Top Ten Tuesday – Book Covers That Feel Like Summer
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!
This week’s TTT topic is Book Covers That Feel Like Summer. I love covers with summer vibes so this was an easy topic to do. The biggest challenge was to narrow it down to just ten of my favorites. To narrow it, I tried to focus mainly on new and recent releases.
Ten of My Favorite Books Covers That Feel Like Summer
1. OUR LAST DAYS IN BARCELONA by Chanel Cleeton
2. OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY by Kristan Higgins
3. EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune
4. WAIT FOR IT by Jenn McKinlay
6. THE HOTEL NANTUCKET by Elin Hilderbrand
7. THE GUNCLE by Steven Rowley
8. ONE ITALIAN SUMMER by Rebecca Serle
9. THE FRIENDSHIP PACT by Jill Shalvis
10. THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner
* * * * * *
Question: Have you read any of these?
Reviews: THE DEAD ROMANTICS & HERE FOR THE DRAMA
Happy Friday everyone! I’m back today to share my thoughts on a couple of romance novels that thoroughly delighted me over the long holiday weekend. Both of these are out in the world already so if you like what you read here, you can go right out and snag these for your reading pleasure. 🙂
The Dead Romantics Goodreads Author: Ashley Poston
Publication Date: June 28, 2022
Publisher: Berkley Books
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I first became a fan of Ashley Poston’s after loving her YA Once Upon a Con series, so I was thrilled to hear she has her adult debut, The Dead Romantics, coming out this year. I was so intrigued by the premise that the protagonist is a romance ghostwriter who no longer believes in love. I couldn’t wait to dive into this one and I’m pleased to report that I now have a new favorite Ashley Poston novel because The Dead Romantics is an absolute gem of a book!
The story follows Florence Day, a young woman who is the ghostwriter for a very popular and prolific romance author. Florence’s next deadline is looming but she just can’t seem to finish the book. Why the writer’s block? Because after a terrible breakup, in Florence’s mind, romance is now dead so every time she sits down to write a happy ending for the book, she instead ends up pouring out her heart and writing doom and gloom. After butting heads with her new and very sexy editor, who refuses to give her another extension on her deadline, a family emergency sends Florence back to the hometown she hasn’t visited in a decade. Although Florence is reluctant to go home, at the same time, she’s hoping for inspiration to finish this book before her career is dead.
I adored Florence. As we learn more about her, it’s clear she has been through a lot in her life and she’s an easy character to feel sympathetic toward. It also becomes clear why she hasn’t come back home even though she loves her family dearly and that returning home reopens some old wounds. Florence’s family runs the local funeral home and because of this, Florence realizes early on that she has the ability to see ghosts and to communicate with them, to help them finish up any unfinished business they still have. Florence’s ability to see ghosts is what drove her away from home, but when she comes face to face with her editor, who has apparently died since she last saw him in his office, it may also be just the thing she needs in order to restore her faith in love and romance and get her career back on track. Now I’ll freely admit that you’ll probably have to suspend disbelief a little to fully embrace Florence’s gift and how it plays out in the book, but if you let yourself just accept it and roll with it, you’re going to love the journey that Florence’s gift allows her to take.
I also loved how this story was a nice balance between Florence’s journey, her close relationship with her family as they came together to grieve the loss of a loved one, as well as a slow burn romance that surprised and delighted me. The Dead Romantics is one of those stories that both tugged at my heartstrings and made me laugh throughout as I was reading. I flew through the pages because I was just having such a wonderful time watching these characters interact and was so invested in how things would play out for Florence.
If you’re looking for a unique story that perfectly straddles the line between romance and women’s fiction, I highly recommend The Dead Romantics. 4.5 STARS
Here for the Drama Goodreads
Author: Kate Bromley
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Publisher: Graydon House
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I was a big fan of Kate Bromley’s debut romance Talk Bookish to Me because of its relatable characters and witty banter, so I was eager to get my hands on her new novel, Here for the Drama. With its London setting, a female playwright as the protagonist, and the promise of an adorable but rambunctious rescue dog, Here for the Drama appealed to me on every level. Bromley really delivers too. As much as I enjoyed her debut, her sophomore effort really shines!
The story follows Winnie, a young woman who dreams of being a famous playwright. Even though she is actively writing her own plays and hoping to get them noticed, her day job is to serve as an assistant to a woman who actually already is a famous playwright, Juliette Brassard. Winnie is trying to get one of her plays in shape to enter it into a contest and keeps hoping Juliette will read it and give her feedback, but Winnie’s play gets put on the back burner when Juliette announces that they are going to London because one of her plays is being staged there. Winnie is reluctant to go, but the trip ends up being life changing for her in many ways.
I really liked Winnie. She’s a well-drawn and relatable character, especially when it comes to her insecurities about whether or not she has what it takes to make it as a playwright. Winnie is also quick witted and just a really enjoyable character to follow. In addition to rooting for her to have success with her writing, I was also rooting for Winnie on a personal level as well. While in London, she meets Juliette’s sexy nephew, Liam, and the two of them have both incredible chemistry and just some flat out hilarious conversations. From their earliest conversations, it felt like they had known each other forever. They’re clearly perfect for one another, but there’s just one huge obstacle – Juliette does not want Winnie and Liam to get involved with one another. I don’t often come across the secret dating trope, but I have to say I quite enjoyed it here and was cheering Liam and Winnie on.
Here for the Drama is just a delightful and heart-warming read. From Winnie and Liam to the adorable scene stealing rescue dog, I just loved every page of it. If you’re in the mood for a rom com that really delivers and that will leave you with a contented smile on your face, be sure to pick up a copy of Here for the Drama. 4 STARS
Thriller Thursday Reviews: Never Coming Home & Take Your Breath Away
Welcome back to Sharon’s edition of Thriller Thursday! This week I am reviewing Hannah Mary McKinnon’s, Never Coming Home and Linwood Barclay’s, Take Your Breath Away. I really enjoyed both of these books and they both had similar themes; husbands that are at the center of their wives disappearance/murder. LOL!
Never Coming Home Goodreads Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon
Publication Date: May 24, 2022
Publisher: MIRA
I have enjoyed every book I have read by Hannah Mary McKinnon and Never Coming Home is no exception. Lucas Forester didn’t really hate his wife, Michelle. She was beautiful, sophisticated, and very rich. It is because she is rich that Lucas married her. He had originally planned on divorcing her after a couple of years to get his millions, but thanks to his father-in-law and an airtight pre-nup, Lucas had to adjust his plans to get his hands on her money. For years Lucas planned Michelle’s death. He hired a hit man to kidnap and kill Michelle, and he made sure he left no trace that would lead police to him. Lucas has been playing the grieving husband for a month and patiently waiting to be able to cash-in on Michelle’s fortune. But when shocking photos of Michelle start showing up, with notes stating, “I know what you did,” Lucas starts to unravel. How could anyone know what he did? Lucas is determined to find out who is behind the photos and notes and shut them up for good.
McKinnon did a great job of creating a villain that I hated, but also liked and had sympathy for at times. Lucas was a great character. Yes, I know he put a hit out on his wife, but he also had me chuckling a few times and he was very devoted to his mother in-law, who has terminal cancer and does not have long to live. He was always going over and sitting with her and you could tell his feelings for her were genuine. He also loved his father, and it is because of his father he is doing all this. His father had a stroke years ago, which Lucas blames himself for, and he needs the money to be able to keep his father in the best care facility. And he rescued and adopted a stray dog. See, he is a good guy, well except for the killing his wife part. LOL!
The book was told from Lucas’ POV, and I really loved getting inside his head and learning all about him and what made him do what he did. I especially loved watching him unravel as the photos and notes started arriving. He went from this cool, collected, and calculated guy, to a nervous, always looking over his shoulder guy, who was starting to make many mistakes. It was really fun to watch.
I did figure a few things out early on who was behind everything, but I still enjoyed the ride while Lucas was trying to piece it all together. The last chapter had me cringing, and I kind of felt bad for Lucas. If you are looking for a psychological thriller that features a somewhat likable villain, then check out Hannah Mary McKinnon’s Never Coming Home. 3 ½ stars
Take Your Breath Away Goodreads Author: Linwood Barclay
Publication Date: May 17, 2022
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Take Your Breath Away is my second read by Linwood Barclay and while it did not knock my socks off like Find You First, I did enjoy it very much.
Andrew Mason’s wife, Brie, went missing six years ago while he was away on a fishing trip. Most everyone assumed he got away with murder but try as they might, the police could not build a case solid enough to arrest him. Andrew eventually sold his house, moved a couple of towns over and changed his last name. He has finally gotten his life back together and lives with his new girlfriend, Jayne, and her teenage brother, Tyler. Now six years after Brie went missing, a woman who looks just like her shows up at their old house, which has been torn down and rebuilt, screaming “Where’s my house? What’s happened to my house?” As quickly as she appeared, she disappeared again. The appearance of this woman has a ripple effect that puts a lot of people’s lives in danger. Who is this woman? If she is Brie, where has she been for six years? And if not, why is someone pretending to be her? And what did happen to Brie?
I really liked Andrew. Andrew’s life spiraled out of control after Brie disappeared, and it didn’t help that his sister-in-law, Isabel, was doing everything she could to make his life miserable. She was sure he was responsible and made it her mission to get the police to take action. I can totally relate to her on that aspect. If that had been my sister and I thought my brother-in-law was to blame, I would stop at nothing to make him pay. Now with the “Brie” sighting, Andrew’s life could come crashing down again and he is determined to figure out what is going on.
Detective Melissa Hardy was the original investigator on the case and she too made Andrew’s life hell. She had such tunnel vision that he was responsible for whatever happened to Brie, that she would not let up. And then when the mysterious woman appeared, Detective Hardy was back on Andrew’s case. I have to say I did not like her much. I thought she was too aggressive in her approach to things. She didn’t follow the true facts; she followed what she wanted to be facts.
Most of the characters in this book had secrets to hide, though some secrets were worse than others. And that just added to the mystery of who this mysterious woman was and what happened to Brie.
There is so much I cannot say about this book because I don’t want to spoil anything. There are so many twists and turns and I had no idea what the outcome was going to be. I was very surprised when everything was revealed at the end. 3 1/2 stars