Monday, July 16, 2012

Reviews - Summer with Jill Shalvis Blog Tour



Title: At Last
Series: Lucky Harbor #5
Available: Now
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reading Level: Adult

Synopsis via Goodreads:


HER LOVE HAS COME ALONG . . . 

Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she's looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she's tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won't make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn't let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can't deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it's up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

My thoughts:


At Last stays true to the awesomeness that is the Lucky Harbor series. Amy is lugging around loads of baggage that has left her a little damaged, kind of angry and very untrusting. Forest ranger Matt couldn’t be a better match. While he comes off laid back and collected, he has some secrets of his own. Together they each bring out the side of them they’re so eager to keep hidden from the world. 

The sexual tension in this installment was intense. Amy and Matt had the pages sizzling and the anticipation was killer! I couldn’t get enough of them together. I also loved finally discovering what Amy was hiding. I knew it was bad, but whoa. She is a strong, amazing character, and I just love her even more now. Watching as she learned to trust again with Matt was beautiful. Ranger Matt (or Ranger Hot Buns as he is known in Lucky Harbor) is crazy hot, and I was so ready for him to come clean with what happened in his past and led him to become a forest ranger in Lucky Harbor. His nurturing character was surprising and appreciated. The gorgeous ranger knows how to make a girl swoon.

The all around tone of At Last was a little more serious than the rest of the series, but it still featured plenty of the humorous dialogue I’ve come to expect from Jill Shalvis. It was great to catch up with all the residents of Lucky Harbor while Matt and Amy finally got their HEA.



My Rating:




Title: Forever and a Day
Series: Lucky Harbor #6
Available: July 31st
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis via Goodreads:

LOVE CAN HAPPEN IN A HEARTBEAT.

Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s loveable mutt to caring for his rambunctious kids. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad…

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family–until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day…

My thoughts:

Forever and a Day is without a doubt the novel I’ve been anticipating most in this series. Dr. Josh Scott had a story I was eager to get lost in. New to Lucky Harbor Grace was the perfect girl to help get the overworked, and seriously stressed, doctor to lighten up and realize the parts of his life that needed to change. I absolutely adored these two together and they have easily claimed the title of my most favorite Lucky Harbor couple. Then there were the moments shared between Grace and Josh’s sister and son. Melted my heart ♥ Grace is exactly what this stressed out family needed.

The chemistry between Josh and Grace was off the charts. This is what all contemporary romances should aim to be. If they did, I just might read this genre more often. Grace and Josh are both characters with so much compassion and heart, and just the right level of differences that cause them balance each other out perfectly. They’re just so amazing together!


Not sure if I can convey how much I loved, loved, loved this book, by far my favorite in the series. Jill Shalvis has created an amazing world. She writes the kind of stories that will cause you to forget to eat and sleep, and make you seriously consider calling in sick to work just so you don’t have to stop reading. If you haven’t checked out this series, please do (and soon!). I recommend starting from the beginning so you don’t miss a single happening in this crazy town, or any of its absolutely lovely characters. Please tell me the adventure doesn’t stop here!



My Rating:



Find Jill Shalvis on the web:


Friday, July 13, 2012

ARC Review: The Girl Is Trouble by Kathryn Miller Haines - Blog Tour



Title: The Girl Is Trouble
Series: Girl Is Murder #2
Author: Kathryn Miller Haines | Website
Available: Now
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Historical/Mystery
Source: ALA










Synopsis via Goodreads:


Iris Anderson and her father have finally come to an understanding. Iris is allowed to help out at her Pop's detective agency as long as she follows his rules and learns from his technique. But when Iris uncovers details about her mother's supposed suicide, suddenly Iris is thrown headfirst into her most intense and personal case yet.


My thoughts:


I was so excited to catch up with Iris again and get some answers to questions raised in book one, The Girl Is Murder. I felt the author really outdid herself with the mysteries this time around. This installment was packed with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. I was greatly impressed as Iris delved into the mysteries surrounding her mother's death and also tried to help figure out those responsible for leaving threatening notes in the lockers of Jewish students at school. Both plot lines complemented one another and made for one action packed page-turner.


I absolutely adore the 15-year-old detective who doesn't appreciate being called Nancy Drew by her peers. Over the course of this two book series she has grown so much. I've enjoyed experiencing this as well as watching the bond between her and her father strengthen. The series also houses an interesting cast of secondary characters, who each possess a very unique voice and bring a little something special to the novels. This is a must read for all mystery fans!


I've said it before, but I'll say it again. YA needs more historical fiction, and I'm glad to see that it is actually happening! Kathryn Miller Haines has created a series that really stands out among the paranormal and contemporary novels that seem to fill the shelves of bookstores. I really hope this isn't the last time we'll see Iris and the rest of the characters in this amazing series!


My Rating:




Thursday, July 5, 2012

Author Interview - Kathryn Miller Haines - Blog Tour


Please welcome Kathryn Miller Haines to the blog today!

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You write both adult and YA mysteries. Is there a specific book you credit for sparking your interest in the genre?

All of them? I can’t say there’s one mystery that I remember making me want to write mysteries, I just know I’ve always loved the genre and that it was something I wanted to learn to write. Books that don’t have a mystery as part of their plot always feel incomplete to me.

Why did you choose a historical setting for you series instead of modern day?

I really wanted to explore what it would be like to be a teen at that time. There are not a lot of books that allow you to experience that era at that age and I thought it must’ve been a fascinating time to be approaching adulthood.

I adore Iris! What (or who) is the inspiration behind her character?

I’m so glad you like her! I think Iris is an amalgam of Nancy Drew, Veronica Mars, and me and my friends at that age.

If you could travel back in time, where would you go and what would you do?

I would probably go back to world war II, to check my own accuracy, and see first hand the people and places I write about. I would also love to see my own family when they were young.

Best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Hard to pick just one, but I think the time my mom drove my sister and I from Texas to Canada, to Boston, then down to Florida to go to Disney World was pretty awesome and memorable (single mom + teenage sister + pre-teen me). There were a lot of missteps on that trip (roach infested hotels, etc.) but there also a tremendous amount of fun.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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The Girl Is Trouble releases July 3rd!
You can pick up the first book in this series, The Girl Is Murder, now!

Add The Girl Is Murder on Goodreads
Add The Girl Is Trouble on Goodreads

Kathryn Miller Haines on the web:


Don’t forget to visit all the stops on The Girl Is Trouble Blog Tour!