Review - The Wedding Ringer

I love surprises! OK fine. Not always, but...with this gem of a romance novel, I was happily surprised to learn this delightful story was set right here in Columbus, Ohio!

Enter The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea, a local, Columbus, Ohio romance author. 

From the back cover: 

Once upon a time, Willa Callister was a successful blogger with a good credit score, actual hobbies, and legs that she shaved more than once a month. But after finding her fiancé in bed with her best friend, she now spends her days performing at children's birthday parties in a ball gown that makes her look like a walking bottle of Pepto Bismol. Willa dreams of starting fresh, where no one knows who she used to be, but first she needs to save up enough money to make it happen.

Maisie Mitchell needs something too: another bridesmaid for her wedding. After a chance encounter at a coffee shop, Maisie offers to pay Willa to be in her bridal party. Willa wants nothing to do with weddings--or Maisie--but the money will give her the freedom to start the new life she so badly desires.

Willa's bridesmaid duties thrust her into Maisie's high-energy world and into the path of hotshot doctor Liam Rafferty. But as Willa and Maisie form a real friendship, and Liam's annoyingly irresistible smile makes her reconsider her mantra that all men are trash, Willa's exit strategy becomes way more complicated. And when a secret from Maisie's past threatens to derail the wedding, Willa must consider whether friendship--and romance--are worth sticking around for.

From my Goodreads review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and until I started reading it, didn't realize it was set in my town! GAHHH! 

The bulk of the story was set here in Columbus - where I live - and a lot was also in Dublin - where I work. OMG! The story starts with the main character working a pathetic job as a fairy princess for a totally spoiled brat. 

Enter abject humiliation. 

The story continues with her meeting someone who, on the spot, needs her to pretend she's the friend she's meeting for coffee. 

Enter a great start to a wonderful friendship.

Maisie asks Willa to be her bridesmaid for her upcoming wedding. As the story progresses, we learn more about Maisie and why she needs friends here in Columbus. We also start getting away from all the self-sabotaging that goes on with Willa who is understandably devastated after finding her best friend and her fiancé together. (Yes, they make an appearance later) but eventually, Maisie's upbeat and positive attitude rub off on Willa. 

The story about Willa and Maisie's developing friendship is just lovely to read. The romance between Willa and Liam...enter Dr. Dreamboat, is really nice, but didn't seem to be the main focus of the book itself. I liked it though. 

The story itself was set in and mentioned lots of (real) places in and around Columbus such as the drive up Riverside Drive - i.e. the way I go to and from work every day, and the Candle Lab and the bridal shop and Condados and other various places that are absolutely wonderful and terrific and awesome in the fantastic city of Columbus, Ohio! 

I listened to this on Audible over the course of a day and a half at the office and absolutely enjoyed it. Can't wait to read the next book by (local to me) author, Kerry Rea!

Learn more about Kerry Rea at her official website and be sure to follow her on Goodreads. The Wedding Ringer is available wherever you find your books. Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

Happy Reading! 

        - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - for this and all my book reviews

Review - Beating the Wrap

Julie Anne Lindsey's latest release in her Bonnie & Clyde series is officially out today! 

Beating the Wrap takes us back to Bliss, Georgia to Bonnie Balfour's second chance dress shop, Bless Your Heart. This time around, the problems start with her troublemaking feline, Clyde. 

(Full disclosure, my cat thinks Clyde gets a bad rap this time around. Read on for her thoughts.)

From the cover: 

Bonnie Balfour adores the changing seasons, fabulous fall activities and holiday hoopla, but will a corpse on the porch squash her holiday plans?

Thanksgiving is right around the corner in historic Bliss, Georgia, and Bonnie is trimming display tables at Bless Her Heart, especially for the occasion. A Gift of Gratitude display, beside the front door of her second chance dress shop, encourages shoppers to leave messages of good tidings for neighbors and friends. Unfortunately, someone has left a cornucopia of complaints instead.

And they’re all about Bonnie!

When the scrooge turns out to be a neighbor, fed up with Clyde’s habitual petty theft and trespassing, Bonnie’s claws come out in defense of her kitty. The heated exchange leaves a bad taste in Bonnie’s mouth, but the man turns up dead before she can dish out a proper apology.

Determined to see justice served, Bonnie and Clyde dig into the case with gusto, only to land in hot water with the handsome Sheriff Wright. A series of anonymous attacks soon have the town wondering if Bonnie can find the killer before it’s time to cut the turkey. Or if she’ll be the next one on his carving board.

From my Goodreads review: 

I SOOOOO enjoyed this book! These keep getting better and better! Bonnie has a suggestion box that keeps yielding negative messages - presumably by someone who is not at all happy with Clyde, her adorable cat. A little deductive reasoning leads her to the man who owns another shops whose pieces keep disappearing thanks to a certain feline. After a public argument, Bonnie decides to apologize. 

When the man is found dead… Bonnie’s busy defending herself and delving into another mystery. 

I like this story because we learn a little more about Detective Wright’s backstory. Plus, his friend from Cleveland makes more appearances thanks to falling for one of Bonnie’s friends and moving down to Georgia. All our favorite characters make appearances including Bonnie’s parents and the ever-awesome, Gigi, who you can’t help but love as she starts up her new bakery business. Plus some fun, new characters, namely Thelma and Louisa!

Detective Wright solves the mystery (with Bonnie’s help, of course) and then, at the end of the book … Oh man - I can’t tell you, but you’ll love it. (FINALLY!) it’s awesome. I’m so happy with the ending of this book and cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out. 

Beating the Wrap is book 3 in the Bonnie & Clyde series. Book 4, Eyelet Witness, will be available next month!

Find all of Julie Anne Lindsey's books on her official website - Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

If you're looking for a great writer of cozy mysteries that are slightly more intense than your average cozy, Julie Anne Lindsey is the writer you want to follow. Her official website has all her different series linked, but the Seaside Cafe mysteries were the books that got me hooked. Then, I moved on to the Christmas Tree Farm series. Then, the Cider Shop mysteries started. (Colton. Swoon!). Then...I got hooked on and have now read all of her Harlequin Intrigue romance novels (Not mysteries, but definitely action-packed and clean romances) and then... I've just traveled down to New Orleans and am listening to her Kitty Couture mysteries with Lacey and Jack. And (stops to fan myself) if you thought Colton was swoon worthy, wait 'til you meet Jack!

Now, she's tempting us even further with these terrific Bonnie & Clyde Mysteries. Yes. I'm hooked. And you should be, too. Heck - even Michonne agrees with me! 

Happy Reading! 

        - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - for this and all my book reviews

P.S. My cat, Michonne, gives it two paws up. That is, if she decided to actually compliment something. She's pretty judgy. This is her happy look. I think. Ok, fine. She's definitely on #TEAMCLYDE.

Review - The Fastest Way to Fall

I miss running and need to get my butt in gear to get back into it. I also love a good book with a happy ending. In a search for something that combines the two, I recently listened to a new romance novel called The Fastest Way to Fall. It's the sophomore novel by romance author Denise Williams. I absolutely loved her first novel, How to Fail at Flirting, and just had to check this one out. 

This is a wonderful book about a writer's journey through getting to better know herself as she writes for a healthy living magazine. It's 100% body positive but it travels through all the insecurities women, like Britta and also like myself, carry with us as we question so much in our lives. It was beautifully written and I definitely saw a lot of myself in this book as I read it.

From the book blurb: 

Britta didn’t plan on falling for her personal trainer, and Wes didn’t plan on Britta. Plans change and it’s unclear if love, career, or both will meet them at the finish line.

Britta Colby works for a lifestyle website, and when tasked to write about her experience with a hot new body-positive fitness app that includes personal coaching, she knows it’s a major opportunity to prove she should write for the site full-time.

As CEO of the FitMe app, Wes Lawson finally has the financial security he grew up without, but despite his success, his floundering love life and complicated family situation leaves him feeling isolated and unfulfilled. He decides to get back to what he loves—coaching. Britta’s his first new client and they click immediately.

As weeks pass, she’s surprised at how much she enjoys experimenting with her exercise routine. He’s surprised at how much he looks forward to talking to her every day. They convince themselves their attraction is harmless, but when they start working out in person, Wes and Britta find it increasingly challenging to deny their chemistry and maintain a professional distance.

Wes isn’t supposed to be training clients, much less meeting with them, and Britta’s credibility will be sunk if the lifestyle site finds out she’s practically dating the fitness coach she’s reviewing. Walking away from each other is the smartest thing to do, but running side by side feels like the start of something big.

From my Goodreads review:

This was an incredible story, but Britta - oh man. Things she said in this book hit so close to home. It was tough for me to listen to at times, but I couldn't stop. I could honestly relate to so much of the journey her character went through.

The evolution of their friendship and romance was fantastic and you can't help rooting for her and Wes throughout the entire book.

Read or listen to this book, it's a great read. And maybe at the end, you'll be inspired to run a 10K as well. Who's with me? 

And if you haven't already, pick up How to Fail at Flirting as well. Hits on some tough subjects, but is well worth your time to read.

Learn more about Denise Williams and all her books at these locations: Denise Williams - Official Website - Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

Happy Reading, everyone! 

        - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - for this and all my book reviews

Mocha - Preferred Beverage for Historical Romance

I have the privilege of reading a friend's book tonight so I thought I'd proof while sipping a cup of Irish Cream Mocha. The book is Opal Finds Purpose, Book 5 of the Maxwell Brides series. It'll hit the shelves at Amazon next Monday, November 1. If you hadn't read these yet, what are you up to? Follow the stories of Jeni - Sarah - Abigail - Maggie and, on Monday, Opal. Watch for reviews! (hint: Maggie's my favorite so far, but Sarah is pretty awesome! And you can't help but love Jeni and Abigail - she's great!)

Simply put? DELICIOUS! 

What do you drink when you read your friend's book?  

Happy Reading, everyone! 

        - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - for this and all my book reviews

I Like Books

I like to read. A lot. Working from home and not having kids helps me out with that so I thought I'd share what I've read so far this year. 

Have you read any of these?

Told you it was a lot! 

I'm still in my romance phase but am easing my way back into more mysteries and thrillers. And fantasy. Although, I find I really enjoy contemporary romances, so I'm definitely not going to leave those behind. 

At the end of last year / beginning of this year, I definitely went through a cowboy romance phase. Don't judge and don't think I haven't already bought Maisey Yates' new cowboy romance novel. It's set at Christmas. It'll be awesome, but don't be surprised if you hear that I'm moving to Oregon to start working on a ranch. Again. Don't judge me. I already have a cat for that. 

Starting just before Pride Month, when everyone was recommending LGBTQIA+ books to read, I fell hard for LGBTQIA+ romance novels including my favorite book of the year, Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Seriously - romance and politics. Not since All's Fair with Love, War, and Running for President* have I been this happy! I have even reread it AND listened to it. 

Right now I'm starting a new mystery by one of my absolute favorite authors, Julie Anne Lindsey, called Seven Deadly Sequins - it's Book 2 of her Bonnie & Clyde mysteries. Book 1 was Burden of Poof! She's an Ohio author, but fear not. All the murders in her books take place out of state, such as Kentucky Crime Ring which I finished this morning. That means you're in good shape here in the Buckeye state! (Don't mind the obnoxious football fans, God love 'em!)

I've also had the pleasure of reading a debut series by a brand new author and friend, Krissyann Granger. Last weekend, I finished Book 4 of that series, Maggie Finds Clarity, and gave it a 5-star review. 

I listen to books as well - great for when I'm actually driving to work each day. Right now, we're 50/50 with working home vs. in the office. I finished Words of Radiance, book 2 in the Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson (OMG - it was so incredibly good) and am currently on book 3: Oathbringer. I read Book 1, the Way of Kings. Book 2 was 48 hours and Book 3 is a mere 55 hours. I'm about 20 hours in. Only 35 to go! 

I don't give a lot of 5-star ratings, but Red, White and Royal Blue, Burden of Poof, Maggie Finds Clarity, and Words of Radiance each got one. I'll highlight my 5-stars here later this year so be sure to watch for those. 

So tell me, what are you reading? 

Happy Reading! 

        - Heather

* All's Fair with Love, War, and Running for President is not actually a romance. It's a very well-written political book written by Mary Matelin (Campaign advisor to President George H.W. Bush) and her husband, James Carville (Campaign advisor to then-governor Bill Clinton). It's an excellent read!

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - for this and all my book reviews

Review - Burden of Poof

I was so excited to read the first installment of the new Bonnie & Clyde Cozy Mystery series by Julie Anne Lindsey whose brilliant writing ensured I was not disappointed! 

One of my favorite authors, I jumped at the chance to read her new series which features Bonnie Balfour, a recent, soon-to-be divorcée who has moved back from Atlanta to her hometown of Bliss, GA, to open her new dress shop, and her trusty stray cat, Clyde. 

I love the premise of her shop - she renovates and redesigns vintage / out-of-style dresses and makes them more fun and modern.

She discovers the murder victim and thanks to circumstances both beyond her control and some bad timing, she becomes the target of the murder investigation. Enter Ex-FBI agent and now detective on loan, Mason Wright. Mr. Wright? Love the pun. The witty banter between Bonnie and him is super fun to read. He’s just not - buying - her - story. 

The story is great fun to read because you’re introduced to a whole cast of characters including her loving parents who own a flower farm outside of town. Her friend Cami who works to advertise all that is wonderful and good about their town of Bliss, other shop keepers including one with a haunted book shop, another with a coffee shop that isn’t, but may be up for sale, and one who talks to plants because they’re pretty much troublemakers anyway. (The plants, that is) 

Things I liked

• While still younger, I like that the FMC of this book is at least closer to my age. 
• She also works with kids who may not be able to afford their own dresses which I think is awesome. 
• The snarkiness of Detective Wright, a.k.a. Detective Grumpy
• I also like that he’s sneakier than typical detectives in a cozy series 

Things I didn’t like 

• That I now have to wait for the second book in the series. So rude! (Just kidding - I just received the ARC for book two, Seven Deadly Sequins! It'll hit the shelves on October 15, 2021.)

One oddity which probably says more about me than the book. 

Detective Wright, from Cleveland, calls something a potato puff. What the heck is that? I live in Ohio, but I’ve never heard of that. FMC called them tater tots, but what? Huh? Of course they’re tater tots. (I may have to revisit this particular topic!)

This was a fun book with a good whodunnit wrapped inside a fun group of characters. Until it was revealed, I didn’t know “whodunnit,” which is exactly how I like my mysteries. 

I can't wait to delve further into this series. Julie Anne Lindsey is an author worth knowing. Her stories are fabulous, slightly more intense than your average cozy, but filled with fantastic characters and terrific mysteries. Whichever series you start reading, I guarantee you'll be hooked from book one! 

Find all of Julie Anne Lindsey's books on her official website - Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

Happy Reading! 

        - Heather

P.S. As for the dress that was destroyed… I’m a little bummed about that and hope a similar iteration can make an appearance. It sounded SO COOL! 

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - for this and all my book reviews

Bookstores - How do I love Thee?

This is what I do when I get to Barnes & Noble. I take pictures! I've already read 13 of these, DNF'd another and I have two waiting in the wings. A few more look fun, too.

X = read

S = started, not yet finished.

√ = I have it, but haven't yet started it.

Yeah. Got slightly hooked on romance novels. I credit the pandemic.

My absolute favorite: Red, White, And Royal Blue. If you read nothing else, read this one. 

Other favorites include these (and the other few I didn't mention!)

People We Meet on Vacation

And you have to read Beach Read - writers, especially, will appreciate it! 

Life's Too Short

You'll cry. You'll laugh. You'll want to read it again. Promise.

Boyfriend Material

Such a sweet and wonderful story about love and acceptance.

Well Met 

First two were great - I have the 3rd on pre-order

Good Luck Charm

A great book for all your sports fans out there!

Float Plan 

...for sure! You need to read this one!

Party of Two 

My favorite of Jasmine Guillory's books

Bromance Book Club 

...and all its sequels

Meet Cute

Really enjoyed this along with Kiss My Cupcake. So many great choices!

The Ex Talk

Great for lovers of public radio.

Island Affair 

My first romance novel! Love Priscilla Oliveras' books!

And most definitely The Tourist Attraction 

(Though all three books in that series are awesome. #3 is my favorite)

I also have If I Never Met You and The Dating Plan which are currently on deck for me.

If you're looking for some good romance novels but have a preferred theme, here are some additional suggestions. Trust me. I can suggest a lot more.

• Want some Cowboy romance? Hit up Maisey Yates Start with the Garrett family: Part-Time Cowboy, Broke Down Cowboy and Bad News Cowboy.

• Want some Football romance? Alexa Martin Intercepted, Fumbled, Blitzed, Snapped - My fave is Blitzed.

• Want some Motorcycle Club romances? Melissa Foster Start with the Whiskeys - Tru Blue is the first.

• Want some LGBTQ+ romances? L.A. Witt  (and Melissa Foster) My faves are Rules of Engagement and Covet Thy Neighbor as well as her suspense novels.

• Want some Tattoo romances? Chelle Bliss (and L.A. Witt) Start with Flame and Burn.

• Want laugh out load books? Lyssa Kay Adams You definitely want the Bromance Book Clubs, You'll pee your pants, you'll laugh so hard. Watch for The Russian. OMG. SO HILARIOUS!

• Want a good cry? Libby Hubscher Meet me in Paradise. I went through at least 10 Kleenex before looking into just buying stock so I could get my money back.

I'm sure you'll find some great books. In the meantime... 

Happy Reading! 

        - Heather


Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - for this and all my book reviews

Review - Renovated: A Workplace Romance by Nikki Kiley

I love reading books in new series or by new (to me) authors. With Renovated: A Workplace Romance by Nikki Kiley, I get the best of both worlds! 

Renovated is the debut book in a new series of romance novels featuring the Chance Brothers. Levi Chance is one of 6 brothers who work in construction / home renovation business who has done work for a popular Home TV Network. Marisa Sanchez, is a designer and contractor known for her popular social media presence. 

Sparks fly when they're thrust together for a new home show, Renovated, at the last minute after the original team of hosts fell apart. 

With a tight timeline, they have to work through their differences and doubts about each other's abilities while at the same time learning what motivates each. Levi runs a family business with his 5 brothers and as the oldest, feels a certain responsibility to make sure they're all taken care of. Marisa runs her business with the hope of earning enough money to buy the building to help save her Nana's business.

The story keeps you updated on the progress of the renovation, but more importantly, it keeps you up to date with their familial obligations all the while as they're undeniably attracted to each other. When a huge curve ball is thrown Marisa's way that may put the entire show in jeopardy, the families come together and do what families do best, which is to support each other.

Throughout the book we get to enjoy Marisa and Levi's steamy romance as well as meet Levi's brothers and Marisa's sweet Nana and her best friends who stood by her through all her ups and downs. I can't wait to read more stories to get to know all those characters even better.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was very readable, the story flowed, and I just had to keep turning my digital pages to see what happened next. It was a pretty quick read that will leave you longing for more. And... you get a sneak peek into the next Chance Brother romance, so be sure to pick this up!

Find Nikki Kiley online and her books at these and other locations.  Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon - Bookbub 

Happy Reading! 

        - Heather


Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - for this and all my book reviews

Grant's Crossing Update - More Than Anything and No Matter What

I have great news! I finished my first draft of Joey's book: More Than Anything and No Matter What. 

Following the tragic death of his father, 8-year-old Joey Parker and his mother move away from Pittsburgh, PA to create a new and better life for themselves. In Grant's Crossing, Ohio, Joey and his mom settle in a new town where he creates new friendships and finds his first love. The story follows the adventure of a young boy as he becomes a man who falls in love and serves his country. 

I printed out a hard copy for editing purposes and it's so beautiful. 

Dad really liked it and yeah - his opinion is somewhat biased, but...he reads spy novels and thrillers. My book is contemporary fiction and sure, it has some action in it as well, but I take it as a compliment that he really liked it. Mom's reading it now. She'll cry at the sad parts, I just know it. She's into romance and mysteries, but like me, she's a total sap when she reads books or watches movies.

I know what you're thinking and yes. You're right. I can't judge my book based on what my parents think, but I'm happy to start with two thumbs up anyway, even if they are reading my UN-edited, UN-proofed, UN-revised, UN-copy of my book.

Once they're done and I get my hard copy back later this week, the real editing work will begin. Right now though, it seems that much more real!

In the meantime, I'm working on revising and creating a new outline for my earlier book, End of a New Life, which is back from the editor and in need of a major revisions. I totally pantsed it whereas I did a much better job of planning More Than Anything and No Matter What.

End of a New Life picks up right where More Than Anything and No Matter What leaves off and follows the intertwining lives of Joey's best friend, Derek, and Callie, a new arrival to Grant's Crossing. 

Happy Reading! 

        - Heather


Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown 

Review - The Cider Shop Rules

I just finished the Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey and while the wait seemed to last forever and ever! (Imagine a little kid’s wanting to open Christmas presents but Christmas was still three whole days away!) Fine - it wasn’t forever, but I’m thrilled it’s nearly here! This is a terrific whodunnit in which the murder suspect didn’t even appear on my radar until Lindsey was ready for me to start suspecting that particular killer. 

That particular killer, you ask? Yes. There are two. Heh heh heh. 

Imagine a beautiful fall day in the midst of pumpkin and cider festivals where families and friends are gathered to celebrate the season. Nearby, a Civil War reenactment is going on throwing more interesting characters. When it’s time to leave the festival, our Cider Shop friends take off for ice cream only to discover a body in the back of their truck. Oops. The best part? I didn’t know who it was until the author revealed it. 

Love me a good whodunnit!

I love cozy mysteries by Julie Anne Lindsey. She’s an author who’s books I pick up as soon as they come out. Well, actually, that’s not true. 

I’ve now taking to pre-ordering her books because I’m clearly not patient enough to wait for release date. Can’t help myself. She writes great whodunnits and likable, intelligent and yes, quirky characters, that you can’t help but fall in love with. 

See? Four of these pre-orders are books by Julie Anne Lindsey (aka Bree Baker for Partners in Lime). I just don’t want to miss them. 

The Cider Shop Rules in the latest in the Cider Shop cozy mystery series. I received the book as an ARC from NetGalley and posted this review both there and on Goodreads. 

I loved going back to Blossom Valley to spend time with Winnie, Granny, and Colton. Blossom Valley is knee deep in autumn festivals when the owner of the pumpkin farm is found dead in the back of Winnie’s truck. The town is all aflutter with the news and the community’s expectations that Winnie will help find the killer.

Naturally, Winnie doesn’t want to find anything out, but when threats find their way to her Cider Shop, she has no choice but to step in, much to the chagrin of Sheriff Colton Wise.

It certainly doesn’t help that Winnie is being stalked by an escaped serial killer on top of receiving warnings to stay away from asking questions about the man whose body was found in her truck.

I’ll be honest, there were a couple of times when I agreed with Colton about her promising him one thing and turning right around and doing the opposite and kind of wish he’d tried to drive that further into her head, but for the most part, she did alright and had me on the edge of the seat to find out what what she could learn. I could not stop turning those pages!

I enjoyed the expansion of characters in this book. Along the way, we meet some of Colton’s family, including his brother, Blake, a sheriff in a neighboring county, and his parents. We were also treated to a cameo from a couple characters in another cozy series by Lindsey, one I’ve not yet read, but will binge-read soon!

Be sure to pick up this latest / third installment of the Cider Shop Mysteries by Julie Anne Lindsey. I promise you won’t be disappointed. And the ending… GAHHH! Loved it. (I.e. FINALLY!) Ahem. :-)

Full disclosure - whenever I see a book by Julie Anne Lindsey, I pick it up. If you’ve not yet read her books, I highly suggest you check out her website and start reading. They’re all good!

Ebook was provide as an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks very much to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this opportunity.

The Cider Shop Rules is due to hit the shelves on July 27 but is available now for pre-order. The first and second books in the series are Apple Cider Slaying and Pulp Friction and yes - I absolutely love the punny titles. (Is punny a word?) 

I strongly encourage you to take a look at her website and try some of her books if you haven’t already. She writes Cozy Mysteries, including a new series, Bonnie and Clyde, starting with Burden of Poof coming out this fall. 

Julie Anne Lindsey official website - Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon 

Read my Goodreads review. 

Happy Reading! 

        - Heather


Twitter - @GrantsCrossing 

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing 

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown 

Coffee and a Classic - June

Check out my June Coffee and a Classic subscription box!

Coffee and a Classic is a monthly subscription box that arrives about the middle of each month with a classic novel, pre-chosen by the sender. I haven't read a lot of the classics that everyone says you should read or that every Top 100 list contains, so I figured this would be a good way to get some into my library and let me try some new (to me) authors and books I might not normally read. 

How it works: Readers can subscribe to the adult classics, which is what I get, or the children's classics which are geared to younger readers. This is what I received this month! 

June's book is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a book I've never actually read, but have heard is beyond excellent. July's book will be The Odyssey by Homer. May's book was Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 

Included in the box are a handful of items that are related to the book itself including coffee or tea (I choose tea) and a mug. Of course, you have the option of foregoing the mug and coffee or tea in favor of the book and other goodies. 

Coffee and a Classic are taking orders now for their August book. It'll be up as a sneak peek later this month. 

Happy reading! 

 - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - Find this and other book reviews here

Review - Lovebug

I just finished listening to the cutest book on Audible. 

Lovebug, by Erin Mallon, is a contemporary romance / RomCom that features a sheltered entomologist and a gruff groundskeeper who, over the course of a summer camp at a local arboretum, are brought together through overzealous optimism and a shared love of nature.

This book looked absolutely cute when I read the description. I just finished and ended up really really enjoying it, but the first 10 or so chapters were excruciatingly painful to listen to. The main character, Mabel, was an Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt kind of character who was annoyingly optimistic without being very wise to the ways of the world. I only made it through the pilot episode of Kimmy Schmidt.) She also came across as incredibly ditzy. Talking about bugs - loved it. I learned things in this book, so for me, that part was interesting, but listening to her interact with others during the first 10-11-12 chapters... ugh. 

Her night out with her girlfriends when she described her sex life with her fiancé, especially painful. Just...ugh. I'll never think of Law & Order SVU the same way again. Oh. Yes, I will. It's a great show.

My recommendation? Like with making it through book 10 of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series (you know the one, the book that is nothing but everyone's reaction to what happened the last chapter of book 9 with nothing new until literally 3 pages from the end? Yeah. That one.), I highly recommend you stick with this. Seriously - the main character becomes real and far more relatable starting about the end of chapter 12. And - there are 29 chapters + an epilogue. (Plus an interesting summary of the writing process from the author afterwards, so you need to listen to / read that as well)

After that point, I felt that 24-year old Mabel finally started coming into her own and becoming her own person who allowed herself to actually feel something other than pressure to make everyone else happy. There were some tough issues that were faced afterwards that an insanely sheltered person had difficulty dealing with, but that were a joy to listen to. 

Wally? He was awesome, of course. Nothing like a good guy who can see beyond the surface, beyond the façade put up by Mabel. He was also pleasantly patient as well and let her do things at her own pace.

Stick with the story - it's a good one and I already have Flirtasaurus (Natural History #1) to listen to by Erin Mallon as well. As an experienced book narrator, she does a fabulous job of reading her own book and look forward to more in this series. 

Learn more about Erin Mallon at her website. Find Lovebug at Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon 

 My Goodreads review.

 - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - Find this and other book reviews here

Review - The Layover

I picked up book last week to listen to at work and discovered this new gem by Lacie Waldon. The Layover is her debut novel, an enemies to lovers romantic comedy. I originally read about it in a Goodreads giveaway (which I didn't win) so I was delighted to find it on audible. I listened to it all in a day and loved every minute of it. 

I absolutely loved this book! I think it’s because I love to fly, but also because I have a couple of friends who worked as flight attendants and they always came back with some fantastic stories about the various goofy people on their flights. While the passenger antics make up a small part of the book, it adds depth to the overall story. 

Ava is a newly engaged flight attendant working her last flight which includes a 24-hour layover at a beach resort in Belize. She’s been working the skies for nearly 9 years now and has her job down to a science. Typically unflappable, her professionalism is pushed to the limit with an eccentric, yet lovable, young flight attendant who traded for this layover flight and Jack, a former Air Force pilot who is now working as a flight attendant in the civilian world. Never mind that he has a reputation as a player looking to date as many flight attendants as he possibly can. 

Sensing a spark of romance, Ava and Jack team up to play matchmakers to two other coworkers on this flight resulting in some laugh out loud exchanges between all the characters. 

Maintenance problems add an extra 24-hours to their layover on the beach in Belize which is when it becomes more and more apparent that Ava and Jack are falling for each other. Add a fiancé that wants her to be nothing more than a trophy wife and romance ensues.

I love the way they come together at the end, especially with a little help from the Captain along the way. 

In all honesty, the fact that her brand new engagement ended up being called off was a tad predictable. We knew it was coming from the beginning, but it was quite satisfying when it did.

This is the debut novel by Lacie Waldon that keeps you grounded with fun, but leave you flying high. I look forward to reading more! 

Now… where can I get my hands on some deep dish pizza?

Find Lacie Waldon on line - Website - Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

This book just hit the shelves last week. I highly recommend adding it to your summer reading list! In the meantime, happy reading!

 - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown - Find this and other book reviews here

Grant’s Crossing Update - Overall for June

I’m making progress on Joey’s book. I’ve added close to 20,000 words since the beginning to June. 

I don’t actually have titles yet for the books I’m currently writing, so I’m naming each one by the main character whose story, or stories, I’m writing. Joey has been speaking to me lately. He has a good story to tell. 

CALLIE/DEREK     142K (It’s a mess = Editing / Rewriting / Dropping a lit match on it)

ABE     12,203K

JOEY     34,465K

KIRO/CELESTE     9,622K

Happy reading! 

 - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown

Review - Undercover Bromance

OMG This book was hilarious!

I wanted to share my review of Lyssa Kay Adams' Undercover Bromance. This is the 2nd in a (so far) trilogy of hilarious romances featuring a group of, shall I say, prominent, well-known, famous men in the Nashville sports and nightclub scenes. 

There's a group of men who are business owners, professional athletes, etc, who have started a romance book club because they believe that romance novels are, more or less, step-by-step how-to manuals on how to romance ladies. 

And of course, first rule of Bromance Book Club? 

Don't talk about Bromance Book Club. Obviously.

This is book 2 of the series which features one of the men from book 1 and Thea's sister, Liz. I'm glad I read this one first because I liked Liz in this. After reading the first book (well, listening to the first book) I didn't like her at all, so I'm glad this was my first taste of this series. 

From my Goodreads review: 

OMG This book was hilarious! Especially the undercover parts with The Russian, whose actual name I learned about 80% of the way through the book.

This story follows a pastry chef, Liz, and Braden Mack, a well-off nightclub owner in Nashville who, along with a bunch of other well known men, have a secret romance book club. While showing off for a date, he creates an accident that causes him to lose his date and for her to get fired from a fancy restaurant run by a cocky chef who feels that all his female employees are there for the taking and if they say no, he has them all blacklisted in town.

Seems he has a history of sexually harassing the women who work for him, so the story follows a pissed off Liz who wants to get back at him and Mack, who decides to help her after getting dumped for the first time in his life.

When she finds herself in over her head, the guys in the book club step in to help and OMG - it’s so funny. There were parts, especially in the scenes where Noah is recruited in. (Don’t want to give any specifics) I have not busted out laughing like that in I don’t know how long while reading a book.

Great story with a wonderful and quirky cast of characters that will leave you laughing while tugging at your heartstrings the entire way.

***

The 1st and 3rd books were fantastic. Each one of these books actually tackles some tough issues while making the romancing itself the hilarious part. Admittedly, the 3rd book was not as funny as the first two, but it really tugged at your heartstrings and you just need to read it. 

Lyssa Kay Adams - Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

Book 4? Coming out July 20 and it features: THE RUSSIAN! I can't wait. Vlad is terrific, but don't feed him any cheese. 

Just sayin'.

 - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown

Review - The Man From Darke County

This book was awesome! 

Have you read The Man From Darke County by N. Sullivan? If you haven’t, pick it up today and read it this week. It’s a fun, super quirky, well-written detective novel that touches on a bit of the paranormal. And, it’s set right here in Ohio.

Last summer, I just wanted to read a few pages so I could reference this book in my own book that I’m writing and two hours later, I’d read the whole thing. I couldn’t put it down it was so much fun to read. 

The Man From Darke County was an enjoyable read that did not at all go a direction I expected it to go, which is probably why it was such fun. 

A detective, deemed crazy by his fellow policemen, is pulled off suspension to join in with a police detective from a neighboring county filled with a most unusual populace. 

Be warned: there’s a lot of snark in the dialogue which is part of what appealed to me. Anytime an author can fill a character’s dialogue with copious amounts of sarcasm, I’m a happy camper. 

If you like detective novels and are looking for something a little different, I highly recommend you read this book. 

As for me, I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!

Find N. Sullivan online at Amazon - Patreon - Twitter 

If you’re unfamiliar with Patreon, as I was, it’s a digital subscription service that allows you to support your favorite indie authors with their audio stories, podcasts, behind the scenes footage, and all sorts of other fun content. You’re welcome to support at a variety of levels established by the various hosts. I encourage you to follow the link above and learn more. 

Read my original Goodreads review.

In the meantime, thanks and happy reading!

     - Heather 

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown

Review - Red, White & Royal Blue

 A couple of weeks ago I read what has got to be my absolutely favorite book of the year so far: Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston. 

It's the story of a fake friendship turned real romance between the First Son of the United States, Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry of Wales. 

The story was fabulous and incredibly well-written. It drew me in until I had fallen in love with both these characters the more I read. The writing portrayed a lot of very dynamic, intelligent people all navigating the world of politics and royal life while at the same time helping two young men navigate their own sexuality as they developed and deepened their friendship. 

I wrote the following review in Goodreads: 

No idea why I waited as long as I did to read this book, so please don’t ask. I fell in love with both Alex and Henry - such amazing, rich - as in a lot of depth rich, intelligent, funny, vulnerable, complex, wonderful characters.

This story was incredible. I devoured it and read it through to well past midnight so I could finish it all in one sitting. Yeah - I was tired at work on the 14th, but it was oh so worth it!

I loved this book so much that a couple days after I read it on my nook, I used an audible credit and listened to it all over again. I’m pretty sure I want to listen to it again! Ramon de Ocampo did a fantastic job portraying all the different characters. I was even more afraid of Zahra after listening to him (him = de Ocampo) tell the story.

Read this book. It’s a beautifully woven love story between two young men who, though some self-discovery and a blossoming friendship are discovering it really is ok to be true to themselves.

Pretty sure this is my absolute favorite book that I’ve read so far this year and with the pandemic, working from home, and no kids? I’ve read a lot so far. This book was magnificent!

And it's completely true. It was magnificent. I also listened to it on Audible shortly after I read the actual book! On Audible, the book was narrated by Ramon de Ocampo who did an excellent job of portraying all the various characters and languages in the book. (Book was in English with parts of the dialogue in Spanish. 

Shortly after reading this book, I found a Facebook group devoted to fans of this novel which I recommend you find. The best part is some of the fan art of Alex and Henry which is a spectacular rendition of the two men together, drawn out from various scenes throughout. 

In the Facebook group, I received a recommendation to try Boyfriend Material as well, which shows the fake boyfriend, budding romance between Luc and Oliver. I read and enjoyed that book as well.

Both books told wonderful love stories that included emotional moments combined with humor and snark at times - something to which I can definitely relate! 

Casey McQuiston - Red, White & Royal Blue (Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon)

Alexis Hall - Boyfriend Material (Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon)

Happy reading! 

 - Heather

Twitter - @GrantsCrossing

Instagram - @GrantsCrossing

Goodreads - H.M.S. Brown

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