Thursday, February 28

Audiobook Review: Highland Spitefire by Mary Wine

Highland Spitfire (Highland Weddings, #1)
Author: Mary Wine
Narrator: Antony Ferguson
Title: Highland Spitfire
(Highland Weddings #1)
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: Audiobook
Published: February 2nd 2016
Where I Got It: My shelf (Xmas Gift)


Passion flares between enemies
Two hotheaded Highlanders, the offspring of feuding lairds, are tricked by the King's Regent into a desperate choice: marry or die. Bhaic MacPherson is more disposed to lead his clan into battle than stay married to the daughter of his enemy. But perhaps the intensity of his feelings has more to do with desire than hostility.

And the Highlands ignite
Ailis Robertson wanted a husband, not a savage-but when her family was faced with a deadly ultimatum, she had no choice. The union of a MacPherson and a Robertson could end three generations of hostilities between the two families, but can bitter rivals truly become lovers?

Thank you to Blodeuedd for this as my xmas gift! :) She spoiled me and got me a few audios a couple xmases ago. 

The story follows Bhaic and Ailis. The two are from feuding lairds. They are tricked by the King's Regent into either getting married and ending the feud or the lairds being killed. Do you blame the Regent? This feud has caused SO MUCH WAR AND DEATH! He wants peace. So the two are rational and get married. However, there is a lot of issues between these two enemies. As there would be. A couple of generations of hate doesn't stop in a single night for sure. 

I felt so bad for Ailis. She really got the crappy end of the deal. SHE has to go with her enemies and live among them. They spit at her and call her names and are asshats to her. Poor girl, but she is strong and she is smart. She realizes the only way to gain their trust is to prove herself and be the bigger person. Kuddos to her. 

Sure Bhaic has his issues too. There is a woman he thinks is hot, but she is the enemy and he is expected to bed her properly. Conflicting emotions for sure. 

I am soooooooooo glad it took an eon for the two to finally love each other. They had the lust but the love and trust are hard earned. Lots of bickering. Lots of hurt feelings. Lots of growing up. I liked it and it felt realistic. 

Grrr I did not like Marcus. Sure, he had his reasons for being horrible to Ailis, but still. He DOES get better at the end there and he actually ends up liking Ailis. Sure. But Grrr and he is the star in book 2...so I am unsure about that one. 

I really had no major issues with the story. There was a lot of repeating bits that got annoying. Like yes, I get it and I remember. However, it didn't bug me TOO much. 

The narrator was pretty good. He had a pleasant voice. He had the same girl voice for all the girl voices so you had to be paying attention. Other than that, no issues. I liked him and I want to listen to more. 

Overall, I liked this story. It was good. Only a couple small hiccups, but easy to look past. I am a little unsure of book 2. Marcus rubbbed me the wrong way. Sure he got better, but I was convinced he was up to something. Haha. I'll give this 4 stars. 



Whooo! Highlander *stamps*



Tuesday, February 26

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Controlling the TBR Pile


Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.



  
How have you learned to keep your TBR pile in check, or how would you like to control your pile?

This question made me chuckle. My TBR pile is a hot mess. So many books, so little time! I have tried to keep it down and stick to reading only books on my piles and lists, but there are so many books that come across my desk. it's hard to ignore them and just stick to my list. 

"Control" is not the right word. I just try to manage it a bit. However, it is a mess and always will be I fear. 

My love bug Ralphie. :3






Monday, February 25

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Other People's Houses by Abby Waxman


Paperback 352 pages
Published April 3rd 2018 by Berkley
Fiction
Borrowed from friend

My Thoughts
The first 80 pages were good, but then it got even better. It's not like something changed, I just got really invested in these people. I am older, I live in suburbia, I have a kid, this one does hit closer to home than hot singles finding love in the city.

Frances is too nice and helpful. The other mums call her Saint Frances, ugh, I wanted to slap them. But through Frances we see all the silly mummies. Those who compete and wants to be best at everything, while Frances, if kind, scrapes by on the minimum.
Also her husband says the most romantic thing ever. Damn, he loves her, just as she is. And sure their marriage is not exciting. It is boring and smexless, but hey they are content.

Then there is Anne who cheats on her husband and Frances catches her in the act...the clock is ticking to meltdown.

Ben, well honestly he was not around much and I did not see why he had a little POV at all.

Iris, who wants another kid but her wife is busy being a actress.

Conclusion:
Suburbia. School runs. Family crisis. Something made me read and read and finish it quickly when it finally took off. I really enjoyed this one, more than the previous one.

Blurb
At any given moment in other people's houses, you can find...repressed hopes and dreams...moments of unexpected joy...someone making love on the floor to a man who is most definitely not her husband...

*record scratch*

As the longtime local carpool mom, Frances Bloom is sometimes an unwilling witness to her neighbors' private lives. She knows her cousin is hiding her desire for another baby from her spouse, Bill Horton's wife is mysteriously missing, and now this...

After the shock of seeing Anne Porter in all her extramarital glory, Frances vows to stay in her own lane. But that's a notion easier said than done when Anne's husband throws her out a couple of days later. The repercussions of the affair reverberate through the four carpool families--and Frances finds herself navigating a moral minefield that could make or break a marriage

Sunday, February 24

Joint Review: The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A Flynn






Hello all! Blodeuedd and I will be discussing "The Jane Austen Project" by Kathleen A. Flynn. Blodeuedd is in red and I am in orange.






The Jane Austen Project
Author: Kathleen A. Flynn
Title: The Jane Austen Project
Genre: Historical Fiction, SciFi, Time Travel, Romance, Fantasy
Pages: ebook
Published: May 2nd 2017 
Where I Got It: Amazon

London England, 1815: Two travelers—Rachel Katzman and Liam Finucane—arrive in a field, disheveled and weighed down with hidden money. They are not what they seem, but colleagues from a technologically advanced future, posing as a doctor and his spinster sister. While Rachel and Liam aren’t the first team of time travelers, their mission is the most audacious yet: meet, befriend, and steal from Jane Austen.

Carefully selected and rigorously trained by The Royal Institute for Special Topics in Physics, disaster-relief doctor Rachel and actor-turned-scholar Liam have little in common excerpt their extraordinary circumstances. Circumstances that call for Rachel to stifle her independent nature and let Liam take the lead as they infiltrate Austen’s circle via her favorite brother, Henry.

But diagnosing Jane’s fatal illness and obtaining an unpublished novel hinted at in her letters pose enough of a challenge without the convolutions of living a lie. While her friendship with Jane deepens and her relationship with Liam grows complicated, Rachel fights to reconcile her true self with the constrictions of 19th century society. As their portal to the future prepares to close, Rachel and Liam struggle with their directive to leave history as they found it…however heartbreaking that proves.


Ok, so this was different. Time travel where they are so prepared, so rich too for that matter. I liked that. No rambling through time being silly. These people knew their stuff.

Yes. I loved that aspect. They came there prepared with training and money and a mission. How intriguing!

Of course, going back to find a book is really silly lol

Someone rich probably paid for it and wanted those manuscripts. A huge JA fan! LOL I also think they were hoping for more info on her. The book was the cherry on top.

Probably. Cos to go back for a book, and to see why she died so young. When there are other things they could do! But then they wanted not to make a mark.

I love JA as much as the next person. But there are so many other things and people I would want to go check out and solve those mysteries first. And they had to expect they were changing history. Any sort of time travel would. Just buying something at a store could impact history. Just being a body there goes against history. I will say the ending did confuse me a bit. Time travel books always do. LOL


Yes, what if they buy that book that X was meant to buy to study and then X never studied and never invented Y. Butterfly effect or whatever.
The end end? I hope for happy.

The ending was confusing for me. LOL Especially when they were all talking about this version and that version. It boggled my mind which always happens when it comes to time travel and changes in timelines and the like. Oooo the Butterfly Effect. Draws me bananas. But I really think the author did a good job with the whole time travel aspect.


Ugh, yes, the whole timeline was whaat? How, I, what? But I hope for happy if you know what I mean. Just cos things change they do not change.
Yes, I liked how she did it. If only you know, if only.!

Time travel is a mess. If I were to do it I would want to be invisible. I would just want to be there and observe. Not messing up any timelines for me!
However, I would be tempted to want to meet Jane Austen. I am curious about what her real character is. If she was how she was in this book, I would have a hard time liking her. She seemed a little bipolar.

I was not a fan, but then she saw too much, and when you are a time traveler then other people should not see too much. She had that wit and she was dark, not someone I want to be friends with, but someone that I can appreciate.’

Yes. I really feel she did embody the artist role. So I think the author did well in showing Jane. She was dark and witty and her moments she just wanted to be left alone. The tortured artist and she probably hated the fact she couldn’t and wouldn’t publish under her own name. It would annoy me not to get the credit I deserved but during this time it was unseen for a woman to be a novelist.


Yes, I’d be angry, but then, she expected it too, but she would still resent it. Brooding artist fits well. Oh Jane.

I think the author did well at depicting her.
I was so bummed by Edward. He seemed soooo sweet and nice. But then he wasn’t. I was so sad! But I guess every story needs someone to play the villain ;)


I am sorry! I know you liked Edward when I opened my big mouth, oops! I liked Henry, even though at even at the end I was not sure about his feelings.

Not your fault about Edward. The scene in the library made me hate him. What a jerk! And what makes me even madder is the fact he was fake nice to them. SMH! Be a man and question them to their faces.

But fake nice was all the rage then.
Psst, we need to wrap it up, the pizza is done!
Ok, so we talked Jane, time travel aspect. What about the actual time travelers? U said you did not really care for Liam

True, true. But still. I guess I was deceived and I am hurt ;)
Oh dear! PIZZA!
I did not care for Liam. He got better near the end. But I think she deserved better. I can’t explain it, but he rubbed me the wrong way.

Yeah, I did not care for Liam that way. But Liam there, eh, sure that worked. I did like her, she tried to fit in.

I feel like her motives were pure and she actually really liked Jane and wanted to be her friend and try and save her. I do feel the romance between Liam and her felt forced.

It came out of nowhere. I was not a fan

I wasn’t either. It felt so forced and so dangerous especially since they are acting as brother and sister. Ummm...how in the world would you explain if someone caught you???? It was so awkward. Plus he has a fiance at home! Sure he wants to break it off with her, but still.


Yes fiance at home and omg if someone had caught them. Awkward as F! More than awkward. Run them out of town weird

That is a way to change history. You get caught making out with your “brother” (even tho he really isn’t) and you become a legend. LOL That would be in the gossip papers. SMH. Use your brain people!


Keep it in your pants people!
Idiots! Sighs.

Anything more to add? Sorry, I am ALL over the place today

LOL. I totally get it. While you were gone I started a load of laundry
But overall, I liked this book. I think it was a good choice. I didn’t have any major issues except for how slow it was. Slow narrative, but I get it. They are getting established and I feel like the author did it on purpose since all books by Jane Austen and the other old writers had a slow-moving plot. The end was okay...confused me with all the Butterfly talk mumbo jumbo. Not amazing, but I liked it.


Yes, it was very slow, but I liked it. Sure it took me a while to get to that enjoy part. Nothing happened, but then Henry came and Jane came and I wanted to know how it all would end.
Endings! Ha, but you know maybe she will write another one...maybe we should hope for that

I wouldn’t mind reading more! I do want to see what happened to them next. I also want to read the book that Jane Austen “wrote” about them. That would be a fun tale!


I hope she writes more then. I’d read it. SHe did talk about the Brontes

Yessss maybe that is a spoiler. Maybe the duo will go solve the issues of the Brontes ;) Change history again. I would read that for sure.

The end?


Yess, the end. I need to do chores ;)



About the Authors
Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.





Saturday, February 23

Saturday Movie Night: DUMPLIN (2018)








Happy February!

We'll be discussing 'Dumplin'


Blodeuedd is in red and I am in orange.



Dumplin' Poster
Title: Dumplin

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical
Running Time: 1 hr & 50 mins
Rating: PG-13
Released: 2018

Willowdean ('Dumplin'), the plus-size teenage daughter of a former beauty queen, signs up for her mom's Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow her footsteps, revolutionizing the pageant and their small Texas town.








TRAILER:


DISCUSSION: 


I can’t remember the author of the book this was based on, but yes I chose it because it was based on a book, as one does ;D

This was a really good pick. I’ve heard so many people like it, so I’m glad we decided on this one.

I am happy too! I did not know what to expect, and I did not expect this. I honestly do not know what I expected, but it felt more, I do not know, sweet? Ok not sweet, but ugh if I knew what I meant! Lol. It was just nicer. Omg like I imagined something dark. Blah, I am rambling!

Haha. I get what you’re saying. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I was surprised I only cried the one time and that was because it was a beautiful scene and it made me want to shake Will! HE LOVES YOU DAMMIT! I loved Bo. He was so sweet. She deserved him.

I was a bit afraid for her, I mean I got her. She had doubts about him and I had ones too. I wanted to believe him, but at the same time, what if he was just being an ass!?
I will also say that I did not cry. But then it took me 3 times to watch this movie so I was not that invested in that scene as I should have. But that is the thing with all my movies these days

I get it too especially since I can relate with her and I get the body issues. I had my doubts when BF and I started dating. Like how can you love me!!?? Me of all people! So I get it, but his speech would’ve done me in if I was her. He was genuine and so sweet. I loved him. LOLLL
It took 2 sittings for me because of work. I have a hard time watching movies now. It takes a couple of sittings for me too. Not enough time in the day!

The car scene, yeah I got it there. But I get why she ran. But dang, that boy was sweet and well, yay for them then ;) And now I do not know what to say. Like what should we discuss? Her horrid mum? The pageant?  Ugh her mum, her mum it is! How can she spend that much time with other things than her kid? I know it brings them close in the end, but too little too late for me.

I get why she ran there too. I would’ve. How I knew he loved her was when he said she was beautiful and screw what people think and that screw those people who make her feel bad about her body.
Ugh. Her mother. She is so blind and living in the past. Maybe they wouldn’t be hard for cash if she wasn’t buying dresses and spending so much on hair and etc. SMH. I was done with her the moment she got mad at Will after she got suspended. You can’t get mad at Will for loving her aunt so much more than you! You love those skinny pageant girls more than your own daughter. Grr!

I forgot about the suspension! Go Will!
And yes her mum was still living her glory days, I mean come on! That was ages ago. And yes she loved those skinny perfect girls. Booo. But Aniston did do a great job with her!
I wish we had seen more of the aunt, she sounded so lovely.

Aniston did a good job. I was unsure of how I was going to take her as a character you’re not supposed to like right away because Aniston is so beloved and normally plays the Girl Next Door characters. But she did awesome.
Yes! I wished we could see more of the aunt. I adored her and so did everyone else. I loved the drag queens. They were fun and I loved how supportive they were of Will and her pals!

They were cool! And so supportive. The girls needed that. Awww yes, I liked that.

What did you think of the whole Dolly Parton influence of the story? The music, the drag queens, etc?


I honestly do not know a lot about her other than blonde and music so I can not really say. Good music

I do not know much either. I liked how that was a huge part of the story. Dolly Parton is all about love and friendship and loving yourself. I felt it fit very well! Plus her music isn’t bad for country ;)


Aha. That is more than what I knew!

Hahaha I only know that based on some of her quotes that have been thrown around here and there.

Sorry! Ooops, forgot the time. My parents came, S woke and SO messed up the pizza!

I wondered what happened! I thought you fell asleep or S destroyed the computer in baby rage ;)

I truly spaced and then I was all damn! I am writing with Carole!

Hahaha ‘tis okay! Did we want to wrap up? Final thoughts?

I did not feel it was amazing or anything, but I enjoyed it because it was light and fun, with some stronger things in it too. Good actors too. I wonder about that movie now

Yess. It was very good overall. Not amazing. Some unbelievable bits that would never work in real life. But this was a fun watch and I liked it a lot. It makes you laugh, feel, and it is a great people story. A unique spin on an age-old story of someone who is trying to make it in the world and love themselves. I liked Will and I loved Bo. The drag queens were amazing. I liked Will’s friends. The mom. UGH. Sure she gets better, but still. SMH.

The end?


Yes! The end. :D 

Friday, February 22

Blog All About It: PINK BOOK COVERS




Yayy! Doing another year of prompts! So fun. 

The second of the year is: PINK

Been batting around ideas for this month's prompt. I'll share some book covers. ;)

Here are some books over the last couple of year that I have read that have pink in the cover.

THIS YEAR

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe: A Novel with RecipesThe Earl I Ruined (The Secrets of Charlotte Street, #2)



2018

Homecoming in Christmas Falls (Return to Christmas Falls #1)Marilyn, My Marilyn

Talk Sweetly to Me (Brothers Sinister, #4.5)The King's Witch (Frances Gorges Trilogy, #1)


2017

Barely a Bride (Free Fellows League #1)The China Bride (The Bride Trilogy, #2)


Merely the Groom (Free Fellows League, #2)Shanghai Girls (Shanghai Girls #1)

Two Journeys Home: A Novel of Eighteenth Century Europe (The Derrynane Saga, Book Two)

2016

Fast WomenDating Tips for the Unemployed

2015

Bite Me, Your Grace (Scandals with Bite, #1)Born of Persuasion (Price of Privilege, #1)

Becoming Marie Antoinette (Marie Antoinette, #1)Good in Bed (Cannie Shapiro, #1)

2014
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Pink Carnation, #1)Ivy and Intrigue: A Very Selwick Christmas

2013
Big Bad Ass Book of the ZodiacThe Ashford Affair

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette

2012

Adventures of a Graveyard Girl (Funeral Crashing, #2)My Fair Concubine (Tang Dynasty, #3)



CONCLUSION
Sooo...honestly I do not think I am very drawn in by pink covers. I haven't really read many with covers that are mostly or have a lot of pink on the covers. The majority also seems to be romance novels. Go figure ;)




And just for fun! Here is a painting I did that has "PINK" in it ;)






Thursday, February 21

Audiobook Review: Broken by SJ West

Broken (The Watcher Chronicles, #1)Author: SJ West
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Title: Broken
(The Watcher Chronicles #1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance, UF, & Fantasy
Pages: Audiobook
Published: January 14th 2013
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



At the tender age of seven, Jess Riley’s parents were ripped out of her life by the Tear, a ripple of white light in the sky which randomly transports people from Earth to alternate realities and distant planets once a year. On the night the Tear first appeared, the Watchers, a mysterious group of men possessing supernatural powers, made their presence known to the leaders of the world, earning their complete trust to deal with the turmoil the Tear caused.
Now twenty-two years old, Jess is an agent working for the Watcher Agency searching for a way to bring her parents back home. When the leader of the Watchers, Mason Collier, recruits her to join his team, Jess quickly discovers she is meant to play a major role in sealing the Tear forever. Mason and Jess instantly find themselves drawn to one another but they both resist their mutual attraction for different reasons. Broken by past events in their lives, they each struggle to overcome their fears and find the strength to take a chance on one another.

This drew my eye in right away and I wanted to listen to this. 

The story follows Jess Riley who lost her parents because of the Tear. The Tear? It is a horrible thing that once a year randomly transports people to Earth from alternate realities and sucks random from Earth to alternate realities. So like a swap! A terrible, dark swap. After the Tear appeared, the Watchers made their presence known and now helps deal with this turmoil. Years later, Jess works at the Watcher Agency with hopes her parents will come back someday. After a certain event, Mason Collier recruits her to join his special team. She will learn there is so much more to her then she appears. 

Oh Mason. I really loved him, but he is so damaged. Which...he has a hard past. I won't say what because I don't want to spoil anything. I loved Jess too! She was damaged too. Again...no spoilers from me ;)

They are attracted to each other right away, but they have both had a rough life so it makes sense they don't just fall into bed with each other right away. Thank goodness. They get to know each other and they slowly get to trust each other. 

The whole twist was SOOOOO good. I wish I could say what, but wah! I didn't see it coming. So good, so good! Such a good twist!!!!!! Love the whole concept. Such a fresh breath of air for the PNR genre even though it was released in 2013. Eee. I totally missed this. 

Then there was that ending. NOOO! CLIFFHANGER!! I immediately got the 2nd book. I have to know what is next! YOU CANNOT LEAVE ME LIKE THIS!!!!!!! *shakes fist*

The narrator was adorable and did amazing with all the voice changes and accents. Super fun. Super good. 

Overall, I loved this book. The ending left me with my mouth agape. I need to know what is going to happen next. I already have book 2 ready to go ;) This was really good and I highly recommend it. I'll stamp this 5 stars.