Bout-of-Books 39 Progress

As usual, I’ll keep this post front and center for the duration of Bout-of-Books.

If you’ve been here before, you already know that my reading will be an eclectic mess of mixed genres, physical books, ARCs, ebooks, audio books and even some library picks – so consider yourself forewarned.

I’m gonna try to write at least a couple of reviews during the course of this BoB, but who knows how far I’ll get. *sigh* (And someone really needs to kick me into gear on this fine point because I am SERIOUSLY far behind!)

And there you have it! My plans for the week – which are most definitely subject to change. 😉 Be sure to visit the Bout-of-Books site and find out how you can join in on the fun… after all, you were gonna read anyway, right? Why not join in on the epic craziness? 

1/1
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today:
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far:
Books I’ve Read So Far:

1/2
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: 8hr 40m, 1 book

• Continued Fairy Queen (Songs of Magic 7) by J.L. Bryan (Ebook ARC – 15%-
• Continued A Warm Heart in Winter (Black Dagger Brotherhood #18.5) by J.R. Ward (Owned physical book – Pages 22-
• Finished Armed ‘N’ Ready (Federal K-9 #2) written by Tee O’Fallon; narrated by
  Vanessa Dainels (Audible Audio – 8hr 40m)

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: 8hr 40m; 1 book
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Armed ‘N’ Ready (Federal K-9 #2)

1/3
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: Approx. 6hr; 120 pages

• Started Alone (Detective D.D. Warren #1) written by Lisa Gardner; narrated by Anna Fields (Library Audio – Approx. 6 hr)
• Started Found (Mickey Bolitar #3) by Harlan Coben (Library book – Pages 1-120; 120 pages)

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: Approx. 14hr 40m; 120 pages; 1 book
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Armed ‘N’ Ready (Federal K-9 #2)
• Started Alone (Detective D.D. Warren #1)
• Started Found (Mickey Bolitar #3)

1/4
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: Approx. 4hr; 206 Pages; 2 books

• Finished Alone (Detective D.D. Warren #1) written by Lisa Gardner; narrated by Anna Fields (Library Audio – Approx, 4hr)
• Started Found (Mickey Bolitar #3) by Harlan Coben (Library book – Pages 121-326; 206 pages)

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: Approx. 18hr 40m; 326 pages; 3 books
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Armed ‘N’ Ready (Federal K-9 #2)
• Finished Alone (Detective D.D. Warren #1)
• Finished Found (Mickey Bolitar #3)

1/5
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: Approx. 4hr 30m; 20 pages

• Started The Murder House written by James Patterson and David Ellis; narrated by Therese Plummer and Jay Snyder (Library Audio – Approx. 4hr 30m)
• Started Without Fail (Jack Reacher #6) by Lee Child (Library book – 1-20; 20 pages)

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: Approx. 23hr 10m; 340 pages; 3 books
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Armed ‘N’ Ready (Federal K-9 #2)
• Finished Alone (Detective D.D. Warren #1)
• Finished Found (Mickey Bolitar #3)
• Started The Murder House
• Started Without Fail (Jack Reacher #6)

1/6
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: Approx. 8hr 30m; 1 book

• Finished The Murder House written by James Patterson and David Ellis; narrated by Therese Plummer and Jay Snyder (Library Audio – Approx. 6h 30m)
• Continued Without Fail (Jack Reacher #6) by Lee Child (Library book – 20; )
• Started Long Shadows (Memory Man #7) written by David Baldacci, narrated by Kyf Brewer and Orlagh Cassidy (Library Audio – Approx. 2 hr)

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: Approx. 31hr 40m; 4 books
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Armed ‘N’ Ready (Federal K-9 #2)
• Finished Alone (Detective D.D. Warren #1)
• Finished Found (Mickey Bolitar #3)
• Finished The Murder House
• Continued Without Fail (Jack Reacher #6)
• Started Long Shadows (Memory Man #7)

1/7
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today:
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far:
Books I’ve Read So Far:

Bout-of-Books 39 (January 1-7, 2024)

Okay, this is a trend that CANNOT continue – I can’t believe that I’m joining Bout-of-Books 39 on the second day of the read-a-thon. That has NEVER happened and this is my 39th Bout-of-Books. Yikes!

If you’ve never participated, you really need to consider joining in on all the fun. There’s always crazy shenanigans, and loads of ways to meet and interact with some crazy cool bloggers. Did I mention it’s a CRAZY week, but in a good kind of crazy way as opposed to…well, you know. Oh, and it’s also a great excuse to read as much as you can for an entire week! No pressure, just plain fun! To find out more about Bout-of-Books 39, read the official blurb below and follow the link to the Official Bout-of-Books blog.

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 1st and runs through Sunday, January 7th in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are reading sprints, daily Discord questions, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For all Bout of Books 39 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

You’ll find me flitting around Facebook and hopefully Instagram from time to time this week, so be sure to say HI!

The Funtime Show (Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #19)

Come here, children, play with me,
I’m the friend in your TV…
The Calvert family’s new home used to belong to the recently deceased creator of a forgotten children’s program from the early days of television. The family’s younger kids are fascinated by the basement rooms, a chaotic wonderland of discarded stage sets, props, costumes, and puppets.
At first, the parents are glad to see the kids put down their screens and play creatively with the old theatrical elements, but their performances and their experiences grow more disturbing over time.
In this house, the reruns of a dark past never stop playing, and paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan must protect the family from a malevolent presence trying to draw them into the infernal show.

The beginning of “Spooky Month” seems the perfect time to finally review the latest Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper book, don’t you think? I think I say something like this in every Ellie Jordan review, but 19 books in and I’m still totally invested in this series.

Once again, Ellie and Stacey find themselves caught between homeowners who aren’t exactly on the same page – which needless to say, makes their job a lot harder. It also makes things more dangerous for the residents. One thing that neither Ellie or Stacey can walk away from is a child in danger and that’s definitely the case in the Calvert house.

I think that’s one of the many thing I love about this series, and especially Ellie. Ghost trapping isn’t just a job to them, they honestly want to help people. Of course there’s also a lot more to love and the spooky, creepy factor is at the top of the list. Have no fear, The Fun Time Show is at the top of that spooky, creepy list. Needless to say, I can’t wait for this series to continue and Miracle Mountain is next up, so stay tuned because it’s already been added to my TBR list. ❤

Bout-of-Books 38 Progress

As usual, I’ll keep this post front and center for the duration of Bout-of-Books.

If you’ve been here before, you already know that my reading will be an eclectic mess of mixed genres, physical books, ARCs, ebooks, audio books and even some library picks – so consider yourself forewarned.

I’m gonna try to write at least a couple of reviews during the course of this BoB, but who knows how far I’ll get. *sigh*

And there you have it! My plans for the week – which are most definitely subject to change. 😉 Be sure to visit the Bout-of-Books site and find out how you can join in on the fun… after all, you were gonna read anyway, right? Why not join in on the epic craziness? 

8/21
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: 1 Book – Listened 7 Hours; 38 Pages; 7% (approx. 23 Pages)

• Finished Fractured (Will Trent #2) Written by Karin Slaughter, Narrated by Kathleen Early (Library Audio Book) 6 Hours
• Started The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1) Written by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush, Narrated by Sophie Amoss (Audible Audio) 1 Hour
• Continued Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3) by John Sanford (Library Book Paperback) Pages 149-187
• Started Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3) by Zoe Forward (ARC from NetGalley) 7% (Approx. 23 Pages)

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: 1 Book – Listened 7 Hours; 38 Pages; 7% (approx. 23 Pages)
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Fractured (Will Trent #2)
• Started The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1)
• Continued Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3)
• Started Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3)

8/22
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: Listened 7 Hours; 94 Pages

• Continued The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1) Written by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush, Narrated by Sophie Amoss (Audible Audio) 7 Hours
• Continued Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3) by John Sanford (Library Book Paperback) Pages 187-281
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3) by Zoe Forward (ARC from NetGalley)

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: 1 Book – Listened 14 Hours; 132 Pages; 7% (approx. 23 Pages)
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Fractured (Will Trent #2)
• Continued The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1)
• Continued Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3)
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3)

8/23
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: 1 Book; Listened 3.5 Hours; 141 Pages; 3% (approx. 10 Pages)

• Finished The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1) Written by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush, Narrated by Sophie Amoss (Audible Audio) 1 Hour
• Started Mercy (Atlee Pine #4) Written by David Baldacci, Narrated by Kyf Brewer & Brittany Pressley (Library Audio) 2.5 Hours
• Continued Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3) by John Sanford (Library Book Paperback) Pages 281-422
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3) by Zoe Forward (ARC from NetGalley) 3% (approx. 10 Pages)

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: 2 Books – Listened 14 Hours; 273 Pages; 10% (approx. 33 Pages)
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Fractured (Will Trent #2)
• Finished The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1)
• Continued Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3)
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3)
• Started Mercy (Atlee Pine #4)

8/24
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: 1 Book; Listened 6 Hours; 90 Pages

• Continued Mercy (Atlee Pine #4) Written by David Baldacci, Narrated by Kyf Brewer & Brittany Pressley (Library Audio) 6 Hours
• Finished Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3) by John Sanford (Library Book Paperback) Pages 422-454 (32 Pages)
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3) by Zoe Forward (ARC from NetGalley)
• Started I Will Find You by Harlan Coben (Personal Signed Copy ❤ ) Pages 1-57 (57 pages)

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: 3 Books – Listened 20 Hours; 363 Pages; 10% (approx. 33 Pages)
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Fractured (Will Trent #2)
• Finished The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1)
• Finished Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3)
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3)
• Continued Mercy (Atlee Pine #4)
• Started I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

8/25
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: 1 Book; Listened 7 Hours; 45 Pages; 3% (approx. 10 pages)

• Finished Mercy (Atlee Pine #4) Written by David Baldacci, Narrated by Kyf Brewer & Brittany Pressley (Library Audio) 3.5 Hours
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3) by Zoe Forward (ARC from NetGalley) 3% (Approx. 10 Pages)
• Continued I Will Find You by Harlan Coben (Personal Signed Copy ❤ ) Pages 57-102 (45 pages)
• Started The Surrogate Thief (Joe Gunther #15) written by Archer Mayor, Narrated by Tom Taylorson (Audibile Audio) 3.5 Hours

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: 4 Books – Listened 27 Hours; 408 Pages; 13% (approx. 43 Pages)
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Fractured (Will Trent #2)
• Finished The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1)
• Finished Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3)
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3)
• Finished Mercy (Atlee Pine #4)
• Continued I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
• Started The Surrogate Thief (Joe Gunther #15)

8/26
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: 1 Book; Listened 7 Hours; 83 Pages

• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3) by Zoe Forward (ARC from NetGalley)
• Continued I Will Find You by Harlan Coben (Personal Signed Copy ❤ ) Pages 102-185 (83 pages)
• Finished The Surrogate Thief (Joe Gunther #15) written by Archer Mayor, Narrated by Tom Taylorson (Audibile Audio) 5 Hours
• Started Prom Knight (The Demon’s Apprentice #5) Written by Ben Reader, Narrated by Charlie Thurston (Audible Audio) 2 Hours

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: 5 Books – Listened 27 Hours; 491 Pages; 13% (approx. 43 Pages)
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Fractured (Will Trent #2)
• Finished The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1)
• Finished Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3)
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3)
• Finished Mercy (Atlee Pine #4)
• Continued I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
• Finished The Surrogate Thief (Joe Gunther #15)
• Started Prom Knight (The Demon’s Apprentice #5)

8/27 – The Finish Line!!
Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened to Today: Listened 4 Hours; 59 Pages; 10% (approx. 33 Pages)

• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3) by Zoe Forward (ARC from NetGalley) 10% (approx. 33 Pages)
• Continued I Will Find You by Harlan Coben (Personal Signed Copy ❤ ) Pages 185-244 Pages (59 pages)
• Continued Prom Knight (The Demon’s Apprentice #5) Written by Ben Reader, Narrated by Charlie Thurston (Audible Audio) 4 Hours

Total Number of Books, Time & Pages I’ve Read/Listened so Far: 5 Books – Listened 31 Hours; 550 Pages; 23% (approx. 76 Pages)
Books I’ve Read So Far:

• Finished Fractured (Will Trent #2) Written by Karin Slaughter, Narrated by Kathleen Early (Library Audio Book)
• Finished The Coroner (Coroner’s Daughter Mystery #1) Written by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush, Narrated by Sophie Amoss (Audible Audio)
• Finished Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport #3) by John Sanford (Library Book Paperback)
• Continued Total Eclipse of the Moon (The Crown’s Wolves #3)
• Finished Mercy (Atlee Pine #4) Written by David Baldacci, Narrated by Kyf Brewer & Brittany Pressley (Library Audio)
• Continued I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
• Finished The Surrogate Thief (Joe Gunther #15) written by Archer Mayor, Narrated by Tom Taylorson (Audibile Audio)
• Continued Prom Knight (The Demon’s Apprentice #5)

Bout-of-Books 38 (August 21-27, 2023)

This is getting to be a habit… Again, I’m joining Bout-of-Books on the actual first day because I forgot! Yikes! However, I’ve procrastinated so much on my prep for Bout-of-Books 38 that I waited until the last minute – again. Yikes – again! Even more embarrassing than last time. *sigh*

If you’ve never participated, you really need to consider joining in on all the fun. There’s always crazy shenanigans, and loads of ways to meet and interact with some crazy cool bloggers. Did I mention it’s a CRAZY week, but in a good kind of crazy way as opposed to…well, you know. Oh, and it’s also a great excuse to read as much as you can for an entire week! No pressure, just plain fun! To find out more about Bout-of-Books 38, read the official blurb below and follow the link to the Official Bout-of-Books blog.

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 21st and runs through Sunday, August 27th in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are reading sprints, daily Discord questions, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For all Bout of Books 38 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

You’ll find me flitting around Facebook and hopefully Instagram from time to time this week, so be sure to say HI!

44.1644º North by Josh Lanyon

The decades-old disappearance of twenty-one-year-old teaching student Deirdre Duncan is the Holy Grail for true crime buffs—and Skylar Brennan, the host of the Ugly Town podcast, is no exception. In fact, on the mean streets of the internet, he’s considered an expert on the case. (In law enforcement circles, he’s viewed as just another crackpot internet sleuth.)
Every February, the remote New Hampshire village of Woodlark is the site of a candlelight vigil for Deirdre. Family, friends, and “supporters” of the long missing girl, gather at the spot where she was last seen. This is Skylar’s first vigil, and his fans are excited, but maybe not as excited as the person who’s been anonymously emailing him coordinates to what this poison pen pal claims is Deirdre’s grave.

I know that this was a true crime standalone, but I think it was the dynamic between the characters that really made me see this as a potential series. ❤

That should give you a clue as to how I felt about 44.1644º North. There was a lot of intrigue and of course, mystery behind the reason Skylar Brennan decided to make the trek to Woodlark for the annual vigil at the location of Deirdre Duncan’s disappearance. It may have been short and sweet, but it wasn’t lacking – even though the ending seemed a bit rushed. No I might have to check out the disappearance of Maura Murray, which was the true crime inspiration for this story. 😉

Shadow Hunter (Rogue Brotherhood #0.5) by Kait Ballenger

Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s newest assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family, and she works solo. But being alone is no longer an option when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. Forced to unite against the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they must decide between their lifelong beliefs..and their newfound desires.
Shadow Hunter is a prequel novel to the sexy Rogue Brotherhood paranormal romance series by Kait Ballenger filled with powerful alpha males and the sexy independent women who bring them to their knees…

If you get nothing else out of this review, heed this warning – this book ends in a serious cliff hanger. It’s like a “throw the book across the room” cliff hanger. Honestly, one of the main reasons I’m considering continuing the series is the promise that there will be a resolution to the chaos that this books ends in as the series continues. Well, maybe not quite that bad, but it’s a close thing.

As for the rest of the story? I’m kind of torn. True, it was a intro to the series and a novella, but it felt like the reader was left hanging with more than just the ending. I read Rogue Wolf Hunter last year and I remember having the same feeling when I finished it. I think I may have to start from the beginning and see if I can get my bearings on this series because I don’t seem to remember having the same issues with Ballenger’s Seven Range Shifter series.

Regardless, I’m still intrigued with this world and the Rogue Brotherhood and plan to continue. Like I said, I really need to find out what eventually happens with Damon and Tiffany. ❤

Living Shoreborn by Barry Mears

The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a living time capsule that has withstood the true test of the ages. The misty haze of a morning sky marks the dawn of a new day in the life of a Shoreborn soul. The seagulls are up with the sun, and work boats chug out the creek in the pre-dawn sky. There is only one thing on a waterman’s making a living and doing their family proud. Author Barry Mears shares touching stories of friendship and the power of community, as well as navigating the changing social and economic landscape. Through vivid storytelling and personal reflection, “Living Shoreborn” is a heartfelt tribute to a distinct and treasured way of life.

Living Shoreborn is a colorful and creative history of the Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA – aka the “Shore”) as told by life-long resident, Barry Mears. It’s a mix of both personal experiences and collected memories of others who live on this unique peninsula that’s surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. If you look for it on a map, it’s the piece of Virginia that looks like it should be a part of Maryland. Actually, the only way to get to the “mainland” of the state is to travel across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel that begins at the southern most tip of the Shore.

Geography is just one of the things that makes the ESVA unique. As anyone that has grown up in a small town can confirm, it’s the “people that make the place” and the author brings that aspect to life within the pages of Living Shoreborn. He introduces readers to many of the “characters” that have left their mark on generations of Shore residents.

From the people, to the spattering of small towns off route 13 (the main thoroughfare that runs up and down the Shore) to the bounty of both land and sea – the author touches on pretty much everything that makes this peninsula and surrounding islands such a special place to live, work and play, along with the many changes that have taken place through the years.

Even if your only knowledge of the ESVA are Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, made famous by their wild ponies, I believe most readers will find Living Shoreborn both an interesting and entertaining glimpse into the place that the author calls home. It might even make you want to come explore for yourself. ❤

Whispers At Dusk (Blackbird Trilogy #1) by Heather Graham

When serial killers run rampant across Europe it’s up to Blackbird, the Krewe of Hunters’ international  operatives, to stop them.
When darkness falls, there’s nowhere to hide.
Four bodies have been discovered along Europe’s riverbanks, placed with care—and completely drained of blood. Pinpricks on their throats indicate a slender murder weapon, but DNA found in the wounds suggests something far more sinister. Tasked with investigating, the FBI recruits Agents Della Hamilton and Mason Carter to Blackbird, an international offshoot of the Krewe of Hunters. If you want to catch a vampire killer, you need agents who can speak with the dead.  
The pair travel to Norway, where the shadowy forests of Lillehammer reveal a gruesome scene. The killer is thirsty for more victims, and the bloodless trail soon leads Della and Mason to a group that believes drinking blood is the key to immortality. To catch the culprit of such an intimate crime, the agents will have to get close. Mason’s already lost one partner; he’s not ready to risk Della as bait. But sometimes justice requires a sacrifice…

The only thing better than finding a long running series to immerse yourself in is finding a spin-off series to read along with it. 😉 I’ve kind of bounced around with the Krewe of Hunters series, so picking up the Blackbird Trilogy before I’ve even gotten past book 8 in the 38+ book series wasn’t an issue. (For me anyway…)

There’s a whole lot to love about the Krewe of Hunters and it seems that the Blackbird Trilogy isn’t going to be an exception. Taking the Krewe international with Mason and Della opens things up to a whole new realm of possibilities. Of course vampires aren’t real, but someone’s trying really hard to imitate one – with a couple of interesting twists.

The great thing about this trilogy is that the books are coming out back to back so there’s not a long wait for the next book in the series. Secrets in the Dark is coming soon and it’s already ready and waiting on my TBR pile.

His Accidental Cowboy (Woods Ranch #3) by A.M. Arthur

Wyatt Gibson is in Texas looking for answers about his past. When he talks his way into a job at Woods Ranch, he never imagines that the hot cowboy he (almost) slept with the night before not only works there, but is the one showing him the ropes.
As a rustler at the ranch, Jackson Summer handles all sorts of things: mucking, herding, grooming, riding—and minding his own damn business. A lifetime of hurt will do that to a guy. What he never imagines handling is the greenest cowboy to ever step foot in Weston, Texas.
Jackson is determined to keep his heart safe—and falling for a hot young thing like Wyatt is definitely not safe. Especially because Jackson knows Wyatt is keeping a secret…one that he can’t quite put his finger on but that just might change life at Woods Ranch forever.

Nothing is exactly as it seems, but that also seems to be the theme with most of the residents and employees at Woods Ranch. They all have their secrets, some of them more serious than others, but none of them are kept with malicious intent. Wyatt and his secrets are no exception, even though they have the potential to hurt more than one person, including Wyatt himself.

Despite the age gap, Wyatt and Jackson are the perfect couple. I loved how they grew together and weathered the turmoil that the revelation of why Wyatt was really there caused. It wasn’t easy and there were some rocky moments, but it worked out for everyone – eventually.

I’m not sure what A.M. Arthur has in store for readers next, but I’m there for it. 😉