All posts by skyebjenner

The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid

Overview
Image result for book cover the hooker and the hermit

Title: The Hooker and the Hermit
Author: L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
Series: Rugby #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romanceSport
Dates read: 3rd – 5th February 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: SmartyPants Romance
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: It’s boring as fuck, but at least I’m trying.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

New York’s Finest
Blogging as The Socialmedialite
April 22
LADIES AND GENTS! I have an announcement!
You know that guy I featured on my blog a few months ago? The really, really hot Irish rugby player who plays the position of ‘hooker’ in the RLI (Rugby League International)? The one with the anger management issues, the body of a gladiator and the face of a movie star? The one with the questionable fashion choices leading me to ask whether he was the lovechild of a leprechaun and a hobbit? Ronan Fitzpatrick? Yeah, that guy.

Well, I have a confession to make…

THE HERMIT
Annie Catrel, social media expert extraordinaire at Davidson & Croft Media and clandestine celebrity blogger, can make anyone shine in the court of public opinion. She is the Socialmedialite, anonymous creator of New Yorks Finest and the internet’s darling. Virtual reality is Annie’s forte, but actually reality? not so much.

THE HOOKER
Ronan Fitzpatrick, aka the best hooker the world of rugby has seen in decades, despises the media – social or otherwise. The press has spun a web of lies depicting him as rugby’s wild and reckless bad boy. Suspended from his team, Ronan has come to Manhattan to escape the drama, lay low, fly under the radar. Only, Ronan isn’t easy to overlook, and he can’t escape the notice of the Socialmedialite…

THE PLAN
When Ronan is sent to Davidson & Croft Media to reshape his public image, he never expects to cross paths with shy but beautiful Annie, nor does he expect his fierce attraction to her. He couldn’t be happier when her boss suggest pairing them together.

What lengths will Annie take to keep her virtual identity concealed? And what happens when the hooker discovers who the hermit really is?

Thoughts

I did read the Rugby books a little bit out of order. Mostly because I was so excited to start them, that I received The Player and the Pixie before The Hooker and the Hermit, so sunk into that one instead. But, that meant that the instant this book arrived on my doorstep, I sunk myself right into it. And didn’t really come up for air until I’d turned that final page. Which may explain why I’m a bit behind in all of my adult responsible stuff at the moment…

Annie is the most heart-wrenching, yet beautiful lead female that I’ve read in a long time. She is so completely shut off from the world. I mean, I’ve had a lot of introverts filling up my shelves… but the level of her introversion? Stunning. And horrifying. I also don’t get the social media thing completely (although I do enjoy it a little), so I was completely perplexed about how she has such a strong online identity. Her past, her present, wow. They were seriously intense and made me want to reach through the pages of the book and hug her… tightly.

Since I read The Player and the Pixie first, I knew a little of Ronan’s history with Sean and Brona. But, meeting her in the flesh, so to speak, was so much more… painful. And kind of horrifying to be honest. I mean, I know that people like this exist… and there are hints of them in the many other books that I’ve read… but having to read about this character face to face (so to speak) was even more creepy. It made me constantly feel for Ronan and hope for his happily ever after with Annie. Plus, it made every moment that Annie runs away all that much more painful and tragic.

This is such a wonderful new-age kind of romance. It takes place with technology, twitter and social media front and centre. Something that I don’t see in a lot of romances. I love that it discusses media, and how we are judged for what we look like. And just many, many issues that are front and centre in our own daily lives. It makes it all that much easier to feel connected to and a little more in love with Ronan and Annie.

The Hooker and the Hermit is a fantastic novel and beginning of a series (if you’re not like me and getting WAY too excited). I fell head over heels in love with this story. Head over heels in love with the characters. And head over heels in love with this whole set up / series. Most definitely one of those unforgettable books that I’m going to be reading again and again in years to come.

<- More L.H. CoswayThe Player and the Pixie ->

Image source: Amazon

The Flyaway Bride by Langley Gray

Overview
Image result for book cover the flyaway bride langley gray

Title: The Flyaway Bride
Author: Langley Gray
Series: The Socialites #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 3rd February 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: ARC, eBook, Novel
Publisher: Langley Gray
Year: 2021
5th sentence, 74th page: Even from the base of the hike, the view was picturesque.

Synopsis

JoJo Ellison is a passionate free spirit who may have finally met her match in William Black, Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor. The former supermodel turned designer is viewed by most as a strong force and being in William’s shadow has slowly faded her spark. Her wedding day is looming, but so is a sinking feeling.

The morning of her nuptials, she finds herself in her wedding dress, on a plane to Italy, leaving William at the altar. The Flyaway Bride soon realizes that she can’t outrun the paparazzi and is whisked away on the back of a dusty orange moped by a handsome blast from her past.

Jonny Hall is a talented chef who was an up-and-coming name when he was unceremoniously banned from working in his native London due to a mix up with a notoriously nasty chef. Instead of working in a Michelin-starred restaurant, he finds himself banished to the hills of Tuscany teaching tourists how to make pasta.

Over time, Jonny and JoJo reacquaint themselves with one another while the beautiful Tuscan countryside works its healing magic on them both. JoJo’s passions are rekindled, lighting an unexpected fire in Jonny’s own life.

But will it be enough for JoJo to come back from the mess she’s made for herself? Will Jonny find himself in the crossfire? Find out with this sweet contemporary rom-com.

Thoughts

I received this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I was blown away by how much I loved this ARC. I was expecting a fun journey, and I thought that I would enjoy it. But, from the moment I opened my Kobo, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the storyline. I couldn’t stop reading it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. And I just generally was grinning from ear to ear the whole way through.

JoJo is a great lead. She’s impulsive and free-spirited, and she’s been trapped in a relationship that has just swept her along to a place she doesn’t necessarily want to be in. The fact that she had the guts to leave a man at the altar because he isn’t right for her… well, she was just wonderful and fun. And the whole time she is fighting to gain her independence and be the free-spirit that she is.

I love that JoJo is able to find her independence and sense of self after being in such a controlling relationship. Even though this is a romance, and she does end up with the dreamy guy… much of the story is about being oneself. Finding those things in life that trigger your passions and happiness and grasping it with both hands. It’s a reminder that even when you find your happily ever after person (be it man, woman or other), you still get to be yourself. Be your own version of happily ever after that you may not entirely expect.

I’ve talked a lot about JoJo in this review. I do love her partner in this – Jonny. But, really, as always, this story is about the woman for me. The fact that it also features three amazing best friends who love her for who she is just makes everything that much better. But, you know… Jonny does cook. And the way to my heart is most certainly food. And books…

<- Falling Under LoveThe Peak of Love ->

Image source: Booksprout

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Overview
Image result for book cover matilda roald dahl

Title: Matilda
Author: Roald Dahl
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Book to Film, Children’s, Easy reading
Dates read: 23rd January – 2nd February 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin Books
Year: 1988
5th sentence, 74th page: I like it.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

‘We saw Miss Trunchbull grab a girl by the pigtails and throw her over the playground fence!’

Thoughts

Growing up, Matilda was always one of my favourite books. I mean, how could it not be? It’s about a girl that is different, a bit of an outcast and seriously smart. I saw a lot of myself in her when I was a kid. I’m not that smart or that much of an outsider, and I certainly can’t move things with my mind. But I still felt that love for the character. And, reading this as an adult… I can remember why I had all of those wonderful, positive feelings.

Matilda is a reminder that we all have power and individuality. That we should never take advantage of others and always be good. I love Miss Honey, and always wished that I had a teacher like that growing up. Plus, Matilda has an amazing best friend in Lavendar. And just generally great people on her side, once she starts school that is. Plus, even though this is written by a man… it involves strong females. With strong female relationships. Something that I think we all need in our lives.

This is one of those stories that is so ingrained into my childhood that I’m not entirely sure if I read the book or watched the movie first. But, I do know for certain that the whole time I was reading this, I was picturing Danny DeVito (I think that’s the actor) and hearing his voice whenever Matilda’s father was talking. It gave me even more nostalgia and a fondness for aspects of childhood that had kind of lain dormant and forgotten.

It’s always nice to know that you can revisit a beloved childhood tale and still enjoy it. I will definitely be picking Matilda up again and again. It was a fun, light and enjoyable journey. And there were moments in it that I didn’t notice as a child. Something that I love… when something from your childhood stands the test of time.

<- The Magic FingerThe Minpins ->

Image source: Dymocks

Night Spawn Bingo – March 2021

Duration: 1st March – 31st March 2021
Number of books: 9
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description

description

Welcome to Night Spawn BINGO. Each month a new BINGO game will be posted with new tasks to complete. Get three in a row (Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal) to receive your Vampire Heart.

Rules:
Complete three tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count
One book per task

Read 3 books that have one of the following Weapons on the cover (Must be in a Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal pattern).

Top Row:

Gun~ 
Knife~ 
Wand

Middle Row:

Fire~ Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
Magic~ Grave Witch by Kalayna Price
Fangs

Bottom Row:

Sword~ 
Bow & Arrow~ 
Staff

description

The Scribe in the Woods

Duration: 1st March – 31st March 2021
Number of books: 6
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
The Scribe in the Woods

Duration
March 1st – 31st

Rules
Complete at least 2 tasks to earn the heart
All genres welcome
No minimum page count
Rereads welcome
Must use a different book for each task

description

Dom-farcai fidbaide fál
fom-chain loíd luin, lúad nád cél;
h-úas mo lebrán, ind línech,
fom-chain trírech inna n-én.

Fomm-chain coí menn, medair mass,
hi m-brot glass de dingnaib doss.
Debrath! nom-Choimmdiu-coíma:
caín-scríbaimm fo roída ross.

Translation (view spoiler)

🍃 Read a book with green on the cover – Splintered Stars by Rachel Madbury
🍃 Read a book set partially in a forest or park – Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey
🍃 Read a book with wings in the story – Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
🍃 Read a book with a character who sings – Dr. Strange Beard by Penny Reid
🍃 Read a book with with god or goddess
🍃 Read a book with an author or journalist in the story – Lucky Child by Loung Ung

Funko Vamps – March 2021

Duration: 1st March – 31st March 2021
Number of books: 6
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
Funko Vamps
Collect a Funko Vamp each month by completing at least 2 tasks from a set of 6.
A new set of tasks with a new Funko Vamp will be posted each month.

The dolls you collect will be in your Vampire Heart thread. Don’t have a thread? You can still do the challenge if you want 🙂

Rules
Complete at least two tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count
One book per task

description

Read a book after dark – Splintered Stars by Rachel Madbury
Read a book where a character writes a letter/in a diaryMarry in Haste by Anne Gracie
Read a book with a stylish character – The Peak of Love by Langley Gray
Read a book with a vampire
Read a book with a shapeshifter
Read a book tagged historical or steampunkZlata’s Diary by Zlata Filipovic

Scottie

Duration: 1st March – 31st March 2021
Number of books: 10 (+ bonus)
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

march

⁍ Duration
Starts: March 1st
Ends: March 31st

⁍ How It Works
Ten books each month is a lot, so there will be 5 different levels. So pick which level you want to do and that’s how many items you will need to check off.

⁍ Levels :
Transitional – 2 books
Fledgling – 4 books
Vampire – 6 books
Master – 8 books
Vampire King or Queen – 10 books

22141467

1. March 2nd is Dr. Suess’s Birthday!
Read a book set in another world
Read a book with a silly character
Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

2. March 8th: International Women’s Day
Read a book by a female author
Read a book with a female protagonist
Marry in Haste by Anne Gracie

3. March 14th is National Pi Day
3.1415926… everyone’s favorite irrational number
Read a book with a circle on the cover
Read a book with an irrational character
Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

4. March 15th: Beware the Ides of March
Et Tu Brute?
Read a book where someone gets stabbed
Read a book where someone gets betrayed
Splintered Stars by Rachel Madbury

5. March 16 is Panda Day
Has characters that are opposites
Has a lazy character
Lucky Child by Loung Ung

6. March 17th Saint Patrick’s Day
Has green on the cover
Has a character who is considered lucky or a character who gets drunk
The Peak of Love by Langley Gray

7. March 20th: National Proposal Day
Will you marry me?
Read a book where a character proposes
Read a book where a character breaks or rejects a proposal
Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey

8. March 20th is also the spring equinox
Read a book set in spring
Read a book with flowers on the cover

9. March 28th is the full Worm moon
Named for the time of the year all of the earthworms appear
Read a book with letter of the title spelling out WORM
Read a book with something you find gross

10. March is National Caffeine Awareness Day
How much do you drink a day?
Read a book with coffee (or a similar drink) in it
Read a book with a character who doesn’t get enough sleep
Zlata’s Diary by Zlata Filipovic

Bonus: Spring Break!
Read a book where someone takes a trip or goes on a vacation
Read whatever book you want
Dr. Strange Beard by Penny Reid

22141467

Moonlight Serenade – March 2021

Duration: 1st March – 31st March 2021
Number of books: 6
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
Moonlight Serenade

Duration: March 1 – 31

Rules
Complete at least two tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count

M

1. Listen to a book with a night sky on the cover – Grave Witch by Kalayna Price
2. Listen to a book where someone is holding hands on the cover
3. Listen to a book with a green on the cover
4. Listen to a book you didn’t have to pay for – Splintered Stars by Rachel Madbury
5. Listen to a book that has a mystery as part of the plot – The French Gift by Kirsty Manning
6. Listen to a book where the MC is from a different country than yours – Marry in Haste by Anne Gracie

Power and Corruption

Duration: 1st March – 31st March 2021
Number of books: 3
Hosted by: Bookworm Bitches

March 2021: Power and Corruption
Duration: 3/1/2021-3/31/2021

There are 3 tasks, you only need to read three books to finish this challenge. Or pick one task and read 3 books for that one task.

1. Read a book dealing with a powerful female – Splintered Stars by Rachel Madbury
2. Read a book that deals with a corrupt nation – Lucky Child by Loung Ung
3. Read a book with a marginalized main character (LGBT+, Person of Color, disability representation, etc.) – Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey (POC)

Rules
~Books must be read during the selected time period.
~Post the date you finished the book.
~All books read for challenges can be used for more than one challenge.
~Books can be either Fiction or Non Fiction. Your choice.
~At the end of the challenge, it will be closed for commenting and moved to the archives folder
~Use the add book/author tool to tag your book within your challenge.

Crafts Scavenger Challenge

Duration: 1st March – 31st March 2021
Number of books: 10
Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection

NATIONAL CRAFT MONTH
DURATION : March 1 – 31, 2021

March is National Craft Month — although some of us do “crafty stuff” every month, not just in March 🙂 If you’re still stuck at home and are on the brink of losing your mind, why not try one of these crafts? You never know what you might create!

NOTE : To complete the challenge, complete one task from your choice of SEVEN of the following crafts. You must choose your seven crafts when you sign up for the challenge.

CHALLENGE RULES :
See this thread for more detailed rules for all CCC challenges.
PLEASE NOTE : When we ask for an item shown prominently on the cover, we should be able to see the item in the thumbnail, without having to click through to the book’s page.

♦ If you want to participate in this challenge, please sign up by posting the seven crafts you’ve chosen. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses.

♦ Unless otherwise noted, books must be at least 150 pages long. (See the link above for rules regarding graphic novels. Please remember that ONLY graphic novels can be combined.) Books may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged 🙂 Re-reads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book. You must read at least half of the book AFTER the challenge begins in order to count it for CCC challenges. If you listen to an audiobook, please be sure that the link you post indicates a page count for the book, even if that means linking to an edition different from the one you listened to.

♦ If you use books that are in a language other than English, please translate those titles into English (even if there is no English title here on GR).

♦ For each book you read, please post a link to the title, and indicate the author and the date you finished reading it. If a challenge task gives several options, please make it clear which option you’ve chosen. If the task calls for an item on the cover or specific author initials or name/s, you must include a link to the book cover and/or author’s name, respectively. To avoid spoiling a book for other readers, please use spoiler tags when explaining your book choices.*
    * For help with posting spoiler tags, see this post: Spoiler tags
    * If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions here: Add a link to the book title, book cover and/or author

♦ When you complete the challenge, please copy and paste your entire list as a new message at the end of the challenge thread. If you do this while you still have the Edit window open, it will copy all of your links and formatting. If you don’t repost your list, with appropriate links, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge. Please do NOT simply post a link back to your original post.

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1. CANDLE/SOAP MAKING
* Read a book that doesn’t fit the usual “mold” for its main genre; using spoiler tags, briefly explain OR a book with verb in its title that ends in INGThe French Gift by Kirsty Manning (not the typical historical fiction read for me)

2. EMBROIDERY
* Read a book with a one-word title (ALL words count!) OR a book with a character who is a grandmother; tell us who – Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews (Catalina’s grandmother)

3. JEWELRY-MAKING
* Read a book with some sort of jewelry piece on the cover; post the cover OR a book with a sandwiched letter in the title (like jeWelry) – Zlata’s Diary by Zlata Filipovic

4. KNITTING/CROCHETING
* Read a book with a long, thin object (think knitting needles) shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book set in winter (December, January or February); tell us when – The Peak of Love by Langley Gray

5. PAPER CRAFTS
* Read a book in which some sort of card-giving occasion occurs (wedding, birthday, etc.); tell us the occasion OR a traditional print book (no ebooks or audiobooks, please) – Marry in Haste by Anne Gracie

6. POTTERY
* Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in POTTERY; post a link to the author’s GR page OR a book with a word in its title that ENDS in Y – Lucky Child by Loung Ung

7. QUILTING
* Read a book with a quilt or pillow shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book whose title starts with Q (disregard A, An and The)

8. STAINED GLASS
* Read a book with a main character who earns a living working with their hands; tell us the career OR a book with a window shown prominently on the cover; post the cover – Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey

9. WEAVING
* Read a book with a basket or other woven container shown prominently on the cover; post the cover OR a book in which a character “weaves” together a story of some kind; using spoiler tags, briefly explain – Dr. Strange Beard by Penny Reid (Rosco and his “weaving” of memories)

10. WOODWORKING
* Read a book with double vowels in its title or author name (wOOd, bEEs); post a link to the author’s GR page if using that option OR a book with a character who earns a living by remodeling or renovating homes; tell us who – Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey