Rachel Higginson - Throne of a Thousand Lies review

Holy wowwwwwww! This book! I had a book hangover after finishing it. I couldn't read it fast enough and didn't want it to be over! I was completely lost in this story. And when you get to the part that explains the book title...  Whew! Tessana had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was navigating a new world and also found herself learning family history. She is strong, independent and has few around her she wholly trusts. The twists and turns this book had held me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want to put it down! I seriously cannot recommend this book enough! You must read Crown of One Hundred Kings  before reading this book. But reader beware, you won't be able to get anything done while reading these books! 

An heir to the throne . . .

Tessana Allisand might have proven that she’s the oldest living daughter of the dead king of Elysia, and that she’s the rightful heir to the Seat of Power, but that doesn’t mean she gets to be queen . . . yet. Forced to wait until her twenty-first birthday, Tess is supposed to be learning how to navigate court life and all the ways she will one day rule the realm. But circumstances and her nefarious uncle keep getting in the way of her education.

A kingdom in turmoil . . .

While Tess is pampered with the luxuries of castle life, the rest of the kingdom suffers under the oppressive thumb of the Ring of Shadows. And while no other ruler seems all that concerned with the evil rebels intent on destroying everyone and everything, Tess alone must find a way to stand up to the dark magic threatening to choke the life from her precious kingdom.

A love shaken by distance . . .

Rachel Higginson - The Secrets We Whisper in the Moonlight review

I was excited to get Eliza's story. And holy slow burn, batman! This book was so delicious and I was here for it! I loved the friendship between Eliza and Jonah. The ease between them was nice and felt realistic. I enjoyed their banter and how they genuinely enjoyed spending time together. The only problem was Eliza's brothers. Jonah, Will and Charlie have been friends forever. And Eliza was the sister he should have ignored. But the chemistry between them was palpable through the pages. I was completely lost in their story and didn't want to put this book down. Jonah was a good guy and he just wanted to find love, like his friends were starting to have. And Eliza was too sexy for her own good. These two didn't have a chance to ignore what was between them! If you love a strong female, a male who is confident with himself and appreciates a strong woman then be sure to grab this book!

Eliza English has grown up in the shadow of her two brothers, Will and Charlie. Protective, pigheaded and overwhelmed with the day-to-day of their co-owned bar, they get in the way of every romantic relationship she’s ever attempted. She would do anything for them. And for the bar. But lately, she wants more than a life grinding through every day with only her brothers to share her burdens. Lately the crush she’s had on her big brother’s best friend is demanding more and more attention.

Jonah Mason has known the English siblings almost his whole life. Will is his best friend, practically family. Charlie is the kid brother he never had. And Eliza… well, she’s nothing like a sister at all. Actually, lately, he’s been thinking about her way more than he should. Lately, he can’t seem to think about anything else but her.

Eliza and Jonah have always drawn firm lines between friendship and anything else. Sure, there’s always been attraction, but both of them have always known anything beyond that is strictly off limits. For the sake of their work. For the sake of her brothers.

Until one moonlit night when they share secrets they never meant to whisper out loud.

Secrets We Whisper in the Moonlight is the second standalone in the Decisions in Durham Series. 

Rachel Higginson - Decisions We Make After Midnight review

 

WOW!! This is a definite, not-to-be-missed read! It was all consuming and I was COMPLETELY lost in ALL. THE. FEELS! I was here for Lola's journey and her finding herself again. She had been completely consumed by her family and the family business and lost herself for a bit. But her best friend Reese had her back and was there for her when she needed a friend the most. I enjoyed their friendship and the support Lo had. I enjoyed the banter between the English siblings and the support they gave one another. But most of all, I enjoyed the tension and the chemistry between Will and Lo. Whew! It was intense, thick and I couldn't get enough. Life has a funny way of bringing people together and this book was SO GREAT! I can't recommend it enough! Go grab your copy today!

Lola Ellis has a picture-perfect life. Until she doesn’t.

Successful, engaged to the man of her dreams, and focused. Until suddenly she’s questioning her position in the family company, her fiancé’s fidelity, and everything she thought she knew about life.

On her way to Florida to open a new branch of the family business and meet her fiancé Owen, she unexpectedly detours to visit her best friend in Durham, North Carolina. What was meant to be a week of rest and relaxation as she gets her mind right stretches into a permanent TBD. She can’t face the future waiting for her in Destin, Florida. And the longer she stays in Durham, the less she wants to.

Will English is an uptight, arrogant bartender who keeps scaring away waitresses. Too busy micromanaging his co-owning siblings, his patience is thin when it comes to the rest of the business. When Lola takes a job at his bar to fill her time while she decides what to do about the mess her life has suddenly become, he decides not to engage with the clearly underqualified new waitress. She’s clumsy, clueless, and costing him too much money every time she gives away another round of drinks because she’s messed up again. And yet… there’s something about her that keeps him from dismissing her.

Together, after the bar closes every night, they forge a friendship that doesn’t fit into either of their lives. Lola’s stay in Durham is only temporary. And Will’s roots in the city are deeply established. A relationship doesn’t make sense. But sometime after midnight one night… they decide they don’t care.

Rachel Higginson - Crown of One Hundred Kings review

I so enjoy Rachel's writing and was excited to get this new series from her! I was very quickly lost in Tess's life. She learns things of a past and it sent her on a quest. Something she was born to do. She must survive a world in which she does not know. Her monk-in-training bodyguard was more of a support for her than one to stop anyone. But he cared for Tess and watched her back! These two were thick as thieves and they suddenly had to depend on others in their journey. I was completely captivated by Tess's journey, what happened to her when she reached her destination and the prince, Taelon. I was on the edge of my seat and hoping Tess would make it. The nefarious ones in this book incited anger and I was ready to throw my kindle, but Tess was strong and I needed to find out what was next. I was so engrossed, I didn't realize I had reached the end. I found myself tapping the next page and it didn't move!! NOOOOOOOOO! I need more Tessana and Taelon!

A lost princess…

Tessana Allisand had a family once. A home. A title. A future. Until one night when everything she loved was taken from her. Secreted away to an isolated monastery in the farthest region of the realm, Tess was raised in the silence of monks and the loneliness of tragedy. And there she would have stayed if the dark magic that killed her family hadn’t finally found her.

An impossible quest…

With her identity discovered, Tessana must face the home she fled all those years ago. The Crown of Nine must return to its rightful place and Tess must be the one to carry it across the nine kingdoms. And when she arrives? She’ll need to convince a dying kingdom that the crown that has belonged to one hundred kings should be given to a queen.

A rebellious prince…

Taelon Treskinat was in love once. With a princess. The daughter of a slaughtered king. He risked everything to save her, to make sure she survived. When that same princess tumbles back into his life no longer the scared little girl he remembers from childhood, he must decide where his duty lies. With the girl that will threaten everything he knows and loves. Or the kingdom he will do anything to protect.

Rachel Higginson - Never Fall In Love With A Rockstar review and excerpt

GAHHHHHHHHH! I love Rachel's books and this one was no exception! I was very quickly drawn into Clover's world and what her life is like these days. The people in her life have no idea of her past and she's okay with that. I enjoyed the way she was suddenly thrown back into her past. It opens up her eyes in ways she did not expect. Her heart is still raw and has never fully recovered from Malachi, even though she tucked it away in a box. The grittiness and hurt in this book is strong and the reader can't help BUT FEEL the emotions these characters are going through. I couldn't read this book fast enough or slow enough to make it last. I wanted to see what was next. How will Clover handle this or what's Malachi's true intentions. If you love a rockstar read, this is THE ONE to pick up next! Be sure not to let this fantastic story pass you by! 

My name is Clover Calloway and I’ve lived two separate lives. 

The first, I like to call “my past.” I never talk about it. I try not to think about it. My rockstar days of playing in one of the hottest bands on the planet are over. Along with the most volatile, beautiful, tragic love story of all time.

Over the past five years, I’ve settled into my second life. My “normal life.” The one where I work a normal job, hang out with normal people and fall in love with a normal, but wonderful guy. The life where I’m admittedly a little bored, but also safe. 

My past wasn’t boring. But my past broke my heart into a million, unfixable pieces. So, I’m determined to keep it where it belongs—behind me. 

And the man responsible for the shattering of me? Malachi Porter, lead singer and mastermind of Bright Tragedy, should stay there too. Far away from me and this idyllic life I’ve carved out for myself. 

But what happens when my two lives collide? 

When Malachi comes crashing into my perfectly normal world, he threatens to destroy it, promises to annihilate everything I’ve replaced him with. 

He upends everything I thought I wanted and forces me to question the reasons I left Bright Tragedy all those years ago.

But I didn’t walk away five years ago, I ran. As fast as I could go. And while my heart is whispering that it’s different this time—that he’s different—my brain is screaming for me to run again.

Malachi Porter isn’t a normal guy. And he doesn’t belong in my “normal life.” But, nevertheless, he’s bound and determined to make a place for himself here.

I just hope my heart can survive him, that we don’t burn into another bright tragedy. 

EXCERPT

Cade released me, setting my feet back on the ground and led me toward the bar area of the restaurant. It was set out of the way of the front windows in a darker, more private section.

 “We’re back here,” he told me. 

Too happy to be spending time with him, I didn’t realize I was being ambushed until it was too late. “We’re?” 

“Don’t hate me,” he murmured as we turned the corner. 

Kai stood up as we walked into the empty space. Gray, Malcom, and Pete were there too, but I didn’t notice them. It was Kai’s blue eyes that surprised the hell out of me. It was Kai’s dominating, ferocious presence that completely stole my breath. 

“What are you doing here?” I demanded in a voice too breathy to be scary, echoing the same words he’d said to me last night. 

Kai’s intense gaze held me prisoner, but it was Cade’s request that upended my entire world. “We want you to come back.” 

Come back to what? “Come back?” 

“To the band,” Kai explained.

“Come back to us.”

Rachel Higginson - The Something About Her review and teaser

I quit life. Or at least my new job. 

My new, fancy, head chef position at one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the city is not turning out like I’d hoped. I’m a mess. Totally out of my element and underqualified, I’ve been thrown into a fiery kitchen and I’m not sure I can handle the heat. 

On top of that, my personal life is falling apart. And to make matters worse, my best friend's brother keeps popping up at all my worst moments to save the day.

I’ve never claimed to have it together, but I certainly don’t need a man to rescue me every time I get my heel stuck in a sewer grate. Except that’s what keeps happening. 

Vann Delane is pushy and stuck up and thinks he knows everything there is to know about everything. And for whatever reason, he keeps saving me. 

Not that he’s happy about it. He’s made it clear what he thinks about my money and dream job and the designer shoes he saved last weekend. He’s not impressed with me and my penchant for disaster. 

I’ve decided to stay away from him. I’ve got too many other fires to put out to worry about the something between us that doesn’t have a name. 

So, he can give his knight in shining armor kindness to someone else. And he can save those intense glances and butterfly-inducing smiles for the nice girl he’s looking for. And he can deny it all he wants, but I know he likes me.

He says I drive him crazy. But I know there’s something about me that he can’t deny.

Amazon Link: www.amazon.com/Something-about-Opposites-Attract-Book-ebook/dp/B07LHKZ3K9/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1547562089&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Something+About+Her

MY REVIEW

I adore Rachel's words and so enjoyed getting lost in this book! I liked how this book was so different from anything else I've read lately! I know nothing about chefs apart from a cooking show here and there. So it was fun feeling like you were in this world. Dillon has an interesting past that has made her into a chameleon. I enjoyed the way Rachel lets the reader know what demons her past has that she still fights. And I ADORED the strong, caring woman she is! She might not realize it, but she's spectacular. She has a great group of friends but felt like something was missing. As she and Vann get to know each other, the less he annoys her and he gets under her skin. I liked that he was different and I LOVED the way he was with Dillon. He got her and he was her champion. I loved watching her come out of her shell and really figure out who she was! While this is the last book in the series, I hadn't read any of the others yet (even though I have bought all of them) and I didn't feel lost.  Rachel allowed me to get to know these characters and while I knew I had missed the intimate details of the others, I was able to keep up and enjoy this book. HOWEVER, I'm looking forward to starting with the first book in this series! If you're ready for a fresh, sweet, powerful read then this is the book for you! Be sure to grab your copy today!

Teaser:
“We need you, Chef,” Blaze said. It was the first time he had addressed me as Chef and I was immediately floored by the weightiness of hearing that one word. Oh, my god, I was the boss. This was my restaurant. And damn did it feel good to hear someone call me Chef. “I’ll be right there,” I told Blaze. To Vann, I said, “Duty calls.” “Let me know if you fire anyone else today,” he teased. I laughed, unable to help myself. Who was this guy? “You’ll be the first to know.” “Bye, Dillon,” he murmured. My stomach flipped at the familiar way he said my name. “Bye, Vann.” I hung up the phone and dropped it inside my desk drawer. I had a kitchen to run. I couldn’t be thinking about Vann Delane and his surprisingly good advice. Or his shockingly cute butt. Slapping a hand over my mouth to hide my smile, I walked back to the kitchen, pushed up my sleeves and got to work.

Rachel Higginson - Trailer Park Heart review and teaser

Blurb:

Trailer park born and raised. It’s my legacy. That’s how my mama lived. And that’s how her mama lived. It’s the life I was born into and it’s the life I swore I would leave the second I was old enough to make it out.

Only legacies have a funny way of sneaking up on you. An innocent decision the night of high school graduation led to a series of complications in my plans to escape.

Seven years later, I’ve resigned myself to this small town and the roots I’m tied to. Nothing could make me leave. And nothing could make me spill the secrets that keep me here.

Until he walks back into town with a chip on his shoulder and a stupid hunch nobody else in town has been smart enough to follow.

Levi Cole is my opposite. Born on the right side of the tracks with family money to spare, he’s the kind of black sheep that can afford to be rebellious—because his family will always pay for his mistakes. He’s also the only living heir to Cole Family Farms, after his brother Logan was killed in duty seven years ago.

He sees something in my life that he thinks he has a right to. But he’s wrong. And obnoxious. And he needs to take his stubborn good looks and that intense way he looks at me and go back to wherever it was he came from.

I know better than to trust men like him. I was born and raised in a trailer park, I know nothing good happens to girls like me—girls with trailer park lives and trailer park hearts. Especially from gorgeous, kind, pigheaded men like him.

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My Review

I was sucked in from the very beginning of this book. I did NOT want to put it down! I was lost in Ruby's story.  She wasn't raised on the "right" side of town and growing up was harder for her due to where her mom worked but she made the best of things. Life hadn't gone exactly to plan, but she had a full-time job, a roof over her head and love in her life. I enjoyed the banter between Levi and Ruby, first their love/hate feud in high school and now that he's back in town.  Things don't feel right between them if they aren't picking on each other and trying to have the last say. Levi sees things that most people in Ruby's life miss.  He's good for her, but she's stubborn.  I really enjoyed the way this story was told and the ways in which Levi breaks through Ruby's walls.  I also liked how the reader knows Ruby's secret and I felt like I was in Ruby's shoes, waiting on that other shoe to fall. I can't recommend this book enough! Grab your copy now!

Teaser

It was only the middle of September, but I knew I had to start putting away a little bit every paycheck, so I would have something extra if Jamie suddenly asked me to purchase all the treat bag paraphernalia or juice boxes for the entire school.
“You look tired, baby,” Mom commented. “Hard day at work?”
“Just a hard day.” I sighed and slid onto the stool beside her.
“Don’t you hate how many of those there are?” she asked, her eyes glittering with mischief.
“This grown-up thing is for the birds.”
“Amen.”
Max returned with the cuss jar. “Two dollars, Grammy.”
“Two dollars?” she gasped.
He grinned at her. “The F word is five! You’re getting a bargain.”
We laughed at my crazy, smart, ridiculous kid. He’d been the one to decide the varying
degrees of fines. On one hand, I knew I should be a better mom and protect him from all these words to begin with. On the other, I knew it was more important to raise him the right way than to always put him in the right situations. I couldn’t possibly control every single thing he’s exposed to during our lifetimes. But I could help him become the best man possible. I could teach him through the hard and awkward and awful situations and help him become kind and honest, loyal and giving.
Or, at least that’s what I hoped to do.
“I guess I am.” My mom laughed.
“What about homework, little man?” I asked him after he’d collected my mom’s money.
He made a frustrated sound. “Maybe, I don’t know.”
Pulling out his folder, I dove into the after-school mom responsibilities I knew so well. It was
weird that Jamie had invited us over for a playdate. But it was even weirder that Levi Cole was coming back.
What did he want here?How long was he going to stay?Not that it mattered to me. I planned to ignore him, remember?
Easy.