NetGalley Find of the Week - Until Beth

This looks like a really good read and I love the cover too.

Review - The Gargoyle Gets His Girl

The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter

4 gnomes and a gnome hat out of 5 gnomes

Gargoyle-tastic aka I really love gargoyles.

This series continues to be a blast to read. I adore how much mythology is crammed into each book. This book shows you fae, gargoyles, and a little more about the vampires and the inner workings of the town.

It’s great learning more about Nick and gargoyles in general. His backstory really makes you feel for him. I’m glad he’s becoming more involved with the town.

Willa too had a rather surprising backstory of her own. She is one very interesting fae. It was cool learning more about her magic and how she makes the jewelry she sells.

Once again though you think you have the mystery figured out, then a twist gets thrown in. This twist was truly entertaining and went places I wasn’t expecting.

I can’t wait to see what’s next from this series.

My Favorite Quotes/Lines - The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter

The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter

* Spoilers are highlighted like so :)

“At least she had her work. And her cat.”

“Comfortable was really another word for boring.”

“I’m one of the rarer leviathan-class gargoyles.”

“She’d made a plea to him and sealed it with an offering of stone. It was a ritual as old as both their bloodlines.”

“The only fashion statement this man needed to make was walking into a room.”

“Having her in his house felt like he’d been given a gift. Like Christmas morning and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one.”

“Two house sparrows and a leviathan class gargoyle soaring through the sky like some kind of strange Disney movie.”

“I can’t help that I’m universally appealing.”

“There are greater ties than blood.”

“Love was the most curious thing.”

Sentence Sneak Peek - The Gargoyle Gets His Girl

The Gargoyle Gets His Girl by Kristen Painter

The first sentence from each chapter of The Gargoyle Gets His Girl, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.

* Spoilers are highlighted like so :)

“Platinum had a mind of its own.”

“Nick Hardwin drove through the streets of Nocturne Falls with one thought on his mind.”

“An hour after opening her shop, Willa sat at the counter, a velvet tray in front of her.”

“Willa had closed the shop, gone upstairs to her apartment, fed Jasper, then herself (which was the order Jasper preferred) and finally settled on the couch with a glass of wine to watch a little TV.”

“Willa opened her store promptly at ten, having changed her mind about going to see the sheriff, because it was no longer necessary.”

“Willa let Nick walk her back to the shop, but said goodbye to him outside.”

“His shift at the fountain over, Nick now sat across from Sheriff Merrow.”

“Nick held the door for Willa as they left Guillermo’s.”

“It was almost midnight by the time they walked back to Nick’s place, but the evening was balmy and quiet and the walk wasn’t far.”

“Nick almost ran into Willa in the kitchen.”

“Nick leaned against the wall of Merrow’s office, too tense to sit.”

“Nick watched Willa shake her head and sigh as she stared out the shop windows from behind the back counter.”

“Willa finished turning on all the display case lights before sliding past Nick on the way to the office.”

“Willa’s wrists and ankles were secured with duct tape.”

“Zane backhanded Nick, his arm slashing through the air as his mouth contorted.”

“Willa fell to her knees against the wooden dowels.”

“Willa woke, surprised she’d slept, but glad she had.”

“The current of emotions raging through Willa made it almost impossible for her to speak.”

“Willa hadn’t been in the castle since her seventh birthday, after she’d been tested and discovered to be lapidus.”

“Willa followed her mother into the kitchen, but her mother ignored the cold storage and went straight to the table.”

“Morning came bright and cheerful, but that wasn’t how Nick was feeling a few hours later as he stood beside Willa at the doors to the great hall.”

“Willa did the only thing she could think of.”

“Chaos swirled around them, but Nick blocked all of that out.”

“As soon as Shay left his side to go up on the dais with Willa, Nick slipped back into the crowd.”

“Twilight had fallen by the time Nick swooped down into his backyard.”

Weekend Read - Black Widow: Forever Red

I love the Marvel Universe and can’t wait to read more about Black Widow and see how this new character plays into everything.

Review - The Werewolf Meets His Match

The Werewolf Meets His Match by Kristen Painter

4 gnomes out of 5 gnomes

I really adore this series. All the characters have such unique stories that you will want to know more about them all ASAP. I like how each book has a dual point of view and how it follows a different character in each book. Yet you get to see characters from past books too.

This book lets you learn more about the werewolves in town. Hank’s the sheriff but also next in line to be the Alpha wolf. With being a future Alpha politics definitely come into play. He quickly finds out that he has to get married to cement a truce between two packs.

Ivy, the wolf he has to marry has plenty of trouble to deal with even beyond the whole arranged marriage deal. Let’s just say her father is not exactly the nicest guy. Ivy is not really who you would expect a cop to marry but that’s what makes it really interesting.

Their chemistry is great. You’ll probably see some of the problems before they happen and figure out some of the twists but I doubt you find them all.

The final act of the book was full of surprises and I really like where everything and everyone ended up. I foresee some more interesting developments in future books. I can’t recommend this series enough especially if you like paranormal romances with a great concept and characters.

My Favorite Quotes/Lines - The Werewolf Meets His Match

The Werewolf Meets His Match by Kristen Painter

“There was something about her, something powerful that drew him to her like a dog to a bone. Or a red-blooded man to a hot biker chick.”

“I’m going to woo you.”

“I’m not always so good with words but this way I can show you.”

“He opened his mouth, then closed it again. he had no idea if he had a vase.”

Sentence Sneak Peek - The Werewolf Meets His Match

The Werewolf Meets His Match by Kristen Painter

The first sentence from each chapter of The Werewolf Meets His Match, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.

* Spoilers are highlighted like so :)

“Ivy Kincaid parked her inherited Harley Softail alongside a few other motorcycles in the back lot of a place called Howler’s.”

“After a long day of providing escort for the US Marshals Service, Hank pulled his duty car into the driveway to find another vehicle already there.”

“Hank Merrow was gorgeous.”

“Ivy opened the door and stared into the face of the woman who’d brought her a beer and a burger last night.”

“Something was up with Ivy.”

“I said I’d woo her, which she seemed to like.”

“The woods behind Hank’s house were thick with trees, their branches dressed with the rich green leaves of early summer.”

“She’d lost her head to the full moon fever.”

“For once in her less than illustrious career as the receptionist for the Nocturne Fall’s sheriff’s department, Birdie was at her desk before Hank arrived.”

“Ivy was surprised at how right Hank had been about the table visits.”

“The look on Hank’s face had been everything.”

“Despite being joined by Bridget and Titus, Hank couldn’t sit.”

“Ivy woke up feeling like a slice of crap between two pieces of crap bread.”

“With its tucked-away location, the Pinehurst Inn had once been the county’s favorite “No tell motel,” but time had worn the place down, and now its guests fell into three categories: cheapskates, the unfortunate, and delinquents.”

“It’s perfect.”

“Hank popped the top off Ivy’s beer, set it next to his, then leaned against the counter while he waited on her.”

“Despite Ivy’s answer, Hank stopped at a drive-through burger joint near the airport and placed a large order, making sure to get milkshakes.”

“It was a rare day that Hank slept in.”

“Ivy wanted to sink through the floor of Howler’s and disappear.”

“By the time Ivy made it to the justice of the peace, she felt like she’d been overhauled from head to toe.”

“Another round of applause greeted Ivy and Hank as they walked into the back room of Howler’s and the DJ announced them again as husband and wife.”

“Hank waited until Titus, Bridget and Sam were seated, then shut the door to the station conference room and took the chair beside Ivy.”

“The world outside the clearing fell away.”

“As Ivy chomped down on Prescott’s knife hand and caused him to drop the knife, Hank clamped a hand to his side and urged Charlie to action.”

“Sated with pizza, beer and the two pain pills that Ivy had insisted he take, Hank was firmly ensconced on the couch watching Charlie play video games while Ivy and Birdie cleaned up in the kitchen.”

“Hank stared in amazement as Birdie set a cup of coffee on his desk.”

Weekend Read - The Gargoyle Gets His Girl

I’ve loved the other two books of this series. The characters and town are just so interesting, I can’t wait to read this book.

"Waiting On" Wednesday - Secondhand Souls

"Waiting On"  Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on... 
Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore

* Book will be released August 25, 2015
Check out the description from Goodreads:

“In San Francisco, the souls of the dead are mysteriously disappearing—and you know that can't be good—in New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore's delightfully funny sequel to A Dirty Job.

Something really strange is happening in the City by the Bay. People are dying, but their souls are not being collected. Someone—or something—is stealing them and no one knows where they are going, or why, but it has something to do with that big orange bridge. Death Merchant Charlie Asher is just as flummoxed as everyone else. He's trapped in the body of a fourteen-inch-tall "meat" waiting for his Buddhist nun girlfriend, Audrey, to find him a suitable new body to play host.

To get to the bottom of this abomination, a motley crew of heroes will band together: the seven-foot-tall death merchant Minty Fresh; retired policeman turned bookseller Alphonse Rivera; the Emperor of San Francisco and his dogs, Bummer and Lazarus; and Lily, the former Goth girl. Now if only they can get little Sophie to stop babbling about the coming battle for the very soul of humankind…”

I’m really looking forward to this book because the first book I read with these characters was so good. Plus Christopher Moore is one hilarious writer so I can’t wait to see what happens.

Mini Reviews - Come Back To Texas, A Different Kind of Fine, This Much Space

I kind of read these as one long book and think they fit together best that way. Hayley and Nate at the start of this book have been broken up. Neither one of them though can let go of the relationship. I love the alternate chapters especially when Nate starts making videos about why Hayley should come back to Texas. Also the singing group kind of reminded me of the movie Pitch Perfect and that made me love the book more too.

Nate’s recovery is of course not easy and his chapters and book so you how crazy it all is for him. Seeing him and Hayley become closer again makes for a great read though. This book and series just draws you right in and will leave you wanting to know what happens next.

Olivia and Thierry’s book is crazy intense. I really like how it approaches some very important issues too. It’s great reading a book where a woman is fine with her body image. Their first meeting was unexpected and sets a great tone for the book. Thierry’s problem was well handled too especially since you don’t normally see this problem in books from a guy’s point of view. This book shows you that there are definitely issues that can’t be handled by yourself or friends alone. By the end of this book you’ll want to know what happens to both of them ASAP.

Story Time

* Please add a line to the story and determine where it goes.

Rules
1.) Only write 1 to 2 sentences
2.) Keep it clean
3.) Have fun and spread the word so the story grows

First Sentence:

She knew that this might not end well but she had to try.

My Favorite Quotes/Lines - Chasing Impossible

Chasing Impossible by Katie McGarry

*Spoilers are highlighted like so :)

“Abby is one of the few people who can keep up with me, and she’s willing to go as far as me in the quest for crazy.”

“People with an ounce of sense back off this girl in an instant, but to me her intensity is an addiction.”

“Neither Abby nor I are reliable or stable. We’re like a tidal wave of gasoline approaching a nuclear power plant, but we still like to play with matches.”

“I’m crazy, but not suicidal.”

“Damn getting shot making me damn emotional.”

“My IQ scores invalidate your claim for stupidity.”

“That’s the thing about relationships—they aren’t dictatorships.”

“People aren’t supposed to talk to each other. Especially you two. Men aren’t supposed to have actual conversations. Get your gender roles straight.”

“Life isn’t about perfection. It’s about spending time with you.”

“Occasionally, I just pretend to be real.”

“God knows I’m questioning our current reality.”

“Understanding someone’s point of view, it turns out, can be a real bitch, especially when I’m hell-bent on not feeling up to forgiving.”

“It’s fucked-up logic, but fucked-up describes this group well.”

“He knows all of these things, but he loves me anyhow.”

“So I’m eccentric?” It’s a pretty word for weird, but he has me.”

“Life is how it’s supposed to be.”

Review - Chasing Impossible

Chasing Impossible by Katie McGarry

5 gnomes out of 5 gnomes

Katie McGarry is definitely an auto-buy author for me. This story like all her others is hard to pull yourself away from because you just have to know what happens next. I knew I needed this book as soon as I found out it would tell Abby's story.

I’m so happy she decided to tell Abby’s story because wow is it intense and great all at once. Logan is also one of the guys that I was curious about too (his secret was a surprise too though you’ll probably wonder why he keeps it a secret so long.)

It’s great seeing a lot of characters from the other books. All the characters are distinct yet awesome. They all know how to rally around each other too.

There is some serious trouble in this book that will make it so you don’t want to stop reading. There are some big secrets about Abby that the readers gets to learn about. Her final solution to everything was really surprising. I also loved how everything turned out.

I know I for one will continue to look forward to whatever McGarry writes next.

Sentence Sneak Peek - Chasing Impossible

Chasing Impossible by Katie McGarry

The first sentence from each chapter of Chasing Impossible, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.

*Spoilers are highlighted like so :)

“Traitor.”

“Rule number one from my father: never let them know you’re scared.”

“Do it,” I say.”

“I’m going to kiss him tonight.”

“On the crowded sidewalk next to Isaiah’s car, Rachel and I stare at each other.”

“My grandmother’s first piece of advice to counteract Dad’s list: the devil dances with those who walk alone on the edge.”

“I lay my hand over the strings to stop the reverberating and the crowd goes insane.”

“His lips are hot and soft and tasting him is like standing outside during an electrical storm.”

“Seriously, I didn’t know you played guitar.”

“I’m against the wall, near the entrance and I’m doing my best Navy SEAL as I count the game pieces in the room.”

“I’m running and it’s not fast enough.”

“I’m drowning.”

“There’s blood on my hands.”

“It’s quiet yet not.”

“Why did you drive all the way back to Bullitt County?”

“Abby!”

“We play.”

“Sleep is restless, and I have a hard time deciphering what’s real and what’s not.”

“Rachel: How is Abby?”

“I lost one week of my life in the hospital.”

“Practicing with a band is nowhere close to the high of being onstage.”

“If horses were easy to get back on, then cars would have never been invented and we’d all have a huge family pet that lived in the garage.”

“I enter through the back door then lock it behind me, thinking of how Abby was barricading herself in when she walked in earlier.”

“I turn away from Logan and my face automatically falls.”

“I do what Abby asks, flipping off the light, and then do something she doesn’t expect.”

“My heart is drumming so loudly Logan has to hear it, has to feel it, but then a part of me is wondering if this is another dream, another moment where my mind has wandered into areas of fantasy....”

“Just pretend to be real...”

“Denny slides a Styrofoam container in my direction and I smile when I spot pancakes.”

“Isaiah: Off to be smart?”

“Harvard,”

“The elevator doors open.”

“Rule number four: there’s no such thing as downtime—just another opportunity to make money.”

“Isaiah’s in the driver’s seat of his Mustang.”

“It’s only eleven and I’m calling it a night.”

“The sound of a cell buzzing causes me to stir out of a dream.”

“My grandmother took me to church once.”

“Sun’s high in the sky, baking every single one of us.”

“Working as a team, the boys hand off bale of hay after bale of hay to the next guy in line until it reaches Chris and he neatly stacks it in the barn.”

“Green corn stalks fly at us and Abby squeals in a combination of delight and horror.”

“I can’t breathe.”

“The alarm on my cell goes off and I’m so dead to the world that my eyes won’t open and my muscles that I swear were filled with concrete overnight won’t budge.”

“I think it was Tommy who shot me.”

“Abby bolts out of the diner like someone yelled fire.”

“Logan and Isaiah stand with me as I wait for my number to pop up on the screen.”

“I unlock the front door to Abby’s grandmother’s house and walk in before Abby does to check out the place.”

“Grams has been asleep a lot longer than I’d care to admit and I close the book.”

“The hunger pangs roll over me like waves and I don’t need to test my blood to know that my blood sugar is low.”

“Abby.”

“Outside crickets chirp and a half-moon smiles down at us as I hug Mom goodbye.”

“I love you.”

“Abby opens the front door and immediately grabs the bag from my hands.”

“Dressed and feeling so full that I might explode, I finish the queso as Logan tests.”

“Abby’s on fire tonight.”

“What do you think?”

“We have dinner together as a family every Friday,” Mrs. Young says as if I’m not already aware of this.”

“That’s just sick, Abby.”