PLBR Book Reviews 2018 - ELLES BOOK BLOG

ELLES BOOK BLOG

THE PERFECT FATHER BY JOHN GLATT

7/18/2020

The Perfect Father is a horrific true crime account of the Christ Watts murder case. This book emotionally devastated me but I'm glad to have a better understanding of the case that has haunted millions of people around the world.

Rating: ★★★(.5)
Release Date: July 21, 2020
Genre: True Crime.
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 291 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

In The Perfect Father, New York Times bestselling author John Glatt reveals the true story of a Colorado family whose storybook life turned into a nightmare.

In the early morning hours of August 13th, 2018, Shanann Watts was dropped off at her Frederick, Colorado home by a colleague after returning from a business trip. It was the last time anyone would see her alive. By the next day, Shanann and her two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, had been reported missing, and her husband, Chris Watts, was appearing on the local news, pleading for his family's safe return.

But Chris Watts already knew that he would never see his family again. Less than 24 hours after his desperate plea, Watts made a shocking confession to police: he had strangled his pregnant wife to death and smothered their daughters, dumping their bodies at a

EMBER BY EMMA RENSHAW

4/24/2020

From Emma Renshaw, author of the Vow series, comes a new small town romance about a guilt-ridden man returning home, a single mom, and the past that scars them both

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: April 21, 2020
Genre: Small Town Romance with Suspenseful elements.
Series: Standalone.
Pages: 300 pages
Format: eBook. ARC

Ten years ago, I left Hawk Valley.

I never planned to return. Not to the regrets. The bitter memories. The guilt.

My baseball career gave me both the excuse and the money I needed to start over. Then my mom called, and I found myself headed back to the one place I swore I wouldn’t step foot again.

Meeting Delilah wasn’t part of the plan. Falling in love with her adorable son was even less so. And yet, what’s brewing between us is too intense to be denied. The unexpected passion is almost enough to distract us from the crumbling of both our worlds.

But even as the sparks fly, someone is waiting in the shadows to burn it all down.

MURDER CAN MESS UP YOUR MASTERPIECE BY ROSE PRESSEY

4/4/2020

Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece is the first book in the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series. If you enjoy paranormal cozies this one is a good book to try!

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: October 29, 2019
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: The Haunted Craft Fairy Mystery series #1
Pages: 288 pages
Format: Paperback. Purchased.

Haunted art is in the eye of the beholder . . .

Artist Celeste Cabot welcomes the chance to show her paintings at a craft fair in her hometown of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where she and her Chihuahua, Van Gogh, can park her vintage Shasta trailer and sell her creations, too.

Unfortunately, her sales take a hit when a customer returns a painting, claiming it’s haunted. When a fellow vendor discovers images hidden in Celeste’s artwork—and a ghost pays her a late-night visit—she’s shocked to realize she has psychic abilities. After the grumpy manager of the craft fair is found with a knife in his neck, Celeste’s brushes with the paranormal may help fill in the picture—and make sure the wrong person doesn’t get framed . . .

Praise for Rose Pressey and the Haunted Vintage Mysteries

BOURBON LOVE NOTES BY SHARI J. RYAN

3/8/2020

Bourbon Love Notes is the first book in a brand new series by Shari J. Ryan. This is an emotional book, much more emotional than I anticipated and a very slow burn in terms of romance.

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: January 13, 2020
Genre: Emotional Romance
Series: The Barrel House series #1 (can stand alone)
Pages: 305 pages
Format: eBook. Borrowed from KU.

In a split second, life can steal a last breath ... and derail all future plans.

While flying home after a phone call that left me heartbroken, a row to myself would have been ideal. Instead, I was unknowingly sitting shoulder to shoulder with a strikingly attractive single dad and ex-Marine. I could have pretended not to notice the man, but there was something familiar about him.

It didn’t take long before I pieced together where I knew him from or why he was back in my life.

With chaos holding me hostage, I wanted to hide but couldn’t avoid Brett Pearson, our old family friend, and my teenage crush, because he kindly offered to help out with my family’s business—The Barrel House.

Handling my father’s distillery would be a distraction from my

BROKEN MILES BY CLAIRE KINGSLEY

2/8/2020

Broken Miles is the first book in the Miles Family series. What I liked most about this one is that it is a second chance at marriage romance! I haven't read many of these and really am loving the trope. Not only that, I love the small town vibes.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: March 5, 2018
Genre: Small town romance. Second chance marriage.
Series: Miles Family series #1
Pages: 282 pages
Format: eBook. Borrowed with Kindle Unlimited.

“She was unraveling me, slowly but surely. I could feel it happening. Like she was gently unbuttoning the collar of a shirt that fit too tight.”

Single-minded drive earned Roland Miles success—and cost him his first love. When his marriage to Zoe ended, he did the only thing he knew. He dove into work to put his heartbreak behind him.

Zoe Sutton’s life hasn’t exactly gone to plan. She certainly didn’t plan on losing Roland or moving home to work for his family’s winery. Four years after their divorce, she wonders if her chance at happily ever after is behind her.

After discovering his family might lose their land, Roland comes home to help sort out the mess. But between his brothers’ antics, a baby sister who’s all grown up, and a father keeping secrets, complicated isn’t even the half of it.

NO REGRETS BY AIMEE NOALANE

1/18/2020

No Regrets is the first book in the No Regrets trilogy. This series must be read in order and you start with this one. It's a new adult, friends to lovers, emotional romance!

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: November 30, 2016
Genre: New Adult Romance.
Series: No Regrets series #1
Pages: 218 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

If life ever taught me anything, it's that nothing should be taken for granted.

One moment is all it takes to break a promise.

Friendship turns into love.

One second is all it takes to end a life.

Love twists into pain.

One distraction is all it takes to change your destiny.
Pain transforms into hate.

One moment.
One second.
One distraction.
Hate becomes all consuming.
I'm in love with my best friend, and that one second is about to change everything.

A LONGER FALL BY CHARLAINE HARRIS

1/12/2020

A Longer Fall is the second book in the Gunnie Rose series. This is an urban fantasy/alternate history novel. For the most part I liked this book. However, a lot of it dragged despite the action.

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: January 14, 2020
Genre: Urban Fantasy. Alternate History.
Series: Gunnie Rose series #2
Pages: 304 pages
Format: Paperback. ARC.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris returns with the second of the Gunnie Rose series, in which Lizbeth is hired onto a new crew, transporting a crate into Dixie, the self-exiled southeast territory of the former United States. What the crate contains is something so powerful, that forces from across three territories want to possess it.

In this second thrilling installment of the Gunnie Rose series, Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew for a seemingly easy protection job, transporting a crate into Dixie, just about the last part of the former United States of America she wants to visit. But what seemed like a straight-forward job turns into a massacre as the crate is stolen. Up against a wall in Dixie, where social norms have stepped back into the last century, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate as what’s inside can spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time.

BAKING ME CRAZY BY KARLA SORENSEN

12/3/2019

While I really liked the idea of this book I have to admit that it fell a little short in some areas for me. That's not to say I didn't like it because I did, I just needed a little bit more.

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: October 8, 2019
Genre: Friends-to-Lovers Romance.
Series: Donner Bakery #1 (can stand alone).
Pages: 252 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

I'm Levi Buchanan, and until five years ago, I thought the legend of my family's curse was a load of crazy, Southern nonsense.

No curse can make you fall in love at first sight. No curse can force a true, deep, passionate, all-consuming love that will haunt you all the days of your life.

Then I met Jocelyn Abernathy and I realized how completely wrong I was.

The problem is, Jocelyn guards her feelings like well-armed soldier. She's the most beautiful, stubborn, infuriating woman I've ever met. Every time she talks, I want to kiss the living daylights out of her. But I can't.

Because when we met, she didn't need true love. She needed a best friend. And that's what I've been to her... for five years.

But when Jocelyn meets a handsome stranger her first day

WRITE YOU A LOVE SONG BY FABIOLA FRANCISCO

11/23/2019

I'll admit, I bought this book purely because I loved the cover. When I was scrolling through amazon it caught my eye and I immediately dove in. For the most part, I'm glad I did! However, there were a few things I felt were missing...

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: September 19, 2019
Genre: Country Music Romance
Series: Love in Everton #1 (can stand alone)
Pages: 269 pages
Format: eBook. Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.

What’s a girl to do after burning all of her no-good, cheating boyfriend’s belongings? Throw a dart at a map and start over in a new town.

I may be new to the small town of Everton, but I’m well aware that I now share a zip code with a celebrity. You’d have to be living under a rock to not know, Knox Bentley, one of country music’s biggest stars.

When Knox wanders into my bar— careful brown eyes and broody attitude—I can’t tear my gaze away. A cheating scandal fresh on his heels is just one reason I should stay far, far away, but the closer we get, the more I realize he’s not at all what I imagined.

But being a famous musician comes with unwanted attention...the kind that tears people apart, and now it's becoming too painful to stay by his side.
They say love is a choice, but so is leaving…

THE BEST MEDICINE BY CHARLOTTE FALLOWFIELD

10/9/2019

This is a really fun series. If you're looking for a good laugh you really can't go wrong with this one. This is the third book in the Dilbury Village series but can stand alone. The books are interconnected but each book focuses on new couples.

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: February 28, 2018
Genre: British Chick Lit. Romantic Comedy.
Series: Dilbury Village #3
Pages: 307 pages
Format: eBook. Kindle Unlimited.

She knows her way around risqué romances, but author, Charlie Faulkner, only dreams of starring in her own love story. Drowning her sorrows in takeaway pizza, she writes what she's never experienced.

When she does venture out of her writing cave, chaos and medical disasters follow. After a trip to the emergency room, the handsome and capable doctor ignites long-forgotten sparks of passion. Guy Fitton is the guy for her and exactly what the doctor ordered. The only problem is that he may just see her as a crazy, accident-prone woman … not the desirable temptress she craves to be.

Will Charlie get her "happily ever after" with the sexy doctor or is she destined to rely on the pizza delivery man for company?

While The Best Medicine is a standalone story, it's the third in the

WRITTEN WITH YOU BY ALY MARTINEZ

8/8/2019

Written with You is the second book in the Regret Duet by Aly Martinez. You must read Written with Regret prior to this one! I enjoyed both book as a whole but wish it was one book.

Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: June 13, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: The Regret Duet #2
Pages: 214 pages
Format: eBook. Borrowed with Kindle Unlimited.

When I was fifteen, a single bullet changed my life. I spent the next decade trying to outrun the devastation of my past, building an empire that would shield me from whatever life could throw at me.

But all the money in the world couldn’t help me when I found a screaming newborn abandoned on my doorstep.

I’d never wanted to be a father. Passing the sludge that ran through my veins down to an innocent child seemed like a tragedy. But there she was—pink cheeks, red hair, and mine.

Somehow, against all logic, that little girl became the best thing that ever happened to me. It was impossible to stay lost in the past when I was the only one who could protect her future.

Which is exactly why, when her mother came back four years later, I was ready for battle.

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.

TEQUILA TEQUILA BY EMMA HART

2/18/2019

Cute, fun, and quirky are the best words to describe Tequila, Tequila! If you are a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope this is a must read for you! I have been a huge fan of the authors books in the past and am always looking forward to her new releases!

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: November 13, 2018
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 192 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

TEQUILA + YOUR BEST FRIEND + YOUR BEDROOM = UM. WHOOPSIE?

Don't sleep with your best friend.
Take it from me. I did it. And it was awful.

I-wish-the-tequila-made-me-forget kind of bad.

The problem is, Luke has forgotten. He swears that he can't remember a thing about that night beyond the trays of tequila shots being set on the tables.

Except I can't forget. I can't forget how good his hands felt until I fell over and hit my hip on the dresser, and I sure as hell can't forget the entire two minutes of tap-tap-squirt.

Awkward. Embarrassing. And the new subject of a couple of dirty

99 PERCENT MINE BY SALLY THORNE

1/27/2019

Sally Thorne nails it with 99 Percent Mine and I know readers are going to go crazy for this one! If you enjoy friends-to-lovers romcoms, this is one book you don't want to miss!

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Genre: Friends-to-Lovers Romantic Comedy
Series: None. Standalone.
Pages: 348 pages
Format: eBook. ARC.

Readers and critics alike raved over USA Today bestselling author Sally Thorne’s smash hit debut, The Hating Game, which has sold in over 20 countries. Now she’s back with an unforgettable romantic comedy about a woman who finally has a shot at her long time crush—if she dares.

Crush (n.): a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach…

Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men. She’s travelled the world, and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that Darcy’s twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend. Despite Darcy’s best efforts, Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. That’s the problem with finding her dream man at age eight and peaking in her photography career at age

PERMISSION BY T.M. FRAZIER

1/22/2019

Meh. This is the final book in the Perversion series and while it's certainly action packed and thrilling I felt myself wishing the author made these two books into a duet.

Rating: ★★★
Release Date: December 11, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense. Dark Romance.
Series: The Perversion Trilogy #3
Pages: 300 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased.

Permission is the conclusion of Grim and Emma Jean's story.

He was my first.

But since then I’ve been programmed to enjoy torture.

Being watched.

Being taken two at a time.

I feel nothing now. I’m empty. Hollow. Lost.

He knows it. He knows I need more.

So, he gives it to me.

My body has never felt such pleasure.

My heart has never endured such pain

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