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The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni

Official Synopsis:

A pulse-pounding thriller of espionage, spy games, and treachery by the New York Timesbestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series.

Former CIA case officer Charles Jenkins is a man at a crossroads: in his early sixties, he has a family, a new baby on the way, and a security consulting business on the brink of bankruptcy. Then his former bureau chief shows up at his house with a risky new assignment: travel undercover to Moscow and locate a Russian agent believed to be killing members of a clandestine US spy cell known as the seven sisters.

Desperate for money, Jenkins agrees to the mission and heads to the Russian capital. But when he finds the mastermind agent behind the assassinations—the so-called eighth sister—she is not who or what he was led to believe. Then again, neither is anyone else in this deadly game of cat and mouse.

Pursued by a dogged Russian intelligence officer, Jenkins executes a daring escape across the Black Sea, only to find himself abandoned by the agency he serves. With his family and freedom at risk, Jenkins is in the fight of his life—against his own country.

My thoughts:

Oh Man!!! You guys!! I am so excited to share The Eight Sister by Robert Dugoni with you!!!

This is a new pulse-pounding thriller of espionage, spy games, and treachery!!! Dugoni’s new book tells the story of an ex-CIA agent that has been lured back for one last mission. He plays a deadly game of Russian roulette in this new book from New York Times best selling author, Robert Dugoni!!!

I absolutely love thrillers and I am super excited to read one about an ex-CIA agent!!! This book is right up my alley and think a lot of you all would enjoy it as well. Be sure to let me know if you will be picking up a copy so that we can read it together!

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This post is sponsored by Amazon Publishing, but as always all opinions are my own.

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Chicken Girl by Heather Smith

4/5 stars

Official Synopsis:

Poppy used to be an optimist. But after a photo of her dressed as Rosie the Riveter is mocked online, she’s having trouble seeing the good in the world. As a result, Poppy trades her beloved vintage clothes for a feathered chicken costume and accepts a job as an anonymous sign waver outside a restaurant. There, Poppy meets six-year-old girl Miracle, who helps Poppy see beyond her own pain, opening her eyes to the people around her: Cam, her twin brother, who is adjusting to life as an openly gay teen; Buck, a charming photographer with a cute British accent and a not-so-cute mean-streak; and Lewis a teen caring for an ailing parent, while struggling to reach the final stages of his gender transition. As the summer unfolds, Poppy stops glorifying the past and starts focusing on the present. But just as she comes to terms with the fact that there is good and bad in everyone, she is tested by a deep betrayal.

My thoughts:

Hi guys!!! I have another review for you today!! I was lucky enough to be provided an ARC of Chicken Girl by Heather Smith to review as part of the blog tour. I am happy to say that i enjoyed it!

I do want to mention that this book should come with a few trigger warnings and is not the light read that I was hoping for, but with that said It was well written and I am glad that I had the chance to read it. As a plus size girl who has no issues with confidence, it was a little hard for me to relate to Poppy after she went into hiding after becoming a meme, essentially. I liked that she made friends with Miracle,who helped bring her out of her chicken suit haha, but I do wish that she hadnt introduced Poppy to Buck. Buck seemed to be a little to.. meh for me. He was sort of rude and overall not a good match for sweet Poppy!

I did love the relationship that Poppy had with her brother Cam and oh my GOD do I love Lewis!!! It leaves me wondering if we could possibly have another book with MORE Lewis!! or maybe even Cam?!!!! Reardless, I enjoyed this book and i hope you do as well.

(TW rape, victim blaming, fat shaming, disturbing video content)

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The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (audiobook)

5/5 stars

Official Synopsis:

Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin will need help from a band of experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian who can’t yet go home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in all but blood, who might care too much.

Together, they’ll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.

My thoughts:

OOOOOH MY GOD YOU GUYS. This. Freaking. Book.

I started the audiobook for The Gilded Wolves during a road trip through the southwest a few weeks ago and literally couldnt stop listening to it. The story completely ensnared me from the very beginning and I found myself listening to it every chance I got.. so like during showers and before bed and while i put makeup on in the mornings. I seriously could not stop listening! The narrators were INCREDIBLE and the accents completely made the book for me. Being able to hear the different dialects and tone changes made the listening experience next level for me!!!! I am VERY picky when it comes to audiobooks and this one surpassed my every expectation.

Not only was the listening experience pleasant but the book was ADDICTIVE. I felt completely attached to each and every character. Each personality was so distinct that it made getting to know each of them super fun! It has been a long time since I have fallen this deeply in love with a book and it goes without saying that I need more immediately!!!! ALSO DIBBS ON SEVERIN!!!!

This is a must read for fans of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.

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Verity by Colleen Hoover

5/5 stars

Official Synopsis:

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

My thoughts:

There are very few books that make me want to stay up all night reading after a working a 10 hour shift and even fewer that make me forget to eat dinner (ya girl loves food) but I can happily say that Verity is one of those books!

I received a copy of Verity on the Thursday before release and naively thought I would be able to read only the first chapter before going to bed. BOY WAS I WRONG. I cracked open my kindle and read the first page, which coincidentally describes a man’s skull being cracked open, and immediately knew I wouldn’t be able to stop reading until I finished. After all, we love when men bleed.

The story of Lowen and Jeremy progresses quickly, alternating between a manuscript written by Jeremy’s wife, Verity, and Lowen’s present day narrative. Parts of the manuscript were incredibly hard to read and at times made me physically react to the story in ways that I have never experienced while reading. I was quite literally cringing at how horrific Verity’s actions were!

That being said, I am not a huge fan of thrillers because I have anxiety and the suspense of these novels always sort of puts me on edge for longer than I’d like, so I only read the ones that I feel are worth it. And after finishing, I can confidently say that Verity was worth it! The last 20% of the book was so intense that I’m not sure I was breathing for half of it! I never expected the plot twist and my mind is still reeling from the ending!

This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time. If you have the opportunity to read it, I highly recommend!

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My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

5/5 stars

Official Synopsis:

Millie Morris has always been one of the guys. A UC Santa Barbara professor, she’s a female-serial-killer expert who’s quick with a deflection joke and terrible at getting personal. And she, just like her four best guy friends and fellow professors, is perma-single.

So when a routine university function turns into a black tie gala, Mille and her circle make a pact that they’ll join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. There’s only one hitch: after making the pact, Millie and one of the guys, Reid Campbell, secretly spend the sexiest half-night of their lives together, but mutually decide the friendship would be better off strictly platonic.

But online dating isn’t for the faint of heart. While the guys are inundated with quality matches and potential dates, Millie’s first profile attempt garners nothing but dick pics and creepers. Enter “Catherine”—Millie’s fictional profile persona, in whose make-believe shoes she can be more vulnerable than she’s ever been in person. Soon “Catherine” and Reid strike up a digital pen-pal-ship…but Millie can’t resist temptation in real life, either. Soon, Millie will have to face her worst fear—intimacy—or risk losing her best friend, forever.

My thoughts:

GUYS. HI. YES. I JUST FINISHED MY FAVORITE HALF-NIGHT STAND BY CHRISTINA LAUREN AND I CANT STOP SMILING!!!!!

By now, I am sure that you are very familiar with my love affair with the ladies behind the name Christina Lauren so it will come as no surprise that this book is an absolute FAVE. I actually got approved for the ARC of this book several months ago but decided to save it for an upcoming flight. When I say that I decided to save it, what i really mean is that I had to use every ounce of my willpower to keep myself from binging it in one night.

The premise behind this book is hilarious to me. Online dating is something that I have always been a bit weary of. Sure, I have met tons of friends online through different communities but I have only recently started using Tinder. The portrayal of dating apps in MFHNS is scarily accurate. Down to the unsolicited dick pics. (I mean, who thinks its a good idea to send those nowadays?)

What really resonated with me was the entire exchange between the two main characters. As someone who has come acorss an IRL crush on a dating app and matched with them (trust me, our outcome is nothing as fun as it was in this book) I really loved that Millie created a different profile that showcased her true self. I didnt expect to relate to this book as much as I did but Millie’s lack of vulnerability in person vs her extreme emotional vomit on her “secret” profile felt very real to me. I also struggle with showing any weaknesses in person but find it very easy to be myself online. There is something about being behind a keyboard that allows me to express my real feelings in ways that I never do in person. I absolutely flew through this book and I cant wait to see what we get from Christina Lauren next.

CL is hit or miss with me, mostly hits but a few misses sprinkled in there. This I’m happy to say was a hit! One of their best works in a long time! I love to see what they’ll come up with next.

Millie and Reid are besties who are ready to take it to the next level, yet are worried how it will affect their group of friends. I do love the group of professors and all the fun they have together from lunch, game night, dinners, vacations, etc. Millie and Reid are cute together and work well, it the online dating that puts them off. They can be themselves online and it slowly needs to happen.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I’ve loved the last couple novels I’ve read by Christina Lauren (technically a pen name for two authors writing together) and I had been approved to read this title last year but ran out of time. This book had Lauren’s signature humor – I laughed out loud and was still struck by the emotions evident within the story lines and between the characters. This wasn’t my favorite of the plot lines from what I’ve read of Lauren’s books (Millie was a little dishonest for me) but I still really enjoyed it. I loved Reid’s character, and I loved how well he and Millie interacted with each other and how their relationship and chemistry were so intense. Their group of friends were so funny too and the antics they got into were immensely entertaining. I always love how much joy I get out of reading Lauren’s books – they are light and easy to read and they lighten the burden on me that at times is reality. I’d definitely recommend this book, as well as any of the other ones I’ve read by this author so far!

Usually I love Christina Lauren's books. They are full of humor and sexiness and real characters. While I liked My Favorite Half-Night Stand, it's my least favorite of their standalone novels. I really liked Millie and Reid and the rest of the guys but found the jealousy Millie exhibited a little annoying. I also am not big on false identities and deception in a relationship's beginning (really at any point) so I think the book fell flat for me. Still a good read, just not at the usual level of enjoyment I find from this duo.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Loved! Even when it was breaking my heart (why, Millie, why???) it was so, so good! The dynamic between all the friends in the group was fantastic; this book is helping to cement Christina Lauren as one of my go-to authors.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I love Christina Lauren! This one did not disappoint! It made me giggle out loud several times. Very fast paced and kept you wanting more. I could not put it down. Different from most romance books, but definitely a good different.

I love this author duo, but I was disappointed in this one. It was 2 dimensional, didn’t keep my attention, and fell flat. Bummer.

I really enjoyed this book because it was pretty light hearted as these best friends strive for something more. Millie is best friends with a bunch of guys, but there is one guy in there that means so much more. When they decide to go on a dating app and Millie accidentally gets Reid as a match with her fake persona, all hell breaks lose. This was a fun story watching these two navigate a relationship and fall for each other. My heart broke for both of them as things took a turn for the worse, but it had a great happy ending. I would love to see who the rest of these guys end up with! Good story.

Another great hit from this duo! They never disappoint. Funny, amazing character arcs, great storyline. Can't wait for more from these authors.

My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren is a friends to lovers romance that isn't like anything else I've ever read. Online dating. Friendship. Emotionally Unavailable characters. All of this should make for the perfect scenario but I wasn't able to become emotionally invested in this story even though I really wanted it.

Always love a Christina Lauren book. Loved how fast paced and fluffy this was. Loved the story and how catchy it was as well.

I thought the premise was unique and the writing solid. I saw the ending coming a mile away though.The plot was weak. The story dragged on

This was sweet and very readable, but didn't bring anything new to the table. I enjoyed reading it; however, it didn't stand out to me.

This was a pretty cute rom-com although I received a copy of this from net galley, and I attempted to begin reading it with the traveling sisters group, I got behind due to some obligations. I later picked it back up as an audiobook, which I purchased at a very low price via iBooks, when there was a special one day I stumbled on; and I started listening to it and really thought it was fun! The narrators are good and funny and I like their voices for the characters. Milly and Reid are colleagues. Millie works with some other male colleagues and they all have an event to go to and think it would be fun to get matched up on a dating site to have a date for the event.

I don’t really want to share more than that with you right now because it would take away from all the laughter and the antics and shenanigans that go on here. I do recommend the audiobook as well as the kindle edition. The banter and playfulness, group texts... all kept me grinning and wanting to know what happened next.

Many thanks to the publisher, Simon and Schuster via NetGalley fora Digital copy to read for review. This should be a very popular book among those that like romantic comedy! Highly recommended!

Another excellent title from Christina Lauren. The ability of this writing team to depict the ups and downs of modern love while making you laugh out loud is unmatched.

After reading this book, all I can say is that I'm glad to have missed out on the wonders and horrors of internet dating! While the overall concept isn't new (friends-to-more), the way the story is set up and delivered made this fun to read.

Christina Lauren is back with another book, and I thought it was phenomenal. Millie is adorable and I am seriously a sucker for the age old "friends to lover" trope. The texting-style writing was effective, and The dynamic between Millie and Reid was something I really enjoyed reading about. The commentary on catfishing was hilarious very plausible in the modern age, even if not every (or any) catfish turns out to be your gorgeous best friend. Overall, a fun read and I LOVED the professional sides of all of the characters, creating some very interesting dialogue.

This book was cute but very predictable. I liked the text message technique. Everything was just a little too perfect. The handsome guy who's family owns a winery and has tenure just happens to be single and doesn't know he's in love with the woman who's one of the guys and needs fixing? What a coincidence.

Christina Lauren releases another romance story. And you are going to love it. Its two friends getting together but there is going to be some complications in the way especially one of them lying about who they are.

Millie and Reid are perfect for each other but they are so scary to admit their feelings. Millie has always been one of the guys but lately, it has been getting to her. She wants to be notice especially to Reid. But that is going to be challenging since she prefer not to expose her feelings. She always been the type to keep all feelings in a box no matter. However, things will change when life becomes unexpected in her life. Her life is going to messy especially when she lies to Reid. She pretends to be someone else on an app to work up the courage. But it will backfire since something unexpected happens. Reid is kind and smart man. But he is definitely clueless when it comes to Millie. He is out of his depth. But he is going to figure it when she starts dropping off clues.

My Favorite Half Night Stand will bring two friends together if they finally admit their feelings to each other. Four stars.