Novel Review: Eggnog Makes Her Easy (Boys of the Big Easy, #2.5) by Erin Nicholas

Eggnog Makes Her Easy, an all-new Boys of the Big Easy holiday novella from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is available now! 

Lindsey is expecting silent nights this holiday. Just her and her boys while her husband serves overseas. But her blue Christmas turns merry when things start rockin’ under the mistletoe thanks to a surprise gift from her naughty Santa.

Which is fine. The nice list is overrated anyway. 

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Start the Boys of the Big Easy series for FREE with Easy Going! 

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About Erin Nicholas

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books). 

Connect with Erin 

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Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Spoilers?: No.

Review:

I've been following Nicholas' series for a while now, and she has quickly became one of my favorite romance authors. From the first book I picked up, I was hooked.

This new series features boys who live in New Orleans; they know how to have a good time, but they're also all part of a single-parents group. They aren't all technically single—as Lindsey isn't—but most of them are alone in one way or another and need the support of other parents in similar situations and experiences. They all have different parenting styles, they're of varying ages, and they throw ideas and worries at each other, and get feedback on them.

Lindsey isn't single, but her husband Matt is in the military, and so she only gets to see him a few times a year, if that. She's grown used to parenting on her own, and her and Matt have learned to communicate with each other. Even though Matt is so far away, they've adapted so that it still feels like he's there, as much as they can. They get time to video-chat, including him and the kids alone, and he's there to help her make big decisions.

But this year, he surprises her with a Christmas visit. One of the other single-parent members work with him for a fun way to surprise her.

It was obvious how intense their chemistry was from the very beginning. They love each other so much, even if they can't be together all that often. They're open and honest with each other, not afraid to be firm but also very comfortable with teasing each other.

I will admit I got pretty emotional while reading this book. I probably would have actually cried, if I weren't at work while reading certain scenes. It's both extremely heartwarming, and very painful, how much they love each other, how badly Matt wants to be there for his family but also wants to be doing what he's doing. And how much Lindsey misses him, but supports what he's doing. When they're officially reunited, and Lindsey gives in and cries, it's so overwhelmingly sweet. It just warms me up inside.

I definitely wish this had been a longer book, as I wanted more time with Lindsey and Matt together. I wanted them to have some more sexy-times, sure, but I also wanted to see Matt with the kids some more. I wanted to see Lindsey accepting her new dog. I wanted... more. In a good way, because I loved every piece of this little story.

I really hope that we get more of their story. Since this was a little in-between novella, I hope maybe we get another one later in the series. I want to check in with these two again.

This one was definitely another favorite in the series, and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the next one, either.

An ARC was provided by the author and Social Butterfly for an honest review. Thank you so much!

Manga Review: Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Volume 2, by Inio Asano

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2018

Volumes: 7+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s just an everyday apocalypse.

Three years ago the aliens invaded Tokyo. Nothing was ever the same again. But after a while, even impending doom starts to feel ordinary.

The alien menace has been hovering over Tokyo for years, but the invaders aren’t content to just sit back and loom. One of them has taken to the streets of the city in human disguise in order to surveil the locals. He may not be the first, and he’s certainly not the last. Meanwhile, Kadode Koyama and her friends continue to deal with the peril of upcoming college entrance exams, as the stress of studying under the constant threat of annihilation sends some running to safer cities. At least it’s almost Christmas!

Review:

I really had no idea what to expect of this volume. I hadn't read the first one, or anything by Asano, but I've heard so many things. I expected it to be more horrifying?

This series takes place in a world that has been invaded by aliens. Their spaceship is above the city, and they're not quite invading, though people believe they're doing something. A lot of people are moving away because of it, and yet it's slow going. Even though this city is being invaded by aliens, a lot of people still can't imagine living elsewhere. And people have to continue their lives, you know? School and work and life still goes on.

When the invasion isn't big and violent, life goes on. It's an odd idea, and a little unsettling, and yet it also makes perfect sense. Sometimes these changes happen slowly, and people see them, but continue on anyway. It's kind of a depressing thought, but it is true.

This series mostly follows a group of girl friends, and how they go along and deal with things. Some of them are odd, and then there's an undercover alien mixing into school life.

This is an odd series, and I'm not sure what to think about it.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Sweet Blue Flowers, Volume 1, by Takako Shimura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2017

Volumes: 8/4 Omnibus.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Akira Okudaira is starting high school and is ready for exciting new experiences. And on the first day of school, she runs into her best friend from kindergarten at the train station! Now Akira and Fumi have the chance to rekindle their friendship, but life has gotten a lot more complicated since they were kids…

Fumi is glad Akira is back in her life. Even in kindergarten, Akira knew how to stand up for herself, and she was always willing to stand up for Fumi too. But Fumi’s first love recently got married, and Fumi is grappling with a broken heart and the fact that her sweetheart was another woman… Can Akira’s open heart help dispel the gloom Fumi has been caught up in?

Review:

I'm actually upset it took me so long to get to this book. Because it was so good.

We meet Akira and Fumi, who knew each other when they were kids, and they run into each other by coincidence. Fumi is a crybaby, and Akira was always there to help her.

Just recently Fumi's crush got engaged to a guy, and she's still coming to terms with that happening, let alone that she might like girls. And then Fumi meets Sugimoto at her new school, and they suddenly start dating.

As Akira learns to accept that Fumi likes girls, Fumi and Sugimoto are attempting to grow closer, but they're both hiding something from each other. Rather similar secrets about their broken hearts, in fact.

The way all of this is told is so sweet, and light, and thoughtful. It's not dramatic and big and angsty. It's very heartfelt and realistically so. Akira tries to help where she can, as Fumi deals with her relationship issues. There are also a lot of unrequited crushes in this series, and most of them don't go away without a confession of some kind. There's struggle, but there's also an openness about it. They say what they need to.

This was a really sweet, easy volume to read, and I really enjoyed it. Quite a bit happened in this omnibus, too. I want to find out what happens next.

This does have me interested to read her other series. I'd never really looked at Wandering Son before, despite hearing good things, and now I really want to pick it up, too. This volume seemed to handle things so well, I want to read that one, too.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Ooku: The Inner Chambers, Volume 13, by Fumi Yoshinaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2017

Volumes: 16+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 11. 14.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Eisner-nominated Fumi Yoshinaga’s alternative history of Edo-era Japan, the men of Japan are dying out, and the women have taken up the reigns of power—including the shogun’s seat!

In Edo period Japan, a strange new disease called the Redface Pox has begun to prey on the country's men. Within eighty years of the first outbreak, the male population has fallen by seventy-five percent. Women have taken on all the roles traditionally granted to men, even that of the shogun. The men, precious providers of life, are carefully protected. And the most beautiful of the men are sent to serve in the shogun's Inner Chamber...

After the discovery of the Redface Pox vaccine, the male population of Japan has nearly recovered, and men have again become used to being in public life and government. So as the first female shogun in over 60 years, Iesada has many challenges to face, such as an Inner Chamber unused to a woman’s needs. But the greatest threat comes from her own father’s unhealthy interest in her…

Review:

I'm not a history fan, but this really is an impressive, thoughtful historical series. It's in-depth with the inner workings of these positions, and how it all connects and moves around behind the scenes. Who is honest and who is using who, who has selfish reasons and who has devious ones.

We meet Iesada in this volume, and we get to see her grow into the proposed next Shogun, with an overbearing, unhealthily attached father. At the same time, we're following Masahiro's climb up the ladder. At a time when men are deciding to take back power, now that they're healthy enough and women had been doing it for so long, these two women are attempting to take positions equally. It's a gender struggle, at the same time that Japan is considering opening it's gates to other countries after years of isolation.

There are good and bad moments in this volume, as we see them take a step forward, and struggle to stay where they are. I mostly feel bad for Iesada, as she has attempted taking a husband a few times, but she has been forced by her father to harden herself to people. It's sad to see.

This was an interesting volume for me. It felt a bit like a new arc, which I'm happy for, since I haven't read the previous ones. I'm interested to see what happens next, too.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Dr. Stone, Volume 1, by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2018

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: Some.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Imagine waking to a world where every last human has been mysteriously turned to stone...

One fateful day, all of humanity turned to stone. Many millennia later, Taiju frees himself from the petrification and finds himself surrounded by statues. The situation looks grim—until he runs into his science-loving friend Senku! Together they plan to restart civilization with the power of science!

When every human on Earth is turned to stone by a mysterious phenomenon, high-schooler Taiju is also petrified the moment he’s about to confess to his high-school crush. Flash forward several thousands of years later, Taiju awakens and joins up with his friend Senku, who has ambitious dreams. His plan: to restart civilization from square one with the power of science!

Review:

Just as Taiju finally decides to confess his love to Yuzuriha, the world turns to stone.

After several thousand years, Taiju wakes up, and discovers that his scientist best friend, Senku, is already alive, where everyone else is still stone, and the world has changed.

I had some problems with this volume.

Firstly, the science. The idea that Taiju and Senku were able to keep their consciousness during that entire time, by keeping their mind working, is a bit too unbelievable to me. There are some other iffy changes, but I'll just keep it that the science is a bit of a stretch. Also, given how scientific Senku is, it bothers me how he exaggerates numbers so much.

They discover how to un-petrify people, and so we meet a new character. Taiju is the brawn, Senku is the brains, and then there's Tsukasa, the fighter. Tsukasa is unbelievably good at fighting, just as Taiju is unbelievably strong, and Senku is unbelievably smart and knows too much. It's all rather far-fetched, even for a manga. But we meet Tsukasa, and then discover that he's the enemy, and thinks the world should start a new, because people are evil. This change of events is not surprising, but it is a little too quick to happen, and I think the plot progression after is a little odd.

Despite all of this, one of my main concerns is the character roles. They all have very specific places. Senku is smart, and they skip explaining the science by playing off how dumb Taiju is, which gets annoying fast. But then they bring Yuzuriha back, and I really hope that they give her a role, a purpose for why she's helpful. Mainly because, if she ends up being there simply because she's female and we need a love interest, I'm going to have a problem with that. But they haven't really seemed to explore her as a character, aside from some background help, which isn't a great sign.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Shortcake Cake, Volume 1, by suu Morishita

Rating (Out of 5): ~3-3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2018

Volumes: 10+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An unflappable girl and a cast of lovable male roommates at a boardinghouse create bonds of friendship and romance.

When Ten moves out of her parents’ home in the mountains to live in a boardinghouse, she finds herself becoming fast friends with her male roommates. But can love and romance be far behind?

Ten Serizawa has a two-hour commute through the mountains to high school every day, so she can’t spend much time hanging out with her friends in the afternoon. She decides to move into the local boardinghouse, where one of her friends and three other boys are living. Ten’s friends consider her to be as oblivious as a rock when it comes to noticing boys and falling in love, but will she be able to keep her calm and steady heart in her new living situation?

Review:

This volume was not quite what I expected. We meet Ten, and her and her classmates now have to go further from their small town for high school. She has a commute, whereas her friend lives in a dorm, and is trying to convince her to join. She's hesitant, but is later convinced.

Thus starts her new living situation, with a group of roommates. Ten is rather straight-faced, and she doesn't react much. She takes things rather easy, for the most part, as well. While it looks like one boy is going to be the main love interest, it quickly changes to the playboy, Riku, who starts to develop feelings for her. I will admit that I do quite like both of them, though; I'll admit that a quiet, watchful boy who prefers to read over anything else, is really my kind of character, though.

Given that cliffhanger, we'll get to see whether this series moves fast or not, though. That could be another nice change.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: That Blue Sky Feeling, Volume 1, by Okura and Coma Hashii

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: August 2018

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A butterflies-in-your-stomach high school romance about two very different high school boys who find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other.

Outgoing high school student Noshiro finds himself drawn to Sanada, the school outcast, who is rumored to be gay. Rather than deter Noshiro, the rumor makes him even more determined to get close to Sanada, setting in motion a bittersweet tale of first love.

The first volume of this heartwarming high school story about how your first love isn’t always exactly what you expect begins with the popular Noshiro transferring to a new school and becoming intrigued by Sanada, a loner who doesn’t seem to have any friends—or even want any. Some of the other kids tell Noshiro that Sanada keeps to himself because he’s secretly gay, which only makes Noshiro more interested. He sets out on a campaign to win over the shy Sanada, embarking on a friendship that starts to feel like something much more intense.

Review:

I just love when we get realistic stories that feature LGBT characters. It happens so little, where it's not just yaoi, but a slice of life story, or even just a story that includes gay characters, in manga.

Noshiro transfers to a new school, where he discovers that Sanada is treated differently. Everyone else is being so nice to him, and yet no one really talks to Sanada, and that bothers him. When he finds out it's because there are rumors that Sanada is gay, it bothers him even more. He doesn't think he's homophobic, and yet it makes him think of Sanada differently, at first.

There's also Yamada, Sanada's only friend at the beginning. She seems sweet, and that could go in a few different directions. We also meet Hidemitsu, Sanada's older ex-boyfriend. This is an interesting development, and I appreciate the input he gives, how he tries to help guide them both.

I liked the realistic discussions in this book, how Noshiro was conflicted about the rumors, and how Sanada confronted him about it. And how Noshiro went to Hidemitsu a few times for advice, when he was struggling with his feelings.

This volume was so good, and just what I wanted. I'm so glad it's being released, and I really can't wait to read more.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Release Blitz: Eggnog Makes Her Easy by Erin Nicholas

Eggnog Makes Her Easy, an all-new Boys of the Big Easy holiday novella from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is coming November 30th!

Lindsey LaSalle is expecting to spend Christmas with her sons alone

while her husband, Matt, is serving his country overseas. But Santa

has a surprise for her at the Christmas party…and he’s going to make

the most of her love for eggnog and mistletoe!

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2F2mRsv

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2AKbCRp

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/EggnogMakesHerEasy

Nook: http://bit.ly/2QfKVcC

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2QfxaKS

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2OjXjXn

Start the Boys of the Big Easy series for FREE!

Taking It Easy

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DjpzIz

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2AIXN5C

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/EasyGoingEN

Nook: http://bit.ly/2PwKpKj

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2PB9C63

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2yOqmNz

 

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2RxiU0p 

I'm lucky enough to be included in the release tour of Eggnog Makes Her Easy, a novella for the Boys of the Big Easy series. I've read most of Erin Nicholas' recent releases, at least three of her series, and she is definitely one of my favorite romance authors, always an auto-buy at this point. The previous two books in this series were great, so I would definitely recommend picking up the freebie above, if you haven't already.

I'll be reading this one as soon as it arrives on my kindle, I'm sure, and the review will be up next week. I seriously cannot wait--it's showing up just at the right time for me, honestly. Plus, I'm ready for some Christmas books.

Manga Review: The Promised Neverland, Volume 6, by Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 11+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The children of the Grace Field House orphanage must escape a macabre fate before it’s too late.

Life at Grace Field House is good for Emma and her fellow orphans. While the daily studying and exams they have to take are tough, their loving caretaker provides them with delicious food and plenty of playtime. But perhaps not everything is as it seems…

The children have finally escaped Grace Field House, but their struggle is only just beginning. The outside world is filled with natural danger at every turn. And there are also demon hunters fast on their tail. When a mysterious girl suddenly offers help, are the children about to find themselves falling into a trap?

Review:

 Given the cliffhanger of the last volume, it was unsure where they would end up. But things start looking up, kind of, for a period. It's really hard to tell with this series, though. There's so many twists and surprises, and I do quite love it.

The kids meet two supposed pacifist creatures, who live underground and help guide them through. This seems good, but there's always that iffy, wary feeling. And the reasoning behind it isn't surprising, but still a bit disturbing.

Either way, they're helpful for the kids. These kids are honestly too smart, and too brave. They will do anything they can to survive, which makes sense, and they think of every possible thing they can.

That ending, though, could mean a lot of things.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt, Volume 5, by Yasuo Ohtagaki, Haime Yatate, and Yoshiyuki Tomino

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2017

Volumes: 12 (Hiatus)

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An epic story of war and survival set in the legendary Gundam universe!

In the Universal Century year 0079, the space colony known as Side 3 proclaims independence as the Principality of Zeon and declares war on the Earth Federation. One year later, they are locked in a fierce battle for the Thunderbolt Sector, an area of space scarred by the wreckage of destroyed colonies.

On Earth, political turmoil has led the Nanyang Alliance to challenge Federation control. Now in possession of Zeon’s priceless Reuse P Device technology, the Alliance moves forward with its plans. If they can develop the stolen tech, it could make them invincible. Both Io Fleming and Daryl Lorenz begin new operations against the Alliance on dangerous missions that are sure to bring them face-to-face once again…

Review:

We're still in the middle of a big fight, and it looks like we're looking at two different fights now. Again, we meet several different characters, and still none of them I know or get any inkling of who they are.

There's two different main characters, in two different impressive suits. We do meet two short-lived crippled guys who get put on a suicide mission. I didn't realize that being crippled was a theme in this series, but clearly it is, as we meet several other characters who are. I'm not sure what they're saying about it, though, as the public seems to look down on those two as freaks. But then there are suits made specifically for those body types. I liked those two, too, for as little as we saw them.

After that, we meet the supposed rich boy piloting such a ship, and the crew who are working on it.

The last two chapters are a side story, and it was intriguing, though I'm not sure what it relates to.

I didn't mind reading this volume, but I also wasn't really following most of it. The fighting scenes are a little hard to follow for me, and I'm more of a character-reader. Full-on action just doesn't really interest me.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!