WWW Wednesday

Today I have a super simple post to let the world know what I’m reading. Hosted by Taking on a World of Words, you answer 3 questions and hey presto, you are all done.

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

 

In light of my massive reading slump, I handed my kindle to my daughter and asked her to pick my next read for me. She surprised me by not going for the books with shirtless men on the cover. So my currently reading and reading next are courtesy of her.

Rare Vigilance by M.A. Grant

Rare Vigilance is book 1 in the Whitethorn Agency, a fast paced, m/m romance with vampires.

Synopsis – Former marine Atlas Kinkaid knows not to ask questions about the clients he protects at the behest of the elite Whitethorn security agency. Just like he doesn’t like anyone asking about his scars—scars left by a mysterious attack that haunts his every waking moment.
Consumed by the need to find out what happened to him, Atlas takes a job providing security to Cristian Slava, the indolent—and gorgeous—son of a notorious businessman. Cristian seems to be just another entitled client, but when nights at the club turn into secret meetings and people start going missing, Atlas realizes there’s more to Cristian—and to protecting him—than meets the eye.

The Build-up Season by Megan Jacobson

I don’t know about you, but I’m a total cover whore. I don’t need to read the blurb, if it’s bright, shiny and pretty, my inner 4 year old comes out and I have to have it. Admit it, we all do it.

That is how I found one of my top 2016 reads; Yellow by Megan Jacobson. It had some of the most authentic Australian teenage dialogue and I read it in one sitting. So when I stumbled across The Build-Up Season, I didn’t read the synopsis, I didn’t check reviews, I didn’t care about that stuff, Yellow was such a strong, engaging read that I will automatically buy her next 10 books.

The Lightening Knight by Sean Valiente

An epic tale with swords, friendships and danger lurking around every corner.

Synopsis – Po Pondarion has always dreamed of becoming a true knight. What he doesn’t know is that he’s destined to save the world and reignite the spark of magic within it.
But this isn’t his story, it’s mine. See, I once thought magic was only the stuff of fairytales, and I was wrong. I’m doing my best to protect, train, and mentor Po as we search for the key to unlock magic before a dangerous secret group gets there first.

Please Don’t Hug Me by Kay Kerr

Your eyes don’t deceive you, it’s actually happening, I’m reviewing a contemporary read. And what a delightful read it was.

• Australian author 

• Female author

• Own voices

• Autistic female main character

Please Don’t Hug Me ticks all the boxes. That title is simply the best. The story was told in letter format. The characters are all incredibly relatable and just trying to do their best. The family was flawed but truly wonderful. It was heart warming, engaging and an absolute delight. 

Synopsis – A funny-serious own-voices story about what happens when you stop trying to be the person other people expect you to be and give yourself a go.

Erin is looking forward to Schoolies, at least she thinks she is. But things are not going to plan. Life is getting messy, and for Erin, who is autistic, that’s a big problem. She’s lost her job at Surf Zone after an incident that clearly was not her fault. Her driving test went badly even though she followed the instructions perfectly. Her boyfriend is not turning out to be the romantic type. And she’s missing her brother, Rudy, who left almost a year ago.

But now that she’s writing letters to him, some things are beginning to make just a tiny bit of sense.

Erin is the most wonderful main character. She is absolutely adorable and is doing her absolute best to be who everyone wants her to be. But it’s not easy and as she is growing up, she realises things aren’t going to work out the way she had planned. 

I can empathise with Erin and her family so much. The way they are written is brilliant. The style brings us right into Erin’s head, we see everything the way she does and I think it’s fantastic. She is a delight with a kind heart. This was a really beautiful coming of age story. The growth throughout was realistic and had me cheering for Erin and her family. Her little brother was such a sweet, innocent character. Also fantastic female friendships for the win!!

Please Don’t Hug Me is such an easy read. The format makes it fly by. I read it a couple of hours as I couldn’t put it down. If you are after a contemporary absolutely brimming with heart, this is the book for you. It will leave you with a massive smile on your face, even after it rips your heart out. 

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Goodreads  –  Amazon  –  Released: 28th April 2020

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Grave Reflection by A. Lawrence

To celebrate Halloween eve (is that a thing?) I’m participating in a blog tour brought to you by the team at Storytellers On Tour.

Grave Reflection is a fun, creepy, inclusive read. Lots of ghosts, beautiful friendships and a town on the brink of mayhem.

Synopsis- Another Friday night, another trip through a potentially haunted house. Shay’s not a believer, but she’s willing to help her best friend, Max, with their amateur ghost hunting show. Little does she know she is about to be thrown into a world of witches and dangerous spirits.
With newly discovered abilities, Shay finds that she can both see and touch spirits. The downside is, the ghosts can touch her back, and it seems that they’ll do anything to get a hold of her.
She was never much of a ghost hunter. How will she do when she is the one being hunted?

Knock Out by Willow James

Synopsis – Brodie King has only one goal – doing whatever it takes to become a pro boxer. The last thing he wants is to find his mind and body derailed by a luscious, shy librarian. Now all he can think about is coaxing her to come out of her shell and how he’s going to make her his.

Humiliated by the only man she ever let into her bed, Tabitha Simms took the job in Walton, MA, determined to play it safe and accept her life as a lonely, quiet librarian. She doesn’t count on Brodie, a tattooed, possessive boxer interrupting her life and bringing out a side of her she never knew.

White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton

Adam Lee Binder is everything his brother, Robert hates. Robert had him committed as a teen and washed his hands, He was done. But when Robert’s wife starts acting strange and he begins getting glimpses of something other, he realises that maybe Adam wasn’t crazy and he desperately needs his help.

Adam is busy hunting a warlock, he lives with his aunt in a trailer and he is getting by okay. Yet when the message comes from his brother he feels compelled to help. But nothing is as easy as it seems, all the magicians in Denver are dead, there is a giant spirit siphoning the life out of its inhabitants and it’s decided Adam is next. He is going to have to make a deal with someone much stronger than him if he wants to get out of this alive.

Hex: The Apprentice by Fran Hodgkins

Synopsis – Robin West is a normal teenager living in a normal town, but when she finds out that Gram Madder makes hexes, her life gets far more complicated than she ever expected. What is a hex? It’s a painting that has the power to make things happen–or to stop things from happening. At least that’s what some people in town believe. Targeted by intolerant neighbors, Robin must protect herself and her loved ones from a force greater than she could have ever imagined.

I, Exile by David Samuels

Synopsis – Exiled into a wasteland because of a heist gone wrong, Emelith vows to hunt down the one responsible. Except not all is what it seems in the haunted realm of the Cauldron.