Blog Tour Review: Witness Protection Widow

Title: Witness Protection Widow
Author: Debra Webb
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Thriller
Publisher: Harlequin
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 21, 2020
Rating: ★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Can the witness protection program keep her identity secret? 

After Allison James finally escapes her marriage to a monster, she becomes the star witness in the case against her deceased husband’s powerful crime family. Now it’s up to US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex-boyfriend, to keep the WITSEC widow safe. But as the danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws?

Discover more spine-tingling suspense in the Winchester, Tennessee Thriller series:
In Self Defense
The Dark Woods
The Stranger Next Door
The Safest Lies 
Witness Protection Widow

From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

Review:

This is the first Harlequin romance that I’ve ever read. It is part of their line of thrillers, called Harlequin Intrigue.

Ali is in the witness protection program. She was a witness to her husband’s murder by his father. They were part of a crime family, and she had information about the crimes they had committed. Ali was assigned a marshal to look after her, but when he was injured, they had to call in another man. It turns out that the new marshal, Jax, and Ali used to be engaged. They spend a lot of time together while he is protecting her, and they rekindle their romance.

This was an interesting concept for a thriller. I’ve never read a book about someone in the witness protection program, but I’ve seen it in many movies. This situation made many twists when her life was threatened.

There was a lot of build up to the court case at the end, which I found kind of disappointing. The whole story was about protecting Ali for her witness testimony, but that was the shortest part of the story. I wished it was longer because it could have created more tension.

There was also a lot of internal monologue of the two main characters. They spent a lot of time reflecting on their feelings, rather than doing things. This may be the format of these novels, but I wish there was more action and less reflection.

This book was a good introduction to Harlequin’s intrigue series.

Thank you Harlequin for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

In Self Defense by Debra Webb

About the Author:

DEBRA WEBB is the award winning, USA Today bestselling author of more than 150 novels, including reader favorites the Faces of Evil, the Colby Agency, and the Shades of Death series. With more than four million books sold in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood on a farm in Alabama. Visit Debra at www.DebraWebb.com

Have you read Witness Protection Widow? What did you think of it?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? – February 3

This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!

What I just finished:

This weekend I finished Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb.

What I’m currently reading:

I’m currently reading Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy #3) by Laura Sebastian.

What I’m reading next:

Next I will be reading A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #1) by Holly Jackson.

What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?

Jill’s Weekly Wrap-Up – February 2

Here are my reviews for the week with my ratings:

I did 8 weekly blogging memes:

How was your week? What did you guys read?

Sundays in Bed With… Witness Protection Widow

The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.

This Sunday I’m reading Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb.

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Don’t miss the high-stakes police procedural thriller from USA TODAY bestselling author Debra Webb. 

Can the witness protection program keep her identity secret? 

After Allison James finally escapes her marriage to a monster, she becomes the star witness in the case against her deceased husband’s powerful crime family. Now it’s up to US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex-boyfriend, to keep the WITSEC widow safe. But as the danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws?

Discover more spine-tingling suspense in the Winchester, Tennessee Thriller series:

In Self Defense

The Dark Woods

The Stranger Next Door

The Safest Lies 

Witness Protection Widow

From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served. 

What book are you in bed with today?

Six for Sunday – Books About Bloggers/Vloggers

This meme is hosted by Steph at A little but a lot. The weekly prompts for 2019 can be found here.

This week’s prompt is Bookstagrams or Blogs to Follow, but I changed it to Books About Bloggers/Vloggers. Here’s my list:

1. Finding Fraser by KC Dyer

2. Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith

3. Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

4. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su, Kate Rorick

5. Fan the Fame by Anna Priemaza

6. Internet Famous by Danika Stone

(All book cover images from Goodreads)

Did you write a #SixforSunday post? What was your list?

Review: Wildfire

Title: Wildfire
Author: Carrie Mac
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 28, 2020
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Into the Wild meets The Serpent King in this story about Annie and Pete, two best friends on a dangerous and emotional trek through the woods. 

Annie and Pete have been best friends since they were little. They know each other better than anyone, and they’ve been on more adventures than they can count–they even have a notebook filled with all the times they’ve almost died. But they always survive, because together, they’re invincible.

And they’ve always been just friends. But lately, Annie has been thinking that maybe friendship is just the beginning, and she’s been mentally replaying all the times they were almost something more.

Now they’re heading out on their next great quest: a ten-day backpacking trip through the mountains of Washington State, ending at Fire Camp, where they’ll learn to fight the area’s growing wildfire problem. The woods spark with the promise of adventure, but a freak climbing accident interrupts their progress, and as the wildfires close in and smoke envelops them, Annie and Pete wander farther from the trail. Carrie Mac’s gripping story of the power of unrequited love and the danger of the elements is harrowing, beautiful, and unforgettable. 

Review:

This was a heartbreaking story about friendship.

Annie and Pete are best friends who have experienced many tragedies in their young lives. They have both lost their mothers and Annie’s grandmother. They have also almost died many times. In this story, they embark on a hike through the forest. They intend to end their journey at a camp, where they will learn to fight forest fires, but they have to face many obstacles along the way.

I loved Annie’s narrative voice. At the beginning, the story jumped around a bit between a difficult time in their journey where Pete was sick and a few weeks earlier when Annie’s grandmother died. After a couple of chapters, I became hooked on the story. There were some parts of their lives, such as when and how their mothers died, which weren’t explained until close to the end of the story. That kept up some suspense since I was wondering what happened to them.

This story was heartbreaking and terrifying. On Pete and Annie’s journey, they faced unpredictable threats. They weren’t immediate threats, like wild animals, but more subtle things that threatened their lives. They were fairly close to civilization, but they were also too far to get help.

I became really attached to the characters throughout this story, which made the ending of it all the more difficult. This is a great book.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

10 Things I Can See From Here by Carrie Mac

Paper Towns by John Green

Have you read Wildfire? What did you think of it?

Stacking the Shelves – February 1

This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

I was approved for two books from St. Martin’s:

The Wrong Mr. Darcy by Evelyn Lozada with Holly Lorincz

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

I was approved for a book from Wednesday Books:

Lobizona (Wolves of No World #1) by Romina Garber

Thank you St. Martin’s and Wednesday Books for this book!

What books did you get this week?

Review: Blood Countess (Lady Slayers #1)

Title: Blood Countess (Lady Slayers #1)
Author: Lana Popović
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror
Publisher: Amulet Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 28, 2020
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A historical YA horror novel based on the infamous real-life inspiration for Countess Dracula 

In 16th century Hungary, Anna Darvulia has just begun working as a scullery maid for the young and glamorous Countess Elizabeth Báthory. When Elizabeth takes a liking to Anna, she’s vaulted to the dream role of chambermaid, a far cry from the filthy servants’ quarters below. She receives wages generous enough to provide for her family, and the Countess begins to groom Anna as her friend and confidante. It’s not long before Anna falls completely under the Countess’s spell—and the Countess takes full advantage. Isolated from her former friends, family, and fiancé, Anna realizes she’s not a friend but a prisoner of the increasingly cruel Elizabeth. Then come the murders, and Anna knows it’s only a matter of time before the Blood Countess turns on her, too.

Review:

This was a creepy story inspired by a real woman.

Elizabeth Báthory was a real noblewoman who lived in the sixteenth century. She was the inspiration for Dracula because of her bloodlust. She was a serial killer who tortured many women.

This story follows Anna, who is from a small village. She goes to work for Elizabeth, and she is so proud of this job that will bring much needed money to her family. However, she soon learns that being with Elizabeth means witnessing and taking part in the torture and murder of girls who she used to call her friends. The story introduces Elizabeth as a misunderstood woman who is surrounded by rumors, before her true behavior is revealed.

Some parts of this story were quite gory and horrific. Elizabeth was relentless in her torture. It makes it all the more creepy to think that she is based on a real woman.

At first, I thought this was going to be a series about Elizabeth. Based on the ending, I believe this series will be about various “lady slayers” throughout history. I’m curious to see who will be in the next book.

Thank you Amulet Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

Cadaver and Queen (Cadaver and Queen #1) by Alisa Kwitney

Have you read Blood Countess? What did you think of it?

First Lines Friday – January 31

This is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering Words, where you give the first few lines of a book to hook your readers before introducing the book.

Here are my first lines:

“They fire off a round of texts at me five minutes after midnight:
We’re coming.
Get ready.
They’re not threats, but my friends have a way of making even the simplest demands feel like ultimatums.”

Do you recognize these first lines?

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And the book is… Little Monsters by Kara Thomas.

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Goodreads synopsis:

Kacey is the new girl in Broken Falls. When she moved in with her father, she stepped into a brand-new life. A life with a stepbrother, a stepmother, and strangest of all, an adoring younger half sister.

Kacey’s new life is eerily charming compared with the wild highs and lows of the old one she lived with her volatile mother. And everyone is so nice in Broken Falls—she’s even been welcomed into a tight new circle of friends. Bailey and Jade invite her to do everything with them.

Which is why it’s so odd when they start acting distant. And when they don’t invite her to the biggest party of the year, it doesn’t exactly feel like an accident.

But Kacey will never be able to ask, because Bailey never makes it home from that party. Suddenly, Broken Falls doesn’t seem so welcoming after all—especially once everyone starts looking to the new girl for answers.

Kacey is about to learn some very important lessons: Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes when you’re the new girl, you shouldn’t trust anyone.

Have you read Little Monsters? What did you think of it?

Review: Fairy Unicorn Wishes (Fairy Mom and Me #3)

Title: Fairy Unicorn Wishes (Fairy Mom and Me #3)
Author: Sophie Kinsella, Marta Kissi (illustrations)
Genre: Children’s, Fantasy
Publisher: Puffin Canada
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 28, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Fairies, unicorns and magical wishes combine in this third book of the Fairy Mom and Me series from New York Timesbestselling author Sophie Kinsella!

Ella’s one wish is to become a fairy like her mom. She dreams of the day she will have her sparkly crown and Computwand. Ella even imagines what her first spell would be: a glittery unicorn of her very own. 

But Ella knows that spells are often harder than they look, even with the special fairy apps available…and being a fairy in waiting is not all rainbows and butterflies. 

Will Ella learn more magic to help her become a fairy someday? Or will she learn she doesn’t need to be a fairy yet for all her wishes to come true?

Review:

This is another great book in the Fairy Mom and Me series.

This story was very funny. Ella’s mom is a fairy, but she is always making mistakes with her magic. Sometimes her spells go wrong, like when a twirling spell made pigs and sheep dance. Another time, she installed a new spell app on her wand, which ended up granting all of Ella’s wishes, including giving her a unicorn. There were lots of pictures, depicting these spells going wrong, which were also hilarious.

I like that these stories show kids that adults can make mistakes too. Adults are constantly learning new things, just like kids. Ella’s mom makes mistakes with her spells, but Ella still admires her and wants to be a fairy when she grows up.

I really enjoyed this cute story.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Amelia Bedelia Means Business by Herman Parish, Lynne Avril (illustrations)

Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth by Jane O’Connor, Robin Preiss Glasser (illustrations)

Other Books in the Series:

Have you read Fairy Unicorn Wishes? What did you think of it?