Books – Page 2 – A Lovely Little Book Blog

Reading and Depression

Published on September 8, 2019 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

Hello to my few remaining followers.

This might be one of the most honest, and strange posts I’ll ever make.

I haven’t read a book since March. Or at least not consistently.

The reason for that is I’m no longer depressed.

Books were easier when I was depressed,when I had no energy, and no drive to do anything but hide from the world around me.

I lost the…I don’t want to say joy…of reading. But I lost the ability to sit down and bury myself in it the same way I once did.

I miss it though. I miss picking up a good book and devouring what’s inside. So this is my promise to you that my reviews, and hopefully some other content will appear here soon.

After all, I’ve got a list about a mile high.

~Ashley

My Reading List

Published on October 16, 2018 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

Reading Currently, so Reviews Coming Soon

The Last Straw by Ed Duncan
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (J.K Rowling)
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Floored by Sara Barnard; Holly Bourne; Tanya Byrne; Non Pratt; Melinda Salisbury; Lisa Williamson; Eleanor Wood
Craft Brew by Layla Reyne
Slayer by Kiersten White
An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris
Single White Incubus by E.J Russell

I am in a huge reading mood!

Release Day: Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl by Karen Booth

Published on October 16, 2018October 16, 2018 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

Title: Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl by Karen Booth

Release Date: October 16, 2018

Length: 318 pages

Subgenre: Romantic Women’s Fiction

Order now

Summary:

As sisters, they tell each other all their secrets…except one.

With divorce and infidelity hanging from nearly every branch of her family tree, Katherine Fuller sees no point in marriage. Boyfriends? Sure. Sex? Of course. Wedding vows? No, thanks. Still, when her younger sister Amy gets engaged, Katherine gathers all the enthusiasm she can. She won’t let Amy down. She’s done enough of that for a lifetime.

As the sisters embark on wedding plans, Katherine’s college love resurfaces. It nearly killed Katherine to part from sexy Irish musician Eamon more than a decade ago, but falling under his spell a second time forces her to confront everything she hid from him. The secrets surrounding her mother’s death are still fresh and raw in her mind, but one has haunted her more than the others. She can’t bear to tell anyone, especially not Amy. It could ruin far more than a wedding. It could destroy a sister’s love forever.

About Karen Booth:

Karen Booth is a midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on ‘80s music and repeated readings of Forever by Judy Blume. An early preoccupation with rock ‘n’ roll led her to spend her 20s working her way from intern to executive in the music industry. When her kids came along, she traded late nights for early mornings, writing contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Karen was a finalist for RT Magazine’s Series Romance of the Year and Gold Seal of Excellence, and the 2018 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. Her books have been translated into seventeen languages.

Connect with Karen: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Giveaway: Win a signed print set of Karen Booth’s three Romantic Women’s Fiction novels: Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl, Bring Me Back and Back Forever, or 1 of 2 e-copies of Bring Me Back!

About Bring Me Back: Nearly forty, Claire Abby had thought life would be a whole lot smoother by now. Single parenting her college-bound daughter is trying, her journalism career is fading, her sister’s a handful, her dad is worse, and her mom has been gone so long it’s hard to remember what it was like when she was here.

So it’s both a lucky break and a jaw-dropping distraction when Claire lands an interview with British rock star Christopher Penman. Claire spent her teenage years fantasizing he was her boyfriend. In person, Chris is everything Claire feared—off-the-charts sexy, ridiculously charming, and utterly nerve-wracking. He’s not about to discuss the rumors he’s dodged for a decade. She must earn his trust and unearth the truth, but she never banked on the heartbreaking secret behind it.

His blockbuster story is her first priority when she returns home, a nearly impossible task when Christopher starts calling. And flirting. There’s no denying his wit or his buttery British accent, and once she agrees to see him, it’s beyond anything her teenage brain ever imagined. But when Christopher’s painful past repeats itself, can Claire smooth out her life and save the man she could never forget?

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!

Continue reading “Release Day: Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl by Karen Booth” →

Release Day: Pisces Hooks Taurus by Anyta Sunday

Published on October 15, 2018October 15, 2018 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

Pisces Hooks Taurus by Anyta Sunday

Series: Signs of Love #4

Publisher: Anyta Sunday (self published)

Release Date (Print & Ebook): October 16, 2018

Length (Print & Ebook): 69000 words / 285 pages

Pisces Hooks Taurus (Signs of Love #4) is an MM opposites-attract romantic comedy featuring an unapologetic romantic and a broken realist.

More wit, banter and bad puns – and even more heart-stopping slow burn!

Can be read as a standalone.

Tropes: friends-to-lovers, slow burn, will-they-or-won’t-they

Genre: New Adult, light-hearted contemporary gay romance

Order now!

Book synopsis:

It’s a time for searching, and a time for finding, Pisces: keep casting your line and you will hook what you’re looking for.

Zane has it all planned out: land the perfect Meet Cute, fall in love, and live happily ever after.

Should be simple enough if he put his mind to it. A little creativity and some thinking outside of the box, and voila, he’d be married to the woman of his dreams.

It would be perfect.

And it would be before his visa ran out.

But why are his feelings running wild now that the pressure’s on? Why is his picture-perfect plan turning into a muddled mess of morphed metaphors he can’t make sense of anymore.

Just as well he’s met an English professor to help. And even though their first meet is anything but cute, this down-to-earth teacher may just be the realist Zane needs to ground him and give him a shot at love after all.

Don’t cast your line too wide, Pisces. Your perfect catch may already have bitten.

Excerpt:

Zane pressed himself against the cool fence pickets, letting the women pass. He bounced his palms over the rounded spikes and grinned at Darla. “I’m Zane,” he said over drowning chatter. “I hope you’ll need to remember that.”

“I’ll commit it to memory, Zane.” Darla studied him like a full-page comic panel. “Yes. You’re just what a broken bull needs.”

Broken bull? What was the colorful old darling talking about?

“The professor loves literature,” she said through a bout of coughing. “My advice? Talk books. Talk Dostoyevsky and Toy Story.”

Dostoy-what’s-it-called or Toy Story. He hadn’t known Toy Story was a book first. Good thing he’d seen the movie. “Thanks for the tip. Think you could keep an eye on my things?”

“Sure,” she said. He stepped over the threshold, and her voice trailed after him. “If anyone tries to steal it, I’ll whip out the Krav Maga.”

About Anyta Sunday:

HEART-STOPPING SLOW BURN

A bit about me: I’m a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.

Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.

I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.

Connect with Anyta:

Author website | Author newsletter signup | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

About Anyta Sunday:

HEART-STOPPING SLOW BURN

A bit about me: I’m a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.

I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.

My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, and Thai.

Giveaway: Win an e-book set of 3 Signs of Love books: Leo Loves Aries, Scorpio Hates Virgo, and Gemini Keeps Capricorn or a reader’s choice of back catalog e-book by Anyta Sunday

Click here to enter the giveaway!

Review: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Published on October 14, 2018 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

Title: Norse Mythology

Author: Neil Gaiman

Genre: History, mythology, super awesome audiobook

Summary:

Neil Gaiman, long inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction, presents a bravura rendition of the Norse gods and their world from their origin though their upheaval in Ragnarok.

In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki—son of a giant—blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.

Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants. Through Gaiman’s deft and witty prose, these gods emerge with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to duping others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again.

My Thoughts:

Oh my gods. This is one of the best books I’ve read and the best audiobook I have ever listened to.

I now own a full Neil Gaiman audiobook collection because this man is so nice to listen to. His care for his writing and subject matter really does shine through in his reading of this work.

I have long loved reading about the different myths, and legends from other countries, and did read rather extensively about the Norse Gods when I was in college, but this was one of the most wonderful re-tellings I’ve ever had the pleasure to read.

There is no dryness to this writing, but rather life is breathed into every tale, injected with humour and tragedy where needed. The Gods come to life in a way they have not in many years, and with it a different point of view of Norse life.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves Gaiman, mythology, or just plain good literature.

Review: Imperial Stout by Layla Reyne

Published on September 24, 2018September 21, 2018 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

Title: Imperial Stout

Author: Layla Reyne

Genre: M/M Romance, Suspense

Series: Trouble Brewing

Summary: It’s a good thing assistant US attorney Dominic Price co-owns a brewery. He could use a cold one. Nic’s star witness has just been kidnapped, his joint operation with the FBI is in jeopardy, his father’s shady past is catching up with him and the hot new special agent in San Francisco is the kind of distraction best handled with a stiff drink.

Kidnap and rescue expert Cameron Byrne has his own ideas about how to handle Nic, but his skills are currently needed elsewhere. The by-the-book FBI agent goes deep undercover as a member of an infamous heist crew in order to save Nic’s witness, break up the crew and close the case before anyone else gets hurt. Nic in particular.

Things heat up when Cam falls for Nic, and the witness falls for Cam. As the crew’s suspicions grow, Cam must decide how far he’s willing to go—and how far into his own dark past he’s willing to dive—to get everyone out alive.

Received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:

This book probably would’ve been a little bit easier for me to understand if I had previously read the series which it had spun off of.

Since I did not, I was in for a tiiiiny bit of confusion. And when I say tiny I mean that there was a few times where I actually found myself re-reading things, and whole chapters to make sure I understood what the heck was going on.

That being said, the banter, camraderie and teamwork between almost all of the characters in this novel kind of made it for me.

Cam and Nic made up the rest. They were interesting enough to keep me looking, and trying to imagine the scenarios they found themselves in. The backstory was there just enough to keep me from putting down the book and wondering if I should read the whole other series first.

It was refreshing in a way to have there be two characters who were within the LGBTQIA+ family and not have it be the end of the world for other characters, like some huge big thing. Because frankly it shouldn’t be. The two characters were accepted, without argument. It was nice. I enjoyed it.

I think before I do read the second one I will give Reyne’s other series a lookie-loo so that I fully understand what is going on this time around 🙂

Review: The Witch of Little Italy by Suzanne Palmieri

Published on September 22, 2018September 21, 2018 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

Title: The Witch of Little Italy

Author: Suzanne Palmieri

Genre: Magical realism?

Summary:

In Suzanne Palmieri’s charming debut, The Witch of Little Italy, you will be bewitched by the Amore women. When young Eleanor Amore finds herself pregnant, she returns home to her estranged family in the Bronx, called by “The Sight” they share now growing strong within her.

She has only been back once before when she was ten years old during a wonder-filled summer of sun-drenched beaches, laughter and cartwheels. But everyone remembers that summer except her. Eleanor can’t remember anything from before she left the house on her last day there.

With her past now coming back to her in flashes, she becomes obsessed with recapturing those memories. Aided by her childhood sweetheart, she learns the secrets still haunting her magical family, secrets buried so deep they no longer know how they began. And, in the process, unlocks a mystery over fifty years old—The Day the Amores Died—and reveals, once and for all, a truth that will either heal or shatter the Amore clan.

My Thoughts:

Funnily enough this is actually one of the first books I ever bought digitally. I then proceeded to not read it for a very long time for reasons I cannot explain.

When reading it I could not figure out why the heck it took me so long to read it because this book is captivating. There was just something about how the magic and the mystery of the Amore clan was woven into what could’ve been an almost over the top plot.

I know, I’m weird, to me it wasn’t the magic that was over the top, it was everything else.

It was the mysteries and the little touches of magic that kept me going within this book but I can’t really reveal too much without giving it away and spoiling the whole novel.

The cast of characters are interesting, and I thoroughly enjoyed flipping the pages of this book, which definitely helped to pull me out of my reading slump.

Review: In the Belly of Jonah by Sandra Brannan

Published on July 1, 2018 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

Title: In the Belly of Jonah

Author: Sandra Brannan

Genre: Thriller

Summary: In the Belly of Jonah is a fast-paced mystery with a likable protagonist and an intricately woven narrative brimming with bizarre yet believable twists. The first in a series, the book expertly lays the groundwork for Liv Bergen, amateur sleuth, and her love interest, FBI Agent Streeter Pierce. Liv becomes involved in the investigation of the murder of Jill Brannigan, a summer intern at the limestone mine Liv manages near Fort Collins, Colorado (a breathtaking setting that unwittingly becomes an accessory to crime). In doing so, she inadvertently puts her friends, her family, and herself at risk of being swallowed in the belly of a madman bloated with perverse appetites for women, surrealistic art, and renown.

As the gripping plot of In the Belly of Jonah unfolds, Liv Bergen takes her place alongside the best female crime-solvers as a woman with smarts, self-confidence, and intuitive savvy.

Review:

This book was…very…extremely brutal. It was so well written, that my crazy imagination could sadly imagine every single gross detail. Sometimes I wish I couldn’t, but man Brannan is a master of getting you to be a little squicked.

The characters in this novel are full fledged, and interesting. Liv especially, with her fiery nature did capture my attention as did her relationship with Streeter.

This book is driven with strong female characters. And the plot is driven by a total psycho, one that you will not soon forget even after finishing reading the book. The crimes within it are so gruesome they feel real.

This book would be good for anyone who likes a good thriller, and a mystery that’s more on the side of hate, than a crime of passion.

Received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Confessions of a Book Addict: Will Make Grilled Cheese for Books

Published on June 12, 2014May 27, 2018 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

It’s crunch time. You’re in between pay cheques and the latest book is out, you’ve read about it, dreamt about it, you can practically feel the pages beneath your fingertips and it’s the next in a series.

But money has become an issue.

And books, unfortunately are not free.

But there are ways to get them, some of them nefarious, and some of them not.

Okay, none of them are really nefarious but they are a little…odd…

1) Sandwiches. For books.

I once told one of my friends that I would make her grilled cheese sandwiches every day if she allowed me access to her library.

My grilled cheese sandwiches are legendary. They are worth their weight, or at least calorie count, in books.

2) Points, for books.

Do you collect Air Miles? Aeroplan? IHG points? Points of any kind? Points that you would normally spend on groceries, on travel? But could instead be spent on gift card. To obtain books.

These books will allow you to travel to places you’ve never imagined. Walk beside the Gunslinger, take a trip into Narnia.

3) Babysitting

Who cares if you’re a single 20-something who works full time and you’re the only one who doesn’t have kids in your group of friends.

You could always borrow a kid and give someone a day off! In exchange for books!

4) eBooks for free

Don’t have an eReader but you’re desperate to read? No problem! Most of the eReaders out there have desktop apps, or smart phone apps or iPads or whatever. And guess what? They have free and/or really cheap books on there!

Most of them offer the classics for free, so why don’t you check out something you’ve always wanted to check out? It’s a great opportunity for you.

And while we’re at it, Project Gutenberg is a magnificent thing!

There is BookShout and BookBub for this but Kobo has a pretty good selection too!

5) Is it snowing where you are?

I live in Canada. It started snowing in December, and it was still snowing in April. I have neighbours. Neighbours who really don’t like shovelling snow.

There was a book I wanted that, with taxes, cost me $14.95. So when they asked me how much I would do it for, I said $15 bucks for two days snow removal.

Two days of shovelling, countless days spent enjoying a new book and lots of hot chocolate.

Heck, some of my neighbours just pay me in books nowadays and I’m as happy as can be.

6) There’s this thing called a library…

Where they give the books away…for free.

It’s amazing. Now this might not help you with the newest, hottest book, because that will be on hold for a couple months.

But ask a librarian for help and you’ll find a wealth of knowledge.

Just return the books on time, because let me tell, library fines can be a fierce thing to pay off.

7) Your bookshelves are your friends.

And the books on your shelves might remind you of old friends, might remind you of old lovers, family members.

Revisit a series you loved as a child, as a teen, last year. Read it out of order. Read it back to front.

Read something you couldn’t get through before but held onto just in case, maybe this will be your time to conquer it.

After all, no one knows what you like better than you, and you kept those books for a reason. Didn’t you?