He Will Be Mine by Kirsty Greenwood (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

Title: He Will Be Mine

Author: Kirsty Greenwood

Publication: 10 November 2020

Format: Kindle ebook ARC provided by author (which in no way swayed my feelings, by the way)

Amazon Description: 

Nora Tucker is an admin assistant from a tiny English village.

Gary Montgomery is Hollywood’s hottest new star.

After seeing him on the silver screen, Nora believes that Gary is her soulmate, her one true love, the man she's supposed to grow old and wrinkly with. She knows it sounds nuts, she knows it’s completely crazy. But sometimes love is crazy, right?

Only... how on earth is this Plain Jane introvert supposed to get to Los Angeles, infiltrate Gary’s inner circle AND convince him that they’re meant to be? Throwing herself into this mission might be a tall order but it means Nora can stop thinking about that one awful day, two years ago, when everything in her life fell apart...

With the help of a sunny Californian weather girl, a super hot but super grumpy script writer, and a very passionate Adam Levine tribute act, Nora is about to try the impossible and let fate decide her future…

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

Okay, so it's been a while since I've rambled or reviewed or teased. 

Quite a while. 

Like, since June. 

I've read .... occasionally. I've even done the star thing on Goodreads a few times .... I think. 

And then I got an invitation to read Kirsty Greenwood's latest well before it's release and I jumped at it. It was perfect timing, too. I was about to go on a mini vacation to see my one-and-only for the first time since February and it was going to be the perfect read while I waited for him to arrive or be done with work stuff or on the bus back home or whatever.

I made it to Chapter Eighteen and was so wrapped up in the amazingness of it when it had barely even started. Then some amazing quality time with my 💖 put the reading on hold and then .... 

well .... 

life.

I was not in the mood to deal with fictional happily ever afters. 

I was not in the mood to deal with much of anything.

I probably should have continued reading anyway because, as it turns out, it's pretty much the perfect roller-coaster of a book and likely would have helped with the dealing. 

I laughed. I cried. I cried some more. I laughed even more. It was definitely a roller-coaster worth riding, though. Once again, Kirsty Greenwood has given the rom-com world a book worthy of far more than 5 stars.

Go figure.

I should have known, really, based on previous experience with Greenwood -- particularly Big Sexy Love, which I read at one of the most "not in the mood" times of my life.

Note to Self: If I ever find myself in one again, I'll just grab a Greenwood.

Note to You: Even if you're not in a "not in the mood" mood, grab a Greenwood. As amazing as He Will Be Mine is, I would grab Big Sexy Love first, and those who know why will understand -- quite possibly with a smirk and a nod.

As always, Friday 56 (share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

Dangerous Alliance by Jennieke Cohen (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

Jennieke Cohen's Dangerous Alliance ended up being a lovely read with a lot of Jane Austen references, which is generally a huge bonus for me. The characters were often discussing or reading her works -- the final part of Emma having just been published. It took me far too long to get through it because life is ... blah. But if you like Austen and Regencies and their ilk, I would recommend this. And there's no smut. Hardly even any kissing. I do love a good bodice ripper once in a while but I was glad that this is written more YA-friendly.

And just an FYI : I am absolutely not a fan of the new blogger interface so far. 

At all. 

Friday 56 (today is page 356 of the hardcover) is hosted at Freda's Voice 

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

It's been a crazy week so I just finished Gail Carriger's Changeless (and LOVED it) when I should have been sleeping before work tonight. On my dash out the door I grabbed a book at random from one of the many "I should really put these away" piles : Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson. I've been meaning to read it for ages and now I'm only 23 books behind in the series so they should be a good go-to for the "I don't know what to read next" times.

Friday 56 (today is page 56 of the paperback) is hosted at Freda's Voice 

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

Changeless by Gail Carriger (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

I almost completely flaked on this week's Book Beginnings & Friday 56.

Well, blog-wise I kind of did because it's technically almost 3:30am Saturday here in New York … but I did get it up on Instagram on Friday so that's something, right?

Life is ... well … on the "eh" side of the spectrum so I'm only on the second chapter but, of course, I already love it and hopefully will be able to focus more soon so I can ooh and aah appropriately.

Friday 56 (today is 56% of the ebook) is hosted at Freda's Voice 

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

A Lady's Honor by A.S. Fenichel (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

Just so you know, at this point all I know about this book is what Amazon has told me:

I was having a horrible time picking out what to read next since the last book was just so very …. very. Then this was mentioned to me so I figured, problem solved!

Actually, my first statement wasn't true. I know what Amazon told me …. the first paragraph …. and a random "can't read too much so I don't spoil it for myself" grab from the 56-ish% mark of the ebook.

I think a good Regency is just what I need right now and this definitely sounds like it will fit the bill!

Friday 56 (today is 56% of theebook) is hosted at Freda's Voice 

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

The Post-Read Ramble : The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton

Tuesday I posted teasers.

Wednesday I neglected much needed sleep because of the even greater need to finish.

This book. Ooooooooh this book.

It had me intrigued from the very beginning and then I realized that the prologue paled in comparison to what came next (or first, as the prologue isn't actually the beginning of the story).

Once I hit the 71% mark I felt an incredible pang of regret that I wouldn't have this in my life for much longer.

At 74% my feelings about this book were summed up beautifully by H (via the amazing Sarah Burton):

"Like a young enamoured fool who seeks out sad music to lend charm to his own agony, I read these lines over and over, wondering at the thrilling pain they produced. I threw the book across the room. I picked it up. I threw it out of the window. I ran downstairs and retrieved it from the garden. I threw it into the fire. I picked it out with tongs. I sat down on the hearth and hugged the book to myself and wept."

Luckily, I didn't actually throw my book in the fire or out the window as I've been reading the e-arc received with great pleasure through Netgalley … but the sentiment is the same. I laughed. I cried. I cried some more. I got angry. I got ecstatically happy. I repeated all of these time and again.

I am absolutely in awe and I need more. Hopefully Burton will continue with the stories of Grace and Frankie and Godfrey and Kat and Janey and … I just need more.

The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

I do not know that I have the words in me to describe Sarah Burton's The Strange Adventures of H and how very much I am loving it adequately. I am currently at 64% of the ebook (thanks to Netgalley and the publisher) and I am absolutely in awe. Luckily, it's a day for teasers and I will let those speak for me.

For today's Tuesday Intros tease I have opted for the first paragraph of the first chapter instead of the prologue because I feel it tells more about the amazing heroine of this tale. The prologue is wonderful and all, but I love the first paragraph of the first chapter. The teaser for Teaser Tuesday was much harder to pick because the entire book (so far) is absofrickinlutely phenomenal. I finally settled for a bit right about the halfway point.

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. 

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

Soulless by Gail Carriger (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

They say the third time's the charm and that appears to be the case for me and Gail Carriger's Soulless. 

The first time I attempted it, I believe I was still in recovery over her Finishing School series ending. This was written first but those come first chronologically as far as story goes and you probably know by now how I am about such things.

The second time? Life in general probably got in the way -- much as it has been for me and any reading at all for the past couple of months. Funny how all this "extra time" people seem to have thanks to the whole pandemic/world falling apart/blah blah blah has meant less time spent reading for me. 

I've tried. 

I've failed.

Gail Carriger has saved me. And it's with a book that has failed me before.

This time around I'm obsessed. I do cringe slightly when we alternate between "Alexia" and "Miss Tarabotti" -- sometimes in the same paragraph … but not so much that I'll actually close my Kindle to do things like sleep or eat or accomplish much at work. (I still do all of those things, of course, but the Kindle is never far away and almost always open to see what's happening next.)

Friday 56 (today is page 56 of the paperback) is hosted at Freda's Voice 

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

I'm just at the 70% mark of Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country and I have to admit: I'm a bit discombobulated. It's not that the book is in any way not amazing, because it is. My problem comes from trying to figure out how in the samheck they're going to manage to do it justice with the upcoming series on HBO -- especially since I've seen over and over that it will only have eight episodes. 

Ummmmmm no. That's not enough. Not nearly. 

Of course, I'll still watch it. At this point I'm beyond hooked and very much officially a Ruff fan..

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

The Spy's Convenient Bride by Erica Taylor (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

Practically from the moment Erica Taylor entered my life I have been begging her for more Luke Macalister. There's just always been something about him that has niggled at the back of my brain and maybe a few other parts. Okay, so definitely a few other parts.

And now it's happened.

I have such mixed feelings about this.

A page-turner that kept me guessing and my heart racing and, yes, provided all the feels. Luke is as amazing as I had dreamt. He's just the right combination of rakish and mysterious and hilarious and serious. Vivian is now one of my favorite book heroines. She's pretty much the female equivalent of Luke -- though perhaps not the rakishness. (Can women be rakish? Would the equivalent be wanton? I somehow think not. It's 4am at the time I'm writing this and that makes me ramble. Moreso than usual, that is.)

Anyway. I am absolutely in love with this book so far and I'm only at the 42% mark -- the perfect time to stop and ramble, nerd that I am. But.

There's that whole mixed feelings part. The whole BUT aspect.

I love this book at least as much as I have every other book in the series BUT part of me hates the fact that this has been released (today, in fact! Happy Book Birthday, Erica!) because this is book number five in the series. 

We're running out of Macalisters and I'm going to miss them horribly.

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by I'd Rather Be At The Beach. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

As you have probably figured out, I love a good mystery … and I love a good Regency … so what could be better than both in one? I'm not very far in, but I'm already absolutely loving this fun romp from Lynn Messina and have already added more to my wishlist.

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of
a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line
or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

Playing With Fire by Derek Landy (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

What the hell, Karen? 

Almost three years since reading the first Skulduggery Pleasant book and just NOW getting around to the second??? Well, to be fair, much of 2017 was an epic mess. 2018 wasn't much better. 2019? Well, Netgalley can be blamed for some of it. Lack of caring can be blamed for some. And, yes, still a bit of a mess. 

Granted, the first week of 2020 has been one of the worst weeks I've had in a very long time. It's a big reason why I grabbed the second Skulduggery, Playing With Fire, and tossed it in my bag on my way out the door for work. 

(Forgot my food -- remembered my book. Typical Karen move.) 

Even if Skulduggery couldn't make everything better, he could give me a handful of hours of snark. 

I still love snark.

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of
a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line
or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.