PLBR Book Reviews 2018 - ELLES BOOK BLOG

ELLES BOOK BLOG

MIDNIGHT SNACKS ARE MURDER BY LIBBY KLEIN

7/31/2018

This is an absolutely hilarious series of cozy mysteries. It's one of my top favorite cozy series ever and I am always on the hunt for the next installment. If you are a fan of the genre, this series is a must read. They don't disappoint.

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: July 31, 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Poppy McAllister mystery #2
Pages: 304 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

When her sleepwalking aunt is accused of committing murder, Poppy McAllister finds out there's no rest for the weary . . .

Between trying to get her gluten-free baking business off the ground and helping her aunt remodel her old Victorian into the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast in Cape May, New Jersey, Poppy is ready to call, “Mayday!” And now Aunt Ginny—who's a handful wide-awake—is sleepwalking on her new sleeping pill prescription and helping herself to neighbors’ snacks and knickknacks.

Even more alarming, a local humanitarian who worked with troubled teens is found murdered, and the police suspect the “Snack Bandit.” Other than a bad case of midnight munchies and some mild knickknack kleptomania, Aunt Ginny is harmless. Someone’s trying to frame her. Poppy will need to work tirelessly to uncover the killer and put the case to rest—before Aunt Ginny has to trade in her B & B for a bunk bed behind bars . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!

UNCONSCIOUS HEARTS BY HARPER SLOAN

7/30/2018

Harper Sloan proves with every written word that she can write the most fulfilling and possibly even perfect romances. I loved this book. Hard. And I highly recommend it to romance readers.

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: June 12, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Hearts of Vegas #1 (can stand alone)
Pages: 260 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

Ari Daniels didn’t count on her whole world tumbling down around her in a mess of shredded promises, broken love, and unbelievable heartbreak. Alone and stricken with grief, she shouldered the blame and eventually closed her heart off, refusing to open it for another. After all, anytime she tried, guilt and regret were waiting in the wings to remind her how painful it was.

A bet and one steamy night with a stranger force Ari to confront all she’s been hiding behind. She tries to move on, but he refuses to stand down, wanting what she is terrified to give—herself. This man may very well destroy her in the end, especially when it’s clear he has his own demons.

What happens when two broken souls come together, finally allowing themselves to believe in the beauty of love … only to have to fight harder than ever to keep it?

THE RUMOR BY ELIN HILDERBRAND

7/28/2018

This is a must have beach read for anyone who loves some gossip and a good scandal! I am now an instant fan of Elin Hilderbrand. I loved this book so much!

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Genre: Women's Fiction
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 367 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

A friendship is tested in this irresistible page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand.

Nantucket writer Madeline King could not have picked a worse time to have writer's block. Her deadline is looming, her bills are piling up, and inspiration is in short supply. Madeline's best friend Grace, is hard at work transforming her garden into the envy of the island with the help of a ruggedly handsome landscape architect. Before she realizes it, Grace is on the verge of a decision that will irrevocably change her life. Could Grace's crisis be Madeline's salvation? As the gossip escalates, and the summer's explosive events come to a head, Grace and Madeline try desperately to set the record straight--but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it.

THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD BY JENNIFER PROBST

7/26/2018

The Start of Something Good is sweet and charming. It actually reminds me of Hallmark movies! I think this is a fantastic start to a new series and am looking forward to the next one.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance.
Series: Stay #1 (can stand alone)
Pages: 310 pages
Format: eBook. Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.

An enriching story of family ties, broken hearts, and second chances from New York Timesbestselling author Jennifer Probst.

When Ethan Bishop returns to the Hudson Valley, his body and spirit are a little worse for wear. As a former Special Forces paratrooper, he saw his fair share of conflict, and he came home with wounds, inside and out. At his sisters’ B & B and farm, he can keep all his pain at a safe distance. But quiet time isn’t easy when a fiery woman explodes into his life…

It’s business—not pleasure—that brings Manhattan PR agent Mia Thrush reluctantly to the farm. Tightly wound and quick tempered, Mia clashes immediately with the brooding Ethan. Everything about him is irritating—from his lean muscles and piercing blue eyes to his scent of sweat and musk.

But as the summer unfolds and temperatures rise, Ethan and Mia discover how much they have in common: their guarded histories,

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT BY LIZ FENTON & LISA STEINKE

7/24/2018

A little bit slow and quite anticlimactic, but a good solid book if you're looking for something easy and interesting to read. I liked the book but there was something missing for me.

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: July 24, 2018
Genre: Mystery. Thriller. Suspense.
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 333 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

From the bestselling authors of The Good Widow comes a chilling novel of psychological suspense that will make you think twice about what your best friend may be hiding…

For estranged friends Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren, it’s time to heal the old wounds between them. Where better to repair those severed ties than on a girls’ getaway to the beautiful paradise of Tulum, Mexico? But even after they’re reunited, no one is being completely honest about the past or the secrets they’re hiding. When Ashley disappears on their girls’ night out, Natalie and Lauren have to try to piece together their hazy memories to figure out what could have happened to her, while also reconciling their feelings of guilt over their last moments together.

Was Ashley with the man she’d met only days before? Did she pack up and leave? Was she kidnapped? Or worse—could Natalie or Lauren have snapped under the weight of her own lies?

RISING BY JESSICA RUBEN

7/22/2018

Unfortunately, I didn't like this novel much. I went into it thinking it was a romance but there wasn't enough of it to feel like it fit into the genre. Now, even though I didn't like it much I am curious enough about the series to try book #2.

Rating: ★★
Release Date: May 1, 2018
Genre: New Adult. Romance?
Series: Vincent & Eve #1
Pages: 208 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

As the bus approaches my stop on the Lower East Side, I raise the hood of my black sweatshirt. Anonymity is key in my neighborhood—particularly as a lone female walking at night.

All I want is to leave my crime-ridden shadow of a home in New York City. I’ve done everything I can to keep my head down and focus on my studies. College is my only goal; love has never been on the map…
That is, until my sister brings me to an underground fight, where I meet a gorgeous and mysterious man: Vincent.

He is the ghost in my shadows, showing up to feed me pieces of his upper-crust life, then evaporating into darkness until his next visit. I’m falling hard and fast. How can I trust him amidst the depth of his secrets?

ALL YOUR PERFECTS BY COLLEEN HOOVER

7/21/2018

This book made me cry like a little baby! It's an emotional and raw read that will touch any readers hearts. All fans of the author and those who love everlasting romances need this book!

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: July 16, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance. Women's Fiction.
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 321 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us—whose writing is “emotionally wrenching and utterly original” (Sarah Shepard, New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series)—delivers a tour de force novel about a troubled marriage and the one old forgotten promise that might be able to save it.

Quinn and Graham’s perfect love is threatened by their imperfect marriage. The memories, mistakes, and secrets that they have built up over the years are now tearing them apart. The one thing that could save them might also be the very thing that pushes their marriage beyond the point of repair.

All Your Perfects is a profound novel about a damaged couple whose potential future hinges on promises made in the past. This is a heartbreaking page-turner that asks: Can a resounding love with a perfect beginning survive a lifetime between two imperfect people?

AFTER THE GAME BY ABBI GLINES

7/20/2018

Abbi Glines writes fantastic young adult romances. I always find myself looking forward to new releases in the Field Party series. I recommend this book and the entire series of standalones.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: August 22, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Romance.
Series: The Field Party series #3 (can stand alone)
Pages: 352 pages
Format: Paperback. Purchased.

Two years ago, Riley Young fled from Lawton, Alabama. After accusing the oldest Lawton son, Rhett, of rape, everyone called her a liar and she had no option but to leave. Now she’s back, but she’s not at Lawton High finishing up her senior year. She’s at home raising the little girl that no one believed was Rhett’s.

Rhett is off at college living the life he was afraid he’d lose with Riley’s accusation, so Riley agrees to move back to Lawton so she and her parents could take care of her grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. But the town still hasn’t forgotten their hate for her, and she hasn’t forgotten the way they turned on her when she needed them most.

When town golden boy Brady Higgens finds Riley and her daughter, Bryony, stranded on the side of the road in a storm, he pulls over and gives them a ride. Not because he cares about Riley, of course, but because of the kid.

BABY TEETH BY ZOJE STAGE

7/17/2018

Wow! This book is super creepy! If you enjoy books that are similar to The Omen or Bad Seed then this is the book for you! If you are looking for something different and haven't read either of the books just mentioned then I still recommend it!

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: July 17, 2018
Genre: Domestic Drama/Thriller. Horror.
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 320 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

Sweetness can be deceptive.

Meet Hanna.

She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of her. Ideally for good.

Meet Suzette.

She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette's husband remains blind to the failing

BITTERSWEET ALWAYS BY ELLA FIELDS

7/16/2018

Bittersweet Always is a fantastic addition to the series. I love how the author tackles mental health issues amongst college students. I very much recommend this book.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: May 4, 2018
Genre: New Adult, College Romance.
Series: Gray Springs University #2 (can stand alone)
Pages: 365 pages
Format: eBook. Borrowed through Kindle Unlimited.

From bestselling author Ella Fields comes an all new standalone. An emotional new adult romance that proves love is worth fighting your demons for.

Toby Hawthorne was an enigma.
One I didn’t factor into my college plans.

I wasn’t looking for love.
I wasn’t not looking for it either.
And in that state of in-between, he found me.

Unaware of the battle he fought everyday, I fell fast.
By the time I found out, it was too late.
Because I wanted everything.
Every broken, lost part of him.

HALE BY K. WEBSTER

7/14/2018

Warning: While extremely well written, this is a taboo romance between brother and sister. No step brother and sister, but two siblings who share the same DNA. This book won't be for everyone...

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: June 20, 2018
Genre: Taboo Romance.
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: About 320 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased (via the author's website)

Note this book is only available for purchase from K Webster's website, which can be found on the author's GR page.

Warning:
This book is an epic, emotional, raw love story…
between a brother and sister.
Many won’t be able to handle that.
But if I don’t tell their story, who else will?

**********************************

He’s my everything.
I would die without him.

A SOUFFLE OF SUSPICION BY DARYL WOOD GERBER

7/12/2018

This series is easily becoming a top favorite of mine! I gobbled it up and still want more! If you love culinary cozy mysteries, I recommend this one!

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: July 10, 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A French Bistro Mystery #2
Pages: 296 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

The buoyant mood at Bistro Rousseau deflates when Chef Camille’s sister, Renee, turns up dead in the chef’s kitchen, and Mimi Rousseau must tease the real killer out of a mélange of menacing characters.

Crush Week in Nouvelle Vie is a madhouse—in a good way. Tourists pour into town for the pressing of the Napa Valley’s world-renowned grapes and all the town’s businesses get a nice lift, including Bistro and Maison Rousseau. Mimi is raising the ante this year with a Sweet Treats Festival, a wonderland of croissants, cakes, tarts, and soufflés crafted with expert care by the area’s top talents.

Chef Camille’s sister Renee is managing the festival with a cast-iron fist, upsetting everyone, including her sister. Which

THE REAL DEAL BY LAUREN BLAKELY

7/10/2018

I fell in love with Lauren Blakely's new rom com! This book is filled with the most charming characters! And, it has a fake relationship romance. A total hit!

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: July 10, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance. Rom Com.
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 337 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

Get ready for your next favorite romantic comedy, THE REAL DEAL!

April Hamilton wants you to know she hasn’t been on GigsforHire since that time she sold her futon after college. She doesn’t even spend that much time online. And even if she did, she would not be looking up personal ads. But going home alone for her family's summer reunion is an invitation for every single relative to butt into her personal life. She simply can’t handle another blind date with the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker from her hometown. So when she finds the GigsforHire ad for a boyfriend-for-hire, she’s ready to pay to play.

Heading Home and Need a Buffer? I’m the REAL DEAL.

HER PRETTY FACE BY ROBYN HARDING

7/8/2018

Boy, have I ever felt so sucked into a story-line! Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding is a brand new domestic drama releasing July 10th! I recommend this read!

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: July 10, 2018
Genre: Domestic Drama
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 352 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

The author of the bestselling novel The Party—lauded as “tense and riveting” by New York Timesbestselling author Megan Miranda--returns with a chilling new domestic drama about two women whose deep friendship is threatened by dark, long-buried secrets.

Frances Metcalfe is struggling to stay afloat.

A stay-at-home mom whose troubled son is her full-time job, she thought that the day he got accepted into the elite Forrester Academy would be the day she started living her life. Overweight, insecure, and lonely, she is desperate to fit into Forrester’s world. But after a disturbing incident at the school leads the other children and their families to ostracize the Metcalfes, she feels more alone than ever before.

BEACHES, BUNGALOWS, AND BURGLARIES BY TONYA KAPPES

7/5/2018

I absolutely LOVED this book! This is the first in an all new cozy mystery series from Tonya Kappes and everyone who loves cozy mysteries needs it!

Rating: ★★★★★
Release Date: May 25, 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Campers & Criminals mystery #1
Pages: 115 pages
Format: eBook. Kindle Unlimited

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. A Campers and Criminal Mystery Series is another brainchild of USA Today Bestselling Author Tonya Kappes. If you love her quirky southern characters and small town charm with a mystery to solve, you're going to love her new cozy mystery series!

Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars.

Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All

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