Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Sophia Rose Reviews Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs

I'm so happy to be back to blogging and it's special that my first feature is by my blogging partner Sophia Rose who is sharing her thoughts on Patricia Briggs, Winter Lost #14 in her Mercy Thompson Urban Fantasy series.

Enjoy!!


Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs

#14 Mercy Thompson

Urban Fantasy

Publisher:  Ace

Published: 6.18.24

Pages:  416

Rating: 5

Format: eARC

Source:  NetGalley

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: Goodreads


GoodReads Synopsis:

Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, must stop a disaster of world-shattering proportions in this exhilarating entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

In the supernatural realms, there are creatures who belong to winter. I am not one of them. But like the coyote I can become at will, I am adaptable.

My name is Mercy Thompson Hauptman, and my mate, Adam, is the werewolf who leads the Columbia Basin Pack, the pack charged with keeping the people who live and work in the Tri-Cities of Washington State safe. It’s a hard job, and it doesn’t leave much room for side quests. Which is why when I needed to travel to Montana to help my brother, I intended to go by myself.

But I’m not alone anymore.

Together, Adam and I find ourselves trapped with strangers in a lodge in the heart of the wilderness, in the teeth of a storm of legendary power, only to discover my brother’s issues are a tiny part of a problem much bigger than we could have imagined. Arcane and ancient magics are at work that could, unless we are very careful, bring about the end of the world. . . .

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

Gate crashing a holiday wedding in the wilds of Montana during a magic-induced snow storm created by Norse god, Mercy and Adam must once again save the world.  Patricia Briggs has once again and without surprise produced a rip-roaring Mercy Thompson adventure that makes one regret there is only one first-time read experience.

 

Winter Lost is the fourteenth installment of an amazing urban fantasy series that is a must-read in order.

 

Winter Lost is told predominantly from Mercy’s perspective, but happily has expanded on previous book’s style in that Adam gets a large chunk of the telling along with other familiar and brand new characters narrating.  This gives a chance for a story that has past parts and multiple story threads with very little happening off page to the great reader fan’s satisfaction.

 

There is no mystery why I suggest this book be read in order.  Part of the plot and character development is directly linked to the books that came before it.  Mercy is suffering greatly after the Soultaker adventure and the vampire Lord of Night, Bonarata looms lethally over Mercy and then there is Jessie’s side plot of something interesting with Tad and the other big side plot of how the Columbia Basin Pack, top heavy with Alphas, has to work out the dynamics of working together to do the job of providing a supernatural haven in the Tri-Cities.

 

But, the new and exciting is Gary Laughing Dog, Mercy’s half-brother, landing on her door step needing her help and a fascinating new winter adventure with a dip into the realm of Fae meets Norse mythology.  Mercy and Adam are up against the clock to find a magical artifact and the one who stole it before something worse than a Montana snow storm on steroids and monsters attacking out of the snow happens.

 

Again, I planned to take my time and savor Winter Lost, but the story is just too compelling and drove me to keep reading rapidly and lost to the world of real life around me.  Fans will be deeply satisfied and to those who look at a series in double digits and hesitate? Worth it!

 

 


Author Bio:

Patricia Briggs steadfastly refuses to write a biography. She considers them narcissistic, and besides, she’d rather write something interesting! But. . .that is what a husband and trusty assistant are for (and if she doesn’t like it, she can’t complain!)

Patricia is the #1 New York Times best selling author of the Mercy Thompson series and has written twenty four novels to date; she is currently writing novel number twenty five. She has short stories in several anthologies, as well as a series of comic books and graphic novels based on her Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series. Patty began her career writing traditional high fantasy novels in 1993, and shifted gears in 2006 to write urban fantasy. Moon Called was the first of her signature series about Mercy; the non-stop adventure left readers wanting more and word of this exciting new urban fantasy series about a shape-shifting mechanic spread quickly. The series has continued to grow in popularity with the release of each book. Patty also writes the Alpha and Omega series, which are set in the same world as the Mercy Thompson novels; what began as a novella expanded into a full new series, all of which debuted on the NY Times bestsellers list as well.

Patty was born in Butte, Montana, back in 1965. If you’re good at math, you’ll have deduced that she’s currently twenty-nine. In fact, she’s been twenty-nine for a while and has no intention of getting any older. Fiction authors don’t obey the laws of space and time, they invent them. Don’t argue, or she’ll make up a dragon right behind you . . .

Patricia was born book-privileged. Her mother was a school librarian, and she shared a room with an older sister who loved to read. Long after they had been put to bed, her sister would use the small night light to read Patty stories; her early favorites were fairy tales. Knights and castles, fair maidens, and monsters of every ilk became their nighttime companions.

Soon, Patty learned to read, and whole worlds were hers to explore. She rode on the Black Stallion, and flew the skies of Pern on a dragon. Sometime during that period she stumbled onto a treasure trove. Her older sister had begun collecting comic books; pristine originals were place in cellophane sleeves and organized in cardboard boxes. When her sister was away, they were removed by grubby fingers smeared with peanut butter and jelly for a clandestine read, returning with a faint smudges and wrinkled pages from reading under the covers. To this day, her sister periodically calls Patty and tells her how much more her original copies of the X-Men would have been worth if left pristine in their sleeves. The number keeps going up.

Patty is a prevarication professional. She lies for a living, telling whoppers and fibs so outrageous that people pay her to fib some more. Her only concession to honesty is that she tells people she’s lying to them, which is what separates a fiction author from a politician. She loves to play with her imaginary friends, and meeting with readers who know her imaginary friends is a treat. Her biggest complaint with writing is that she has far more ideas for stories than time to write them.

Patty and her family reside in Eastern Washington near Tri-Cities, home of Mercy Thompson; yes, it's a real place! When not working on the next book, she can be found playing truant out in her horse pastures, playing with the newest babies.

Website:  https://www.patriciabriggs.com/



Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose

 

Friday, August 16, 2024

The Dog Days

I'm baaack

well almost

It's been one non stop summer 

I did buy a new condo (these are before pics) 




2 bed 2 bath

The big selling points were the large rooms, extra large utility room and garage.
I'm working very hard to add updates and put my own personal touches on and hopefully am nearing the finish line.


And I just got back from a FAB vacation in Destin Florida with my daughter and son-in-law



Stick with me

the blog will be back in operation the Tuesday after Labor Day!

                                    

I'm excited


Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Breaking News

 


Hi to all and I hope you're all doing well

Lots to report

First my daughter had a fabulous trip to Cancun a lot of r&r which we both needed after such a trying few months. 

My husband's celebration of life was beautiful more people than I thought showed up to exchange stories, share memories and remember the good times.

Then I sold my house, on the market 1 day got 4 offers and sold it $10,000 over asking price
and I'm closing on July 9th. Yikes!

Right now I'm condo shopping looked at 4 yesterday and I may have found home, we'll see.

So things are moving along and even though I miss blogging and all things bookish I'm going to have to extend my sabbatical for just a little longer.

Bear with me and I'll leave you with the words of Arnold 

I'll Be Back ;-)



Thursday, May 16, 2024

Taking time off

 




Thank you all for your kind words and making this very difficult time in my life a bit more bearable. But it's time for me to take a brief time out, my daughter is taking me on a trip just the two of us to mourn, to celebrate the life of my husband and to take a break before charging head first into this next chapter of my life.

After we get home from our travels, Bill's celebration of life will take place and right after that I'm putting my home on the market and I'll be condo shopping as soon as it sells.

So I'll be taking off until sometime in June

I'll see you soon

xo



Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Sophia Rose Reviews: On Her Watch by Melinda Leigh

 


Today Sophia Rose shares her thoughts on Melinda Leigh's third in her Bree Taggart mystery series, On Her Watch. Read on to see what she thought!
Enjoy



On Her Watch by Melinda Leigh

#8 Bree Taggart

Mystery

Publisher:  Montlake

Published:  5.14.24

Pages:  312

Rating: 5 stars

Format: eARC

Source:  NetGalley

Sellers:  Amazon


ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Synopsis:

Sheriff Bree Taggert becomes a target when she follows the twisting trail of a serial killer in a bone-chilling novel of suspense by #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.

A pair of hikers find a tarp-wrapped body in a clearing in the woods. When a search in the surrounding area yields two more, Sheriff Bree Taggert knows they’ve stumbled onto a serial killer’s dumping ground.

With the help of investigator Matt Flynn, Bree works the case. They go to interview Jana, the best friend of one of the victims. But when they arrive at her apartment, it’s been ransacked and set on fire. And Jana is missing.

It’s clear the killer is escalating. To make matters worse, he threatens Bree’s family and a young mother vanishes. Will Bree and Matt uncover the link between the victims before more women die?

 

Friday, May 10, 2024

Sophia Rose Reviews: Jock Row by Sara Ney

 

Today Sophia Rose reviews Jock Row by Sara Ney book 1 in her Jock Hard series
Enjoy!


Jock Row by Sara Ney

#1 Jock Hard

New Adult Romance

Publisher:  Three Legacies LLC

Published:  4.1.22

Pages:  376

Rating: 4 stars

Format: ebook

Source:  Freebie

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

Scarlett is always the sensible one: The sober driver. The planner. The one holding your hair back while you're worshiping the porcelain gods.

Week-after-week, she visits Jock Row with her friends—the universities hottest party scene and breeding ground for student athletes. And if keeping her friends out of trouble, and guys out of their pants, was a sport, she'd be the star athlete.

Being a well known jock-blocker gets her noticed for all the wrong reasons; just like that, she's banned from Jock Row. NO GUY WANTS A GIRL AROUND WHO KEEPS THEIR JOCK FRIENDS FROM GETTING LAID.

"Rowdy" Wade is the hot shot short-stop for the universities baseball team—and the unlucky bastard who drew the short straw: keep little Miss Goody Two-Shoes out of the Baseball House.

But week-after-week Scarlett returns, determined to get inside.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Sophia Rose Reviews: Rendezvous in Berlin by Cat Gardiner

 

Today on the blog Sophia Rose shares her review of Rendezvous in Berlin by Cat Gardiner volume 2 in her Flying With Swallows WWII series. Read on to see what she thought.
Enjoy!


Rendezvous in Berlin – A WWII Novel: Flying With Swallows Vol 2 by Cat Gardiner

Historical Fiction

Publisher: Unionport Hill Books

Published: 4.2.24

Pages:  604

Rating: 5 stars

Format: eARC

Source:  Author

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 


GoodReads Synopsis:

Volume Two in the Flying with the Swallows duology.

March 1943: New York City Socialite Evie Somerset’s liberating adventure in Lisbon opens the door to the dangerous world of wartime espionage as a swallow—an agent—within Great Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service.

Without Carl Wilson’s supportive presence, Evie is thrust into the rigors of training in England armed with nothing but determination to prove herself to her superiors and fellow recruits. But, when a letter arrives from home, Evie is faced with unexpected demons. She must bury them, and the accompanying emotions, to focus on her mission as Salzburger aristocrat Eva von Lamberg visiting Berlin, the heart of the Nazi war machine.

Her perilous infiltration into German High Command’s social circle is aided not only by a resistance network of wealthy, high ranking officials but also her new skills at deception. Convincing her mark, a General within the Wehrmacht, of her affection is tantamount to gaining access to the information she seeks.

The mission brings Evie face to face with evil, humanity, and painful crossroads. Will she be able to separate her heart, which belongs to Carl, from the acts she must commit as a means to her success? Will she and Carl make it back to each other? Or is the end result of their respective missions a fait accompli with no future for either of them—just a legacy left behind after the Official Secrets Act ends?