PLBR Book Reviews 2018 - ELLES BOOK BLOG

ELLES BOOK BLOG

KISS AND BREAK UP BY ELLA FIELDS

4/28/2019

Ella Fields is an absolute pro when it comes to writing new adult, angsty romances and it shows in this book! Kiss and Break Up is everything I was hoping it would be and I felt the push and pull of these two from the beginning.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: March 4, 2019
Genre: YA/NA romance
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 268 pages
Format:eBook. Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.

Dashiell Thane wasn’t a nice guy.
He was an abrasive, demanding, conniving, intolerable brat.
Yet somehow, we’d been best friends our whole lives.
Until our senior year when I finally decided to dip my toes into the dating pool.

All it took was one kiss for jealousy, lies, and betrayal to sweep in and propel us heart first into dizzying, hostile depths.

You’re not supposed to kiss your best friend.
You’re definitely not supposed to kiss your best friend while you’re dating someone else.
And the absolute worst thing you could do is fall for your best friend.
Unless, of course, you want to ruin everything.

ONE HUNDRED REASONS BY KELLY COLLINS

4/26/2019

One Hundred Reasons is a sweet, small town romance. This is the first book in a longer series of standalones and based on this one, I plan to read more books in the series!

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: The Aspen Cove series #1 (can stand alone)
Pages: 252 pages
Format: eBook. Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.

Fresh starts, hope, and happily ever afters…

Nurse Sage Nichols life changed when she lost her favorite patient and inherited a bed and breakfast in a town she didn’t know existed. She traveled to Aspen Cove intent to sell so she could hurry back to her life in Denver. Little did she know, she was about to find everything she ever needed in the tiny mountain town with a big heart. Sage found herself in a place where caring for your neighbor was a way of life. In her case, that happened to be surly Cannon Bishop, the man of her dreams.

Cannon Bishop was a man who learned long ago that hope was a dangerous thing. Closed off from the world after a family tragedy, Cannon lived a lonely life as the owner of Aspen Cove’s only bar and son to the town drunk. When Sage Nichols breezed into town, she offered the possibility of more if he’d only open his heart.

DEADLY VOWS BY JODY HOLFORD

4/25/2019

I just adore this cozy mystery series! Jody Holford can write in multiple genres (she writes romances too) and makes me smile no matter which one the book falls under. I recommend this one!

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: The Britton May mystery series #2
Pages: 220 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

Former Army brat Molly Owens is happily settling into her new life in the seaside town of Britton Bay—and into new her job as editor-in-chief of the local paper. But as tourists discover the desirable spot, the tide along the Oregon Coast is turning . . .

Britton Bay is buzzing with preparations for a wedding at the bed and breakfast where Molly rents a small carriage home. Molly is even helping out and plans to interview the rising star caterer—until the woman is found dead. And then the bride-to-be goes missing. To make matters worse, the venue is owned by Molly’s new boyfriend’s mother—and Molly was among the last people to see the victim alive. All of which makes solving the crime her top priority . . .

With the nuptials indefinitely on hold, Molly will have to sift through a sticky mix of suspects, including a rival caterer with a short fuse, a groom with an illicit secret, and a wedding party riddled with

BABY MINE BY KENNEDY FOX

4/24/2019

Baby Mine is an unexpected, emotional read and I loved it! I fell hard for this story and am eagerly awaiting the conclusion to Hunter and Lennon's story! That being said, this book is the first in a duet which must be read in order!

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: The Roommates Duet #1
Pages: 342 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

I saw her first.
Blonde. Gorgeous. Feisty.
I was smitten.

But it didn’t matter because she chose him and he was my best friend and roommate. I’d never be able to compete with that, so I pushed her away instead. It was easy when she lived hours away, and I didn’t have to see her every day, but then she moved in with us.
Now, I’m screwed.

To her singing in the shower every morning, dancing in the kitchen while she makes coffee, and doing yoga in our living room, I can’t stop thinking about her in all the wrong ways. She’s not mine and never will be, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to push her against a wall and claim her mouth.

THE MOTHER-IN-LAW BY SALLY HEPWORTH

4/23/2019

This is my first Sally Hepworth novel and it WON'T be my last! This is an amazing domestic drama/thriller. I was glued to the pages and didn't want to put this book down. I am so excited to read more books by the author- her stories remind me of Liane Moriarty's books.

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Genre: Domestic Drama
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 352 pages
Format:eBook. ARC.

Someone once told me that you have two families in your life - the one you are born into and the one you choose. Yes, you may get to choose your partner, but you don't choose your mother-in-law. The cackling mercenaries of fate determine it all.

From the moment Lucy met Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana is exquisitely polite, but Lucy knows, even after marrying Oliver, that they'll never have the closeness she'd been hoping for.

But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice, the matriarch of a loving family. Lucy had wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law.

That was ten years ago. Now, Diana has been found dead, leaving a suicide note. But the autopsy reveals evidence of suffocation. And everyone in the family is hiding something...

WHEN AUGUST ENDS BY PENELOPE WARD

4/20/2019

When August Ends is an age gap romance! Penelope Ward has brought these characters to life (as she always does) and made me swoon hard! While it may not have been my absolute favorite of all her books, it's still one I won't forget anytime soon!

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: February 25, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Age Gap)
Series: None. Complete Standalone.
Pages: 253 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

What do you do when a sexy, older man moves into your family’s summer rental?

Well, apparently, you make a fool of yourself—over and over. Things didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with Noah Cavallari. Our first encounter was embarrassing, to say the least.

But despite that, I found myself waking up every day with a newfound energy. Nothing exciting ever happened on the lake—not until Noah moved into the small boathouse on our property. He’d booked it for the entire summer…and I was still trying to figure out why.

When my mother became ill, I inherited the responsibility of making sure our guests were well taken care of. I should have been in college. Instead, I was living my best life…as a maid.

Dark, handsome, and mysterious, everything about Noah screamed forbidden.

THE CONSULTANT BY BENTLEY LITTLE

4/18/2019

The Consultant is an eerie and original horror novel from one of my favorite authors, Bentley Little. This man can turn the most mundane concepts into something terrifying!

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: September 23, 2016
Genre: Horror
Series: None. Complete Standalone.
Pages: 477 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

CompWare is in serious trouble after a promised merger falls through, so they do what other businesses have done to bolster their public image: they hire a consulting firm to review and streamline their business practices.

But there's something strange about the firm they hire--more specifically, the quirky gentleman who arrives to supervise the project: Mr. Patoff, tall and thin and wearing a bow tie, and with an odd smile that never quite reaches his eyes.

In his first interactions, the consultant asks a few inappropriate questions, and generally seems a nuisance. Over time, Patoff gains more power, to the point where he seems to be running the whole company. He enacts arbitrary and invasive changes to office protocol. He places cameras all over the building, making workers paranoid; he calls employees at all hours of the night, visits some of their homes and menaces their families.

BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND BY HEATHER GUDENKAUF

4/16/2019

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time! Heather Gudenkauf slayed this book and I couldn't stop reading until the very end. I highly recommend it.

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: April 16, 2019
Genre: Thriller and Suspense.
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 368 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

A gripping thriller about three young girlfriends, a dark obsession and a chilling crime that shakes up a quiet Iowa town, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence.

For twelve-year-old Cora Landry and her friends Violet and Jordyn, it was supposed to be an ordinary sleepover—movies and Ouija and talking about boys. But when they decide to sneak out to go to the abandoned rail yard on the outskirts of town, little do they know that their innocent games will have dangerous consequences.

Later that night, Cora Landry is discovered on the tracks, bloody and clinging to life, her friends nowhere to be found. Soon their small rural town is thrust into a maelstrom. Who would want to hurt a young girl like Cora—and why? In an investigation that leaves no stone unturned, everyone is a suspect and no one can be trusted—not even those closest to Cora.

THE SILVER CAGE BY ANONYMOUS

4/14/2019

The Silver Cage is an emotional MM romance novel. This book does NOT have an HEA so if that's what you need in a romance, you will not get it here. Instead, you will be an emotional wreck.

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: January 23, 2018
Genre: MM Romance
Series: The Silver Cage #1 (can stand alone)
Pages: 218 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

A bitter, mysterious author. A young and naive journalist. A tragic past, a dark secret, and an unforgettable tale of passion and love.

WARNING: The Silver Cage is intended for mature readers; it contains graphic sensuality and strong themes including suicide, sexual identity, and self-harm.

---
Anonymous is a pseudonymous international bestseller. The Silver Cord, a companion novel to The Silver Cage, will be released in the first half of 2018.

DEATH BY COMMITTEE BY ALEXIS MORGAN

4/12/2019

Death by Committee is the first book in a brand new cozy mystery series by Alexis Morgan and I loved it! This book has a crime, great characters, and revolves around quilting!

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Abby McCree Mystery #1
Pages: 304 pages
Format: Paperback. Purchased.

When Abby McCree suddenly inherits her favorite relative's property in small town Snowberry Creek, Washington, she soon realizes that the ramshackle home comes with strings attached--one of which is tied to a dead body!

After a rough divorce, Abby McCree only wants to stitch up her life and move on. But other loose ends appear after her elderly Aunt Sybil passes away, leaving Abby to tend to a rundown estate, complete with a slobbery Mastiff of questionable pedigree and a sexy tenant who growls more than the dog. As Abby gets drawn into a tight-knit quilting guild, she makes a twisted discovery--Aunt Sybil's only known rival is buried in her backyard!

Despite what local detectives say, Abby refuses to accept that her beloved aunt had anything to do with the murder. While navigating a busy social calendar and rediscovering the art of quilting, she launches an investigation of her own to clear Aunt Sybil's name and catch the true culprit. The incriminating clues roll in, yet Abby can't help but wonder--can she survive her new responsibilities in

THE STILLWATER GIRLS BY MINKA KENT

4/9/2019

The Stillwater Girls is an excellent domestic drama/thriller that I devoured in one day! I was so invested in this book that I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it!

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: Domestic Drama/Thriller
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 256 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

Two sisters raised in fear are about to find out why in a chilling novel of psychological suspense from the author of The Thinnest Air.

Ignorant of civilization and cautioned against its evils, nineteen-year-old Wren and her two sisters, Sage and Evie, were raised in off-the-grid isolation in a primitive cabin in upstate New York. When the youngest grows gravely ill, their mother leaves with the child to get help from a nearby town. And they never return.

As months pass, hope vanishes. Supplies are low. Livestock are dying. A brutal winter is bearing down. Then comes the stranger. He claims to be looking for the girls’ mother, and he’s not leaving without them.

To escape, Wren and her sister must break the rule they’ve grown up with: never go beyond the forest.

TACET A MORTUIS BY AMO JONES

4/6/2019

Darkly irresistible! Tacet a Mortuis is the 3rd book in the Elite Kings series which is a dark YA romance series. All the books must be read in order! I recommend it to those who like a gritty read.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: May 14, 2018
Genre: Dark YA Romance
Series: The Elite Kings Club #3
Pages: 302 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

Hail to the king, and watch him reign, this game was somewhat fun, until the finale came…

Now we’re here, with carnage and despair, and the only questions left to answer, are the ones that do not appear...

A king loses a war, and a swan sheds her wings, chaos collides with peace, as the crows begin to sing…

Enter if you dare, because I swear the end is near, but nothing is as it seems, and everything is so bare.

So what the f*ck is going on at Riverside,
I think, I think... everyone is about to die....

READY TO FALL BY DAISY PRESCOTT

4/4/2019

Ready to Fall is the first book in the Wingmen series! It's a small town romance with a really cute love story. I'm excited to see what the next books have to offer!

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: December 14, 2013
Genre: Romantic Comedy.
Series: The Wingmen series #1 (can stand alone)
Pages: 274 pages
Format: Paperback. Purchased.

Tall, dark, and handsome is an understatement when it comes to John Day. With rugged good looks, his ever present plaid shirt, and a dog named Babe, John is a modern alpha male lumberjack.

After his favorite neighbor rents out her beach cabin for the winter, John finds himself playing tour guide to Diane Watson, a beautiful brunette with her own messy past and recent battle scars.

Will he be ready to fall in love? Or will he go back to his old, flirty ways?

Hold onto your heart as John Day tells his story in this male POV contemporary adult romance/romantic comedy.

Ready to Fall is the first novel in the Wingmen series of standalone, lighthearted small town romances set in the Pacific Northwest. Each book can be read without having read the previous titles.

THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW BY TRACEY GARVIS GRAVES

4/2/2019

The Girl He Used to Know is a timeless tale of second chances and embracing who we are. This is an emotional novel as well, one that is certain to tug on any heartstrings.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: April 2, 2019
Genre: Second Chance Romance.
Series: None. Complete Standalone.
Pages: 304 pages
Format: Paperback. ARC.

New York Times bestselling author of On the Island, Tracey Garvis Graves, presents the compelling, hopelessly romantic novel of unconditional love.

Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people's behavior confusing, she'd rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess.

Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game—and his heart—to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that

MURDER LO MEIN BY VIVIEN CHIEN

4/2/2019

I absolutely ADORE this series. First, I am a fan of Chinese food like no other. Second, the author adds an amazing amount of cultural knowledge and makes you feel like you are a part of the overall story. Third, the characters are delightful! I highly recommend this book and the series as a whole.

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: March 26, 2019
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: The Noodle Shop Mystery series #3 (series link)
Pages: 304 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

The third in a tasty series, Murder Lo Mein by Vivien Chien is a delight!

Everyone agrees that the food at Ho-Lee Noodle House is delicious—unless it happens to be deadly.

Lana Lee’s stake in her family’s Chinese restaurant is higher than ever now that she’s been made manager. So when she enters Ho-Lee into Cleveland’s Best Noodle Contest, Lana makes it her business to win—at all costs. But when a local food critic receives a threatening note in a fortune cookie and is later found dead, face-down in a bowl of lo mein, all bets are off. . .

Now, along with her sweet-and-sour boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau, Lana decides to take matters into her own hands and dig into the lives of everyone involved in the contest. But when she receives an ill-fated fortune, Lana realizes that in order to save the reputation of her restaurant, she needs to save herself first.

FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM (OR CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW)

Tweets by ellesbookblog

COPYRIGHT
All content on this blog was created by Elle's Blook Blog, unless otherwise stated. Reproduction, duplication and/or republication without written permission are prohibited, with the exception of authors and publishers who may use parts of reviews for quotations where full and clear credit is given to this blog.

DISCLOSURE
All books reviewed on this blog are personally purchased or received from authors or publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. I do not receive any payment for any book reviews. This blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.

Copyright © 2015-2020 · ELLE'S BOOK BLOG