Showing posts with label Scent of Magic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scent of Magic. Show all posts

Wednesday, 13 April 2016

Author Spotlight & Giveaway - Maria V Snyder

Today's post is kind of a different one.  Its a combination author spotlight/Thursday Throwback/event  post along with the give away you will find at the bottom.

Last night I was lucky enough to attend a Bloggers Evening at HarlequinTeen Australia in Sydney.  There we got to meet the amazing Maria V Snyder.

I had met Ms Snyder before back in my very first year of blogging in 2011 but at that stage I had yet to read any of her books.  That was soon remedied however when I read and fell in love with the poison study series, the glass series, the inside out, outside in dystopian duology, and Healer series.  Basically all the books she has written so far :-P

So basically I was extremely excited to be meeting Ms Snyder last night.

When I arrived, people were already there and we were able to chat with Ms Snyder and enjoyed some snacks as we waited for everyone to arrive.


Ms Snyder then talked to us about her books and answered any questions we had.  As there were only 15-20 of us in total in was like having a big group chat as we got to hear about how Poison study came to be and how it was originally supposed to be a stand alone novel! We also learned how Ms Snyder's degree in meteorology came in handy when she was writing the glass series and that if you are going to swing a broadsword you need two hands!

Lastly we all had our books signed before receiving a goodie bag from HarlequinTeen Aus before we left.


It was great to meet and chat books with fellow Sydney bloggers and makes some new bookish friends.

Huge thank you to Theresa and Harlequin Teen Australia for making this happen and of course big Thank you to Maria V Snyder for taking the time to come and say hello :-)

Now for the Thursday Throw back portion of this post.  Here are some of my favourite Maria V Snyder novels and what I had to say about them:


Scent of Magic (Healer #2)




Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

Add to Goodreads


See My Review


Purchase:  Book Depository 

Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1) by Maria V. Snyder




New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue.

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job - and his life - are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret - or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is - while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous,


Night Study (Soulfinder #2)) by Maria V Snyder

 


New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder transports readers back to the realms of Sitia and Ixia in an exciting new Study novel full of magic, danger and intrigue.

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana’s life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he’s quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he’s been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander’s mysterious plans, they realise it's far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.


The Giveaway


Do you have a mismatched set  or a set you still need to complete?  Maybe you want to start one of Ms Snyder's series you haven't read yet or may your reading copy and been read to death and you need a new one.  This giveaway is for you!

Open to anyone who lives where the Book Depository delivers, I am giving one person the chance to win their choice of 1 x  Maria V Snyder novel up to the value of $30 AUD

You can see list of Maria V Snyder's books here

You need to be 13 or over to enter and please make sure you have parent/guardian permission to enter if you are under 18

Giveaway end 11.59 pm 21/4/16

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, 13 January 2013

Review: Scent of Magic by Maria V Snyder



Title:
 Scent of Magic (healer #2)
Author: Maria V Snyder
Published: 1 January 2013
Source: HarlequinTEEN Australia
Reviewed: Sapphireddragon
SapphiredDragon Rating: ****



Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

Add to Goodreads
Purchase:  Book Depository 

Review: 

I love Maria V Snyder's books  so was extremely excited to be offered this book to read and review. I hadn't read book #1, Touch of Power so I read the two of them back to back. I am happy to say I wasn't disappointed.  Yet again, Maria V Snyder has created another interesting series that I cannot get enough of.

I loved the direction this book went in after the ending of the first book and that we saw the story from both Avry and Kerrick's point of views. As always, the peripheral characters are just as interesting as the main characters and just as 3 dimensional.

This series is not set in the world of Ms Snyder's previous books but instead she has created a whole new world that is rebuilding after a terrible plague.  This second book continued the story created in book one, expanding on the story, the world and the characters and kept me completely in the story from beginning to end. And the ending... Once again book 3 cannot come fast enough.

I love stories with magic, strong characters, an interesting world and a captivating storyline and this book has all this. Another great series from Ms Snyder and I cannot wait to see what book #3 brings.

I give this book 4 stars!

Sapphired Dragon xx

Friday, 28 December 2012

Top Ten Books I am Looking Forward to in 2013







The year has just flown, and because I don't want to forget all that I read in the blur that was 2012, I have decided to participate in Top Ten of 2012 Week: A week of Looking back...And looking forward hosted by Fiktshun, A Life Bound by Books, Confessions of a Bookaholic, Two Chicks on Books and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads 

Each day will be a different Top 10 and today's Top 10 is the Top Ten Books I am Looking Forward to in 2013. This topic was probably the easiest top ten all week.  I have been keeping track since about mid May, books I was looking forward to in 2013.  So all I had to do was decide on the order to put them in.



10. The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) by Richelle Mead

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In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

Comment: Huge fan of the Vampire Academy series and this is the third book of the spin off series, Bloodlines. Can't wait to read this.

Release Date: 12 February 2013

Pre-order: Book Depository



Dare You To by Katie McGarry



9. Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

Comment: I LOVED Pushing The Limits so I cannot wait to read this book set in the same time/town but with other characters

Release Date: 7 June 2013




8. The Impossibility of Tomorrow (Incarnation #2) by Avery Williams

The immortal Seraphina is forced to face the darkness of her past—and risk losing the love of her life—in this second novel in the Incarnation series.

Seraphina has been living for centuries, thanks to a special method of alchemy, but only recently has she really felt alive. She’s finally broken free from her controlling boyfriend, Cyrus, and after years of swapping bodies to preserve her immortality, is happily settled into a life worth sticking with. Because in this life, she has Noah.

But Noah might not be as trustworthy as he seems. After he delivers an ominous message that could only come from Cyrus, Sera is worried that her new friends and family will find out her secret. And as her suspicions extend beyond Noah, Sera is forced to wonder about her new friends as well: Could her old coven be disguising themselves right under her nose?

Will Sera have to move to another body—and take another life—or can she find a way to keep what she’s got, forever?

Add to Goodreads

Comment: The first book of this series finished on a very creepy/horrible cliff hanger. Really want to see what happens next.

Release Date: 4 July 2013

Pre-Order: Book Depository





7. The Goddess Inheritance (The Goddess Test #3) by Aimee Carter

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Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

Comment: The first book of this series was one of my favourite of 2011 and the second book finished with a breathtaking cliffhanger. Expecting this book to be awesome!

Release Date: 19 February 2013

Pre-Order: Book Depository





6. Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

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When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed.

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

Comment: I love Claudia Gray's books and I love books about witches so this book sounds perfect for me :)

Release Date: 5 March 2013

Pre-Order: Book Depository




Dreaming of Zhou Gong by Traci Harding



5. Dreaming of Zhou Gong (The Timekeepers #1) by Traci Harding

Set in ancient China, DREAMING OF ZHOU GONG is a beautiful story of Hudan, one of the mysterious Wu who lives on the sacred mountain of Li Shan. The Wu have been living in isolation for decades while the Shang Emperor and his enchantress have ruled the land. It has been a terrible time for the common people and the noble Ji brothers are keen to bring the emperor′s arrogant bloodthirsty reign to an end. They believe an ancient prophecy has predicted the fall of the Shang emperor and they are keen to enact it, but first they must journey to the mountain and seek out the Wu.

When the Ji brothers join forces with the beautiful, enigmatic Hudan and her equally mysterious tiger sister, they begin a powerful journey of love and adventure.

But the Shang emperor is not their greatest threat. There is a dark curse that has plagued the rulers of the land for generations. And the mysterious Sons of the Sky who visit Hudan in her dreams have a plan to destroy it. Can Hudan trust them?

DREAMING OF ZHOU GONG is a beautitful, evocative journey through ancient China.


Release Date: 1st February, 2013

Pre-Order: Galaxy Bookshop

Comment: In just under a month and a half, the first book of my favourite author's newest trilogy comes out. Finally! Did I mention I am not so patient and a year is a long time to wait :-P. Seriously though,  I love this time period and I love Traci's stories so cannot wait to start this newest trilogy :)

Oh and check out the gorgeous cover!




4. Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Add to Goodreads

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again

Comment: I loved Book 1, Touch of Power and I love Maria V Snyder's writing so cannot wait to get my hands on Scent of Magic :-)

Release Date (In Australia): 1 January 2013

Pre-Order: Book Depository


3. With All My Soul (Soul Screamers #7) by Rachel Vincent

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What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America?

It's time to kick some hellion butt...

After not really surviving her junior year (after all, she did die), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to the find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity and the rest on each other. And so she–and her gang–make plans to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.

But then she meets Wrath. And Kaylee realizes that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. Especially when one more person she loves is taken...

Comment: The conclusion to the Soul Screamer series! Expecting this book to be epic!

Release Date: 19 March 2013

Pre-Order: Book Depository



2. Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand

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The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfil her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

Comment: Have already pre-ordered this book. That is how much I am looking forward to it. Uneathly was great. Hallowed even better. Looking forward to the conclusion of this Trilogy.

Release Date: 22 January 2013

Pre-Order: Book Depository


1. Everbound by Brodi Ashton

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Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

Comment: So I think I pre-ordered this one almost as soon as I finished book #1, Everneath. Due out next month, January 22 cannot come quick enough!

Release Date: 22 January 2013

Pre-Order: Book Depository

Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know what you are looking forward to reading in 2013!

Thanks also to  Fiktshun, A Life Bound by Books, Confessions of a Bookaholic, Two Chicks on Books and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads  for organising this awesome event this week.  I have had so much fun sharing my top tens of 2012.  Hope you enjoyed them too!

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

WWW Wednesday #9



20120606-111238.jpg


WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you will read next?

What are you currently reading?


The Perfect Hope (Boonsboro Inn #3) by Nora Roberts

Really enjoying this so far.  It has the same feel as the rest of the trilogy and I can't wait to see how it concludes.


What did you recently finish reading?







.
Scent of Magic  by Maria V Snyder

Love! Love! Loved this!  Look forward to a review of this in January 2013! :)




What do you think you will read next??



I got Crimson Frost(Mythos Academy #4) by Jennifer Estep from Netgalley recently to review so need to read books 2 and 3 first :) I enjoyed book 1 so figure i should enjoy the rest of the series.


Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2) by Jennifer Estep
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I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Academy, and I have no idea how I’m going to survive the rest of the semester. One day, I’m getting schooled in swordplay by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gorgeous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invisible archer in the Library of Antiquities decides to use me for target practice. And now, I find out that someone at the academy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

Purchase: Book Depository

Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3) by Jennifer Estep
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I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.(less)


Purchase: Book Depository

So what are you reading this week?



Saturday, 3 November 2012

In My Mailbox #42



20120506-103516.jpg

Welcome to  In My Mailbox, a meme run by The Story Siren where each week over 200 bloggers post on their blogs the books they have bought, received to review or won in the past week.

To find out more information, get involved yourself or see what's in other bloggers mailboxes this week head over to The Story Siren or to find out what is in my mailbox this week, keep reading.

Don't forget to comment and post your IMM link or just let me know what's in your mail box this week.

Not a huge mailbox this week however the one book I did receive I am extremely excited about and can't wait to read!

For Review (From HarlequinTeen Australia):


Scent of Magic by Maria V Snyder
ARC of Scent of Magic (Healer #2) by Maria V Snyder
Add to Goodreads

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

Pre-Order: Book Depository 
So what was in your mailbox this week?

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

WWW Wednesday #7



20120606-111238.jpg


WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you will read next?

What are you currently reading?





Scent of Magic by Maria V Snyder


The sequel to Touch of Power, was so excited to receive this and glad I already had it to read as soon as I finished Touch of Power. Can't wait to finish it though sometimes Avry and Kerrick remind me a little of Yelena and Valek mostly Kerrick reminds me of Valek.

What did you recently finish reading?





The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts

I love Nora Roberts. Simple romance with a touch of paranormal. Even though each trilogy generally follows a similar formula, the books are a comfortable and enjopyable read. This was book 2 in the Boonsboro Inn trilogy.


Touch of Power by Maria V Snyder


Book 1 of Maria V Snyder's Healer series. I really enjoyed this book and as mentioned above am currently reading book 2. Review to come.

Firespell,Hexbound & Charmfall by Chloe Neill


I read all three books of this series in the space of 2 1/2 days. The series is about a new girl at a snooty boarding school and magic, which is always a fun combination. An easy read but not sure if there is anymore to come in this series.

What do you think you will read next??





The Perfect Hope (Boonsboro Inn #3) by Nora Roberts


Synopsis (via Goodreads): The Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother are breathing new life into the town of Boonsboro, Maryland, by restoring its historic hotel. And they’re finding their own lives revamped by love. This is Ryder’s story... Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out — with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He’s surly and unsociable, but when he straps on a tool belt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except apparently Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro. And though the Inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope’s experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome — and embarrassing — appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder’s emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him...

So what are you reading this week?