Blog Tour Review ~ Big Sky Country by Linda Lael Miller

Title: Big Sky Country
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Series: Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #1

Rating: B+

The “First Lady of the West,” #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller is back with a new series about Parable, Montana-where love awaits. The illegitimate son of a wealthy rancher, Sheriff Slade Barlow grew up in a trailer hitched to the Curly-Burly hair salon his mother runs. He was never acknowledged by his father-until now. Suddenly, Slade has inherited half of Whisper Creek Ranch, one of the most prosperous in Parable, Montana. That doesn’t sit well with his half brother, Hutch, who grew up with all the rights of a Carmody. Including the affections of Joslyn Kirk, homecoming queen, rodeo queen, beauty queen-whom Slade has never forgotten But Joslyn is barely holding her head up these days as she works to pay back everyone her crooked stepfather cheated. With a town to protect-plus a rebellious teenage stepdaughter-Slade has his hands full. But someone has to convince Joslyn that she’s responsible only for her own actions. Such as her effect on this lawman’s guarded heart.

 

What I LOVE about this author is that I feel that I can always count on her to put out a book with a story that I am extremely interested in.  Linda Lael Miller is one of those authors that has been on my Auto-Buy list FOREVER for that exact reason.  Thank Ms. Miller for yet another wonderful story.

Our heroine Joslyn is back in town after leaving after dark with her mother and their housekeeper after a MAJOR scandal broke out that put her stepfather in DEEP trouble with not only the law but the people he conned. Up until that point Joslyn had led a pretty pampered life.  Joslyn is doing pretty good for herself these days and now she’s back in town to try to make things right.

Slade Barlow is the sheriff and up until recently he’s been the illegitimate son of the wealthiest rancher in the area.  I forgot to mention the unacknowledged illegitimate son part.  With the death of his father Slade learns that he’s inherited half of his dad’s estate.  Enter pissed off 1/2 brother Hutch and you’ve got a pretty volatile situation.  Slade is also a little bit hesitant to start a new relationship after going through a divorce, especially with a woman he isn’t sure is going to stick around.

Even with all the obstacles that face Joslyn and Slade they do partake in a relationship.  I think that those obstacles really made the story for me.  There is a lot that happens in this story and I don’t want to give anything away so I’m going to start wrapping up this review.  The romance grows, relationships get worked on and then there is some figuring out what exactly the relationship is going to be as well.  Overall, I am really happy with this book and can hardly wait to get my hands on the next book in this series!

 

Throwing a Change Up

Good Morning everyone!

I’m posting about the change-up that I am making to this blog.  From now on I will be reviewing exclusively books that “go bump in the night” here on Bookish After Dark.  But because I am an eclectic reader I am going to post my reviews for all other genre’s on a new blog called Romancing the Book.  I hope you’ll drop by and say hi.  I’ve got a couple of reviews up already and a couple more scheduled and a few more in the works right now.

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Keira Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Book Stats

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Format Reviewed: Finished Hardcover
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 24, 2012

Series: The Selection #1

Source: Personal Purchase

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself- and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

The Selection how do I LOVE you?!  Well, you know those cupcakes with the delicious frosting piled on top?  You know the one’s that you know you SHOULDN’T have more than one of but by the time you’re done you’ve had 3 or 4 and you still want more?  That is how much I LOVED The Selection.  Not only was it delicious, I was left wanting MORE!  Now I have to wait for what seems like an ETERNITY for book 2!   😦

What I really liked about this book was that it’s classified as a Dystopian novel but it didn’t really have a Dystopian feel to it at all.  It had “shades” of dystopia but not hardcore like say Legend or The Hunger Games.  Yeah for A-Typical dystopian’s!

In the beginning I was sure how I felt about America.  I kind of felt that at the beginning of the book America was maybe a little bit naive about some things…Mainly men and relationships.  Then I thought that there were some things that America was right on the ball about…Life outside the palace walls, especially for lower caste citizens.  Though as the book progressed I saw a lot of growth in America.  Which made me really happy. 🙂

Can we talk about Aspen for a minute?  I’m NOT a fan.  I felt that in the beginning of the book Aspen was using America because she was a caste above him.  She had a little more food readily available and she was more than willing to share, so felt he took advantage of the situation.  Then things happen later in the book and as a result I’m EVEN LESS of a fan.

Maxon!?  I’m definitely Team Maxon, all the way!  When the ladies of The Selection move into the palace Maxon is WAY out of his element.  To the point of being adorably awkward.  Then America catches his eye and I want to be America.  He showers her with a lot of attention and experiences several firsts with her.  Even though Maxon is clearly attracted to America he does end up doing right by the other girls in The Selection as well.

Overall, I was BEYOND impressed with this book!  It exceeded my expectations and I can hardly wait for the next book to come out.  It has it all!  Drama, romance, evil characters you just want to reach into the book and slap, and action to name a few things.  If you haven’t picked up The Selection and read it yet DO SO RIGHT NOW!

Rating: AWESOME SAUCE AWARD!!

I promise there will be REVIEWS!

So I promise that later this week I’ll have a bunch of reviews posted.  I got a TON of reading done last week when I had off of work for a death in our family.  Then I found out about The Story Siren drama and I’ve been doing some thinking about doing an alternative to The Debut Author Challenge for 2013.

I have decided that Stacking the Shelves and Goodie Bag Saturday are the bee’s knee’s!  Both of these meme’s are alternatives to IMM.  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews  and Goodie Bag Saturday is hosted by Books of Love.

 

Possible Debut Author Challenge alternative for 2013?!

Good Morning everyone!  After reading about all the drama and plagiarism accusations that have been targeted at Kristi of The Story Siren I have been pondering creating an alternative to The Debut Author Challenge for 2013.  See the thing that really bothered me about the current Debut Author Challenge is that it’s only kept to YA.  Granted that is the genre that The Story Siren reviews but there are so many more genre’s out there that have debut authors as well and there doesn’t appear to be Debut Author Challenge’s for those genre’s.

I am writing this post to see if there is any interest in an alternative to the current Debut Author Challenge?  Which could mean including more genre’s in the challenge, a possible separate blog for the challenge and several other things I’ve been thinking.  So please feel free to leave me any feedback below in the comments section.  Please only constructive criticism or idea’s.  I’m trying to get a feel for how others feel about this idea and want the comments section to be a “safe” place for a healthy discussion.  Thank you.

Because this would be a great undertaking I’m also wondering if there are other bloggers out there that would possibly be interested in partnering with me on this project?  If you are interested here is what I’m looking for in partner(s) for this project:

• I’m not a huge blog with a TON of followers, so I’m not going to say that you must have a certain number of followers to be a partner either. 
• A willingness to help me spread the word about the new challenge.
• A willingness to help me create a space for the new challenge
• The more the merrier!

If you are any of those things please feel free to drop me an email at notyourmothersbookblog@yahoo.com.