BLOG TOUR The Last Minute First Lady by Tinia Montford

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE LAST MINUTE FIRST LADY by Tinia Montford Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: THE LAST MINUTE FIRST LADY

Author: Tinia Montford

Pub. Date: December 22, 2022

Publisher: Emerald Press LLC

Formats:  eBook

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-LAST-MINUTE-FIRST-LADY 

WHAT’S ONE ITSY, BITSY, LITTLE LIE?

Cassian Anders will be the youngest governor in Illinois history... If he wins.

That’s all everyone seems to talk about these days. Jolie Coldwell isn’t one of them. As a journalist, her priorities comprise digging up dirt on crooked politicians and local cover-ups. When her latest exposé on a congressman lands her in hot water, her days are reduced to covering the senior center’s casino night.

Unexpectedly, news breaks: the on-air investigative segment needs a replacement. This promotion advance could her career.

She needs a breaking story. She needs it now.

The road to office is ruthless compared to the courtroom. Without warning, Cassian Anders’ popularity rating falls, threatening his position on the ballot. He will do whatever it means to secure votes. Now, not only is he engaged, but he’s getting married to his non-existent fiancée...

He’s never relied on luck, but when a convenient but unorthodox wife falls into his lap? He makes her a deal.

He needs a wife. He needs it now.

Will Jolie and Cassian be able to fool the public long enough? Can she handle the public poking around in her past, one she would rather keep under wraps... Above all, can she be a model first lady or are they destined to be a scandal?

THE LAST-MINUTE FIRST LADY IS A STEAMY MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE ROMANCE. PERFECT FOR READERS WHO LOVE OUTRAGEOUS IN-LAWS, HONEYMOONS TO NAPA VALLEY, AND CROOKED POLITICIANS. THIS NOVEL CONTAINS CURSING AND SEX SCENES, AND INTENDED FOR AUDIENCES 18 YEARS AND OLDER.

REVIEW of The Last Minute First Lady by Tinia Montford
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: eARC

Indie published books have the opportunity to be hidden gems, and Tinia Montford’s The Last Minute First Lady was one of my first entertaining reads of 2023. Cassian Anders is one of the hottest new things to hit the political circuit, and he’s a hair's breadth away from clinching the Illinois governor’s seat. One of the only issues? Voters don’t want to put their faith in a young unmarried politician like him. Enter Jolie Coldwell, an up and coming investigative reporter looking for her big break. The two make a deal to advance both of their interests, and must convince everyone of their fake love affair until after the ballots are counted. Sounds easy enough, right?

The political aspect of this book was a major part of the story. However, I was more intrigued to learn about Jolie’s side of things than Cassian’s. It was fun to get to see the election cycle from her perspective as an investigative reporter. A lot of time, effort, and research goes into all of those 500 words or less articles. It was exciting to get to see Jolie go after her leads with such determination and passion. She’s such a headstrong character that she keeps everyone on their toes, and I appreciated seeing her stick to her guns no matter how others tried to influence her reporting. I was also quite amused by her verbal sparring with Cassian’s staff, and how she proved those who only see her as arm candy wrong.

One of the only drawbacks for the book was the romance. I struggled to connect to Jolie and Cassian’s relationship, and I sadly never became invested in their romance. I did enjoy how realistic their relationship was - none of the big moments were ever picture perfect (think the opposite of a Hallmark movie). I’m also quite happy to see two strong BIPOC characters take center stage in a romance novel - I’m not sure if it was intentional on the author’s part, but they reminded me a bit of Barack and Michelle Obama. However, I think the storyline lost me with the two major tropes of marriage of convenience and forced proximity. When the two are combined, I’ve come to expect a lot of fake public displays of affection and off the cuff romantic moments. There was so much potential for that with the fake fiance situation. However, that didn’t really happen as much as I’d hoped in this book. Unfortunately, the missed expectations negatively impacted my overall enjoyment of the read and lowered the overall star rating. 

Overall, this was an enjoyable book with a lot of humor and heart. If you like adult romance novels with a bit of steam and a happily ever after that are closer to reality than a Hallmark movie, you’ve come to the right place. I especially appreciate the inclusion of a successful black couple at the heart of the story. 

Thank you to the author, the publisher, Book Sirens, and Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

About Tinia Montford:

Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design.

She is a world traveler having climbed a volcano in Nicaragua, scaled Angkor Wat in the blistering sun, and roamed the Acropolis of Athens. Oh, she also dabbles in short stories occasionally.

If you can’t catch her writing, you can bet she’s overindulging on poke bowls, listening to the same four songs, or chilling with her adorbs doggie. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.

 

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Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

Ends December 27th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

12/12/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
12/12/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
12/13/2022	Mindyourshelf	IG Post
12/13/2022	Mythical Books	Excerpt/IG Post
12/14/2022	@jacobrivsan	IG Post/TikTok Post
12/14/2022	brittreadsalattebooks	IG Post
12/15/2022	@NeverKnotReading	IG Review
12/15/2022	Thindbooks Blog	Review/IG Post
12/16/2022	@booksrn_rashi	IG Review
12/16/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

12/19/2022	@just_another_mother_with_books	IG Review
12/19/2022	The Litt Librarian	Review/IG Post
12/20/2022	Author Z. Knight	Review/IG Post
12/20/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Review/IG Post
12/21/2022	Karen Dee's Book Reviews	IG Review
12/21/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
12/22/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post
12/22/2022	Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf	IG Review
12/23/2022	Bea's Book Nook	Review
12/23/2022	beersbooksboos	Review/IG Post

ARC REVIEW Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings (Harley James Adventures #1) by Leah Cupps

Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings (Harley James Adventures #1) by Leah Cupps
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: May 11, 2022
Format: eARC (Provided by Book Sirens and Author) 
Publisher: Vision Forty (Self Published by Author)

Check out the book on Bookshop.org

*Please note - this post contains affiliate links, from which we may earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase

Leah Cupps’ Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings, the first book in the Harley James Adventures series, is an exciting and action-packed middle-grade tale. In a nutshell, it’s like a kid-friendly version of National Treasure or The Mummy. Harley, the titular character of the series, travels the world with her archaeologist father and ends up finding herself in the middle of a mystery surrounding the ruins they are currently working in. Will Harley be able to solve the mystery of the Mayan kings and save the day?

The worldbuilding is fantastic in this book. As a die-hard mythology fan (thank you to the books by Rick Riordan and the Rick Riordan Presents authors), it was cool to see the inclusion of Mayan mythology and cultural references in the story. For example, one of the coolest things I learned about while reading was the game of pok-a-tok (a soccer-like game you do not want to lose - check out The Road to El Dorado movie for a more visual example of what I mean). Ms. Cupps added another layer to the worldbuilding through the use of various illustrations included throughout the book (all of which were done in a very child-friendly style matching the cover). Overall, it was a great balance of educational value and quality entertainment. 

The characters were authentic and relatable. I really enjoyed Harley’s character in particular - she’s a stereotypical ‘tween’, eager to follow in her parent’s footsteps while at the same time desiring her own freedom. She reminded me a bit of a young Indiana Jones-esque character. One unexpected (and pleasant surprise) with the book was the ability for readers to work on solving the puzzles and riddles with Harley - that made the story into an almost interactive adventure tale, and I personally had a blast with it.  

When a book is less than 200 pages, you have to make every page count. Leah Cupps certainly did not disappoint in that regard. The pacing of the book is great, and there was never a dull moment in the story. 

Altogether, Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings is an entertaining action-packed book filled with great worldbuilding and relatable characters. While the intended audience is children, I think it would be equally enjoyable for adults as well. If you’re a fan of family-friendly tales with mystery, action, and humor, and would like a new series to start reading, then check out Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings today. It’s perfect for budding adventurers and archaeologists alike! 

Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

About the Author

Leah Cupps is an author, designer and entrepreneur. She came up with the idea for Harley James with her oldest daughter Savannah. Savannah had taken an interest in Mayan history and so the two of them worked together to come up with the idea for the first Harley James book; the Mystery of the Mayan Kings.

Leah lives in Indiana with her husband and three children. She is also the co-founder of Vision Forty Press, a small family-owned publishing company.

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ARC REVIEW: Call of Titan (Priest of Titan Book 1) by Paul Mouchet

Call of Titan (Priest of Titan Book 1) by Paul Mouchet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Release Date: July 15, 2021
Format: eARC (From Author and BookSirens)
Publisher: Paul Mouchet (Self-Published Author)

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*Please note - this post contains affiliate links, from which we may earn a comission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase

Call of Titan by Paul Mouchet is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series and at its heart a coming-of-age tale. I was initially attracted by the cover and the blurb, and I’m so happy I decided to pick up the book. The main character, Kit, just wants to feel like she belongs after she’s been raised by the Berrat and treated as different for most of her life. Her big chance comes when she is called to become a priest of Titan (one of the gods in this particular universe), and lots of adventure follows from that point. 

Worldbuilding is one of the most important parts for me in any fantasy book, and Call of Titan checks all the boxes in that regard. We only get to see pieces of the world in this book, but I liked how the story seemed to hint that the actual world is much bigger (and well developed by the author). It was fun to see all the different groups that were introduced in the book. I was also quite intrigued with the magic system and religion that were established in the world of Call of Titan - I hope the author explores them more in subsequent books!

While I loved most of the characters in the book, Kit’s character felt inconsistent to me. She’s undoubtedly brave and headstrong, but the maturity level she demonstrates jumps all over the place. Sometimes she seems very old mature, other times she acts like a little kid. I get that it's somewhat normal for young people to do that, but it caused a disconnect for me.  

Overall, Call of Titan was an engaging and entertaining young adult fantasy tale. I would recommend it to those who enjoy coming of age stories or fantasy reads reminiscent of video games. I look forward to reading the subsequent books in the Priest of Titan series sometime soon! 

Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Call of Titan immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed Call of Titan. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

 

ARC REVIEW: The Undine's Tear (Rise of the Grigori Book 1) by Talena Winters

The Undine's Tear (Rise of the Grigori Book 1) 

by Talena Winters
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: May 14, 2019
Format: eARC (From Book Sirens)
Publisher: My Secret Wish Publishing

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*Please note - this post contains affiliate links, from which we may earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase

The Undine’s Tear by Talena Winters was a hard book to review. I really had to push myself to finish it - there were multiple times where I considered marking it as DNF (did not finish). For some reason, getting through the first part of the book was arduous. I think it was at the halfway point that the action really picked up and I started to enjoy the read. I think part of the reason that the book was so hard to get through is the amount of detail there is to contend with (thankfully, the glossary and the maps that are provided do make things slightly easier). The numerous characters are also hard to keep track of while reading. 

I was initially pulled in by the title, the description, and the cover (the cover is truly gorgeous). I really enjoyed the author’s imagery and worldbuilding (as an avid fantasy reader, this is always great in the first book of a new fantasy series). I would recommend this book to fantasy readers who feel like they would enjoy a unique take on the myth of mermaids and sirens, and aren’t intimidated by a very long book. 

Thank you to the author, My Secret Wish Publishing, and Book Sirens for my complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Undine’s Tear immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

About the Book

She's destined to save the world . . . if she doesn't destroy it first.

Calandra has always known her destiny-to restore the Heartstone that protects her island from humans before she goes Mad like the healer who sank Atlantis. But when she learns she needs both male and female undine powers to succeed, she becomes desperate-there hasn't been an undine male born for over three thousand years. Her queen aunt insists she follow tradition and use the siren mind-bond on a human consort instead, but how can she enslave her childhood friend Osaze, the one man she's sworn to risk a death sentence to free?

When a cryptic message offers hope for her sanity and reveals a brother who shouldn't exist, Calandra questions everything she's been taught to believe. But the horrifying claims about the bonds the message contains could tear her island apart. With no idea where her brother is, can Calandra heal the Heartstone, avoid a revolution, save the man she loves, and right a millenniums-old wrong before she loses control and destroys the world?

The Undine's Tear is the first book in the mind-blowing young adult epic historical fantasy series Rise of the Grigori. Mermaids and dragons like you've never seen them before fill this intricately woven tale packed with complex characters, lush world-building, gritty action, and impossible odds. Join Calandra in a search for redemption that will threaten the very fabric of the universe.

About the Author

Talena Winters writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres including young adult, urban fantasy, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction.

Her first novel, an inspirational romance called The Friday Night Date Dress, was released just two weeks after the sudden and traumatic death of her three-year-old son in 2015. This experience dramatically changed her outlook on life, love, death, and faith. She wrote her second novel, Finding Heaven, a romantic suspense about a woman recovering from an abusive past, as an expression of that newfound understanding. Praise for that book has been overwhelmingly positive, with one reader calling it "the most beautifully-written book I have ever read." (Kristin Dyck, editor of Mile Zero News.)

Since then, she has begun a young adult historical epic fantasy trilogy called Rise of the Grigori. The first book, The Undine’s Tear, has been praised as “un-put-downable” and a "hit out of the fantasy ballpark." A stand-alone prequel, The Waterboy, is available as a free ebook from her website. The second book, The Sphinx's Heart, will be released in November 2021.

Besides fiction, she also writes a blog, knitting patterns, and, for many years, was the lead writer for regional magazine Move Up. She is passionate about helping develop other writers’ stories as a freelance editor. Having started her career in the music industry, she has written several award-winning songs and has an almost-finished musical waiting in the wings.

She grew up on the prairies of central Alberta, Canada, in the small town of Sylvan Lake and currently resides on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta with her husband, three surviving boys, two dogs, and an assortment of farm cats.

She loves travel, music, whole food, sewing, knitting, reading, and chocolate. She is addicted to tea and silver linings. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.

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ARC Review: Dungeon of Hades (Furious Legacy #2) by Meadoe Hora

Dungeon of Hades (Furious Legacy #2) by Meadoe Hora
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: November 30, 2021
Format: eARC (Book Sirens)

Dungeon of Hades is the sequel to Curse of the Furies and it packs just as much of a punch as the first book. Cass and Erin, our main characters, must venture into the deepest part of the Underworld to rescue the legendary Furies from their prison. Can they rescue the Furies (who just happen to be their Mom and Aunts) and stop Apollo's plans, all the while staying alive? 

I enjoyed how the storyline was driven not only by the characters out of Greek Mythology but by the stories themselves. The story of the Dragon's teeth is one of my favorites, and it makes an appearance in this book. Other stories from Greek Mythology make an appearance too, but you’ll have to read the book to find out which ones. 

One of my favorite parts of the first book was seeing the Furies (who are normally depicted as vengeful figures) in maternal roles, and that grew in Dungeon of Hades. We finally see Alecto, and her relationship with her children is quite strained. Alecto didn’t seem to know how to handle the fact that her sisters have a better relationship with her daughter (and her son) than she does, so I’m crossing my fingers and toes and hoping that they are able to repair their relationship with time. 

Overall, Dungeon of Hades is another awesome installment in the Furious Legacy series. The ending is a total cliffhanger - hoping that readers won’t have to wait too long for the next installment. I’m eager to see what’s next for the twins and how their eventual confrontation with Apollo plays out.   

Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for my gifted copy of this book; I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Dungeon of Hades immensely. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

About the Author

Meadoe Hora is the author of books for teens and kids, including the new Furious Legacy series, Ariadne's Crown, and the Superhero Kick team children's book series. She is a middle-of-the-night reader and lover of beautiful words.

Her website is www.meadoehora.com. She also writes about her health and fitness journey on her blog at www.meadoeoutonalimb.com. She lives in WI with her family, a spoiled basset hound, and a crazy black lab.