#author: sariah wilson

[booksandrandomfandoms]

Mid year book tag

@thereadingchallengechallenge tagged anyone with a B in their username so I guess that includes me 😂

1. Best book you’ve read so far : Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots - and I definitely recommend the audio if you can (some of the voices the narrator did reminded me of like cartoon villains and I loved it😂)

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far : Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo - I’ve read a few but this one’s still top of the list

3. New release you haven’t read yet but want to : The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman - just ordered it too 😂

4. Most anticipated release for second half of the year : A curse for true love by Stephanie Garber - like I’ve already ordered 3 copies 😅

5. Biggest disappointment : Babel by R. F. Kuang - honestly I have many disappointments to choose from but this feels like the biggest 🤷‍♀️😓

6. Biggest surprise : How Lucky by Will Leitch - not what I was expecting, but that was probably my fault for not reading the description better 😂 (I was expecting mc to be a grouchy old man … and he’s only 26🤷‍♀️) very good book, audio was a lot of fun too 👍

7. Favorite New Author : Little Thieves by Margaret Owen - quickly ordered the sequel and am excited I already have some of their other books on my shelf (moving them closer to my top tbr 😂)

8. Newest Fictional Crush : The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson - still looking for my Marco 😂

9. Newest Favorite Character : Court of the Undying Seasons by A. M. Strickland - Kashire was a LOT 😂

10. Book that made you cry : Vampires, Hearts, and Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston - wasn’t expecting it to but the end hit me hard 😭😭😭

11. A book that made you happy : Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chockshi - picking one that isn’t already mentioned and I was kind of surprised by , really cute

12. Favorite adaptation : actually haven’t been watching anything except Owl House lately 😅, i did see the Dungeons and Dragons movie (if that counts, though I’ve never read or played any D&D before) I do want to beg everyone to read my newest WEBTOON obsession Cursed Princess Club by LambCat (I fear we’re near the end though 😭)

13. Prettiest cover : Eternally Yours by Patrice Caldwell - it’s an anthology and it’s so pretty 😂

14. A book you need to read before the end of the year : Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool - another anticipated release that actually come out next week, I liked her there will come a darkness series and I hope I’ll love this one too 🤞

I’m tagging @themelodyofspring & anyone else who would like to share their mid year thoughts

[strinak]

Author Statistics

For 10 authors, I read their works into the double digits: Alessandra Hazard (x11) Kiki Clark (x12) Kati Wilde (x13) Shelly Laurenston (x15) AJ Sherwood (x16) Onley James (x20) KL Noone (x24) Charity Parkerson (x31) Megan Derr (x40) Mary Calmes (x44)

For 24 authors, I read at least 3 and at most 9 works: Andrea K Host (x4), Anne Bishop (x4), Brigham Vaughn (x3), Bruce Sentar (x3), Deacon Frost (x3), Eric Ugland (x7), Gail Carriger (x1)/GL Carriger (x3), Ilona Andrews (x5), Jennifer Cody (x4), Jordan Castillo Price (x3), Louisa Masters (x6), Lucy Lennox (x5), Lyn Gala (x3), Mell Eight (x3), Michelle Diener (x4), Naomi Novik (x3), R Cooper (x5), RJ Moray (x2)/Robin Moray (x1), Sam Burns (x5), Shirtaloon (x7), Stella Starling (x4), TJ Land (x9), Vasily Mahanenko (x3), and Wen Spencer (x5).

For 25 authors, I read exactly 2 works: Alex Gilbert, Alice Winters, Amanda Meuwissen, Amy Crook, Andy Gallo, Bettie Sharpe, Claire Cullen, David North, Eli Easton, Eryn Ivers, Isabel Murray, Jessie Mihalik, KM Neuhold, LC Mawson, Luke Chmilenko, Macronomicon, Ofelia Grand, Robin Roseau, Ryan Rimmel ,Sam Burns & WM Fawkes (with Sam Burns), Shannon West, Skylar Jaye, Tara Lain, TS Snow, and Victoria Helen Stone.

For 87 authors, I read only a single work: A Catherine Noon & Rachel Wilder, AC Wiggen, Allie Brosh, Amanda Milo, Andrea Speed, Anyta Sunday (with Andy Gallo), April Jade, Arden Powell, August, Brea Alepou & Wren Snow, Brooke Matthews, Bryce O’Connor (with Luke Chmilenko), Cale Plamann, Casualfarmer, Catelyn Winona, Chace Verity, CJ Carella, CM Blackwood, Courtney Milan, Daniel Rose, Danny M Lavery, Darktechnomancer, Dassy Bernhard, Delaney Rain, Delmire Hart, Devon Vesper, DI Freed, DM Rhodes, Eden Finley & Saxon James, EJ Russell, Elliott Kay, EM Lindsey (with Kiki Clark), Hayden Hall, HJ Tolson, Jenny Lawson, Jesse Q Sutanto, JK Jeffrey, KA Merikan, Kaleb England, Kaydence Snow, Kou Delika, Lee Hadan, Liz Talley, May Archer (with Lucy Lennox), Macy Blake, Margaret Atwood, Marie Cardno & Kalikoi, Michele Notaro, Michelle Frost, Michelle Kathleen Hodgson, Natasha Hunter, Nazri Noor, Philip R Johnson & Justin C Louis, Raleigh Ruebins, Ravensdagger, Regine Abel, Riley Hart, RJ Scott, Robert Bevan, Ryn Bretcher, Sam Starbuck, Samantha Cayto, Sariah Wilson, Sasha L Miller, Scott Browder, SE Harmon, Sean Oswald, Sebastian Hansen, Seth Richter, Sienna Sway, Sierra Riley, SJ Himes, Stephanie Burgis, Stephen L Hadley, Stuart Grosse, Suki Fleet, Sunny Hart, SunriseCV, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Tanya Chris, Toby Wise, Tom Watts, Toni McGee Causey, Travis Baldtree, Xander Boyce, Yamila Abraham, and Zile Elliven.

[che-michelle]

Pay For My Love "The Paid Bridesmaids " Review

Pay For My Love "The Paid Bridesmaids " Review

Book: The Paid Bridesmaid Author: Sariah Wilson Published: December 21, 2021 Drink Choice: non-alcoholic Pina Colada Stand Alone, Series, or Other: Stand Alone Type of book: Novel Genre: Rom-Com; Fiction How long did it take me to read this book:   7 days Audible/Google audiobooks: One Week (during commuting time) Overall rating: 🍹🍹🍹 Ok, readers and likers. Please go in your closet, grab that…

[lzteach]

Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Hypnotized by Love” by Sariah Wilson, Montlake, March 1, 2024, On tour with Suzy Approved Book Tours

Sariah Wilson, the Author of “Hypnotized by Love” has written a captivating, witty, and delightful novel. The Genres for this book are Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult Literature, Chick Lit and Rom-Com. This book is the perfect prescription after reading heavy dark reads, for an entertaining and enjoyable novel. The author describes her colorful and dramatic characters as complex,…

[televinita]

Library Triage!

Since my library tour resulted in an absurd number of new checkouts, some planned and some not, what if we talked about them, since I can't seem to figure out what to actually settle down with and read next.

(includes books I had out prior to this week)

1. Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries: LOOK LOOK IT'S FINALLY HERE! I should definitely read this one first! ...I don't wanna.

2. Hemlock Island - Kelley Armstrong: a thriller that comes highly recommended by a friend with similar tastes, and looks great! I can't seem to settle into it yet.

3. A Barn in New England: Making a Home on Three Acres - Joseph Monninger: a 2001 memoir from an author I've read a whole bunch of books from over the years. Not sure if I want to read it right now but checked it out just in case.

4. The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home - George Howe Colt: a 2003 memoir I tripped over while collecting the above, and which looks incredible, just the kind of story I want to know about always. "This poignant tribute to the eleven-bedroom jumble of gables, bays, and dormers that watched over weddings, divorces, deaths, anniversaries, birthdays, breakdowns, and love affairs for five generations interweaves Colt’s final visit with memories of a lifetime of summers." (I already had to check and make sure that didn't mean the house was getting torn down, but no, only sold.) It is, however, deceptively small in size while having small print and relatively narrow line spacing.

5. Snow Foal - Susanna Bailey: this darling-looking middle grade horse girl novel is actually what I want to read next, I think. But I still have to go pick it up.

6-7. Welcome to the Dark House - Laurie Faria Stolz: just a standard YA horror I've had on my TBR for a while and finally decided to collect while making a set of requests for the county-next-door library. I also got its sequel, on the assumption I'll like it.

8. Love Interest - Clare Gilmore: FINISH THIS BOOK ALREADY, TELEVINITA!! I've been stalled out on page 125 for 2 weeks because something about the MC and writing style just mildly nettles me and I feel like it's gonna be 3 stars, but also I just keep getting sucked into these same few pages over and over because A+ FAVORITE TROPE OF THEM FALLING ASLEEP TOGETHER (FULLY CLOTHED, TECHNICALLY PLATONICALLY DESPITE KINDA FLIRTING) AND SPENDING THE WHOLE NIGHT CUDDLING.

9. The Seat Filler - Sariah Wilson: this book was supposed to be my respite from the above, but damn, that stupid Driver detail really did derail me. >:(

10. Bright Lights, Big Christmas - Mary Kay Andrews: I was really excited to read this for Christmas because of how much I liked The Santa Suit, but I got on the request list too late, so while I give myself a 3-week grace period or so to still enjoy Christmas books, this one's longer than TSS and at this point I feel like I'll enjoy it more next season. Stubbornly keeping it 'til my hold runs out, though.

11. Jonathan Unleashed - Meg Rosoff: probably not going to read it this round, I just thought I might as well pick it up while I was there, since it's not owned by my two closest branches. Options, baby!

12. The Beginner's Guide to Living - Lia Hills: similar to #6, longterm TBR resident only held by the county next door. And by longterm, I mean I added it in April because the "struggling to cope with his mother's sudden death and growing feelings of isolation from his father and brother" part pinged when I was hunting for real-world approximations of Emo Loki's story. Just wanna satisfy my curiosity.

[edit: done. meh. skimmed.]

There! SO MANY OPTIONS. Pick one and sit down and run your eyes over the words already??

[anitabyars]

Description

True love requires a little research and development in a funny, heart-racing romance by Sariah Wilson, the bestselling author of The Paid Bridesmaid.

How can Anna Ellis, a geeky, brilliant, and hopelessly smitten cosmetic chemist possibly win over Craig Kimball, the man of her dreams—who also happens to be her boss? The answer is Craig’s empathetic (and handsome) CEO half brother, Marco. The makeup mogul knows Craig for the ridiculously competitive rival he is. Whatever Marco has, Craig wants. That can be Anna, if she’s game to play.

All Anna and Marco have to do is pretend they’re falling in love and let the rumors begin. If the experiment in attraction works, a jealous Craig will swoop in and give Anna her happily ever after—if it weren’t for one hitch in the plan. There’s more to Marco than meets the eye. With every fake date, Anna’s feelings are starting to become dizzyingly real.

Blame it on chemistry. It’s unpredictable, exciting, and occasionally combustible. If Anna and Marco are really falling in love, who are they to argue with science?

My Review

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A funny, laugh out loud, swoony romance! Full of quirky, witty banter with science references, and Star Wars and sizzling chemistry.

Anna Ellis is very intelligent, she works in research and development branch of Minx cosmetics. She had fallen in love with the Vice President of Minx, Craig Kimball. And although she sees him as kind, funny, and charming he is nothing like that at all. It takes her quitting her job and going to the company party for her to see the real Craig. A man who is already engaged to his brothers ex-girlfriend. Devastated she ends up in the men’s bathroom, where Marco Kimball the CEO of the company finds her.

Marco is completely different than his brother. Nerdy, hot and very muscular. He takes Anna out to lunch the next day and not only hires her as a consultant but comes up with an idea for them to fake date. Since Craig has always wanted what Marco has if they are dating he will want Anna and will break up with his fiancé. But as these two go out on more dates… the more the lines blur from fake dating to feelings of more. Their kisses between them are arousing new feelings but will it be enough?

You do not want to miss this fantastic new romance. This is for all you hopeless romantics out there! Go! Get your copy today!!!!

[graceivers]

fancast: sophie turner as zoe miller      ↳ #starstruck by sariah wilson

[sidewalkstv]

Episode #1096 - Sariah Wilson + Teen Mom

Interview with Leah Messer and Maci McKinney ("Teen Mom" franchise); spotlight on author Sariah Wilson ("The Paid Bridesmaid: A Novel"); music by Taylor Swift. #LeahMesser #MaciMcKinney #TeenMom #TeenMomFamilyReunion #TeenMomGirlsNightIn #SariahWilson

Interview with Leah Messer and Maci McKinney (“Teen Mom” franchise); spotlight on author Sariah Wilson (“The Paid Bridesmaid: A Novel”); music by Taylor Swift. Airdate: 1/12/2022 (KCRT) SIDEWALKS host Lori Rosales interviews Leah Messer and Maci McKinney of the “Teen Mom” franchise and reporter Toni Fox brings us a spotlight on author Sariah Wilson (“The Paid Bridesmaid: A Novel”). Plus, we…

[gimmeromance]

Ask from a user who wants to remain private:

(Can this be anonymous please?) Hello lovely people! I was wondering if you had romace recs that veer on being YA? Like no explicit sex scenes in them but can still have some mature themes? Especially if it's fantasy, Sci-Fi, dystopian, or paranormal?

--

So what it sounds like you’re looking for is romance with strong speculative fiction elements or vice versa but without explicit sex on the page, we’re assuming that you’re going to be okay with fade-to-black/closed-door sex.

Because of your interest, we’re limiting this just to speculative fiction (Fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, paranormal, urban fantasy, gaslamp)

Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites (Fluff and Fangs Version) by Joy Demorra - M/M with hints of eventual M/M/F Polyamorous Equal Triad, Closed Door (Victorian, Paranormal, Vampire, Shifter)

Hunted by the Sky by Tanez Bhathena - M/F Romance, No Sex (YA, Paranormal - While this is YA it really leans hard toward not YA, Magic Users)

Trail of Lightning - Rebecca Roanhorse  - M/F,  Closed Door, Dystopian, Magic Users & Gods (Series ends happily)

Anita Blake Series - Laurel K Hamilton - Reverse Harem (ultimately), Paranormal, Urban Fantasy No Sex to Open-Door (eventually) Vampires, Shifters, and Magic Users - First sex scene is in Book Three. The Reverse Harem stuff starts in Book Ten - Book One

Children of the Night - Mercedes Lackey - M/F - Closed Door, Urban Fantasy, Magic Users, Vampires, Things that go Bump in the night, Historical, 1970s NYC. (BTW the order on amazon is on crack Trust me on this)

Legend of the Bloodstone - E.B. Brown - M/F - Closed Door - Time Travel Romance - Historical - Colonial Period - Interracial Romance.

Daughter of Time - Sarah Woodbury - M/F - Closed Door - Time Travel Romance/Fantasy - Historical - Medieval (At a certain point the series veers away from romance entirely and leans hard on the alternate history. But it’s still fun and it still has strong romantic elements).

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride - Kristen Painter -  M/F - Closed Door - Paranormal, Vampire

Once Upon a Time Travel - Sariah Wilson - M/F - Closed Door - Time Travel, Magic Users (as a note this author seems to only write closed door)

The Iron King - Julie Kagawa - M/F - Closed Door - YA Fantasy

Graceling - Kristin Cashore - M/F - Closed Door - YA Fantasy

Fledgling - Natasha Brown - M/F - No Sex - YA Paranormal, Disabled MC

A Civil Campaign - Lois McMaster Bujold - M/F, Closed Door, Sci-Fi Romance, Disabled MC (this is 12 books deep in a series but as a sci-fi romance it’s spectacular, and if you like SF the whole series is amazing)

The Fire Rose - Mercedes Lackey - M/F, Fairy Tale Retelling, No Sex

The Ship Who Sang - Anne McCaffrey - M/F - No Sex (Closed Door in the sequels) - Sci-Fi Romance (Trigger Warning: Ableism)

Restoree - Anne McCaffrey - M/F - Closed Door - Sci-Fi Romance (Trigger Warning: Body Trauma)

Freedom’s Landing - Anne McCaffrey - M/F - Closed Door - Sci-Fi Romance

The Rowan - Anne McCaffrey - M/F - Closed Door - Sci-Fi Romance (not available in e-book, we suggest taking it out from your local library)

--

These suggestions are not endorsements. Please read the description and the reviews to decide whether you want to read the books!

[mandaloriangf]

just found out im blocked by sariah wilson on twitter. either it was through a blockchain (which she’s a published author why is she using blockchains for “antis”) OR she somehow found that i liked a tweet criticizing her. either way she is way too old to be acting this way.

[book-waas-x]

Review - Roommaid

Title: Roommaid Author: Sariah Wilson Date Finished: October 3, 2020 Goodreads Links: [Book] [Review]

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review:

I was liveblogging this one on Twitter and I mentioned that this was going to be a book I finish in one sitting - and it was.

Oh my God I was not expecting this story - at all.

Madison is a twenty-something teacher who is the certified "black sheep" to her family because she didn't follow what her mother wanted. Not wanting to partake in her family's wealth and trend of marrying trash men for money, she wiggles out from below her mother's thumb (and gets cut off for her career choices) and starts to build her life up from the bottom - and part of that involves Tyler Roth.

Tyler's looking for a roommate who can help keep his dog company and tidy up a little around the house, given that his job means he's not around much of the time. Desperate for a place that won't haunt her, bite her or sting her, Madison ends up being his roommaid (hehe I love a good pun; also, I would LOVE to be this man's roommaid). He only has one rule - they don't date. Finding out that Madison allegedly has a serious boyfriend puts her at the top of the list.

But there's a few things he doesn't know - Madison doesn't know how to clean, doesn't know how to take care of pets, and she definitely doesn't have a serious boyfriend (not anymore)

When I started reading this, part of me felt like Madison was going to end up like all those other rich, prissy characters given that she didn't know how to do basic chores, but I was so wrong! At the beginning she might've but the author spins her into a wildly determined character whose need to stand on her own two feet stands out strongly throughout. Despite her upbringing, she was a balance between high-and-mighty and down-to-earth and she progressed towards the latter as the story went on, which was absolutely amazing to see. Seeing her scramble to learn how to clean, replacing the things she broke quietly through on was also endearing in a way, if you can suspend your disbelief at a grown adult who teaches second-graders not knowing how to do some of these things.  

I'm just glad she didn't have to replace Pidgeon.

Tyler was easygoing throughout, sweet and adorable. He was a complete contrast to the other men we're introduced to in the story, like Brad, Madison's ex-boyfriend who can't take a hint or any of her sister's husbands. While Madison's constant "thirsting" over her roommate got a bit old at the end, honestly, I probably couldn't even blame her for it. Because as attractive as Tyler objectively is, he's an even better person and that shone through. Of course, since we stuck to Madison's POV throughout, there could've been a bias out there but I definitely would've loved seeing Tyler's POV. Not to mention, you can't go wrong with a good slow-burn.

The topmost thing? Tyler's assistance didn't overshadow Madison's own determination. In fact, I loved that even in the scenes where they were together doing something for Madison's benefit, he didn't turn into the primary character - he's just there to help, not to mansplain about her life.

I rated this 4 stars instead of 5 because of the ending, mostly. I saw it coming all the way at the dealership, when she said her name, but somehow I'd still expected it to be different than all the other cut-off-from-your-parents-but-they-want-to-control-you-anyway types. It also felt quite a bit rushed to me, and part of me felt like I'd missed something by the time I reached the end.

Still, I may even come back to this one book as another light read but I wouldn't mind reading a sequel! Shay and Owen, perhaps? ;)

I recommend this to fans of contemporary, slow-burn, rom-com, kickass female characters trying to build new lives for themselves and sweet men who know how to treat a girl ;)

[gadgetgirl71]

Amazon First Reads September 2020

It’s that time yet again! For me and other Amazon Prime Members to take our pick of this months Amazon First Reads. So if your an Amazon Prime member don’t forget to get your free First Reads Book.

This months choices are:

Thriller

Every Missing Thing by Martyn Ford, Pages: 367, Publication Date: 1 October 2020

Synopsis: One family. Two missing children. A lifetime of secrets.

Ten-year-old Ethan Clarke’s disappearance gripped the nation. Just as his parents are starting to piece together a life ‘after Ethan’, their world is ripped apart once more when their daughter, Robin, disappears in almost identical circumstances. They’ve lost two children within a decade … and now doubts about their innocence are setting in.

Detective Sam Maguire’s obsession with the first case cost him his own family, but he has unfinished business with the Clarkes. He is convinced that discovering what happened to Ethan holds the key to finding Robin. But what if the Clarkes know more than they’re letting on?

With the world watching eagerly, the clock is ticking for Sam as he embarks on an investigation that forces him to confront his own demons. To uncover the truth, he must follow a trail of devastating deception—but the truth always comes at a cost …

Book Club Fiction

Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish by Tori Whitaker, Pages: 340, Publication Date: 1 October 2020

Synopsis: Three generations of women—and the love, loss, sacrifice, and secrets that can bind them forever or tear them apart.

Millicent Glenn is self-sufficient and contentedly alone in the Cincinnati suburbs. As she nears her ninety-first birthday, her daughter Jane, with whom she’s weathered a shaky relationship, suddenly moves back home. Then Millie’s granddaughter shares the thrilling surprise that she’s pregnant. But for Millie, the news stirs heart-breaking memories of a past she’s kept hidden for too long. Maybe it’s time she shared something, too. Millie’s last wish? For Jane to forgive her.

Sixty years ago Millie was living a dream. She had a husband she adored, a job of her own, a precious baby girl, and another child on the way. They were the perfect family. All it took was one irreversible moment to shatter everything, reshaping Millie’s life and the lives of generations to come.

As Millie’s old wounds are exposed, so are the secrets she’s kept for so long. Finally revealing them to her daughter might be the greatest risk a mother could take in the name of love.

Police Procedural

The Unspoken by Ian K Smith, Pages: 295, Publication Date: 1 October 2020

Synopsis: In this new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ian K. Smith, an ex-cop turned private investigator seeks justice on the vibrant, dangerous streets of Chicago.

Former Chicago detective Ashe Cayne is desperate for redemption. After refusing to participate in a police department cover-up involving the death of a young black man, Cayne is pushed out of the force. But he won’t sit quietly on the sidelines: he’s compelled to fight for justice as a private investigator…even if it means putting himself in jeopardy.

When a young woman, Tinsley Gerrigan, goes missing, her wealthy parents from the North Shore hire Cayne to find her. As Cayne looks into her life and past, he uncovers secrets Tinsley’s been hiding from her family. Cayne fears he may never find Tinsley alive.

His worries spike when Tinsley’s boyfriend is found dead—another black man murdered on the tough Chicago streets. Cayne must navigate his complicated relationships within the Chicago PD, leveraging his contacts and police skills to find the missing young woman, see justice done, and earn his redemption.

Contemporary Romance

Roommaids by Sariah Wilson, Pages: 301, Publication Date: 1 October 2020

Synopsis: From bestselling author Sariah Wilson comes a charming romance about living your life one dream at a time.

Madison Huntington is determined to live her dreams. That means getting out from under her family’s wealth and influence by saying no to the family business, her allowance, and her home. But on a teacher’s salary, the real world comes as a rude awakening—especially when she wakes up every morning on a colleague’s couch. To get a place of her own (without cockroaches, mould, or crime scene tape), Madison accepts a position as a roommaid. In exchange for free room and board, all she needs to do is keep her busy roommate’s penthouse clean and his dog company. So what if she’s never washed a dish in her life. She can figure this out, right?

Madison is pretty confident she can fake it well enough that Tyler Roth will never know the difference. The finance whiz is rich and privileged and navigates the same social circles as her parents—but to him she’s just a teacher in need of an apartment. He’s everything Madison has run from, but his kind hearted nature, stomach-fluttering smile, and unexpected insecurities only make her want to get closer. And Tyler is warming to the move.

Rewarding job. Perfect guy. Great future. With everything so right, what could go wrong? Madison is about to find out.

Literary Fiction

A Single Swallow by Zhang Ling, Pages: 299, Publication Date: 1 October 2020

Synopsis: The eagerly awaited English translation of award-winning author Zhang Ling’s epic and intimate novel about the devastation of war, forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring power of love.

On the day of the historic 1945 Jewel Voice Broadcast—in which Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender to the Allied forces, bringing an end to World War II—three men, flush with jubilation, made a pact. After their deaths, each year on the anniversary of the broadcast, their souls would return to the Chinese village of their younger days. It’s where they had fought—and survived—a war that shook the world and changed their own lives in unimaginable ways. Now, seventy years later, the pledge is being fulfilled by American missionary Pastor Billy, brash gunner’s mate Ian Ferguson, and local soldier Liu Zhaohu.

All that’s missing is Ah Yan—also known as Swallow—the girl each man loved, each in his own profound way.

As they unravel their personal stories of the war, and of the woman who touched them so deeply during that unforgiving time, the story of Ah Yan’s life begins to take shape, woven into view by their memories. A woman who had suffered unspeakable atrocities, and yet found the grace and dignity to survive, she’d been the one to bring them together. And it is her spark of humanity, still burning brightly, that gives these ghosts of the past the courage to look back on everything they endured and remember the woman they lost.

Supernatural Thriller

The Haunting of H G Wells by Robert Masello, Pages: 393, Publication Date: 1 October 2020

Synopsis: A plot against England that even the genius of H. G. Wells could not have imagined.

It’s 1914. The Great War grips the world—and from the Western Front a strange story emerges…a story of St. George and a brigade of angels descending from heaven to fight beside the beleaguered British troops. But can there be any truth to it?

H. G. Wells, the most celebrated writer of his day—author of The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man—is dispatched to find out. There, he finds an eerie wasteland inhabited by the living, the dead, and those forever stranded somewhere in between…a no-man’s-land whose unhappy souls trail him home to London, where a deadly plot, one that could turn the tide of war, is rapidly unfolding.

In league with his young love, the reporter and suffragette Rebecca West, Wells must do battle with diabolical forces—secret agents and depraved occultists—to save his sanity, his country, and ultimately the world.

Nonfiction

Welcome to The United States of Anxiety by Jen Lancaster, Pages: 288, Publication Date: 1 October 2020

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Jen Lancaster is here to help you chill the hell out.

When did USA become shorthand for the United States of Anxiety? From the moment Americans wake up, we’re bombarded with all-new terrifying news about crime, the environment, politics, and stroke-inducing foods we’ve been enjoying for years. We’re judged by social media’s faceless masses, pressured into maintaining a Pinterest-perfect home, and expected to base our self-worth on retweets, faves, likes, and followers. Our collective FOMO, and the disparity between the ideal and reality, is leading us to spend more and feel worse. No wonder we’re getting twitchy. Save for an Independence Day–style alien invasion, how do we begin to escape from the stressors that make up our days?

Jen Lancaster is here to take a hard look at our elevating anxieties, and with self-deprecating wit and level-headed wisdom, she charts a path out of the quagmire that keeps us frightened of the future and ashamed of our imperfectly perfect human lives. Take a deep breath, and her advice, and you just might get through a holiday dinner without wanting to disown your uncle.

Children’s Picture Book

The Monster on the Block by Sue Ganz-Schmitt, Illustrator: Luke Flowers, Pages: 32 Publication Date: 1 October 2020

Synopsis: Monster is excited to see what kind of creature will move into Vampire’s old house on the block. He even starts practicing his welcome growl for the new neighbour. But when the moving truck pulls up, it’s not a greedy goblin, an ogre, or a dastardly dragon that steps out. Instead, it’s something even more terrifying than Monster could have imagined! Monster quickly rallies the other neighbours to unite against the new guy on the block. But what if the new neighbour isn’t exactly as bad as Monster thinks? Join Monster as he confronts his fears in this charming and light-hearted look at what it means to accept others who are different from us.

*** Which book will you choose? I have no idea which book I’ll choose as there a couple of books that interest me this month. ***

#AmazonFirstReads, #Amazonkindle, #AmazonPrimeMembers, #BookClubFiction, #Books, #ChildrensPictureBook, #ContemporaryFiction, #Kindle, #KindleBooks, #LiteraryFiction, #NonFiction, #PoliceProcedural, #SupernatuarlThriller, #Thriller

[accidental-rambler]

Thank you so much for your NA recommendations! And, well, i don’t want to seem rude but since you offered ...... “please sir, more”

You’re welcome and of course, no problem ;) Sorry it took a bit but I’ve been busy and also needed to dig deeper for more, lol

Foolish Kingdoms series by Natalia Jaster - so this is a fantasy setting, not a contemporary one, but it’s new adult and honestly, it’s one of the best series I’ve read this year, the writing is beautiful and moving and another book in a series is just around the corner!

Touch by Natalia Jaster - again, fantasy/mythology setting, although a contemporary one this time - AND IT’S SOOO GOOD, seriously JUST EVERYONE READ NATALIA JASTER’S BOOKS

Starcrossed series by Leisa Rayven - I just read this recently and it’s a pretty good one! The plot is nothing new under the sun but it’s a good mix of hot, emotional and angsty; there are also flashbacks which not everyone is a fan of but in this one, it really works to the story’s advantage

Bossman by Vi Keeland - I gotta say I’m not THAT big of a fan of Vi Keeland’s books because of their repetitiveness but this is a decent office romance

#Starstruck by Sariah Wilson - a cute heartwarming romance with dating celebrity trope; one thing is, it doesn’t really have smut so if you only read the explicit ones, well, this one isn’t (it’s still pretty damn good though!)

Forbidden Hearts series by Alisha Rai - Alisha Rai is one of the most underrated authors and it’s SUCH A SHAME because she writes amazing female characters (and male ones too!)

The Hardest Fall by Ella Maise - sports romance with a cute, awkward as hell female characters

Filthy Gods by R. Scarlett - so this is just an opening novella to “American Gods” series but I’d say - so far, so good; it’s steamy as hell romance with enemies to lovers trope and the rest of the series looks promising as well (trigger warning: sexual assault and it’s used as plot device so UGH, it’s the biggest minus of this book)

The Wall of Winnipeg and Meby Mariana Zapata - this is a REALLY slow burn but it’s GOOD

Chicago Rebels series by Kate Meader - nothing like sport romance series with hot hockey players and strong, independent women

Duke of Manhattan by Louise Bay - this has fake married trope and I don’t know, it’s just…it’s cute and sexy and just lots of fun

Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James - enemies to lovers + office romance + THEY ARE LAWYERS??? Sign me TF up!

Dating the Enemy by Nicole Williams - haven’t read it myself but my good friend whose taste I trust thinks it’s rec-worthy ;)

Ok, I’m out, hope this is enough ;)

[anitabyars]

Product Description

What could come between a nanny and an earl in a fairy-tale love story? A reality check—in an endearing and witty romance by Sariah Wilson, the bestselling author of Roommaid.

With her sister’s medical bills mounting, Diana Parker can’t say no to a high-paying opportunity like this: accompany a wealthy couple to Aspen and nanny their precocious five-year-old son for three months. Necessary qualifications? She must know how to ski and teach math, speak fluent French, excel at social graces, and hold a master’s degree in childhood development. Who’ll be the wiser that Diana’s only skill is packing for Colorado?

So far, so good—having a con woman for a mother has turned out to be a benefit, even if Diana has complicated feelings about telling lies. But she’s doing this for her sister. And the perks—like a ticket to a lavish charity fundraiser, a new gown, and a Prince Charming–adjacent earl named Griffin Windsor—are pretty irresistible. Diana can’t deny the Cinderella vibe.

Wary of gold diggers and scandal, England’s most eligible bachelor is nevertheless falling for Diana, and sweeping the not-quite princess off her feet.

The warmer their relationship becomes, the slipperier the slopes are for Diana. Sooner or later, she’ll have to come clean. When that happens, does an honest-to-goodness happy ending stand a chance?

My Review

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such an adorable, funny, sweet, beautiful, and charming fairy-tale love story. With hilarious, and loving characters. This story captured my attention and held it until the end. I loved this story!

Diana Parker has just accepted a job as a nanny for five year old Milo the son of a very wealthy couple in Aspen Colorado. She desperately needs the money to help pay for her sister’s medical bills. The requirements for the nanny position are many and she has exaggerated her qualifications to get this position. So Diana is just going to have to figure out how to get through this job.

Griffin Windsor is England’s most eligible bachelor. He is in the area to help out his brother. And when these two meet you can feel the attraction. He is so down to earth, despite his upbringing. He is charming, sweet and playful. These two have such great chemistry and I loved their banter. But sooner or later she is going to have to come clean.

Everyone needs to read this to enjoy all the fabulous details.

Received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[graceivers]

Review #88 - #Starstruck

#Starstruck Author: Sariah Wilson Genre: Celebrities, College, Contemporary Romance Rating: ★★★★★ Recommendation: worth reading; would read again Summary: Zoe Miller is just a normal girl. Chase Covington is a Hollywood hunk. What are the odds that someone like Zoe would catch the attention of a celebrity like Chase from one simple tweet? And love? It’s one for the tabloids.

Female Lead: Zoe was awesome. This girl was what I wanted and needed out of a new adult female lead. She was the perfect balance of qualities that might or might not have made her too good to be true, but nonetheless, Zoe was absolutely someone I would like in real life. Hard-working, passionate, motivated, shy but self-confident. My goodness, that last quality. Zoe admitted to being socially awkward, but when it counted, she had faith in herself and had no trouble standing up for herself and her perspective, particularly in the finality of her decision to wait until after marriage to have sex. I loved this so, so much. Here was a perfect example of a character who could be on the quieter and insecure side and yet still held her ground when it came to her morals and integrity. That kind of attitude alongside her humor, love of trivia, and kind nature? Yeah, Zoe was pretty much perfect in my eyes. Male Lead: Chase was pretty much perfect too. For a renowned celebrity, Wilson wrote him with honesty, integrity, and a lot of depth. There were a couple of points I wanted Wilson to explore a little more—namely the fact that Chase was an alcoholic and went to rehab—but I guess it was left in favor of highlighting his relationship with Zoe, so I couldn’t complain too much. Naturally, what I loved most about Chase was that he was patient, caring, gentle, and respective of Zoe and her wants. It could be so easy for him to push her, persuade her, utilize his celebrity status to amaze her until she couldn’t say no. But he didn’t. Chase genuinely liked Zoe and actively got to know her and spent quality time with her rather than push for the physical. And yes, Chase made a mistake and hurt Zoe when he reacted without thinking at the climax, but like any fantastical gentleman, he realized the error of his ways and made sure to make it up to her. As far as celebrity crushes go, Chase was definitely a good choice. Plot & Writing: #Starstruck was one of the most fantastically fantastic romances I have ever read. Girl meets her longtime celebrity crush, and they fall in love? Good. Lord. It cannot possibly get any better than that. Wilson made all my dreams come true in this fantasy with great characters, an amazing relationship, a lot of nice depth and exploration, and even throwing in some feminist talk! Everything was so wonderful.

I couldn’t get enough of Zoe and Chase’s relationship. There was Zoe, the girl who had dreams of love and marriage despite her shyness and resolute abstinence-until-after-marriage decision supposedly working against her. There was Chase, the guy who had seen relationships fail time after time and yet knew he wanted to pursue something with Zoe even though she didn’t fit the typical criteria he was looking for. Zoe was rightfully hesitant to start anything with Chase because she felt insecure and didn’t know what she brought to the table, especially when sex was out of the question for her. But oh, she let herself fall, and it was so beautiful and enjoyable to read how much she wanted and loved him. And seriously, reading about Chase’s patience, respect, and admiration for Zoe was so sweet. She got him to change his mind about love and marriage! To have a guy you love love you back so much that he’s willing to change his perspective to be with you? That was the ultimate fantasy come true.

And because this is me, I must talk about the whole abstinence thing and the feminist discussions Wilson inserted into the book. My favorite part of that whole thing was Zoe’s confidence in her decision. She wasn’t going to waver no matter how people tried to tear her down or change her mind. I enjoyed the discussion Zoe and her classmates had on whether choosing to abstain until after marriage was considered feminist or anti-feminist. And despite people attacking her point of view, I loved that Zoe spoke her mind and owned her decision. And of course, I loved so much that Chase respected her decision and still wanted to be with her even though he didn’t believe in and want to get married at that point in his relationship with Zoe. The second discussion Zoe had with her classmates regarding the dramatic media fallout of her temporary breakup with Chase also spoke volumes. Not only did that conversation highlight positive female relationships and the issue of slut-shaming, but it also allowed the feminist talks to come full circle. There were no loose ends here. Wilson tied everything together neatly and wonderfully.

There were so many little things that I loved about this book too. The social media aspect Wilson inserted was fun to read. I loved Zoe’s love for trivia. I loved Chase being a total weirdo over cookies. I loved that they spent time with Zoe’s younger siblings. I loved that the couple actually talked and got to know each other since there was no sex. I loved that this was a clean romance! I loved them getting married and the epilogue. I loved that Chase’s celebrity status was apparent but not flaunted. I loved that the characters were grounded. I could go on and on. Favorite Part(s): Honestly, no one specific scene comes to mind. My favorite part of the book was just watching a beautiful relationship unfold between Zoe and Chase. They had their ups and downs, their moments of jealousy, their arguments. But ultimately, they were two people who liked each other, got to know each other, fell in love with each, and never wanted to be apart. That was my favorite part. The romance. Final Thoughts: Please read #Starstruck. I loved it so much. The book had amazing characters that led to a beautiful relationship. There was humor and fun but also an equal amount of depth and seriousness. I didn’t need sex scenes when I had Wilson crafting this great romance for me to swoon over. Who doesn’t love a good book about getting the chance to fall in love with your celebrity crush? Seriously. I highly recommend #Starstruck.

[sidewalkstv]

Feature: Author Sariah Wilson

"Roommaid," "The Seat Filler," "#Starstruck," "The Friend Zone," and "The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back" are just some of the best selling novels by author Sariah Wilson. Now, her latest novel, "The Paid Bridesmaid," is out now. #SariahWilson

“Roommaid,” “The Seat Filler,” “#Starstruck,” “The Friend Zone,” and “The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back” are just some of the best selling novels by author Sariah Wilson. Now, her latest novel, “The Paid Bridesmaid,” is out now. https://vimeo.com/665048690 Video Content: Sariah Wilson (2022)Reporter Toni Fox spotlights author Sariah Wilson, who promotes her latest novel, “The Paid Bridesmaid: A…