Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Rose in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan

About the Book
Some people marry for love; others marry for music...
Rose McNeil is rising the ranks at the Mozarteum in Salzburg as a violinist to watch. Her musical Nova Scotian heritage has loaned an unparalleled technique to her interpretation of some of the most beautiful compositions in the world. The opportunity of a first chair assignment to the Rainer Quartet under the baton of Oliver Thorne is a dream come true--- until her visa expires and the threat of leaving Vienna looms. As much as she grieves the prospect of leaving Vienna and the quartet, it is Oliver—with his dry sense of humour and unexpected charm- she will miss most.
British ex-pat Oliver Thorne’s recent appointment as conductor to the Rainer Quartet make him the youngest in the role during its prestigious history. But it wasn’t the path he wanted. A tragic accident years ago forbade him from ever playing his beloved cello again. Now he spends his life teaching and guest conducting for premiere orchestras at the Musikverein. When he first hears Rose McNeil play, all the dreams he left by the wayside are reborn with her unexpected talent. When Rose learns she may have to leave Vienna, Oliver has to come up with a solution. Losing his first violinist is unfortunate, losing her is unimaginable.
So he comes up with a crazy idea: A marriage on paper only. She’ll take his name and his citizenship. They’ll split rent money and coin toss to decide who takes the bed or the the futon every night. They’ll keep their secret from the orchestra. She’ll play and he’ll conduct and, most importantly...she’ll stay.

Unbeknownst to each other, Rose is in love with Oliver and Oliver is in love with Rose. They might even find a happy ending, if only their pesky marriage doesn’t get in the way.

My Thoughts
Breathless. This book literally stole my breath. It made my heart soar and hurt. I was sighing in happiness and leaning forward in anticipation of how things would play out. At one point I was literally clutching my hair, feeling every emotion that the characters were. It is so hard to put into words the beauty that is this book. The way it is written is unlike anything else I’ve read. It makes me long for a place I’ve never been and hadn’t really given thought to before reading it. How can you feel homesick for a place you have never seen? But that’s the only way to describe the way I felt, wanting to go back to a place I’d only visited in a book. This author’s ability to truly transport you somewhere else is second to none.
I adored Oliver, he was selfless, kind, patient, and a hopeless romantic. The way he kept going when an accident took the most important thing from his life, and the sacrifices he made for Rose without a second thought made me deeply admire him. That he was willing to live in a name-only marriage with a person he was starting to care deeply for not knowing whether she'd ever come to love him the same way, enough to make any woman melt.
The fact that this was a marriage of convenience story just made me love it all the more since that is my favorite trope. Watching their relationship unfold from a maestro listening to a violinist, to friends, to husband and wife, to being in love with each other was absolute perfection.
I know nothing about music beyond that fact that I like to listen to it but the way the author writes about it makes me feel it in every part of me, her descriptions making everything come to life.

This story was quite simply stunning and it will stay with me forever.

Meet the Author
Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

A Secret to Die For by Lisa Harris

About the Book
Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret--one worth killing for. But when she finds out one of her clients has been murdered, she quickly realizes that the computer security specialist wasn't simply suffering from paranoia.
Detective Nate Quinn has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed eighteen people, including his partner, and left him dealing with PTSD. His first case back on the job involves the murder of Stephen Shaw, and his only lead turns out to be an old friend, Grace Callahan--and her life is in grave danger. Someone believes Shaw gave his psychologist information before he died. Information they are willing to kill for.

With her signature pulse-pounding suspense, Lisa Harris takes readers deep into the heart of fear in this race against the clock.

My Thoughts
Lisa Harris certainly knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat! From the very first sentence to the very last I was completely sucked into this story! It almost felt like an episode of a crime show (which I love) but with a deeper look into everything.
Grace and Nate had a bit of a unique relationship. They had known each other in college when Nate’s best friend was dating Grace but they’d lost touch. Now they meet again under very crazy circumstances. I really appreciated how the author handled their relationship. Even though the story takes place over a short period of time things didn’t seemed rushed and flowed at a natural pace. They were getting to know each other again, building on what they’d known in the past and discovering who the other had become in their years apart. They both had experienced trauma that deeply affected them but they were able to confide in each other and help the other work through things.
I loved the suspense and mystery of the story, racing against the clock with the characters to piece together everything before it was too late. I did guess part of it but it still kept me turning pages till everything met a satisfying conclusion.

This book was non-stop and I absolutely recommend it for all lovers of romantic suspense!

Meet the Author
Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel from Romantic Times for her novels Blood Covenant and Vendetta. The author of more than thirty books, including Vendetta, Missing, Pursued, Vanishing Point, and the Southern Crimes series, Harris and her family have spent almost fifteen years living as missionaries in southern Africa. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Books by Authors I Love That I Still Need to Read

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

The list of books I need to read is endless so I kept this list to ones that I actually own by authors I really really love. Can't believe I still haven't read these! Hopefully soon!

#1. The Colonel's Lady & The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz

#2. A Most Inconvenient Marriage & For the Record by Regina Jennings

#3. Life After by Katie Ganshert

#4. The Sweethaven Series by Courtney Walsh

#5. With Every Breath & Until the Dawn by Elizabeth Camden

#6. The Illusionist's Apprentice & The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

#7. The Wedding Shop & The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

#8. A Beauty So Rare & A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander

#9. The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett

#10. Love Finds You in Annapolis Maryland by Roseanna M. White

Monday, September 24, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #311

Hosted by: The Book Date

Here is what I finished last week:
Finally got fully over my reading slump and had an amazing week of reading! I was crazy busy but a lot of it was babysitting jobs and so I had a decent amount of nap/bedtime reading hours! I adored these books, I've been waiting forever for most of these and they were certainly worth the wait!

What I am currently reading:
Finishing this series while the first two are still fresh in my mind and before summer is too far gone!

What I hope to read this week:
Excited to read these!

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!
Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

#1. Enchanting Nicholette by Dawn Crandall

#2. A Secret to Die For by Lisa Harris

#3. Wait for Me by Susan May Warren

#4. Hidden Peril by Irene Hannon

#5. On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter

#6. The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof

#7. The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz

#8. Sweethaven Series by Courtney Walsh

#9. All Made Up by Kara Isaac

#10. My Hope Next Door by Tammy L. Gray

Monday, September 17, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #310

Hosted by: The Book Date

Here is what I finished last week:
Just finished this and LOVED LOVED LOVED it! Can't rave enough! Review will be up soon!

What I am currently reading:
The author just sent me an e-ARC of this and I'm deliriously excited!

What I hope to read this week:
Next review book! Excited for the adventure this is sure to be!

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!
Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

Monday, September 10, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #309

Hosted by: The Book Date

Here is what I finished last week:
Absolutely nothing. I'm in a bit of a reading slump, not due to reading content, I think I just burned out a little and needed a bit of a break.

What I am currently reading:
Just getting started but of course it's amazing!

What I hope to read this week:
Hoping to finally read this beautiful book!

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!
Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

Tuesday, September 04, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: TV Shows I've Binge Watched

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

#1. How I Met Your Mother

#2. The Big Bang Theory

#3. Parks and Rec

#4. Gilmore Girls

#5. Bones

#6. Friends

#7. Buffy/Angel

#8. Hart of Dixie

#9. Pushing Daisies

#10. Veronica Mars





It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #308

Hosted by: The Book Date

Here is what I finished last week:
Didn't enjoy Dee's story but loved Dani's and Lynette's! After the read-a-thon week I kinda slowed down on the reading and then my sister was in for the holiday weekend so I spent time with her instead of reading.

What I am currently reading:
Just about to start this one and I'm so excited!

What I hope to read this week:
A last hurrah for summer reading before fall fully hits!

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!
Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!