Blodeuedd's Monday: An Affair with a Spare by Shana Galen

Audio CD, 10 h Narrator: Victoria Aston

Published August 7th 2018 by Tantor Audio (first published July 3rd 2018)

The Survivors #3

Historical romance

For review

My thoughts:

Rafe is and both is not a total playboy. I men yes he loves women, but women really love him. And he can not say no! So it has come to that point where he is all, omg can't they just find someone else to hunt! Seriously man, learn to say no! ;) But he is also the kind of hero you just have to love, he really is the most charming man in London.

While Colette took some getting used to, because she is a spy for the French. It is a bit hard to like her then. But she is a  really good person. She loves her dad and would do anything for him. She is also a really crappy spy. Not to mention she is shy. It was all very amusing.

And it was interesting to see how the well known bachelor would fall and fight against it. Not to mention how they would deal with this whole mess! She is still a spy. Her dad is still an assassin. But, without saying too much, I enjoyed how it was dealt with.

It was also great seeing the men from book 1 and 2. I really like this group of survivors. And I can not wait to get their books (omg the blurb for the next one is not up and I am all eeeeek!).

Conclusion:
A fun book with some suspense, passion and friendship.

Cover

Is that like the Thames? Not really fitting, even if pretty

Narration

I enjoy Victoria Aston's voice and she fits historical romance so well! All her voices work,

Blurb:

Rafe Beaumont, fifth son of an earl, uses his irresistible charm with the ladies to glean dangerous war secrets. Now he's putting those skills to the ultimate test: capturing an elusive assassin by seducing his daughter. The problem? She's entirely immune to Rafe's flattery. Never before has Collette Fortier met a man as attractive as Rafe. But her father's life is at stake, and succumbing to Rafe would be disastrous. But when Rafe turns the tables on her, offering support and friendship instead of a fleeting affair, Collette finds herself tempted in ways she never could have imagined . . . 

Book Review: Tiffany Blues by MJ Rose

Author: M.J. Rose 
Title: Tiffany Blues
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, & Romance
Pages: ebook
Published: Aug 7th. 2018
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher)

New York, 1924. Twenty‑four‑year‑old Jenny Bell is one of a dozen burgeoning artists invited to Louis Comfort Tiffany’s prestigious artists’ colony. Gifted and determined, Jenny vows to avoid distractions and romantic entanglements and take full advantage of the many wonders to be found at Laurelton Hall.

But Jenny’s past has followed her to Long Island. Images of her beloved mother, her hard-hearted stepfather, waterfalls, and murder, and the dank hallways of Canada’s notorious Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women overwhelm Jenny’s thoughts, even as she is inextricably drawn to Oliver, Tiffany’s charismatic grandson.

As the summer shimmers on, and the competition between the artists grows fierce as they vie for a spot at Tiffany’s New York gallery, a series of suspicious and disturbing occurrences suggest someone knows enough about Jenny’s childhood trauma to expose her.

Supported by her closest friend Minx Deering, a seemingly carefree socialite yet dedicated sculptor, and Oliver, Jenny pushes her demons aside. Between stolen kisses and stolen jewels, the champagne flows and the jazz plays on until one moonless night when Jenny’s past and present are thrown together in a desperate moment, that will threaten her promising future, her love, her friendships, and her very life.

I've been dying to read this book since I first read the summary and seen the cover. I also got really excited when I started seeing the reviews come out for this one. 

Jenny has her past and secrets. She is just trying to move forward and do what she loves. She meets Minx and Oliver. Things seem find, but like we all know...secrets have a way of coming back to bite us in the romps. 

I enjoyed the mystery. I was worried and had no idea what was going on or who was causing it. I had my suspicions and I was right, but I was never 100% sure. I especially did NOT see the twist coming at the end there. That was a shocker BUT it did make sense honestly. 

The beginning was rough for me to really get into. It took a while and I was worried, but after a certain event, I was hooked. I had to see what would happen next especially to Jenny. I rooted for her even though I was unsure of her myself. I did not like Minx a bit, but you do grow worried for her at one point. She is like that family member you really don't like, but you still care for them. I adored Oliver, but he made me mad there. 

This was a pretty good read. I enjoyed the mystery and the characters. It took a LONG time for me to really settle into the story, but after a certain event I could not put this down. 

AND LOOK AT THAT COVER! Beautiful!!!

What else to say?

Well - the ending I had a love-hate with. The twist and big reveal was crazy good! I was upset by what happened and I was annoyed, BUT it honestly made the most sense and it was the best course of action. Life is not fair. However, I did think the solution was too easy after the reveal. However, it was justified and it made sense...see? I'm torn. 

In the end, I enjoyed this story. It was written well. The mystery was intriguing. The characters interesting. I recommend it for mystery and historical lovers. The romance is there, but doesn't overtake the story. I'll give this 4 stars overall. A good one for sure. 

2-in-1 Movie Review - DRIVE-IN EDITION: Hotel Transylvania 3 & Incredibles 2

This is a special post! For the first time, I went to the drive-in! I enjoyed it immensely. I want to go again! I went with two friends and my friend's daughter! So fun.

Film Title: Hotel Transylvania 3 Summer Vacation

Length: 1 hr and 37 mins 
Released: 2018
Genre:  Comedy, Family Movie
Rating: PG
Where I Got It: Drive-In


SUMMARY:
Count Dracula and company participate in a cruise for sea-loving monsters, unaware that their boat is being commandeered by the monster-hating Van Helsing family.

TRAILER:

REVIEW:
I believe I watched the first movie, but I can’t remember now. Good thing this movie did well as a standalone. My friend just gave me a quick rundown before this started, so I was good to go. 

It was a cute film. I loved the whole concept of a vaca for this family and friends. Even monsters need to get away. 

I was meh about the whole love story. Maybe it was the fact that it was so predictable. I called it right away. It was cute watching her fall for him. 

Overall, this was just cute. You can watch this without watching the first couple of movies. I should backtrack and rewatch. Eh. I’ll give this 3 stars. 

Film Title: Incredibles 2

Length: 1 hr and 58 mins 
Released: 2018
Genre:  Comedy, Family Movie, Action/Adventure
Rating: PG
Where I Got It: Drive-In


SUMMARY:
Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) is left to care for the kids while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world.

TRAILER:

REVIEW:
Took WAY too long to get this film. I can barely remember the first one. I’m glad they did a quick recap at the beginning there or I would’ve been pretty lost. 

It was fun to watch this family and see the baby’s powers come into play. My goodness that baby is funny! I loved the scene with the raccoon. I’m still chuckling even just thinking of it. 
The story, again, was pretty predictable. I pinpointed the baddie right away. Clever, but it was still easy to point out as an adult. Maybe the kiddies wouldn’t catch it. 

I felt so bad for the Dad. I mean…it was good he got to reconnect with the kids, but it really was unfair that they left him and the kids behind. The mom is more logical, but I wanted to see more of his power and the kid’s power. I’m glad we got the scene at the ending where everyone was powering it up, but I felt like they deserved more airtime.

The art was fun like the old one. I don’t get the proportions of the bodies though. They seem very unbalanced, but other than that I liked it a lot. 

Overall, I did like it. A few laughs but it was a hair underwhelming. I’ll give it 3 stars. 

Book Review: The Turncoat by Donna Thorland

Author: Donna Thorland
Title: The Turncoat (Renegades of the American Revolution)
Genre: Historical Fiction & Romance
Pages: ebook
Published: March 1st 2013
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Amazon)

They are lovers on opposite sides of a brutal war, with everything at stake and no possibility of retreat. They can trust no one—especially not each other. 

Major Lord Peter Tremayne is the last man rebel bluestocking Kate Grey should fall in love with, but when the handsome British viscount commandeers her home, Kate throws caution to the wind and responds to his seduction. She is on the verge of surrender when a spy in her own household seizes the opportunity to steal the military dispatches Tremayne carries, ensuring his disgrace—and implicating Kate in high treason. Painfully awakened to the risks of war, Kate determines to put duty ahead of desire, and offers General Washington her services as an undercover agent in the City of Brotherly Love. 


Months later, having narrowly escaped court martial and hanging, Tremayne returns to decadent, British-occupied Philadelphia with no stomach for his current assignment—to capture the woman he believes betrayed him. Nor does he relish the glittering entertainments being held for General Howe’s idle officers. Worse, the glamorous woman in the midst of this social whirl, the fiancée of his own dissolute cousin, is none other than Kate Grey herself. And so begins their dangerous dance, between passion and patriotism, between certain death and the promise of a brave new future together.

I read a previous one in this series and I liked it a lot. This series is not a true series. You can read any of the books. They barely tie-in. There are some characters that will make appearances like actual real historical characters like Andre, but overall, you can read them out of order like me ;)

But yes, this one took me a while to get through. I was bummed by this one. I had liked the other one a lot, but I had my issues with this one. It just was not as good. 

I did not really care for the characters. Kate was okay, but Peter? No. I did not like him. Why? Read on. 

What character tries to blackmail the woman he loves into bed????? Peter did. Ugh, you simply do not do that to the woman you believe you adore. Bay was a rake and a brutal soldier, but he at least showed some feelings for Kate. He treated her with some respect. He even wanted her to be his wife! The rake was putting up his rakish ways for her. Sure her intentions to Bay were not honorable (she being a rebel spy and all and he a Redcoat), but she respected him too in some ways and had some feelings. Peter was a redcoat too but he knew her secret, but since he liked her a lot he wouldn’t turn her in. Yes, that is nice and all, but way to use that knowledge to try and bed her. >_> He was so dishonorable. He also wanted to get her safe and he tried to trick her again. Just….I had issues with him. Kate has a job to do and I get you want to save her and love her, etc….but be a hair more honorable please. 

Also, the plot was a little less believable near the end there. I enjoyed the journey until a certain event at the end. 

I must also say…I felt so bad for Peggy. She has such issues with men who like to use her. However, I did enjoy this interpretation of Peggy and Andre.  

In the end, I had issues with this one. I didn’t like the main male character and the ending bugged me. I do want to read more of the series since I liked the other one so much. I’ll give this a 2.