Sunday Post, No. 3

 

Sunday Post is a weekly blog meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and is a place to share weekly goings on. I'd love to share my week with you!

It's been a gloomy week here in western Pennsylvania with lots of rainy afternoons and cloud filled skies. But, it's warming up and I can feel spring coming! I'm still sick, but starting to finally get over the bug, thank goodness. Otherwise, I've been doing my fair share of reading and now, I've started writing again so I'm doing my share of that, too. 

Something fun from this week, my husband is trying to talk me into making him Texas Kolaches. When we lived in Texas, where he grew up, his favorite thing to eat was these sausage kolaches that came from the donut shop. But, now that we're no longer in Texas, he can't find them anywhere which is a bummer because it's been ten years since we lived in Texas. The problem is that I never bake with yeast because yeast can be pretty finicky. So we're at a stalemate since he doesn't cook or bake. He loves kolaches so much, he's wearing me down, but don't tell him that! 

What I'm reading this week

This week I'm reading/listening to Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage. I loved the first book in this series so much I'm on to the second book. And, just like the first book, I love the cover so much! These covers are so fun!

She’s the city girl who refuses to be saddled with a man. He’s the cowboy who wants her anyway.

The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career.

When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss.

Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place.

Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?

On the blog this week 

🗝️ Listen Now: In the Shadow of a Wish

🐍 Book Tour: Bound by Wishes by Jessica Spruill 

💀 Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

🐎 Review: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

💻 Cover Reveal: Signing Off for the Summer

In the mail this week

While I didn't get any books in the mail this week, I did get a few titles for my Kindle. None of them are new books, but I love a good historical romance so I pick them up whenever I find a good deal. 

That's it for this week! I hope you all have had a lovely week this week and who knows, maybe by next week I'll have pictures of kolaches to share.

Cover Reveal: Signing Off for the Summer

We're proud to present the cover for Alyssa Delle Palme's upcoming romance, Signing Off for the Summer! You're going to want to add this one to your TBR for sure!

Signing Off for the Summer
Author: Alyssa Delle Palme

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

💖 Friends to lovers

🏖️ Lake setting

🗝️ Family secrets

🏘️ Small-town charm

Signing Off for the Summer is a romance novel about an overwhelmed radio journalist who withdraws from her toxic workplace, a bad relationship, and city life and escapes to her family’s cottage for the summer where she rediscovers her voice and the magic of falling in love.

When Maggie Taylor, an up-and-coming journalist, suddenly quits a prestigious radio internship at 880 News in Toronto, she infuriates her close-knit family. Unbeknownst to her overbearing parents and controlling boyfriend, Maggie suffered a traumatic abuse of power when her boss propositioned her, and she is too ashamed to talk about it. She escapes to her grandmother’s cottage on Cedar Lake for the summer.

There, she finds solace and healing and begins to develop a close friendship with her cottage neighbour, Thomas.

Everything takes a turn for the worse when Maggie’s aunt shows up with surprising news. More trouble follows when her former boss makes an unexpected return to her life, threatening everything Maggie has built with Thomas. In order to move forward, Maggie must face her past and learn to use her voice.

COMING SOON!

Cover Reveal Organized By: 

IG: @starring_lyssa_as_herself, @rrbooktours

#rrbooktours #rrbtSigningOfffortheSummer #summerromance #smalltownromance #romancebooks #romancereads #romancebookstagram #coverreveal

Review: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

Author: Lyla Sage
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio, Paperback, Kindle
Kindle Unlimited: No
Series: Rebel Blue Ranch #1
Pages: 368 pages

Synopsis: {via GoodReads}

She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules.

For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape.

Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her.

Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?

Review: 

This book was such a great read! First, let me say I love the covers for this series. They're so nostalgic and fun. The colors and simplicity of the image is perfect, very comic book-esque. Just perfect for how fun this book was! If you're looking for a fun read for spring and you enjoy romances with a definite HEA, put this book on your TBR. 

🐎 Cowboys (and a Cowgirl!)

💖 Brothers Best Friend

🏡 Small Town Romance

💋 Enemies to Lovers

💚Found Family

🌹He Falls First

Lets talk about Emmy first. Emmy is fantastic, but not without her difficulties as any good character should be. She struggles with something she's loved her whole life after an accident that leaves her afraid to get back on the horse. She's just the right amount of vulnerable for the story and as a character with ADHD and sensory struggles, she's incredibly relatable. 

Luke is the all around charming reformed bad boy bar owner and he is hot, hot, hot! What I liked best about Luke is that he's not perfect, he comes from difficult circumstances, but he's made something of himself. He owns the bar in town, works on the Rebel Blue Ranch, and wears those backward baseball caps just right.

The plot moves along at a great pace and the romance between Luke and Emmy isn't rushed. There are some steamy scenes, so this one is definitely not closed door. As the story progresses, you feel for Emmy as she struggles to get back in the saddle and make decisions about her life. She can't do the thing she's been working toward her whole life and the reader really feels her struggle to figure out what that means for her, all while trying to figure out her relationship with Luke Brooks. 

I really enjoyed the ambiance of this story. The small town felt alive and I could really feel how this setting looked. I also enjoyed the way the relationship progresses in somewhat secret by Emmy's choice. It's not Luke keeping them a secret. Emmy gets to call the shots! Overall, this one was a great read and, since it's the first in a series, I'm really looking forward to jumping in and reading the rest. 

Rating:

❤❤❤❤❤ / 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Really wonderful! Romance readers, put this one on your TBR!!

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Wishful Endings and spotlights books we're excited for but haven't read yet.

This week's Can't-Wait book is The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley. This book comes out in July and I can't wait. Check out this cover, it's gorgeous! The black and pink just make this cover pop! 

Synopsis

The first in a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy duology featuring a scholarly healer and a gentleman assassin, set in an exquisite fantasy world, perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, is in dire need of healing. Naturally – such is the grim comedy of fate – the only healer who can help is Aurienne Fairhrim, preeminent scientist, bastion of moral good, and member of an enemy Order.

Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick - so desperate that, when Osric bribes her to help him, she accepts, even if she detests him and everything he stands for.

A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders, much to Aurienne's disgust. As Osric and Aurienne work together to heal his illness and investigate the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the heat between them.

I'm waiting for this one because who doesn't love a good enemies to lovers story? This one looks like fun and I love a book that's part of a duology because it means there'll be more to love later. 

What book are you waiting for this week?

Book Tour: Bound by Wishes by Jessica Spruill

We're celebrating the April 3rd release of Bound by Wishes by Jessica Spruill! Read on for more details!

Bound by Wishes (Enchanted Deceptions Book 1)

Publication Date: April 3, 2025

Genre: Fantasy Romance

🪦 Touch her and 💀

⚕️ He tends to her wounds

🎗️ Anxiety/PTSD rep

🐘 Only one elephant

💋 He teaches her to flirt

🫑 No-spice fantasy

🔥 Slow burn

💖 He falls first

He’s cursed by treachery. She’s bound by wishes. Together, they’ll find salvation. Or utter

devastation…

Caleena has spent her career fighting for recognition in a male-dominated field. So when she’s

summoned to Jalam to decipher an ancient language carved into the entrance of King

Thalorian’s legendary mines, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. But when an accident brings her

face-to-face with a dangerously captivating genie, Caleena begins to question everything she

thought she knew.

Ranen used to be a powerful sultan until his brother cursed him into servitude and bound him to

a magic lamp. Revenge is all he craves, and he will stop at nothing to reclaim his stolen

kingdom. Even if it means forcing his way into the palace by transforming the spirited

archaeologist who freed him into a princess—and potentially a bride.

When Ranen uncovers the true scope of his brother’s plans, he knows his revenge—and his

growing feelings for Caleena—will have to wait. They must work together to stop the coming

darkness. But can Caleena put her faith in Ranen when it matters most? Or is trust a luxury she

simply can’t afford?

GET IT ON AMAZON

Book tour organized by: 

IG: @jessicaspruillauthor @rrbooktours

TIKTOK: @jessicaspruillauthor @shannon_of_rrbooktours

Tags:

#rrbooktours #rrbtBoundbyWishes #boundbywishes #jessicaspruillauthor

#nospicefantasy #genieromance #aladdinretelling #booktours