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Singing Librarian Books

Adult Blog

{Insta} Kiss (The Insta Series #3) by Jen Atkinson -- Review

7/31/2023

About the Book

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I’ve kissed a few guys. Okay, many, many guys. But on my terms. One kiss, that’s all they get. That’s the rule. And then I set them loose.

Bethany Barns has one goal—to hate Tate Wilhelm. It should be easy, considering he stole her job, and she now has to answer to him as the boss. Her plan to make his life utterly miserable is on track. Except for that little mistletoe incident at their work Christmas party, mission ruin Tate Wilhelm is in full swing. Besides, you can’t blame that kiss on Beth. She was stressed and sad, and there was mistletoe for heaven’s sake!

Tate may be new to Seattle but he isn’t new to the newspaper game. Sure, his last paper was a smaller one, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that he is a killer editor and an ideal boss. His employees love him. He knows them, their lives and circumstances; and they all love him for it. Well, 
all of his employees with one exception. Beth Barns cannot stand the sight of him. She kisses him—one magnificent kiss, by the way—and then she shows nothing but disdain for him. None of it makes sense.

Tate just needs to prove to Beth that they can be friends. She doesn’t need to be embarrassed about that mistletoe kiss, and he’ll be the best boss she’s ever had. That’s the plan. However, the plan doesn’t involve falling for the woman. But Tate can’t deny his attraction to Beth's witty humor. She's a beautiful, red-headed, ball of fire. Sure, he's going to get burned, but he still wants to try kissing those lips again.

Convincing Beth that they should be friends—let alone more—is proving difficult. But Tate isn’t giving up. She’ll see. It’ll all work out. That is if Beth will stop seething every time she looks his way.


A sweet & feisty RomCom with You've Got Mail vibes!
GOODREADS | AMAZON

Books in the Series

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...and coming October 2023...
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About the Author

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Jen Atkinson has been dreaming up love stories and writing them down since she learned her ABCs in elementary school. While Jen has written a variety of genres, from romantic suspense to laugh out loud romcoms, all of her novels contain three things: a love story, a happily ever after, and all are sweet, closed-door reads! If you want to feel all the feels and get a little light head from swooning over cinnamon roll heroes grab one of Jen's books.
When she isn't writing... or editing... or creating fun graphics about books to share online, Jen is dating her husband, hanging out with her children, and teaching elementary kids.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BLOG

Review

A job promotion gone awry and a haters to lovers' romance, this funny story is the perfect sweet holiday romance for any month of the year.  From the beginning, there is tension and fire between Tate and Bethany that could go either way--pure hatred or consuming romance.  From an accidental mistletoe kiss, to Tate stealing Beth’s promotion, the ongoing wit and banter in this story is fantastic.  This office, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance is one that readers will absolutely not want to miss. 

Series: Insta
Genre: contemporary, romance, romcom, chicklit
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: July 1, 2023 
Number of pages: 314

Tropes:
-office romance
-enemies to lovers
-slow burn romance
-reverse grumpy sunshine
-he falls first
-cinnamon roll MMC

Other books in the series:
1- {Insta} Boyfriend
2- {Insta} Connect

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

​

Jane Austen's Little Book of Wisdom: Words on Love, Life, Society, and Literature compiled by Andrea Kirk -- Review

7/19/2023

About the Book

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​The ultimate companion for the Jane Austen fan filled with her penetrating
insights and humor on life, love, and death.
Jane Austen is one of the most popular female writers in history, best known for her
stories of love, loss, and hope, which are cleverly intertwined with her witty insights into
the traits and expectations of English Georgian society.
 
Here, in this stunning little book, you will be able to read hundreds of individual quotes
from her famous works—from Pride and Prejudice and Emma to Persuasion and Sense
and Sensibility—each prompting an emotional response, thoughtful musing, or even a
little snigger at the wise and shrewd perceptions that Austen had of the world around
her.

 
Utterly charming and very profound, fans of Jane Austen can revel in these much-loved
quotes, while a new audience will be introduced to the joys that her books have
provided since their publication many years ago. With each chapter focusing on a
different theme—from Love & Longing to Female Strength—this gorgeous gift book is
the perfect compilation of Austen’s funny, moving, and thought-provoking words.
 
Content of themes:
❤️ Love & Longing
❤️ Friendship
❤️ Society
❤️ Female Strength
❤️ Life & Death
❤️ Faith
❤️ Art & Literature
GOODREADS | AMAZON

About Jane Austen & the Compiler

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which
interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th
century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the
pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security.

Andrea Kirk Assaf is an editor, journalist, and translator who divides her time between
Rome and Michigan.

Review

An absolutely delightful pocket book filled with charming and wonderful quotes from all of the Jane Austen Classics.  Readers will adore this fun little book filled with witty and humorous quotes from various Austenite novels, as well as thoughts from her own life.  The book is sorted in sections with different themes, creating a devotional book feel that readers will enjoy, especially with the journal section at the back of the book.  This is a wonderful book that all readers of Austen will want for their bookshelf

Genre: nonfiction; classic 
Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing
Publication date: March 1, 2023
Number of pages: 386

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.​
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Rocky Mountain Rendezvous (Sisters of the Rockies) by Misty M. Beller -- Review

7/17/2023

About the Book

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In 1837, Juniper Collins and her sisters are shocked by their father's final request in his will for a special set of beads to be returned to a Piegan Blackfoot woman he credits with saving his life during his travels west. Together, the sisters set out for the trapper rendezvous to find the woman, but their mission turns more daunting when they come upon the mass of men and lodges spread out in the Green River Valley.

Riley Turner came west to find peace and quiet and live off the land, but when four unprotected women arrive at the rendezvous, he feels compelled to help them and is more fascinated by Juniper than any other woman he's known.

As their search brings only empty leads and dead ends, the sisters must decide whether to return east or stay in the mountains to continue looking--and that's if the mystery woman is even still alive. Is the risk to honor their father's last request worth the danger they find at every turn?

Discover the majesty--and treachery--of the Rocky Mountains in this unique combination of exhilarating adventure, inspiring faith, and sweet romance from USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller.
GOODREADS | AMAZON

About the Author

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Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.
 FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |  BOOKBUB | ​​WEBSITE

Review

Review: Anyone with a sister will appreciate this story of four tight nit sisters and their quest.  A story filled with plenty of action (but no descriptive gore) and romance, readers will get their fill of both.  Readers will immediately fall in love with the excitement of learning more about mountain men in the wild west and their interactions and relationships with the Indians in the area, both good and bad.  Throughout the story, romance between the second oldest sister and one of their protectors blossoms, turning from friendship to romance.  This is an excellent inspiring and sweet book that readers will want to curl up with.

Series: Sisters of the Rockies
Genre: historical, inspirational, romance
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication date: June 6, 2023
Number of pages: 313

Other books in the series:
2-Rocky Mountain Promise (coming November 2023)

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

You're invited to the JustRead Rendevous + Giveaway

7/13/2023
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Gather with fellow readers and authors at JustRead Rendezvous
to celebrate Christian fiction and sweet reads.
Who else wants to attend this reader/author event
organized by JustRead Publicity Tours?!

Your invited...

Join fellow readers and authors at the inaugural JustRead Rendezvous in the St. Louis metro area on November 17, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. The event will celebrate Christian fiction and sweet reads with food, games, giveaways, and books and will be held at the Holiday Inn St. Louis SW on Route 66.

Rendezvous will feature speaker sessions, author panels, small group discussions, and author signings. This event aims to sweeten reading and storytelling experiences with fellowship and encouragement. Keynote speakers are Jocelyn Green and Pepper Basham, 2022 finalists of The Christy Award. Additional participating authors will be announced at a later date.

JustRead will also host a Meet and Greet event and Watch Party for The Christy Award Winners Gala webcast at the same location on November 16 from 5:30 p.m. until the webcast conclusion. The Christy Award honors and promotes excellence in Christian fiction and is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.​

Registration Information

The JustRead Rendezvous is open to registered attendees only. Author registration will open on July 14 for $88 and Reader registration will open on July 21 for $110 online only (Eventbrite will apply an additional payment processing fee and any applicable taxes). The meet-and-greet watch party is an optional add-on for $30.
Connect with other attendees and hopefuls in the Rendezvous Roomies & Logistics ’23 private Facebook group to explore possible experience and cost-sharing opportunities. Subscribe to email updates on the JustRead Rendezvous website.

About JustRead

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JustRead Publicity Tours, LLC provides readers with a steady stream of promotional and reading selections from Christian, wholesome, and clean reads genres plus exclusive participant giveaway opportunities! By equipping readers with tools and support to create positive, impactful bookish content, JustRead advocates spreading the word (aka buzzing) about books that inspire and are written from a Christian perspective.
Connect with JustRead by following on social media @justreadtours, visiting justreadtours.com, or subscribing to host or blog post email newsletter updates.

Giveaway

Only a few days remain!
​

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green
and
Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham!
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The giveaway begins at midnight July 7, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 14, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
​
JustRead Rendezvous Announcement Giveaway
Visit JustRead Rendezvous for more information!
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Traveler (The Traveler Trilogy #1) by Melanie Bateman -- Review

7/10/2023

About the Book

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Strange things happen when you walk into strange woods.

Which is what Mark Gilmore, a World War One medic on the Western Front, discovers when his unit enters Passerelle Wood in the summer of 1916. He enlisted to escape his past, but in Passerelle, that will be harder than he knows.

Tasked with finding a company that vanished without a trace, Mark’s unit plunges into a forest known for countless disappearances. But Passerelle Wood hides danger, secrets, and a time-warping fate for anyone who steps foot inside.

When Mark rescues a young child—one that seems to have appeared from thin air—he crosses paths with forces he couldn’t have imagined. Now, he’s on the run from the men hunting the child, the time-twisting consequences of Passerelle, and the secrets of his past that he came to France to forget.
GOODREADS | AMAZON

About the Author

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Melanie Bateman is a freelance illustrator whose passion for nature and pretty pictures will sometimes translate into written stories. When she isn’t daydreaming, she enjoys being a mom.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

Review

Author Melanie Bateman has written both a tragic and beautiful WWI historical magical realism story that will intrigue and captivate readers.  This story is full of interesting and realistic historical details, while at the same time adding in an enthralling twist with elements of magic.  This is a bewitching story with many cliffhangers and twists and turns that will have readers devouring it from cover to cover.  Another riveting read from an author who pays attention to historical detail and brings her beloved characters to life from the pages.

Series: The Traveler Trilogy
Genre: historical, fantasy
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: March 29, 2023 
Number of pages: 342:

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Fairest of Heart (Texas Ever After #1) by Karen Witemeyer -- Review

7/10/2023

About the Book

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Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters--and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young woman found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather's ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope's acting troupe. The evidence points to her guilt, but Titus's heart divines a different truth--one that might just get Penelope killed.

An enchanting Western take on the classic Snow White fairy tale, Fairest of Heart will sweep you away from once upon a time to happily ever after.
GOODREADS | AMAZON

About the Author

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For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Romance Author in 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline.

Karen also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Review

Author Karen Witemeyer has started a new series, Texas Ever After, creating a sweet historical retelling romance series that readers will thrill and sigh over.  An adorable wild west Snow White retelling, this is one that readers will consume from convert to cover  as quickly as they are able.  Once again Witemeyer brings to life the wild west with her fabulous and sweet characters and their heartwarming and inspiring lives and stories.  Filled with adventure, villains, and of course romance, this is a story that readers will not want to miss out on.

Series: Texas Ever After
Genre: historical, romance, western, fairytale retelling
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication date: June 6, 2023
Number of pages: 351

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

The Cash Countess by Samantha Larsen -- Review + Excerpt

7/6/2023

About the Book

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Samantha Hastings met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her four kids. She has degrees from Brigham Young University, University of North Texas, and University of Reading (UK). She's the author of: The Last Word, The Invention of Sophie Carter, A Royal Christmas Quandary, The Girl with the Golden Eyes, Jane Austen Trivia, The Duchess Contract, Secret of the Sonnets, The Marquess and the Runaway Lady, and A Novel Disguise. She also writes cozy murder mysteries under Samantha Larsen. ​
​​FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

About the Author

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Samantha Hastings met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her four kids. She has degrees from Brigham Young University, University of North Texas, and University of Reading (UK). She's the author of: The Last Word, The Invention of Sophie Carter, A Royal Christmas Quandary, The Girl with the Golden Eyes, Jane Austen Trivia, The Duchess Contract, Secret of the Sonnets, The Marquess and the Runaway Lady, and A Novel Disguise. She also writes cozy murder mysteries under Samantha Larsen. ​
​​FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

Exerpt

​Thomas stepped back from her intensity. “There is—was—someone whom I admired
greatly, but after my father died, leaving me his debts, I had no other choice but to find an…”
“Heiress,” Cordelia finished for him. “There’s always a choice, Thomas. Even if it is a
painful one.”
“Yes, there is always a choice,” he admitted, feeling sheepish and half relieved that his
body was cooling down. “My choice would have affected more than simply me: my family, my
servants, and my tenants all depend on me—I could not fail them... Have you ever been in love,
Cordelia?”
“Yes, to a young man I’ve known all of my life.”
An impossible jealousy filled his heart. He hated this unknown man who held his wife’s
heart. “Does he not return your affections?”
She shrugged her bare shoulders. “He said he did, but then he left and my mother forced
me to marry you.”
The burden of guilt he carried seemed to double with these words, taking away the sting
of his jealousy. He wanted to apologize but then realized she too had said yes at the chapel. “Like
you said, there’s always a choice, and our choices have been made. Can’t we make the best of
it?”
“Honestly, Thomas,” she whispered. “I don’t know if I can, but I’ll do my best.”
“I promise that I will do everything in my power to be a good husband to you. To be
faithful to you. To be a good partner,” he said. “And you’ll be a countess.”
“You can call me The Cash Countess,” Cordelia said with a wry smile.

Her smile filled him with a spark of hope. Maybe they could be friends and their
friendship would grow into something more. He returned her smile. “I’d prefer that you didn’t
call me The Indebted Earl.”
“The Ignominious Earl?” she suggested.
He laughed softly. “Please no.”
“I’ll try, Thomas,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. “I can only promise you
that I’ll try to be your friend.”
“Thank you. Do you want to go down to our wedding reception?”
“Dressed like this?”
Blast. He was staring at her again. “Most people have already seen your gold-
embroidered undergarments.”
She gasped.
He blushed and managed to turn his eyes away from her. “I-I-I thought you knew. All the
New York papers published pictures of your trousseau, including your undergarments and
diamond-studded garters.”
“My mother,” she said, shaking her head. “She must have leaked them to the papers. She
revels in attention.”
“I’ll send a maid in, and I can wait in the hall for you to change,” he said, still averting
his gaze from temptation. “Then we could go down to the party together?”
“Together.”
Thomas left her room and walked down the hall. He saw the same maid who had directed
him to Cordelia’s room. He asked if she would go help his wife dress. The girl blushed and
nodded.

He sat on a chair. Leaning back, he tried to think of very cold things. Like ice. The artic.
His wife.
Thomas couldn’t help but wonder if he’d made the wrong choice after all. Ashdown
Abbey was saved and he could restore the estate to its former glory, but the cost was higher than
he’d reckoned with. He was now tied irrevocably to a person that he did not love and who was in
love with another man. At least he was attracted to her—no, he wouldn’t think about that now.
Ice.
And fire.
What a mismatched pair they were: the heiress and the fortune hunter. The old world and
the new.

Review

Author Samantha Hastings has written an absolutely endearing mash up of an American heiress meets fairytale; or in other words, Downton Abbey meets Rapunzel.  From the stunning purple cover to the turn of the first few pages, readers will enjoy this sweet and charming romance with bits of mystery woven in to keep readers on edge.  This story has engaging characters and a magical storyline that will keep readers enthralled throughout.  A fun, light hearted, and easy read that is perfect for the romance and fairytale lover!

Genre: historical, fairytale retelling, romance
Publisher: Scribbling Pens
Publication date: July 1, 2023
Number of pages: 289

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.​

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