elodie Hart
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Triggers: Catholicism (rigid beliefs, zealot parent, Catholic education), virginity, club scenes with religious theme.
Unfurled is a unique read and explores a young woman’s deep seated religious ideologies, her virginity and the challenges of Catholic doctrine as it relates to one’s virginity.
As a person who was raised in the Catholic Church I’ve heard “your virginity is the greatest gift you can give your husband or your wedding day.” This is such a loaded statement, and, honestly incorrect according to what I know of the doctrine of the church. This myth and idolization of virginity is allowed to continue, but more so, the church teaches that when you marry, it is a vocation and the vows are that you are dedicating you entire self, mind, body and spirit, to your spouse, and physically dedicating yourself is part of this. Does the doctrine encourage chastity? Yes, but, the act of dedicating yourself fully, therefore giving the gift of yourself, holds more weight.
In the topic of virginity, this is a more complicated topic because of the twists and turns in the Bible and church doctrine. Virginity and celibacy are tightly woven into the doctrine, historically, one must be a virgin to dedicate themselves to the Church, however, you can not be a virgin, but practice chastity and celibacy and be allowed to join an order dedicated to the church. It’s all very complicated and relies on who is controlling the narrative.
Onto my review!
I loved this book, as always, this author has a great talent for telling a story, and while Unfurled focuses quite a bit on Bella’s sexuality, the love story between Bella and Rafe is sweet one.
Bella’s parents go on a 3 month summer vacation and Bella moves into their beautiful, posh apartment during that time. Bella meets her parent’s new neighbor Rafe who resides in the penthouse. Rafe is sex on a stick and Bella is very attracted to Rafe and Rafe to her. The interesting part of this is that Rafe is attracted to Bella immediately and contemplates Bella’s innocence and is, in fact, initially attracted to her for her lack of experience, however, Rafe does not identify her as a virgin but as someone with minimal sexual experience.
One thing leads to another and Bella’s friend uncovers Rafe as being an owner of a sex club with a program for virgins. Bella has wanted to experience sex and lose her virginity and she’s purses Rafe with questions about the club’s program for virgins. What followed is steamy, steamy, steamy!
Now, this story does have an HEA and I can’t wait for the next book in the series! I highly recommend this book!
This was an enjoyable book to listen to. The audio is too notch and the narrators are perfect.
Caiden was forever changed as a teen when his love Mia disappeared after her mother was killed. Believing Mia was dead, Caiden changed his life course, entered the military and joined Raptor as an IT/cyber operative after he was discharged from the military.
Caiden sees Mia, or who he thinks is Mia and they are, cautiously and slowly reunited after an emotional first meeting.
This story has all of the great elements of a classic romantic suspense and I truly enjoyed this story.
Yesterday I attended Indies Invade Philly! This signing takes place in center city Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Arch Street.
As usual, this signing was amazing and full of all the beautiful goodness, happiness and joyful moments of readers meeting readers, readers meeting authors, and readers meeting narrators. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this signing.
I won’t single out too many moments, but meeting Brynne Asher was wonderful. She was a new to me author and I absolutely consumed her books over a three week period: I fell down the hole and did not wish to climb out!
I met so many more authors and Chelle Sloan, who is TikTok famous was so fun to meet!
The narrators table was utterly beautiful and they were absolutely wonderful humans! I didn’t take any photos, but the experience will be a lifelong memory! ❤️
Tessa Bailey! I almost passed out! Xio Axelrod is an amazing writer! I’m a forever fan! Stephanie Rose! I love her and her books! She’s so sweet and a beautiful soul! Freya Barker…She’s so sweet! Kandi Steiner! Lovely to meet her in person! I’ve been a fan for a while! Tia Louise is so sweet and super extroverted! ❤️My big find for this years signing was Rebecca Yarros’s books. They are 100% my type of books! Loved meeting her! Megan Quinn! She’s lovely! Avery Maxwell is a doll and her books are the best!
I met many other authors and enjoyed it so much! All in all a wonderful event! If you ever get a chance to attend, I hope you will. It’s a wonderfully run event and the organizers and volunteers are amazing.
I loved this story! I did not read/listen to book one in this series, but I would like to. Troy is working through a lot in his life. He’s in the military and is pretty scarred as well as having some childhood trauma and losses. Troy’s Dad, who is a salt of the Earth gentleman, suffers a great loss and Troy steps up to help him in his time of need.
Megan is very special. She has abilities that have her wondering what path to pursue in life. She’s a caretaker and works as a fireman. After rescuing Troy’s Dad she steps in to help in a big way.
The attraction between these two is amazing, but they have a bumpy road.
This is a great romance that’s not quite run of the mill. Excellent characterizations and a very solid plot line make this book a 5 star listen. The narrator did an excellent job.
Pineapples and Coffee Book Reviews 