New Release and Review: Giving Her Promise (Crawford Falls #2) by Kate Carley

Giving Her Promise (Crawford Falls #2)
by Kate Carley

Description:
Who plans a two-week engagement?

It’s a valid question. But Claire Bronstad—a tenth-grade biology teacher and aspiring fiction author— doesn’t have time to analyze it. Her flight home to Crawford Falls is in a few hours, and there is no way she’s missing her brother’s wedding. Her roommate, Greyson Westcott, apparently isn’t feeling that same time crunch, announcing he’d like to take their platonic relationship to the next level. “I’ve been thinking it’s time we start exploring us.”

Exploring us? Is that code for sex?

Another solid question. One Greyson answers by stopping Claire’s heart with a passionate, toe-curling kiss. Oh, yes! Exploring the possibilities could be simply scrumptious.

But is having sex with her closest friend a good idea?

Not without jeopardizing their friendship, a risk Claire refuses to take. Reeling with uncertainty, she meets sexy groomsman, Jesse Morland, and after a night of slow dancing in each other’s arms, he has a question of his own:

“Come home with me tonight, Claire?”

As Claire’s feelings for Jesse blossom, she finds herself at odds with Greyson while their close friendship all but unravels, leaving her grasping at threads and questioning the true motivation behind his kiss, not to mention, the authenticity of their entire friendship.

Can Claire find all her answers in the picturesque river town of Crawford Falls?

My Review:
Giving Her Promise is a book about trust, giving it and losing it and getting it back. Paired with that is quite a steamy romance.

I enjoyed Claire’s dilemma regarding Greyson and Jesse. I particularly thought it interesting that Claire trusts too much, and Jesse too little. Then there’s Greyson. While I had guessed how things would go with him, he still managed to surprise me.

Again the family and friend dynamics play an excellent counterpoint to the romance, and the next pairing is set up nicely. It was cool that Dylan and Kelly are still involved, though they take a back seat. Ras’s progression and history are explored more deeply and explain some aspects of Claire’s story.

Overall, I really liked this story. There was a lot more intrigue in this one and even some danger. Fans of romance with some meat will like this.

I received the review copy of this book from the author.

Add it on Goodreads!

About Kate Carley:

How Kate Carley went from majoring in mathematics and computer science in college to writing steamy contemporary romance still remains a mystery. She broke out into the indie publishing scene in 2015 with her debut novel, Challenged, a 2017 RONE award winner. Two more books completed her romantic suspense trilogy, Changing Krysset.

With three published works under her belt, Kate is excited to launch her new contemporary romance series. Just like her first novels, the Crawford Falls series is set in a small town in Kate’s home state of Minnesota.

When Kate isn’t busy at her desk writing, you’ll find her dreaming up new characters and plotting perfect ways to make their lives miserable before giving them their happily ever after.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | Pinterest

Fantasy Review: The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3) by Mary E. Pearson

The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3)
by Mary E. Pearson

Description:
Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it.

With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down.

In this conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance.


My Review:
An unexpected but satisfying conclusion to this epic trilogy.

I very much enjoyed the endgame here. The conflict between the pulls of duty and love was the greatest driver of tension between Lia and Rafe, but Kaden’s story has plenty to offer here, too. He’s been the third wheel for most of the first two books, firmly believing he belongs with Lia, but he finally gets to be something more.

I love these stories both for the rich background and world building as well as for the interesting characters and engaging romance. Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy with some clean romance.

I borrowed the audiobook from the library.


About the Author:

Mary E. Pearson is the author of several award winning books for teens, including the best-selling Jenna Fox Chronicles. She is a native Southern Californian and writes full time from her home in Carlsbad, California where she lives with her family.

Her awards and honors include the Golden Kite Award, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, the Andre Norton Honor, and The South Carolina Young Adult Book Award.

Her newest series, The Remnant Chronicles, kicks off with THE KISS OF DECEPTION, the first in a trilogy about a defiant princess living in the ruins of a bygone world.

Her website, www.marypearson.com has more information about Mary and her books.


The Remnant Chronicles :

Apocalyptic Review: The Remnant by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

The Remnant (Left Behind #10)
by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins

Description:
The Great Tribulation unfolds as the forces of evil and the armies of God prepare for mankind's ultimate battle. Millions of Christians are protected by God as the anger of the Antichrist, Nicolae Carpathia, burns against them.


My Review:
I waited rather a long time between reading this and writing a review. This is the first in the series that I listened to via audiobook rather than read. There is some action in the rescue in Greece, but beyond that, I’m having trouble remembering what else happened. I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it.

Borrowed the library audiobook.


About the Authors: 

Timothy "Tim" F. LaHaye was an American evangelical Christian minister, author, and speaker, best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins. He has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Timothy "Tim" F. LaHaye was an American evangelical Christian minister, author, and speaker, best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins.

He has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Jerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as co-author of the Left Behind series of books with Tim LaHaye. Jenkins has written over 185 books, including mysteries, historical fiction, biblical fiction, cop thrillers, international spy thrillers, and children's adventures, as well as non-fiction. His works usually feature Christians as protagonists. In 2005, Jenkins and LaHaye ranked 9th in Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary list of Hall of Fame authors based on books sold at Amazon.com during its first 10 years. Jenkins now teaches writers to become authors here at his website. He and his wife Dianna have three sons and eight grandchildren.

Books in this Series:

Fantasy Review: Wondrous Strange (Wondrous Strange #1) by Lesley Livingston

Wondrous Strange (Wondrous Strange #1)
by Lesley Livingston

Description:
Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow thinks that playing the role of the fairy queen Titiana in a production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream could be her lucky break - if she can pull it off. But when she meets the handsome Sonny Flannery, Kelley has to face the shocking truth that the world of Faeries is all too real - and that she an unwitting part of it. Sonny warns Kelley that she is no mere mortal, and that she is being haunted by powerful forces from the Faerie realm.

Now, Kelley must come to terms with her heritage - and her growing feelings for Sonny - if she wants to save not only herself, but also the human world that she holds dear.


My Review:
Wondrous Strange is about a young actress who gets pulled into a real life faery tale with high stakes.

I think my favorites in this story were the supporting characters Bob and Lucky. Bob’s background story is amusing, and he’s great comic relief. Lucky, well, who wouldn’t love a friendly horse in a bathtub who just might be the harbinger of the faerie version of the apocalypse.

On the other hand, this is one of those stories I really wanted to get into, but alas, I never quite felt it. One of the biggest reasons I had trouble with it was that the narration is just so darn fast. I slowed it in Overdrive, and still had to repeat sections. The whole thing seemed, well, rushed. From a technical standpoint, it’s well-written, but it just didn’t click with me.

Overall, I thought it was a decent book, but the fast narration distracted me. I think I would have preferred this as an ebook instead of an audiobook. Fans of fey and faerie stories might dig this.

I borrowed the audiobook from the library.


About the Author:

Lesley Livingston is a writer and actress living in Toronto. She has a master’s degree in English from the University of Toronto, where she specialized in Arthurian Literature and Shakespeare. She frequently performs with the Tempest Theatre Group, of which she is a co-founder. She is also the author of WONDROUS STRANGE and DARKLIGHT.

You can visit Lesley online at www.lesleylivingston.com


Books by this Author:
Wondrous Strange Trilogy


Starling Series


Once Every Never Trilogy


Standalone