Author Spotlight: Meg Cabot

Welcome to another Author Spotlight! This week the spotlight is on one of my all-time ultimate favourite authors, Meg Cabot.

I first fell in love with Ms. Cabot's books back at the age of 11 when one of my friends introduced me to the Princess Diaries series in the school library. I don't think I really picked up too many of her books then, not realizing it was a series (duh...), but once I realized, I absolutely flew through them. As I continued to grow, so did her genre, and I was delighted to move onto her adult series, which are honestly, just incredible. Her books have literally made me laugh out loud (embarassingly loud) in public, and I've had a few curious questions as to what I'm reading. But honestly? I just love her books. There's something just so appealing and honest about them, and it just makes me feel like I'm talking to an old friend.

As mentioned above, I did start with her Princess Diaries series, and actually finished them when I was in high school - the perfect age for reading these as that matches up with Mia's situation. I was surprised to see a later release, The Royal Wedding, and eagerly picked that up too. So, I can continue fawning over her works, but, if you haven't read her books yet, do yourself a favor and get them. I will say that some of her books got me through some tough times in my life, and when I need a cheer-up, hers are the books I turn too.

So, now we come to the hard decision of which ones are my favourite? I'll continue to limit myself to three so that this isn't too overwhelmingly long to read, but know that all of her books are incredible.

1. Every Boy's Got One (The Boys Series Book 3) by Meg Cabot

Cartoonist Jane Harris is delighted by the prospect of her first-ever trip to Europe. But it's hate at first sight for Jane and Cal Langdon, and neither is too happy at the prospect of sharing a villa with one another for a week—not even in the beautiful and picturesque Marches countryside. But when Holly and Mark's wedding plans hit a major snag that only Jane and Cal can repair, the two find themselves having to put aside their mutual dislike for one another in order to get their best friends on the road to wedded bliss—and end up on a road themselves ... one neither of them ever expected.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

2. Princess Mia (also called Bad Heir Day in the UK) by Meg Cabot

Princess Mia Thermopolis has hit an all-time low. Lilly isn't speaking to her. Someone is posting horrible things about her on ihatemiathermopolis.com. Grandmere is forcing her to give a speech to two thousand of the most powerful businesswomen in America. And, oh yeah: Michael, the love of her life, has dumped her.

But despite what the press seems to think, Mia has more on her mind than recruiting a new Prince Charming. Like solving a 400-year-old mystery that could mean BIG changes for little Genovia. But is Mia really ready to throw away her tiara – especially if it means destroying a dynasty?

Bad Heir Day, previously published as To the Nines, is the ninth in the bestselling The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

3. She Went All The Way by Meg Cabot

Success hasn't spoiled screenwriter Lou Calabrese -- it's just given her a taste for luxury. And it's put her in some bizarre situations -- like in a helicopter en route to the wilds of Alaska, sharing too-close quarters with the last man she wants to be with: Jack Townsend! Once a sexy nobody whom Lou helped make a somebody, Jack's just been dumped by a high-profile Hollywood airhead -- who's eloped with Lou's longtime love! So what else could go wrong?

Well...

Their pilot could try to shoot the most adored man in America. They could crash land in the icy, mountainous middle of nowhere. And at the worst possible moment, when survival should be their only consideration, Jack could start wondering if maybe he wasn't a wee bit too hasty for not giving this sexy screenwriter a second look -- while Lou could start noticing how superstar Jack is kind of hot after all ..

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

What's your favourite novel from Ms. Cabot?

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Saturday Night Film Night

Who doesn't need a night of just pure happiness? For me, books and films are about escaping into a happy reality. When I'm in the right mood, I do love historical and action films, but a lot of the time recently, I just need something to just make me happy, and that's why this week, I'm watching the Princess Diaries.

Mia Thermopolis has just found out that she is the heir apparent to the throne of Genovia. With her friends Lilly and Michael Moscovitz in tow, she tries to navigate through the rest of her sixteenth year.






I still remember the day that my friend showed me the Princess Diaries series, somewhere at the tender age of 11. I immediately fell in love and continued eagerly reading and awaiting the rest of the series, and reading the rest of Ms. Cabot's works. So you can imagine my joy when this was turned into a film! And then another one came out!

The film doesn't follow the books, something which is actually hilariously addressed in the books by Ms. Cabot, but that doesn't make it any less perfect. Also, you have Chris Pine and Julie Andrews. So, I don't see how they can be anything less than perfect! I have read that there will also be a third film releasing at some point, I'm not sure the full accuracy to this (I've been awaiting the announcement of National Treasure 3 for over 8 years now...), but I'm crossing my fingers!

Honestly, the book series itself is my favourite book series of all time (no exaggeration), and the films are just the perfect cherry on top!

What are you watching this weekend?

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Happy Friday!

We've made it to another Friday! We're officially over halfway done the year now, I don't know how on earth that's happened.

I started out the week letting you know that I was lucky enough to receive an advanced review copy of best-selling romance author Avery Flynn's newest upcoming novel, The Wedding Date Disaster, along with finally finishing designing a book review tracker! The book review tracker has been in the works for some times, as while I do love computers, there's nothing like having it physically in front of you.

If you haven't checked out my reviews this week, click on the picture below to be taken to them:

                          

The Author Spotlight this week was on Teresa Medeiros, one of my all-time favourite best-selling romance authors. If you haven't checked it out yet, click here to find out my favourite books from her, and some great new historical romance reads!

Next week I'm continuing to delve back into my old and loved favourites. I'm still finding it hard to actually get into a new series/author/book at the moment - does anyone have any recommendations?

Happy Friday!

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Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot

Meet Kate MacKenzie…idealistic office worker, reluctant deliverer of termination notices and queen of instant messaging. As sweet as sugar. Meet Mitch Hertzog…ever-smiling corporate lawyer, defender of the downtrodden and king of aborted dinner dates. Good enough to eat.

Meet Ida Lopez…cake, cookie and pastry-maker extraordinaire, purveyor of the dessert trolley and goddess of all things mouth-wateringly yummy. As nice as pie.

Together they must battle tyrants and despots to find truth, justice and the perfect double fudge pudding.

I've been a big fan of Ms. Cabot's work since I picked up the Princess Diaries, but for me, this is the book that truly launched her adult romantic fiction works. I have literally never laughed this hard at a book, and will admit that I have re-read this novel a few times, due to the sheer hilarity.

Written in one of the most unique formats I've ever seen, this novel is written entirely through emails from each of the characters, a few diary entries, and notes scribbled to each other, but is one of the most comprehensive novels I've read, and you can truly see our hero and heroine falling in love. If nothing else, read this book simply because of it's writing format!

There just truly aren't enough good things to say about this book. From it's unique writing style, I can say that these characters are truly unlike anything I've ever read and the romance is 100% believable and organic. All of the characters have unique characteristics and truly fleshed out, and a pleasure to read.

Overall, hands down, one of the best books I've ever read, and certainly a favourite.

Rating: 5/5

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

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Weekly Round-Up

It's officially here! We're in the second half of 2020 - who would have thought? We've had some great books come out so far, and still many more yet to come.

So what have I been up to this week? I'll confess to being somewhat distracted and finding it a bit difficult to concentrate on reading. As you might have seen from some of my other posts I have been going back to old favourites and happily re-reading, so prepare for some older books coming your way soon!

But, back to what I've actually been doing this week. The debate has continued as to who is the better e-book platform, I'm still nowhere close to making a decision, but check it out here. I'd still love to hear your opinions, so please drop me a comment and let me know where I should be getting my books from! Don't get me wrong, I'd absolutely love to buy physical books, but given I already own over 500, I've been given a warning as to how many more I'm allowed until we have no more room in the house - until then, I'll have to make do with my e-books!

In case you missed it, check out my book reviews of the week here (click on the picture):

                      

I did have a look at books I'm looking forward to releasing this month, but I'll confess to struggling. I'm really not sure why, and I'm possibly looking in the wrong place, but I could only find two that I was really excited about here. Let me know what you're looking forward to in July!

Happy reading everyone.

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No Judgements by Meg Cabot

The storm of the century is about to hit Little Bridge Island, Florida—and it’s sending waves crashing through Sabrina “Bree” Beckham’s love life…

When a massive hurricane severs all power and cell service to Little Bridge Island—as well as its connection to the mainland—twenty-five-year-old Bree Beckham isn’t worried . . . at first. She’s already escaped one storm—her emotionally abusive ex—so a hurricane seems like it will be a piece of cake.

But animal-loving Bree does become alarmed when she realizes how many islanders have been cut off from their beloved pets. Now it’s up to her to save as many of Little Bridge’s cats and dogs as she can . . . but to do so, she’s going to need help—help she has no choice but to accept from her boss’s sexy nephew, Drew Hartwell, the Mermaid Café’s most notorious heartbreaker.

But when Bree starts falling for Drew, just as Little Bridge’s power is restored and her penitent ex shows up, she has to ask herself if her island fling was only a result of the stormy weather, or if it could last during clear skies too.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Meg Cabot. Starting with her Princess Diaries series back in 2002, I’ve read almost every single one of her books, leaving out the middle school books, and I would say hands down she is one of my favourite authors.

The Little Bridge Island Series starts off with a short story, ‘Bridal Boot Camp,’ and while a short story has limited time, the story was bland, not offering much for the reader to fall in love with the characters.

Unfortunately, No Judgements starts off exactly as the blurb lays out, and continues its short story pitfall, of simply seeming too easy. The characters are semi-likeable, but the romance seems too rush between the protagonists. While a great read for introducing us to Little Bridge Island, there’s nothing memorable about this series.

When Cabot refers to the ’emotionally abusive ex’ in the blurb, I steeled myself, for what ultimately seemed to be little resolution in the book, and retaliation with physical violence. She also introduces a myriad of backstory for the character that seem to be random notes, rather than key driving points of the story.

Overall, while I love Cabot and most of her books, unfortunately this one seemed to fall short. An interesting premise in a gorgeous setting, but the pace was too quickly set for our protagonists to reach their happy ending.

Rating: 3/5

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

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Best Action/Mystery Comedy Romance

I read a large variety of romance genres, but above all, there must be a happy ending, I'll have hoped to have laughed during the book, and it has to keep my interest. 

It's slightly odd to say an action/mystery comedy romance, but they definitely do exist, and are some of my favourite romances. I've kept going back to these over and over and they kept my attention all the way. I absolutely love the below action/mystery comedy romance genre, and I hope you do too!

1. Nerd Gone Wild (The Nerd Series Book 3) by Vicki Lewis Thompson

She's giving him the cold shoulder…

Porcupine, Alaska was the last place on earth Mitchell Carruthers wanted to end up. Scratch that. Stuck at heiress Ally Jarrett’s side as a personal assistant was the last place. Porcupine boasts its share of wacky locals, but he’s more concerned about the man Ally’s scheduled to meet—her lowlife, two-faced uncle, who reeled Ally in by promising to help build her photography career. His real goal is duping her out of her inheritance.

Her uncle’s brought along a world famous photographer to mentor Ally, but the woman’s a sexual predator who gives Mitchell chills. Unfortunately, being in close quarters with Ally is giving him chills of a very different kind. When a blizzard blows through town, trapping them in their adjoining rooms, their relationship suddenly goes from glacial to global warming. But with so much at stake, a distraction, no matter how tempting, could cost them their lives. 

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

2. She Went All The Way by Meg Cabot

There are a few places screenwriter Lou Calabrese would rather be than crammed into a helicopter with Jack Townsend, star of her claim to fame, Copkiller, and whose ex just ran off with Lou's ex. Talk about uncomfortable. But when, halfway out to the isolated arctic location where Copkiller IV is currently shooting, their pilot turns murderous and their helicopter crashes, Lou realizes her day has just gotten a lot worse.

Now, while family and friends back home fret over her disappearance, Lou is on the run in the arctic wilderness with America's sweetheart Jack Townsend and only the contents of her purse, his pockets, and their mutual knowledge of survival movie trivia to keep them alive. Can these two children of Hollywood put aside their differences and make it back home without killing each other? Or much, much worse, actually start to like one another?

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

3. Size 12 Is Not Fat (Heather Wells Mysteries Book 1) by Meg Cabot

Heather Wells Rocks! Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two -- and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

The cops and the college president are ready to chalk the death off as an accident, the result of reckless youthful mischief. But Heather knows teenage girls . . . and girls do not elevator surf. Yet no one wants to listen -- not the police, her colleagues, or the P.I. who owns the brownstone where she lives -- even when more students start turning up dead in equally ordinary and subtly sinister ways. So Heather makes the decision to take on yet another new career: as spunky girl detective!

But her new job comes with few benefits, no cheering crowds, and lots of liabilities, some of them potentially fatal. And nothing ticks off a killer more than a portly ex-pop star who's sticking her nose where it doesn't belong . . .

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

4. Royally Endowed (The Royally Series Book 3) by Emma Chase

Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him?? Sexy. As. Hell. And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them. For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, protective royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really.

To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her X-rated dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after.

The Queen of Wessco encourages Ellie to follow in her sister’s footsteps and settle down with a prince of her own. Or a duke, a marquis…a viscount would also do nicely. But in the pursuit of a fairy tale ending, Ellie learns that the sweetest crushes can be the hardest to let go.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

5. Jamie (Visitation Book 5) by Lori Foster

It's not that the woman in his arms is naked. It's not that he's carrying her up a mountain in a driving storm. What bothers Jamie is that the unconscious redhead is an intruder, someone who could bring him harm. He has his reasons for hiding out in this stark, secluded cabin; for keeping his emotions under wraps; for never, ever getting too close to anyone. But before she passed out in his bed, she said her name was Faith--an appropriate name since he has to take her at her word. Who is she? Why is she here? Who sent her? And what is she doing to him? 

Jamie's used to feelings of wariness, isolation, of being on guard. What he's not used to is this dangerous, nearly uncontrollable new emotion raging through him like a man on fire.

Click here to purchase from Amazon. 

6. The Following Sea (Pirate Wolf series Book 3) by Marsha Canham

The Following Sea is the long-awaited and anticipated story of Gabriel Dante. Book three of the award-winning Pirate Wolf series which began with Across A Moonlit Sea and The Iron Rose. 

The story takes place on the Spanish Main, with pirate attacks, high-seas adventure, lost galleons and sunken treasure, and of course, great romance from the author dubbed by Romantic Times as "the Queen of Swashbuckling Romance"

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

What are your favourite Action/Mystery Comedy romances? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Eight Romance Novel Series To Read Right Now

I love romance series for a few reasons. One, we get more romance novels to read, and that's always a win. Two, I love falling in love with characters in one book who aren't the main characters and see the progression in all of the involved cast. It's like looking at a microcosm of a perfect world. So, it's time for a list of some of my favourite romance series!

To make things easier, I've chosen one romance novel per series, not necessarily my favourite one in that series.

Drop us a comment and let us know your favourite romance series!

 

1. Butterface (Hartigan Series) by Avery Flynn

It’s true. I’m not what most people would call “pretty” and, well, high school was rough. Fast forward ten years and life is good…

Until a bunch of jerks think it’s hilarious to put the “butterface” (AKA me) on a wedding Kiss Cam with the hottest guy ever—and that old humiliation hits hard.

I recognize him immediately. The sexiest cop in Waterbury and totally out of my league.

But then he kisses me. And we totally forget the room, the crowd, everything.

Then he tells everyone we’ve been dating for months.

Soon everything starts to feel too real, from adorable fights over “necessary” tools to fix my broken porch to surviving a free-for-all dinner with his six siblings to picking up where our last kiss left off.

But there’s something he’s not telling me about why he’s really hanging around, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with my mob-connected brothers.

Because this is not a make-over story, and Cinderella is only a fairy tale…

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

2. Boy Meets Girl (Boy Series) by Meg Cabot

Meet Kate Mackenzie. She: works for the T.O.D. (short for TyrannicalOffice Despot, also known as Amy Jenkins, Director of the Human Resources Division at the New York Journal); is sleeping on the couch because her boyfriend of ten years refuses to commit; can't find an affordable studio apartment anywhere in New York City; thinks things can't get any worse.

They can. Because: the T.O.D. is making her fire the most popular employee in the paper's senior staff dining room; that employee is now suing Kate for wrongful termination, and now Kate has to give a deposition in front of Mitch Hertzog, the scion of one of Manhattan's wealthiest law families, who embraces everything Kate most despises ... but also happens to have a nice smile and a killer bod.

The last thing anybody -- least of all Kate Mackenzie -- expects to find in a legal arbitration is love. But that's the kind of thing that can happen when ... Boy Meets Girl.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

3. Once A Princess (Cardinia's Royal Family Series) by Johanna Lindsey

Once Upon A Time...

In a rustic Mississippi tavern, a beautiful exiled princess was forced to dance for the pleasure of others--unaware of her regal birthright...and infuriated by a magnificent golden-eyed devil who crossed an ocean to possess her.

From A Far Off Land...

A bold and brazen prince came to America to claim his promised bride. But the spirited vixen spurned his affections while inflaming his royal blood with passion's fire...impelling virile Stefan Barany to take in sensuous and searing conquest the love Tatiana vowed never to yield.

Click here to purchase from Amazon. 

4. Styx's Storm (Breed Series) by Lora Leigh

To save innocent, young Storme Montague from the claws of Breed slave traders, Wolf Breed Styx is forced to claim her himself-on the condition that Storme will no longer be a virgin by night's end. And though Storme's defenses are up, Styx will free her-in ways she never expects.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

5. Seize The Night (Dark-Hunter Series) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Valerius isn't a popular Dark-Hunter - he's a Roman, which means that the largely Greek Hunters have a major grudge against him and his civilization for superceding them. To make things worse, he's very conscious of his aristocratic background and breeding. So it serves him right when he runs into Tabitha Devereaux. She's sassy, sexy, and completely unwilling to take him seriously. (Not to mention Tabitha is also the sister-in-law of Kyrian, a former Dark-Hunter and Val's mortal enemy.)

What Tabitha does take seriously is hunting and killing vampires-and soon she and Val have to grapple with the deadliest of all Daimons - one who's managed to come back from the dead, and one who holds a serious grudge against both of them. To win against evil, Val will have to loosen up, learn to trust, and put everything on the line to protect a man he hates and a woman who drives him nuts.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

6. The Iron Rose (Pirate Wolf Series) by Marsha Canham

Bound for the Caribbean on a mission for the king, Varian St.Clare's ship is attacked by a Spanish galleon. When a pirate ship, the Iron Rose comes to their rescue, cannons blazing, the emissary is suprised to learn the captain is a woman, Juliet Dante, daughter of the infamous Pirate Wolf.

Click here to purchase from Amazon.

7. Royally Endowed (Royally Series) by Emma Chase

Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him?? Sexy. As. Hell.

And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them. For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, protective royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really.

To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her X-rated dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after. The Queen of Wessco encourages Ellie to follow in her sister’s footsteps and settle down with a prince of her own. Or a duke, a marquis…a viscount would also do nicely.

But in the pursuit of a fairy tale ending, Ellie learns that the sweetest crushes can be the hardest to let go.

Click here to purchase from Amazon. 

8. A Kiss To Remember (Once Upon A Time Series) by Teresa Medeiros

A daring Regency miss finds her own "Sleeping Beauty" and awakens him with a kiss...

If she is to keep a roof over her siblings' heads, rector's daughter Laura Fairleigh needs a husband. When she finds a mysterious stranger sleeping in the forest with no memory of his name or his past, she decides to claim him for her own.

Little does she know that her fallen angel is really Sterling Harlow, the notorious rakehell also known as the "Devil of Devonbrooke". Too late, Laura realizes she has given him the right to claim not only her home, but her body and her heart. Now she must win the devil's heart to save both their souls.

Click here to purchase from Amazon. 

What are your favourite romance novel series? Drop a comment and let us know!

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