Lady M reads

I just started the 3rd book in the current series (the Poet’s Cookbook) and I couldn’t place the characters, so I pull up Amazon to read the descriptions and my reviews from books 1 and 2 (the Midwife’s Playlist and the Carpenter’s Wedding) and I see the author used MY review in the blurb! I had a total nerd out moment and even ran in the other room to tell my husband. I know, super lame to most, but my review is up front for everyone to read!

This is a four-book series, and it’s been out for quite some time. I’ve read a few more recent Meghan Quinn books, so I went back to find a listing of her books in order. I prefer to read anything in order. Some writers write in one world, so it’s definitely best to keep in order. Some just write series that are separate. Anyway I figured I’d start at the beginning with Megan Quinn. The Hotlanta series came up first, and it’s pretty long. I was actually surprised for only being four books it still took me close to a week to read because they’re all on the longer side. These books were written differently than anything I’ve read before. Each book covers many couples. Most romance cover one couple as the main and several supporting characters in a book that may get their own book later down the series. This one focused on several in the first book another one or two might have been added in the second and third and so on, however it’s still covered pretty much everybody in all four. At least from the first book the first few main characters. It sounds confusing, and a little overwhelming. But I think once you get into it it’s really easy to follow along. Each book however ends in a cliffhanger. So you want to make sure you have the time to start from the beginning and work your way through the whole series. I was definitely hooked the more I read. I will admit that in the first book, because it took me a little while to get used to because it was so different than anything of Megan Quinn’s I’d read before, if it wasn’t a known to me author, I may have quit. So don’t give up on the first book, I know it’s a lot to ask when it’s a longer book, but things get better and better and better. The ending of book one is just holy cow, so you can’t wait to dive into book 2. There are some really devastating things that happen in these books. I don’t want to say what they are, because if you’re like me you don’t want to know too much going in. A warning though if you have sensitive issues that you can’t deal with, I personally have nothing that I can’t read. I don’t have triggers even though I hate that term. There’s some people that refuse to read cheating there’s people that refuse to read any kind of abuse, not that I’m saying that’s what happens in these books, I’m just giving examples. So if you know that going into yourself that you won’t read certain things or not. I don’t want to give too much away for anyone who’s reading this that may want to read the series. So maybe read a couple of reviews off of Amazon or whatever to see if they give things away. Because as much as it annoys me there are people that will give a full book report that’s basically a detailed summary of the whole story in their review. If you’ve been reading any of my blog post or any of my Amazon reviews you know that I typically don’t like to give too much information. I tell you what I like what I don’t like out made me feel if there was issues with the book, anything like that. Because I just don’t like knowing too much. I don’t want to know the ending of a movie before I go see it so why would I want to know too many details about the book before I read it? Anyway, I think I’ve rambled enough about this. It was definitely a different example of Megan Quinn then I’m used to. I did enjoy it, it is staying with me a little bit. It especially did in between books if I got busy with regular life, I was thinking about these characters. That’s the sign of a good story, when it sticks with you after you’ve put it down. Oh, and not everybody gets a happy ending. I know some people only want a happy ending, so I won’t give details, I do think everybody got the best outcome they could for the situation they were in. I know that’s horribly vague, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows and unicorns for everyone.

Normally I hate age gap and virgin stories. So sorry, slight spoiler there. (You know I hate giving spoilers, but if you don’t like age gap, give it a chance!) They just make me roll my eyes, they’re usually too predictable, and I guess because it’s never been a real life thing for me. It’s just not my cup of tea to read about either. I did not read the description on this one first, because I had already read the first two books in the series, so I just jumped in. It really wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. Amanda wasn’t as immature as I expected her to be, considering. Maybe ive just read bad virgin stories or something, because when i think virgin, I think young, immature, and on the annoying side. Amanda wasnt like that, thank goodness. Brady actually got me towards the end. He took a little longer to warm up to, but i did get there. I don’t want to give anything else away, but it turned out better than I expected from where it started, and it wrapped up really sweet – sadly I think this series is over. I’ve really enjoyed the series as a whole, so I hope there are more books.

Do you ever feel like you’ve gotten into a book too deep? Where it sticks with you even after you’ve finished it, where you can’t get the characters, the story out of your head? Like they’re real people, like your own friends or family? It feels ridiculous to think about objectively, but sometimes I feel so invested that it affects my mood in real life. Sometimes it’s just the plot, I read a book about a widow the other day, and it took me down a notch. Just thinking about my own real life, how I’d cope if I suddenly became a widow like the character in the book. Would I handle it as well? How long would I wait to start dating again? How long would I not be able to get out of bed? It’s a slippery slope my mind goes to. Am I weird, or is this totally normal?

I started this series last weekend. I’ve read quite a few books by this author before, but missed this one on my last binge read of her. I’ve finished the first 3 books and can’t wait to dig into the 4th and final, but I have a few other arcs that popped in my inbox this week that I’m trying to knock out. But honestly I’m dying to know how it ends up! The first book was a struggle to finish. I know it sounds bad, but I only pushed through because it was Meghan Quinn, and I’ve really enjoyed everything else of hers I’ve read. I hate to admit that if it was an unknown to me author, i probably would have quit unfinished. Book 2 got better, book 3 even better. I feel so invested in all these characters I can’t wait to see where they all end up. This series is so different because each book is told from multiple perspectives with many, many characters and couples in each. Most romace, each book focuses on one couple. This series juggles several couples at once. They’re all connected somehow. So it’s not as difficult as it sounds to follow along. It feels way more than 3 books so far, but in a hood way. There’s a lot of emotional events throughout. Some may be hard to read if you’ve gone through something similar. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t give details of these events. Also, be prepared, all the books end in a cliffhanger, which I normally hate. But since it’s an older series, all parts are out, and for the cost, it’s worth a month of kindle unlimited to read. It took me about a week to read the first 3 books. I know reviews for the first book weren’t the best, but just hang on, you’ll be addicted soon enough!

I once again found this series from Hidden Gems. I almost didn’t sign up for it because I have 3 months of kindle unlimited right now. And of course, whenever I have unlimited, I like to take full advantage and read as many books as I possibly can from my never ending list of books. I actually lucked out because this series is on unlimited! I finished book 2 this morning and I’m on to book 3 right now. I have to say, I’m liking this one so far quite a bit for a few reasons. One, the author either knows hockey or has some good help. There’s terms in there the average person would not know. Second the author (honestly not sure male or female, and don’t want to assume) does a good job of integrating characters. It’s not overwhelming having a bunch of names thrown out there, but they’re talked about enough that you get to know them before their own book is out. There’s no searching your memory trying to remember a vague reference of someone. You already know them, a little anyway, so you’re anxious to dive into their story. Also, there’s humor balanced with these tender moments. I’ve literally laughed out loud several times so far, and then there are moments where you just fall in love with the characters even more. Okay, got all that out, now to dive back into book 3!

I nabbed an advanced copy from NetGalley 2 days ago and I just finished. I usually put stories off until closer to their due date, and this one doesn’t release until February, but I was too curious. And it was so good! Here’s my review from NetGalley :

This is only the second book I've read by this author  (the last book I also got from NetGalley,  the previous book on this series Tangle) and just like after finishing that book, I'm wondering why I have not read every word she's written!?  These books have been so fun to read. Sweet but funny, enough sexiness without being overkill. Just well balanced emotion.  I'm loving the characters,  they're easy to root for and you can't really choose sides, which I like.  Penn was such a great character,  more than you expect, and you just have to love him!  I loved Avery's tie to Dogwood.  I just loved everything about this story. I probably said this on my review of Tangle,  but I really need to go back and read the rest of her stuff!

This is only the second book I've read by this author  (the last book I also got from NetGalley,  the previous book on this series Tangle) and just like after finishing that book, I'm wondering why I have not read every word she's written!?  These books have been so fun to read. Sweet but funny, enough sexiness without being overkill. Just well balanced emotion.  I'm loving the characters,  they're easy to root for and you can't really choose sides, which I like.  Penn was such a great character,  more than you expect, and you just have to love him!  I loved Avery's tie to Dogwood.  I just loved everything about this story. I probably said this on my review of Tangle,  but I really need to go back and read the rest of her stuff!

So about once or twice a year, I get a kindle unlimited deal. I haven’t had it since last March, but I have a list on Amazon where I throw books in for the next time I get it. I just got a notice for a new deal for 3 months, so I’ll be activating that now, and going crazy reading from that list. I got the coupon code for it about 2 weeks ago, and I was waiting to finish up the arcs I had, and for Christmas vacation to start so I could go to town. There are a few authors I pretty much only read when I have the free or cheap unlimited deals. Meghan Quinn is one, I’m several books behind on her, I’ve yet to read the Locker Room, the Dugout or the Lineup, so those are all probably in the first batch I download. I’m friendly with author Jessie Gussman, and she sends me books when I ask, but since she’s on unlimited, and I’m two books behind, I’m going to catch up that way. I feel guilty asking for free books all the time! I wish I was on her auto arc list so I wouldn’t feel so guilty. Melanie Harlow is an author I’ve heard about, and was recommended to me by a friend, but I haven’t had a chance to dig in yet. That’s another good thing about unlimited, you can try new authors risk free! I’m so cheap, I would never pony up actual cash for an author I don’t already know I like. And honestly, I do so many ARCs, I rarely actually pay for books. I can’t wait to see what new books and authors I’ll discover!

I've read a few books by this author now, and I've yet to be disappointed.   There is so much story going on, it's hard to believe it's just one book. It's told from different perspectives,  more than just the lead male and lead female, but it's not confusing at all.  I really enjoyed that there was so much going on, it kept from having any lull to it,  it was hard to put down.  This book has just about everything you want in a romance. There were some funny parts, along with sweet and sexy, and a little heartbreaking. Although it's fiction, you know there are situations in real life like this, and worse. There was a scene with Wade and Austin that just about broke my heart.  For any mothers out there, I'm sure you will shed a tear or two with some of the scenes between Jess and Chloe.  It's emotional, but balanced, it's not a tear jerker.  There are plenty of warm and fuzzy feelings too, just a well rounded cowboy romance. Its funny because the other book I've read by this author was not a cowboy story!  Usually  I find authors stick to a similar path. Cowboys, small town, military, that kind of thing, but these books were totally different.  Just One of The Groomsmen, it was a small town friends to lovers and it was just as good as this cowboy story, just totally different. Again, I'm no writer, so I have a hard time fully explaining. This last book was fairly long, but it wasn't drawn out. There was a lot of detail, but none of it seemed irrelevant.   Like sometimes I'll read a book and they get too hung up on silly details, like they're trying to fill a word count. But this was not the case at all in this book.  Not to mention getting the different points of view.  At first I wasn't so sure about it, but I really like how it played out. It was almost 2 stories in one.  I have another book of hers that's coming out at the end of January that I'll have to dig into pretty soon.  

I just got this little novella this morning and had such a hard time putting it down! I started it at work, but ran out of time there and finally finished after dinner tonight. It was short but jam packed with goodness! Oh how I love reading about Corrie and Clay, so so much. Their story has been going on for years and it’s just delicious, I’m telling you, as much as I look forward to their happy ending, I love reading little bits and pieces of their story sprinkled through all the other books. This is just so well done I can’t even stand it! This has been one of my favorite series, and really feels like it could go on forever