Andrea Jenelle's Blog, page 4

Just Like Magic

My favorite holiday read of the year!This mash-up of Schitt’s Creek and The Christmas Carol will have you cheesing and glowing like the Cheshire Cat. It’s the perfect hot chocolate, fuzzy socks, hot tea snuggle, cold night with the wind howling at the door read. If your heart doesn’t grow three sizes after reading it, you have my utmost sympathy. Bettie’s life is in the toilet but she needs to save face and keep her failure a secret. She manages to score a house sitting gig so she can go home for Christmas. She’s trying to get in the spirit with Mariah Carey, and the song really does bring her wish to life.But Hall is a piece of ephemeral holiday magic. just like Frosty. So how is he going to ensure her heart is transformed by the Christmas spirit and she gets her HEA?An adorable, zany, light-hearted, kissing only romance that is a warm hug.

Raven Unveiled

This lush enemies to lovers story had me enthralled from the very first sentence.Siora is on the run from her former employer, Gharek. She came to genuinely love his daughter, and she is grateful for the safe landing and full belly he provided her with. She left because she had no choice.Her flight hurt Gharek in ways he thought were no longer possible. As the former queen’s assassin he is despised throughout the kingdom. He has always loomed larger than life, a loathsome legend to be avoided at all costs. He is the stuff nightmares are made of. But he thought Siora saw beyond the blood on his hands and now he wants her to apologize to his daughter for her betrayal. Even if he has to chase her down across the entire kingdom.When he finally catches up to his quarry, they are both cast onto a path they couldn’t have imagined. It is an imperiled journey of impossible odds and star-crossed love. It is a journey that gives sanctuary to two guarded, lonely hearts.Recommended for fans of authors Jennifer Armentrout and Laura Thalassa and for anyone else obsessed with House of the Dragon.A huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.Some of my favorite quotes:There was a magic about this woman that had nothing to do with ghosts or necromancy and everything to do with softness. Softness of the soul, of the mind, a calming for tortured thoughts and dark fury, of regret and despair. He had at turns considered her a gift, then a curse.This wasn’t about rescue or redemption, but something far simpler, truer, and honest. It was desire without justification, affection without explanation, maybe even love if she wanted to step on to that thin ledge and risk a terrible fall.No matter his answer, she’d never regret this, never regret holding the cat’s-paw in her arms and in her body. In her heart as well. Acknowledging the last, even if he’d never know, nearly took her breath away.Excerpt from the book:RAVEN UNVEILED by Grace DravenAce Trade Paperback Original | On sale November 8, 2022ExcerptGharek held a small lamp aloft to illuminate the path ahead. He didn't worry that the fragile light might be seen in the distance and alert someone. His mount's hooves crushing sticks and brittle deadfall would accomplish the task long before the light did.

The music of insects and bird calls had been loud just before he crossed the tree line, a cacophony of whistles, rustles, and chirps. Those sounds died away the closer he rode to the ruins of the dead city until the silence itself held its breath and only the gloom shrouding the trees breathed. His amiable mare stopped suddenly then pranced backward, tossing her head and snorting. Gharek tapped his heels against her sides to coax her forward. She'd have none of it, fighting the bit in her mouth as she pivoted on her hooves to trot back the way they'd come.

Gharek reined her to a halt, considering whether it was wise to continue his scouting in another direction or make camp nearby and wait until morning to resume his hunt. He'd lose time with camping but trying to find anyone in this darkness while riding a spooked horse was an exercise in futility. Besides, he could make up the time in daylight. Siora was on foot, he on horseback. He'd cover far more ground in less time than she would, and the chance she'd outrun him if he spotted her was nonexistent.

He guided the mare to retrace her steps, and this time she readily obeyed the command, eager to put distance between them and the city that squatted like a pustule on the landscape. But she'd taken no more than a pair of steps when something wrapped icy fingers around Gharek's spine and wrenched him backward. He flew off the saddle as if lassoed from behind and landed on his back. The ground beneath him vibrated from the beat of his mare's hooves as she bolted past him into the labyrinth of trees.

He lay there for a moment, stunned and winded. The ice shard wedged against his backbone remained, though whatever had ripped him from horseback didn't press him into the dirt. A few more breaths and he lurched to his feet, unsettled by his unusual clumsiness, alarmed by the violence of an invisible force that had so thoroughly unhorsed him. There'd been no trip rope to clothesline him, nor had he been riding fast when he fell. The lamp he held had fallen when he did, lost somewhere in the underbrush when its flickering light had guttered. Darkness hung thick enough to scoop with a spoon.

His muttered curses sounded loud to his ears as he peered into the sepulchral black, hoping he might spot the mare standing nearby or at least find a partially cleared path that led back to open pasture. He took a step only to suffer a hard clamp on his backbone, as if the icicle there had suddenly transformed into a shackle locked around his middle. Invisible tethers seized his arms and legs and he was jerked to one side and then the other as if by a drunken puppeteer with their hands on the strings.

Gharek staggered, struggling to keep his feet, struggling to free himself from the bonds that held him in an unbreakable grip that both dragged and yanked him in the direction of Midrigar's walls. He careened through the dark, along a jagged path that propelled him into tree trunks before spinning him away to tear through the underbrush. He tried planting his feet in the dirt to no avail, his boots carving skid marks as he was pulled along like a cur on a leash. His palms left bloody smears on the bark of those trees he tried to grip for purchase and was wrenched away with little effort.

The iciness slithering down his spine spread in creeper tendrils throughout his body, wrapping around his lungs and heart, his liver, even his tongue so that his curses and snarls slowly ebbed away and his struggles waned. Speaking was an impossibility, breathing a challenge, and he was reduced to nothing more than a grunting, shambling mute driven inexorably toward an ancient city of the damned and a fate he could not know but feared with every part of his soul. Excerpted from  Raven Unveiled  by Grace Draven Copyright © 2022 by Grace Draven. Excerpted by permission of Ace. All rights reserved.

Never Rescue a Rogue

The hero falls first...Diana is convinced marriage isn't for her. The sacrifice is too great. She has a profession she loves and her words wield the power to right wrongs and deliver justice.Giles is convinced that she's the devil's advocate. He's always noticed her beauty, but he's been the victim of her sharp tongue one too many times.They aren't exactly enemies, but they harbor a mutual disdain. In a turn of events neither of them expected, they confess some of their deepest secrets. They are drawn together because they are trying to discover who is blackmailing him. The forced proximity of their sleuthing leads to kisses in the brambles and cognac by the fire.They are in the middle of it before they even know they've begun.But his title is at stake and there is every likelihood he could end up imprisoned. He can't offer her a secure future.She's beginning to believe she shouldn't rule marriage out. Especially if it's with him. But he's a duke and she's a forger's daughter.Tropes: enemies to lovers, opposites attract, joint mission, hero falls first, cinnamon roll heroA huge thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this delightful romance in exchange for an honest review.

Partners in Crime

This was the perfect combination of heist and second chance romance.Mira’s matchmaker just dumped her as a hopeless cause. She hasn’t seen her sister in years and her work consumes her life. She broke it off with Naveen a couple of years ago, even though they clicked. He made her re-evaluate and reconsider too many things, and that scared her. When her beloved aunt unexpectedly died she’s informed that she has an inheritance.A precarious hostage situation brings them together again. They’re thrown together in a fight for survival and need their combined mental acuity to solve the mystery of an ambiguous bequest from Mira’s aunt.This was an exciting, action-packed adventure romance that was like a cross between the Oceans movies and The Hangover with steam and unexpected plot twists.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned

I loved this story.He’s one of the most idolized, beloved actors on the planet.She’s a costuming assistant whose boss treats her like a glorified errand girl.Their first encounter convinced her that he’s an overpaid, arrogant tool. Even if he’s starred in her secret fantasies for years. When she’s picked as an extra in what should be a minor role, the sparks fly and suddenly she has her own ship hashtag. And everyone is speculating about where her relationship with America’s heartthrob will go.He’s suddenly showing up at every available opportunity. They have inside jokes and confessions between them. He makes fun of her smelly car.They shouldn’t work together based on first impressions and statistics. But they do.This wonderful story was full of tongue in cheek humor, self-deprecation, and references to the absurdity that can ensue when social media gets involved in our personal lives.Tropes: opposites attract; grumpy vs. grumpy; secretly nerdy hero.Highly recommended for fans of Lynn Painter and Emily Henry.

Better Than Fiction

This story had me hooked from the beginning....I was baffled by the heroine's initial disinterest in books, but when I heard the entirety of her story it made sense. I've been a bookworm for nearly my entire life, and books are like air to me. This gave me insight into why so many people around me struggle to pick up books. The love story that unfolds isn't a conventional one. The hero is a writer who is immediately drawn to the woman who owns the local bookstore. When he discovers her aversion to reading it is a challenge he accepts - he wants to share his words and his love of other books with her. They make a deal. She'll show him the perfect settings throughout the state for his next book and try to read the books he recommends. Spending every weekend together is a surefire way to eke their way into each other's hearts. There's only one catch. Drew isn't happy owning her grandmother's bookstore and wants her old life back. Jasper's growing affection and curation of her reading journey enhances her appreciation of the world, but it also shows her that she doesn't need to sacrifice her happiness or dreams for the convenience of others. A steamy, heartwarming love story about the magic of books and how they transform our lives. A huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Built to Last

Shelby, Cameron and Lyle spent their childhood in the spotlight. Shelby got used to living her life under a microscope, but she doesn’t miss it. She’s finally distanced herself from the toxic remnants of stardom – the awful choices she made because she was seeking validation, the terrible relationship she settled for because she was lonely. She loves her work as a custom furniture creator. (I kept channeling Kyra Sedgwick’s character from Phenomenon – and I think Cameron would buy all of her chairs just like John Travolta bought Kyra’s… just sayin’)Cameron is the man who broke her heart when they were becoming the people they are now. He’s a famous National Geographic personality and he’s apparently moved on with his life. Until he’s offered the chance to debut in an HGTV house flip pilot with Shelby. The director is Lyle – the one part of their teen trio that’s still blinded by narcissism. He tries every ploy in the book to make sure Cameron and Shelby are awkward in camera. He relentlessly pressures them to manufacture an on-screen romance and stage the comeback they all need. The problem with the comeback is that you can’t come back from something you never left. Shelby and Cameron may have gone years without seeing each other. But you know that meme … “You came..” “You called…” --- well that’s the perfect way to sum up their relationship. If Shelby calls Cameron is always going to show up with a hug or a moving truck or a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. And now he has thighs like a lumber jack, a beard and the same sweet smile that made her swoon as teenager.I loved this second chance romance with all my heart! It had the perfect amount of steam, swooning, laughter and snark. Highly recommended if you like the books of Emily Henry or Lucy Score.

Where We End And Begin

I loved this evocative, atmospheric second chance romance. I loved the way the author intricately entwined Nigerian culture into the plot and explored the social class structure to develop the personalities of the hero and heroine.Dunni and Obinna’s story is one of immediate connection. From the moment they meet, they feel an affinity that seems undeniable. As teenagers still bound to the strictures and mores of their parents, their love seems doomed. Dunni is encouraged to seek out boys of her own economic class and Obinna’s mother tells him getting caught up with Dunni will bring him nothing but trouble.Their love story is thwarted by Dunni’s parents, and they don’t see each other again for 12 years. It is a bittersweet reunion, and Dunni doesn’t trust the urbane playboy Obinna’s has become. He’s convinced she forgot about him and made her life in America.But Dunni is keeping secrets from Obinna’s, and as they reconnect and realize that their feelings are just as strong, she struggles with the burden of her truth.I loved the elements of predetermined fate and superstition Dunni’s grandmother brought to the story, and the descriptions of Nigerian food and what certain dishes meant to Obinna and his family.This is a character-driven romance perfect for readers of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?A huge thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How to Win a Wallflower

The crowded ballroom is the last place Tabitha expects to find a kindred spirit. Especially in the guise of a man with a reputation like his. He isn’t the kind of respectable man she should seek out as someone who will solidify her intellectual reputation and secure her membership in an illustrious society. But Finn Ramsome has worn a mask for years and made a path for himself with his unique skills. He’s insecure beneath his polish and he doesn’t want his bluestocking genius wife to discover just how unsuitable he actually is for her. He’s a gambler scared he’ll lose his heart if he lays all his cards on the table. He likes risks he can calculate, and the brilliant woman who captures his attention is the most reckless choice of all because she’ll be able to see what he strives to hide from most of the world.

She’s determined to make a place for herself in a world determined to keep women in silent corners. He’s the last man she’d expect to help her accomplish that.

They should be opposites, but they recognize they are the missing piece of each other’s soul.She’s the first woman to hold his hidden insecurities in the palm of her hand and do everything in her power to dispel them and ensure he knows he’s her perfect complement.He’s the first man to show her that all of the parts of her are beautiful in their own right and that she completely enthralls him with her sparkling wit, and her incisive, inquisitive mind.I absolutely adored the second book in the Last Chance Scoundrels series by Eva Leigh. It’s tender, steamy, provocative and thought provoking.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.Some of my favorite quotes:“Beauty is treacherous,” he said after a moment. “There are many things in life that would harm us—if we aren’t careful. Then we bear their scars.” She stared at him. Of all the people to say such things to her, she’d never believed Finn Ransome would be the one to do it. What wounds did he carry? “And those scars make us ugly,” she whispered, “whether they are visible or not.” “Or make us stronger, and even more wondrous,” he countered gently. They gazed at each other, and she

Well, he was very good at maintaining a smooth, unreadable surface, and he could hide anything that might or might not be developing.

This was to be an arrangement of convenience, not passion. But still . . . his awareness of her grew with each moment, his body asking him questions he shouldn’t answer. Yet he craved those answers. Craved her.

But she wouldn’t tell him that she’d tucked the acorn he’d given to her into her glove, so it rested over where her pulse fluttered in her wrist.

“You want more? After . . . after . . .” She glanced at the table, and its ruined landscape of scattered dishes and cutlery. “Apparently, when it comes to you,” he said, his regard hot over the rim of his glass, “my appetite has no limits.” “I thought you weren’t a voluptuary,” she murmured. “I wasn’t.” He shook his head at himself, as if hardly believing it. “Evidently, you become one upon meeting the right person.” “Isn’t the adage, ‘Reformed rakes make the best husbands’?” “In our case, the best husbands become rakes.”

“There are many sides to me, love,” he said huskily, “just as there are layers to you. We’ll explore them all, but first, there is the bather and the one being bathed.” He unwrapped a bar of soap, and the scent of honey uncurled seductively. “In you go.”

Sex was one thing—she could tell herself it was merely a physical act, a biological imperative that overrode sense. Yet once they lay down together in the profound intimacy of sleep, there was no hiding behind passion. He had been within her body, but as they shared a bed, the way mates did, he was also in her heart.

The Librarian Spy

This was such a fascinating dive into the intersection between archival studies and espionage. This was a dual narration, with two separate, yet intertwined stories from two very different heroines. The first heroine, Elaine, is a member of the French Resistance whose husband disappears. She becomes more embroiled in helping those who are persecuted exist, and has many near escapes right under the nose of the Gestapo. The second heroine, Ava, is fascinated by books and dedicated to uncovering their secrets. She becomes a secret agent both to help the war effort and because her brother is serving. Both heroines encounter challenges they never could have imagined, and Elaine especially watches her friends and comrades fall prey to the Nazi regime and struggles to find enough food to live on because of the rationed stock. Their fates become enmeshed in a plot twist I did not see coming. Highly recommended for readers of the historical fiction of Marie Benedict, Kelly Bowen and Kate Quinn.