BOOK BLITZ: ALMOST PERFECT BY DELANEY DIAMOND

 

Almost Perfect
Delaney Diamond
(The Cordoba Agency, #4)
Publication date: May 20th 2022
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

A cat burglar and an assassin run for their lives across Paris—and try not to get distracted by the sizzling attraction between them.

Assistant antique dealer by day, cat burglar by night, Sable Devereaux has lived in the shadows for years. With one final heist, she can walk away from a life of crime and open her own antique store, retiring to the quiet existence she has always dreamed of. But during her last theft, she witnesses a murder and goes on the run to escape the cross-hairs of some very powerful people.

Agent and master-of-disguise, Hunter Mitchell is intrigued when he has to subdue the sexy thief after she breaks into his Parisian apartment. Then he quickly learns he must protect her—and himself—from an organization hiding much more than a murder.

The couple races across Paris in a fight to stay alive and stop one of the most powerful organizations in the world—and discover what they’ve been looking for all along… is each other.

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—

EXCERPT:

“Let me help you,” Sable said from the doorway.

“I got it. I’ve been shot before. I have nine lives.” Hunter flashed a grin.

Her hand grasped his undamaged arm. “Please.”

He paused. “All right.” He turned down the lid on the commode and sat down.

“Take off your shirt,” Sable instructed as she doused a washcloth with warm water.

Hunter pulled the shirt over his head and revealed his firm chest. Blood stained his sandy-colored skin and the blond hairs on his forearm.

Sable started cleaning his arm and around the cut. “Why do you do this?”

“Do what?” So close to him in the small bathroom, his voice rumbled in her ears.

“You’re good at what you do, but you risk your life to protect people all the time, right? How can you constantly jeopardize your own safety?”

“You’re one to talk.”

She looked up at him briefly before setting the bloody rag on the counter and picking up a cotton swab. “Normally, being a thief isn’t so dangerous.”

He watched her work for a bit. “It’s exciting. It’s in my blood. I’ve been this way since I was sixteen. I got into trouble and an organization helped me get on the right path.”

“Men like you…” Sable shook her head, tossing the bloody cotton in the trash. “Never mind.”

“Men like me? Daredevils?” he prodded.

“Yes, daredevils. And players.”

“What’s wrong with us? Daredevils are fun. Players make the best lovers.” Amusement filled his voice.

She wrapped his arm with gauze, keeping her eyes trained on the task and avoiding his eyes. “Players also break hearts.”

“Only if you give them your heart,” Hunter said in a low voice.

That was a warning if she ever heard one. Sable smoothed a hand over the bandage. “There.” She briefly washed her hands while he continued to watch her.

When she finished, she stepped back, but Hunter caught her shirt and held her in place. She didn’t want to look at him but couldn’t resist lifting her gaze.

“You want to give me your heart, Sable?”

The thinning of the air made breathing difficult. “I’m not that foolish.”

Hunter’s light-colored eyes scoured her face. Then he stood, fisting her shirt in his hand and hauling her closer. Sable let out a soft gasp. The breath leaving her nostrils trembled and stuttered as much as her beating heart.

“Thank you for taking such good care of me.”

She swallowed. “You’re welcome.”

He cocked his head, gaze dropping to her parted lips. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for the longest. You gonna let me kiss you, Sable?” he asked huskily.

He didn’t wait for an answer.

He dipped his head, and her lips fell open wider before his mouth touched hers. Their mouths crashed together, guttural moans leaping from their throats and filling the small bathroom.

Author Bio:

Delaney Diamond is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sensual, passionate romance novels, and was born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She reads romance novels, mysteries, thrillers, and a fair amount of nonfiction. When she’s not busy reading or writing, she’s in the kitchen trying out new recipes, dining at one of her favorite restaurants, or traveling to an interesting locale. To get sneak peeks, notices of sale prices, and find out about new releases, visit her website and join her mailing list. Enjoy free stories on her website at www.delaneydiamond.com.

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BOOK BLITZ: PAINTED SCARS BY NEVA ALTAJ @XpressoBookTours

 

Painted Scars
Neva Altaj
(Perfectly Imperfect, #1)
Publication date: May 24th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Nina
Charming, captivating, and seductive,
And a cold-blooded killer.
But I married the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva anyway.
I had to; it was part of the deal.

Now, I’m faking marital bliss,
As I tremble with fear,
And I cannot wait to be out of the clutches of this ruthless man.

Roman
I get anything I desire.
And I want this perfectly imperfect little manipulator.

The way she can deceive anyone into believing she’s crazy in love with me,
Just makes me want her even more.

She doesn’t know it yet,
But I am not letting her go.
The deal – is off.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

(Nina POV)

“How much do you owe them?” I ask.
“Three million dollars.”
I stare at him with my mouth wide open. “Dear God, Dad.”
I bend down and place my forehead on my knees, trying to control my breathing. I’m not marriage material, no one in their right mind would offer three million dollars in exchange for six months of marriage. There must be a catch.
“He’s ninety, isn’t he?” I mumble into my knees.
“I don’t know how old their Pakhan is, but I don’t think he’s ninety.”
“Eighty then. I’m so relieved.” I’m going to be sick.
“They said it’ll be a marriage in name only. You won’t have to . . . you know.”
“Sleep with him? Well, if he’s eighty, then he probably can’t have sex. That’s good. Eighty is good.”

Author Bio:

Neva Altaj writes steamy contemporary mafia romance about damaged antiheroes and strong heroines who fall for them. She has a soft spot for crazy jealous, possessive alphas who are willing to burn the world to the ground for their woman.

Her stories are full of heat and unexpected turns, and a happily-ever-after is guaranteed every time.

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BOOK REVIEW: AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED BY KHALED HOSSEINI

AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED BY KHALED HOSSEINI

So, then. You want a story and I will tell you one...Afghanistan, 1952. Abdullah and his sister Pari live with their father and stepmother in the small village of Shadbagh. Their father, Saboor, is constantly in search of work and they struggle together through poverty and brutal winters. To Abdullah, Pari - as beautiful and sweet-natured as the fairy for which she was named - is everything. More like a parent than a brother, Abdullah will do anything for her, even trading his only pair of shoes for a feather for her treasured collection. Each night they sleep together in their cot, their heads touching, their limbs tangled. 

One day the siblings journey across the desert to Kabul with their father. Pari and Abdullah have no sense of the fate that awaits them there, for the event which unfolds will tear their lives apart; sometimes a finger must be cut to save the hand. Crossing generations and continents, moving from Kabul, to Paris, to San Francisco, to the Greek island of Tinos, with profound wisdom, depth, insight and compassion, Khaled Hosseini writes about the bonds that define us and shape our lives, the ways in which we help our loved ones in need, how the choices we make resonate through history and how we are often surprised by the people closest to us.

MY THOUGHTS

Amazing!!!

As usual Khaled Hosseini did not disappoint. Abdullah and Pari's story was very emotional and ooh that ending would really bring you to tears. I think it was different to The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns but equally enjoyable. This one read a little like a short story collection in my opinion, which I found quite interesting. I am so glad that I read this finally.

I recommend this but after you read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.

 

BOOK REVIEW: IN FIVE YEARS BY REBECCA SERLE

 

IN FIVE YEARS BY REBECCA SERLE

Where do you see yourself in five years?

When Type-A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Kohan is asked this question at the most important interview of her career, she has a meticulously crafted answer at the ready. Later, after nailing her interview and accepting her boyfriend's marriage proposal, Dannie goes to sleep knowing she is right on track to achieve her five-year plan.

But when she wakes up, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. The television news is on in the background, and she can just make out the scrolling date. It’s the same night—December 15—but 2025, five years in the future.

After a very intense, shocking hour, Dannie wakes again, at the brink of midnight, back in 2020. She can’t shake what has happened. It certainly felt much more than merely a dream, but she isn’t the kind of person who believes in visions. That nonsense is only charming coming from free-spirited types, like her lifelong best friend, Bella. Determined to ignore the odd experience, she files it away in the back of her mind.

That is, until four-and-a-half years later, when by chance Dannie meets the very same man from her long-ago vision.

Brimming with joy and heartbreak, In Five Years is an unforgettable love story that reminds us of the power of loyalty, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of destiny.

MY THOUGHTS 

⭐⭐⭐

This was my good reads book club pick for May and it was ok.

This story was surprising because in reading the synopsis I really thought that it was a romance novel but instead I read a story about friendship and dealing with loss.

Dannie, a thirty something year old lawyer at the height of her career, who is engaged to a decent guy seems to have life figured out. She has a dream that takes her five years in the future where she is supposedly engaged to the handsome Aaron. This dream seems so real that Dannie could not shake the uneasy feeling that she may meet this guy. She actually does meet Aaron but not in the way she expects cause ***SPOILER*** He is dating her best friend BELLA.

Bella seems to be having the time of her life, she is carefree but then tragedy strikes and everything isn't the same anymore.

As you get to the middle of the book the story really takes a twist and in my opinion it becomes very sad. I liked the story line, I didn't love the book as I thought I would have though. I would recommend although it was not my favourite.

Join the discussion about this in my book club between the pages on Good reads.

TGR QUARTERLY READING WRAP UP....

  

TGR Quarterly Wrap

2022 has been a slow but steady reading year for me. Mainly because work has been very busy. Thus far I read only 13 books which were all very exceptional in their own right. 

Readers to my blog probably think I only write positive reviews and there is a simple explanation for this and it is very rare I read a book that is bad. I believe that reading should be an enjoyable experience so I research well for good books. I also like to give my readers good book recommendations.

Next quarterly plans will include, getting my long NETGALLEY TBR down, reading some new authors who have been kind enough to send me review copies and of course read my shelf. So readers you have a lot to look forward to on the blog.

Happy Reading!!!

BOOK REVIEW: THE BOOK OF NIGHT WOMEN BY MARLON JAMES

ABOUT:

The Book of Night Women is a sweeping, startling novel, a true tour de force of both voice and storytelling. It is the story of Lilith, born into slavery on a Jamaican sugar plantation at the end of the eighteenth century. Even at her birth, the slave women around her recognize a dark power that they and she will come to both revere and fear.

The Night Women, as they call themselves, have long been plotting a slave revolt, and as Lilith comes of age and reveals the extent of her power, they see her as the key to their plans. But when she begins to understand her own feelings and desires and identity, Lilith starts to push at the edges of what is imaginable for the life of a slave woman in Jamaica, and risks becoming the conspiracy's weak link.

Lilith's story overflows with high drama and heartbreak, and life on the plantation is rife with dangerous secrets, unspoken jealousies, inhuman violence, and very human emotion between slave and master, between slave and overseer, and among the slaves themselves. Lilith finds herself at the heart of it all. And all of it told in one of the boldest literary voices to grace the page recently--and the secret of that voice is one of the book's most intriguing mysteries.

 My Thoughts

This book was such a heavy read, if you are triggered by brutality and violence especially related to slavery maybe this would not be your cup of tea.

What I enjoyed about this story the most, as a person who have studied Caribbean History, is how Marlon James was able through this work of fiction depict quite clearly major events that occurred in Jamaican Sugar plantations during slavery.

Lilith's character was a testament of James' skill as a writer. When you read about Lilith and the night women especially Homer, You would not help but feel empathy and also admire the strength of these women. I always felt that women's voices especially black's women voices are underrepresented in Caribbean History. This was what probably drew me to the story so much.

I am going to look for other books written by Marlon James . I cannot believe this is the first time that I read one of his books. For persons who like historical fiction novels this one is really good.