Romance Retreat: Only His by Susan Mallery

Book Review: Only His by Susan Mallery

Only His - Susan Mallery

Wedding bells are ringing in Fool’s Gold, but not for Nevada Hendrix. Her triplet sisters are engaged, and even her mother has a more active love life than she does. Determined to make a fresh start, she applies for her dream job, only to discover that her new boss is her first love. Maybe she could overlook the fact that they’ve seen each other naked, but she’ll never forget the way he broke her heart. Tucker Janack agrees to Nevada’s “business only” ground rules. After all, love is a trap that the construction millionaire has avoided his whole life. But when great business partners turn out to be so much more, every rule gets broken. Will either of them be willing to try again…or will their past get in the way?

HQN Books - Release Date: 27th September 2011

Why Did I read this book?

As I've already explained in my previous Romance Retreat post, I like to read at least one book a month in this genre and Susan Mallery is a favourite author of mine when it comes to contemporary romance.. Only HIs is the sixth book in her Fool's Gold series (the 3rd in the Hendrix triplets mini-series) so, naturally I had to pick it up.
I got this book through Netgalley

The Cover

As always with e-galley I've not seen the cover in IRL. I quite like it though. It looks summery and very serene and tranquil. It doesn't fit the story though, as Only His is more a wintery novel than a summery, and I don't think there's a lake in Fool's Gold.

My Thoughts
When you pick up a Susan Mallery novel you always get exactly what you expect. A charming setting, a sweet romance, some obstacles and a Happy Ever After. It's like a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate during Winter, or the sand under your feet and the ocean breeze on your skin in Summer. In other words, it's the perfect escape from dreary every day life.
Only His is the 6th Fool's Gold novel and features the third triplet sister Nevada and her first crush, now boss, Tucker Janack.Only His is not solely about Nevada and Tucker, but also about the town they live in.  It's awesome reading about Fool's Gold again, it's such a wonderful place and it comes alive within the pages. There are a few sidestories. For instance we get to follow Denise Hendrix, mother of the triplets, and her second chance at love, something that was set up nicely the earlier novels. We also get to see Jo falling in love, she who has been the constant throughout all six novels, owner of the bar and a shotgun, averse to love and men.
Only His is several things at once. It's a nice ending to the Only-miniseries, it's also a bit like a high-school reunion where you get to meet all the characters you liked in the earlier novels and see what they are up to know AND it's also setting up another three novels set in Fool's Gold, as we get to meet new(ish) characters like Annabelle, Charlie and Heidi.

Final Words
If you've enjoyed the previous novels set in Fool's Gold, you definitely shouldn't miss this one.

In My Mailbox # 27

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.


This is what I got during these past two weeks. It's been two exciting and awesome weeks :) The bad quality of the pics is due to me being able to find my camera AGAIN! All links go as usual to Goodreads.

Raw Blue - Kirsty Eagar. I jumped up and down when this book finally arrived. Shipped from New Zealand. And let me tell you, this book is THE MOST AWESOME book I've ever read. I'm officially in love with Aussie books!!

(Un)like a Virgin - Lucy-Anny Holmes. Love the cover, looking forward to reading this, her debut was awesome.

Lucky Girl - Cate Lord

The Girl of Fire and Thorns - Rae Carson. Yay, I can't wait to start this one.

Fixing Delilah - Sarah Ockler. I just had to get this one, after I've recently read and loved Twenty Boy Summer.

Guitar Highway Rose - Brigid Lowry. Awesome title, awesome cover. Another Aussie one.

KINDLE BOOKS

So many awesome covers, such vibrant colors. Such a shame they're all on my kindle. Me wants the paperbacks too :)

Meant to be - Tiffany King. I got this one for free on amazon. Never heard about it, but I can't say no to free books, can't I :)

Love Come to Me - Lisa Kleypas. This is a reissue of one of her earliest books.

Deep Blue Secret - Christie Anderson

Everblue - Brenda Pandos. Mermaids and Mermen :)

Bright Young Things - Anna Godbersen. This one I also got for free on amazon.

The Sky Is Everwhere - Jandy Nelson. I've heard so much good about this one, I finally had to see what all the fuss was about.

So, that's it from me this week. What did you all get?

Happy Reading!

YA-Lounge: And For Your Information... - Denise Deegan

Book Review: And For Your Information... by Denise Deegan

Sometimes you come across a book that surprises you. It doesn't happen all that often to me anymore. I guess I spend to much time on Goodreads and on other blogs. I hesitate writing a review of this book because I really think you should go read it first, and then come back and let me know what you thought.  Anyway, And For Your Information... is the second Butterfly Novel, the first one is And By The Way which you should have read before starting this one, as it's going the spoil it otherwise.

And For Your Information... by Denise Deegan. A Butterfly Novel

Everyone thinks they know who I am - ditzy Sarah, who cares more about appearances than she does about anything real. And yeah, I do care about what people think of me. Take my friends Alex and Rachel. We all go to Strandbrook College, Dublin. We're supposed to be best friends. But Alex and Rachel - they're really close. They tell each other things that they would never tell me. I try not to mind. And then there's Simon. He's my sort-of boyfriend but we hardly see each other. And when we do, I feel like he doesn't really 'see' me, you know? Everything's such a mess right now. My dad left us to be with Her; my mum is really angry all the time; and my brother Louis, he just doesn't care. I guess that's why the shoplifting started. It makes me feel good. In control. I just want everything to change. And it does. The day I got caught...

My Review

Oh, you're still here?! (or back again :) )

I still think one should start reading this book without knowing anything about it. Because I didn't. And let me tell you, this book took my heart out of my chest and punched it. Several times. Then it put it back all battered and bruised.
So, yeah, I've already destroyed it for you. I'm sorry.

I started And For Your Information... right away when cute Postie came by with it. Maybe it was the wrong time for me, as I just had some very bad Family news and still felt really emotional. I wanted to read something that cheered me up and I thought this would be the perfect book for that. I was wrong.
It started already in the beginning of the book. The scenes between Sarah and her mother felt so real and raw, they made me feel so frustrated I wanted to punch something.
I've read And For Your Information in one day. In the end I actually hid it under my bed because I didn't want to finish it, so I tried to ignore it, but that didn't work obviously.

Wishing Wednesdays #1

- Wishing Wednesdays is a new feature I created because I like pretty things. Just because I'm currently broke doesn't mean I can't wish for thing, right? Wishing Wednesdays is exactly what it sounds like. I'll be featuring book-related things that are on my WishList. -

The Book Locket Necklace

First up is a little thing called a book locket. I've been wishing for one of these since like forever. Every christmas and every birthday I hint at it and I still don't have one :). For me they're just the perfect thing. I loooove books, obviously, they are my best friends. I also like to make my own jewellery, I love creating something with my hands. Having a bookish-necklace would be a perfect way of representing my Reader-status and be stylish at the same time.

There are many different types of book locket necklaces. Romantic, Girly, Steampunky, Sophisticated, Antique, Story-themed, Author themed. The following ones are some my favourites (links go to etsy):

A Beautiful Reader

Silver Book Locket

 

 

 

Ruby Sunset

Book Locket Owl and Flower Necklace

My One and Only Steampunk Book Locket

That's my Wednesday Wish for today :)

Sorry

Sorry for the confusion. My blogger app for iPhone decided to just randomly switch back to my book-blog when I in fact was blogging for my personal blog. Sorry again.
I have deleted the personal post, but I know it will still be there and readable on google reader.
Embarrassing ;(

In My Mailbox #26

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.

I've had some problems with my internet this week, which really annoyed me as I have a ton of reviews to post, in fact it made me so annoyed that I was close to throwing my laptop out of the window several times. Worked all morning today to finally get it fixed and it seems to work a bit better now. *Happy-Dance*. Anyway, without the distraction of my laptop I got quite some reading done :). So, this is what I got this week. Links go as usual to Goodreads. Pictures taken with iPhone.

I'm Not Her - Janet Gurtler. Even though I didn't like the plot/story in If I Tell, I liked the writing a lot, so I decided to check out Gurtlers debut.

Vanish - Sophie Jordan. The sequel to Firelight. 'Squeeeee'. Love the cover, breathtakingly beautiful!

Going Underground - Susan Vaught. Sounds certainly interestingly different.

Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler. Don't know why I haven't read this before, but, well, I'm still new to YA.

All These Things I've Done - Gabrielle Zevin. Like this cover, I expected the white-one, so it was quite a surprise when I saw this. Sounds like an exciting book :)

Kindle

The Beginning of After - Jennifer Castle. (The cover really reminds me of If I Tell by Janet Gurtler)

Isle of Night - Veronica Wolff. Sounds really interesting!!

Flat-Out Love - Jessica Park

Swag

Signed Bookmark by Victoria Schwab - The Near Witch. Isn't it preeettty and shiny?? And yes, my walls are pink :)

So, that's it from me this week. What did you all get?

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox # 25

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.


Hello and welcome to my IMM. I got a few books this week I'm really excited about and can't wait to read. Please excuse the bad quality of the photos, I only had my phone at hand when it came to taking pictures, that's also why there are so many of them :). All links go as usual to Goodreads.

Chain Reaction - Simone Elkeles. I loved the two previous ones in the serious, looking forward to reading this.

Shut Out - Kody Keplinger. OMG, I'm Kody's biggest fan! Review coming on Monday.

And for Your Information... - Denise Deegan.( A Butterfly Novel, #2 in a series) I loved this one, it made me cry. The butterflies on the cover are cute :)

Soul Beach - Kate Harrison. The Colors! Look at the colors! I want to have this cover as a poster on my wall. It's so gorgeous. Really looking forward to reading this, as I'm a big fan of Kate's adult novels.

Pure Red - Danielle Joseph. Cute little book with lots of color in the story.

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? - Claudia Carroll. This book was sent to me from Harper Collins. Not really sure why, maybe I won it in a competition somewhere?

Star Struck - Jane Lovering. I love Jane's previous novel, short review here. Can't wait to read this one!

Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts - Claire LaZebnik. I'm currently reading this and l'm loving it so far. I'm a big fan of Claire LaZebnik.

Welcome to my World - Miranda Dickinson. When I was browsing on the bookdepository I saw that this book was really cheap, so I just had to buy it :)

Kindle Books:

Graffiti Moon - Cath Crowley (Netgalley)

The Sweetest Thing - Christina Mandelski (Netgalley)

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

If I Tell - Janet Gurtler (Netgalley)

That's it from me this week, what did you all get?

Happy Reading!

August Favourites (Monthly favs #8)

My favourite books of August.

August has been another month during which I just couldn't read, it's been an emotional month for me with lots of setbacks and books just couldn't help me this time. According to Goodreads I've read 9 books in August, a few of them were Re-Reads.


My hands down favourite book in August was:

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.

I'm in LUUURVE with this book! I loved everything about it. The Road-Trip-y feeling, the gorgeous guy, the locations and descriptions of them and the DRAWINGS! There are wonderful drawings in this book that give the story that little extra something. I'll post a review of this wonderful book a little closer to its Release Day in March next year.
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The second book that made it into my *Favourite* list was an unexpected one:

And For Your Information... by Denise Deegan. A Butterfly Novel

Everyone thinks they know who I am - ditzy Sarah, who cares more about appearances than she does about anything real. And yeah, I do care about what people think of me. Take my friends Alex and Rachel. We all go to Strandbrook College, Dublin. We're supposed to be best friends. But Alex and Rachel - they're really close. They tell each other things that they would never tell me. I try not to mind. And then there's Simon. He's my sort-of boyfriend but we hardly see each other. And when we do, I feel like he doesn't really 'see' me, you know? Everything's such a mess right now. My dad left us to be with Her; my mum is really angry all the time; and my brother Louis, he just doesn't care. I guess that's why the shoplifting started. It makes me feel good. In control. I just want everything to change. And it does. The day I got caught ...

This cute little book took me completely by surprise. I think I've never ever cried so much while reading a book, I got really emotionally invested. I read it almost a week ago and it still hasn't left me. I'll be posting a longer review next week :)