PLBR Book Reviews 2018 - Elles Book Blog

Elles Book Blog

THE BIRTHDAY LIST BY DEVNEY PERRY

3/30/2018

The Birthday List is a stunning novel about finding love again after tragedy. I feel hard for this book FAST and couldn't recommend it more to fellow readers.

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Genre: Small Town Romance. Emotional.
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 402 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

Happily married to her college sweetheart, Poppy lived a blessed life with the husband of her dreams. Then everything changed. She is no longer a wife. She is no longer the envy of her single friends. Now, people look at her with pity as they whisper a single word behind her back.

Widow.

Years after her husband’s tragic death, years of pain and sorrow and wishing for the life she’ll never get back, Poppy decides to finish Jamie’s birthday list. She’ll do the things he wanted to most. Because maybe, just maybe, if she can complete his list, she can start to live again.

Poppy expects going through the birthday list will be hard.

DEATH BY DUMPLING BY VIVIEN CHIEN

3/27/2018

I loved Vivien Chien's debut cozy mystery, Death by Dumpling! This book not only has a great sleuth and mystery but also hits all the cultural marks I was looking for. I highly recommend this one.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: March 27, 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Noodle Shop Mystery series #1
Pages: 352
Format: eBook. ARC.

Welcome to the Ho-Lee Noodle House, where the Chinese food is to die for. . .

The last place Lana Lee thought she would ever end up is back at her family’s restaurant. But after a brutal break-up and a dramatic workplace walk-out, she figures that helping wait tables is her best option for putting her life back together. Even if that means having to put up with her mother, who is dead-set on finding her a husband.

Lana’s love life soon becomes yesterday’s news once the restaurant’s property manager, Mr. Feng, turns up dead—after a delivery of shrimp dumplings from Ho-Lee. But how could this have happened when everyone on staff knew about Mr. Feng’s severe, life-threatening shellfish allergy? Now, with the whole restaurant under suspicion for murder

WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW BY KANDI STEINER

3/24/2018

I want to ugly cry after reading this book! It took me on an emotional roller-coaster and I can't get off it until the next book releases! AGGGHHH!!!!

Rating:★★★★
Release Date: March 13, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance. Emotional.
Page Number: 234 pages.
Series: What He Doesn't Know Duet #1
Format: eBook. Kindle Unlimited.

On the northeast side of town, there is a house.

The house was once magical, filled with love and joy and plans for the future.

Inside its walls are many things that belong to me — my books, the china from my mother on my wedding day, the beautiful cage once home to two birds, now empty, just like me.

And a man.

A man who also belongs to me.

A man I no longer wish to keep.

A man who, no doubt, has not slept, though the sun is rising.

TOAD BY CAMBRIA HEBERT

3/23/2018

Fans of new adult romances with musicians, this is a must read for you! I loved reading about Aerie and Nate and can't wait for more books in the series.

Rating:★★★★
Release Date: January 29, 2018
Genre: New Adult Romance.
Page Number: 322 pages.
Series: Public Enemies series. Standalone.
Format: eBook. Kindle Unlimited.

Aerie Boone is a toad.
At least according to every news outlet and online hater imaginable.

Accusations of lip-syncing.
Rumors of being dropped by my label.
Reports of celebrity feuds and rivalries.
And then there's my personal favorite...
The pending annulment of a marriage I can't even remember agreeing to.
When you're the sweetheart of country music, being a headline is a given.
Living the headline is more of an uninvited surprise.
I'm barely recognized for the massive success I've had.
Now I'm famous because people love to hate me.
I'm a public enemy, but no one knows my side of the story.
I'm beginning to think it doesn't even matter.

THE COLOR OF LOVE BY SHARON SALA

3/20/2018

This is one of the best small town romances I have ever read. In fact, I loved it so much that I went out and purchased the previous books in paperback!

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Genre: Small Town Romance. Standalone.
Series: Blessings, Georgia #5
Pages: 320 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

He might be winning her heart before she even knows who he is...

Welcome to Blessings, Georgia, the small town with a big heart! Anyone from a small town can tell you that gossip never stays quiet for long. The biggest news lately is Ruby Dye: she's been receiving gifts from a secret admirer. But Ruby isn't sure she can trust this newfound happiness. Nobody knows the dark secrets she keeps about her life before she arrived in Blessings. Is this the beginning of a would-be romance, or is she the target of something more sinister?

Everyone admires Ruby and her determination to do the right thing, especially local lawyer "Peanut" Butterman. He's finally ready to tell her how he feels. But when trouble arrives on Ruby's doorstep and their little town is

THE WIFE BY ALAFAIR BURKE

3/18/2018

The Wife is a multilayered domestic thriller. I found myself both obsessively reading this one while I had it in my hands BUT not feeling the desire to pick it up at any chance I could get.

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: January 23, 2018
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover. Purchased.

His Scandal
Her Secret
From New York Times bestselling author Alafair Burke, a stunning domestic thriller in the vein of Behind Closed Doors and The Woman in Cabin 10—in which a woman must make the impossible choice between defending her husband and saving herself.

When Angela met Jason Powell while catering a dinner party in East Hampton, she assumed their romance would be a short-lived fling, like so many relationships between locals and summer visitors. To her surprise, Jason, a brilliant economics professor at NYU, had other plans, and they

MUMS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN BY LUCIE WHEELER

3/16/2018

This is one of those books that you cannot help but to fall in love with. If you're a fan of chick lit novels that tackle real life issues, I highly recommend this one.

Rating:★★★★
Release Date: March 16, 2018
Genre: Chick Lit
Page Number: 300 pages.
Series: None. Standalone.
Format: eBook. ARC.

Meet Nancy…

Single mum Nancy will do anything for her little boy. Jack’s autism makes life difficult at times, but she’s determined to ensure he lives the best life possible. So, when her best friend Harriet suggests a holiday to Ibiza, Nancy is torn: will Jack cope with the change in routine…will she?

And Harriet…

Workaholic mum Harriet convinces Nancy it’s the break they all need. A chance to have some fun with the kids, away from the stresses of normal life. And she’s determined to switch off her laptop, ignore her inbox, and just have fun with her kids for seven whole days…

CRACKED KINGDOM BY ERIN WATT

3/13/2018

I found myself slightly disappointed in Cracked Kingdom. I was looking for a bit more love and emotion but instead got a lot of weird moments that didn't fit.

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: March 1, 2018
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Series: The Royals series #5
Pages: 305
Format: eBook. Purchased.

These Royals will ruin you.

Ever since Hartley Wright met Easton Royal, her life hasn’t been the same. There are enemies behind every corner and dangers beyond each door. When tragedy strikes and steals her memories, she can’t trust anyone, not even the blue-eyed boy who promises her that everything will be all right.

Because while Hartley’s memory is full of gaps, her instincts tell her Easton is dangerous. She doesn’t know if he’s the snake in the garden or her chance at salvation. The chaos he brings wherever he goes is too much to handle, the intense feelings he evokes are too confusing to unravel.

TWO WEDDING CRASHERS BY MEGHAN QUINN

3/11/2018

Meghan Quinn slayed this book! I have been team rebel since reading Three Blind dates and am happy to say that I am STILL team rebel. This book is AMAZING!!

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: March 11, 2018
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Series: Dating by the Numbers #2
Pages: Around 350
Format: eBook. ARC.

I don’t know what love is anymore.

Well, that’s not entirely true, but I’m going to tell you a little secret: I’ve lost the spark.

You know the kind of spark I’m talking about?

Where butterflies take flight in your stomach from two hands innocently colliding. Or catching your breath when you first meet someone attractive. Yeah, that spark.

Except I haven't felt that feeling in forever; there is nothing left inside of me.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem--but I’m a writer on a serious deadline, and my editor is breathing down my neck

BEST DAY EVER BY KAIRA ROUDA

3/10/2018

This book was not my cup of tea. It was severely lacking in character and plot development and I felt bored reading it. The only good thing is that it was a shorter read.

Rating: ★
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Genre: Domestic Thriller.
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 342
Format: eBook. Purchased.

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE IS THE PERFECT ILLUSION.

Paul Strom has the perfect life: a glittering career as an advertising executive, a beautiful wife, two healthy boys and a big house in a wealthy suburb. And he’s the perfect husband: breadwinner, protector, provider. That’s why he’s planned a romantic weekend for his wife, Mia, at their lake house, just the two of them. And he’s promised today will be the best day ever.

But as Paul and Mia drive out of the city and toward the countryside, a spike of tension begins to wedge itself between them and doubts start to arise. How much do they trust each other? And how perfect is their marriage, or any marriage, really?

FOREVER MY GIRL BY HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN

3/8/2018

This book lived up to the hype. I can see why so many readers fell hopelessly in love with it because I did too. I highly recommend Forever My Girl.

Rating:★★★★
Release Date: December 27, 2012
Genre: Second Chance Romance
Series: The Beaumont series #1
Format: eBook. Purchased.

I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.

TAP THAT BY R.C. BOLDT AND JENNIFER BLACKWOOD

3/6/2018

If you're in the mood for a sexy romantic comedy then you are going to want to grab a copy of Tap That! This is a fun and lighthearted read and many are going to fall head over heels in love with it.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 242 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

The beer's not the only thing getting tapped.

Reid
I have a problem. A doe-eyed brunette in the form of my new co-worker. She’s taken my promotion and I intend to do everything in my power to get it back. To prove I’m the man for the job.

Nobody warned me that one night with her would change everything.

Callie
The rules are simple. Complete two months of training at my new job at On Tap Brewery and I’ll keep my manager position. Fail, and I’ll have to crawl back to my parents and die a slow and painful death at a desk job.

THE COACHING HOURS BY SARA NEY

3/6/2018

The Coaching Hours is the fourth and final book in the How to Date a Douchebag series. While I didn't really care about this one, I did find some parts to be hilarious.

Rating: ★★
Release Date: February 5, 2018
Genre: New Adult. College Romance.
Series: How to Date a Douchebag series #4
Pages: 300
Format: eBook. Kindle Unlimited.

THERE ARE NO DOUCHEBAGS IN THIS STORY.

Well, there are, but they’re not who this story is about.
This story is about me—the coach’s daughter.

When I moved to Iowa to live with my dad, the university's take-no-prisoners wrestling coach, I thought transferring would be easy as pie—living with my father would be temporary, and he'd make sure his douchebag wrestlers left me alone.
Wrong on both counts.

ASSHOLES ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

A bet is placed, and I'm on the table. After one humiliating

HEART-SHAPED BOX BY JOE HILL

3/5/2018

This is one of the most original horror novels I have ever read and it creeped me out completely. I very much recommend this book and anything by Joe Hill.

Rating:★★★★
Release Date: February 13, 2007
Genre: Horror
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 376
Format: Papaerback. Purchased.

Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre: a cookbook for cannibals . . . a used hangman's noose . . . a snuff film. An aging death-metal rock god, his taste for the unnatural is as widely known to his legions of fans as the notorious excesses of his youth. But nothing he possesses is as unlikely or as dreadful as his latest discovery, an item for sale on the Internet, a thing so terribly strange, Jude can't help but reach for his wallet.

I will "sell" my stepfather's ghost to the highest bidder. . . .

For a thousand dollars, Jude will become the proud owner of a dead man's suit, said to be haunted by a restless spirit. He isn't afraid. He has spent a lifetime coping with ghosts—of an abusive father, of the lovers he callously abandoned,

LAKE + MANNING BY JESSICA HAWKINS

3/5/2018

Lake + Manning is a great finale to a series that I fell immediately in love with. If you have read the series, this one is a must read for you!

Rating:★★★★
Release Date: February 13, 2018
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series: Something in the Way #4 (not a standalone)
Pages: 320
Format: eBook. Purchased.

The final book in the Something in the Way series, a love saga. This is NOT standalone. Series must be read in order.

Manning and I have what happily-ever-after is made of . . .
A home he built us on the unshakeable foundation we fought for.
A life of laughter carved out of heartache and betrayal.
A love story to stand the test of time.

But between a trust that can’t be broken, joy that can’t be bridled, and passion that would scorch the sun, the empty spaces are becoming more and more difficult to ignore . . .
Fears that keep Manning up at night as he slips from our bed.
Our complicated relationship with a man he respects and one I don't know how to forgive.
And a sprawling, beautiful home with one small room I'm

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