The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
Release Date - October 30, 2018
Publisher Website - Penguin Random House Canada

Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  327 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The author of The Wedding Date serves up a novel about what happens when a public proposal doesn't turn into a happy ending, thanks to a woman who knows exactly how to make one on her own...

When someone asks you to spend your life with him, it shouldn't come as a surprise--or happen in front of 45,000 people.

When freelance writer Nikole Paterson goes to a Dodgers game with her actor boyfriend, his man bun, and his bros, the last thing she expects is a scoreboard proposal. Saying no isn't the hard part--they've only been dating for five months, and he can't even spell her name correctly. The hard part is having to face a stadium full of disappointed fans...

At the game with his sister, Carlos Ibarra comes to Nik's rescue and rushes her away from a camera crew. He's even there for her when the video goes viral and Nik's social media blows up--in a bad way. Nik knows that in the wilds of LA, a handsome doctor like Carlos can't be looking for anything serious, so she embarks on an epic rebound with him, filled with food, fun, and fantastic sex. But when their glorified hookups start breaking the rules, one of them has to be smart enough to put on the brakes...

Whenever I turn to a romance novel it is usually because I am looking for something fun to read. I want something that is going to have a guaranteed happy ending and, hopefully, make me laugh. The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory was a delight to read from start to finish in a way that really good romance novels are, and had the added bonus of offering up some amazing characters as well.

It starts with an embarrassing proposal. The kind of proposal that would instantly become a viral sensation on the internet. This sets the tone for the entire book. It's a book with a lot of humour, a lot of awkwardness that the characters have to work through, but also a lot of heart.

Those who have read The Wedding Date will be happy to see Carlos, best friend of Drew, return. He was a stand out in that novel and, happily, only gets better the more we get to know him. Men in romance novels can sometimes aggravate me if they are too 'protective' of the women in their life. They can be suffocating and act like a woman cannot have her own agency. This is why I am not a huge fan of the alpha male character type. Carlos is the right balance between being caring and supportive. He's one of the sweetest love interests I've encountered in romance novels, and I love that his kindness extends to all those he cares about.

Nikole is a fun, confident character that leaves you a little in awe of her. She is allowed to have moments of vulnerability but the reader never doubts how capable she is. She has a wonderful group of friends that are such a vital part of the story. Her bonds with these women show you the type of character she is and I love that attention was paid to her friendships. Nikole values her independence and I see a lot of women relating to her in a lot of ways.

The romance in this is one of my favourites. It has been a long time since I have seen a romance in a novel develop the way this one did. It starts out from a place of mutual admirable that morphs into friendship. That friendship only grows as they both come to respect one another. Those feelings slowly change into love. It's a subtle shift that feels so natural. The reader gets to experience the easy way they fall in love. It is a shining example of relationships not always having to be hard. The previous relationships showcase the difference between a wrong relationship and one that is right (even when things hit a rough patch).Carlos and Nikole also balance each other. They bring out the best in each other which I think the author took great care to show rather than tell the reader. You can see the good they do for each other.

Those looking for a smart, sexy, enjoyable read would be encouraged to pick this one up (along with The Wedding Date). Jasmine Guillory's books will leave you a little bit happier than when you started reading it, and make you eagerly anticipate whatever she writes next. 

Cover Reveal: Hollywood Princess by Natasha Madison

I am so excited to be helping reveal the cover for Hollywood Princess today. I revealed the cover for this book in this 'series (Hollywood Playboy) and I loved it so much I immediately signed up to help with this one as well.

I LOVE THIS COVER! It's got some old Hollywood glamour to it, and the black and white colour scheme is striking.

Here is the full cover for Hollywood Princess!

Stunning right? This series is going to look amazing together when all the covers have been revealed. Here is a a little more about the book for those who may be curious after seeing the incredible cover.

Behind the "lights, camera, action" of Hollywood lies a world of deception, love, and seduction. Are you ready for Hollywood Royalty? Kellie An Oscar, a Tony, an Emmy, a Grammy—she has them all. She's the most sought-after woman in Hollywood. Even if her rise to fame was a fluke, you can't deny the camera loves her. The problem is so does everyone else, and she's about to leave on the biggest concert tour of her life. Headlining for the first time in five years. Around the world in ninety days. Should be a piece of cake. Until her new security detail walks in the room and she’s looking into the eyes of the only man who didn’t fall for her charm. It's only a matter of time till he falls for Hollywood's Princess. 

  

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When her nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her...

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Do you love Hollywood set stories as much as I do? What about this amazing cover? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Waiting On Wednesday ... The Kingdom

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Welcome to the Kingdom… where ‘Happily Ever After’ isn’t just a promise, but a rule.

Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom™ is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species―formerly extinct―roam free.

Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful “princesses” engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time… love.

But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana’s memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty―and what it truly means to be human. 

This book has been described as Westworld meets Serial and I am dying to get my hands on it. I love the entire premise and think there is a lot of potential for this one to be amazing. I cannot wait to discover the world building that went into this story because it sounds like it'll be pretty impressive.

Expected release date - May 28, 2019

What I Am Excited For In 2019

We are a week into 2019 and I figured now would be an excellent time to showcase the things in pop culture that I am most looking forward to this year. I am not going to discuss books because I had an entire event dedicated to showcasing some of the titles I am excited for in year to come. Today's post will focus on movies, television shows, and podcasts that I am looking forward to entertaining me this year.

PODCASTS

The podcast section will most likely be the shortest but there are a few things I am excited about. It is hard to predict what will be the next big thing and may podcasts do not announce themselves months in advance the way movies and television shows do.

1. Exactly Right

The podcast network started by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark (aka the amazing ladies behind My Favorite Murder) has definitely got my attention. They launched late 2018 with some pre-established shows and are going to expand this year with some that they helped create specifically for the network. The exciting part for me? These have all been chosen with fans of My Favorite Murder in mind! I am fairly certain that one of these podcasts will quickly become a new obsession for me (and I have a feeling that Paul Holes may end up being the host of one of them). 

2. Disgraceland Season 3

This is easily one of my favourite podcasts and I am so excited for it to return from hiatus in February. I cannot wait to see what musicians he features and what episodes will end up being my favourites. 

TELEVISION

I could, again, list a bunch of television shows I am looking forward to in 2019, but I am going to keep this to my top five.

1. Stranger Things Season 3

It is probably no surprise that this made my list. It is the show I am most looking forward to in 2019! I gushed already about great the poster is and am (im)patiently waiting for a trailer! 

2. I Am The Night

Patty Jenkins and Chris Pine once again team up for this limited series that seems to revolve around The Black Daliha. 

The trailer is really gripping so I hope the show is as good as I think it is going to be.

3. Game Of Thrones (Final Season)

It's all been leading up to this final season! We're finally going to know who will sit on the Iron Throne at the end of it all. Winter is here!

4. Mindhunter Season 2

The second season is rumoured to feature both Ted Bundy and Charles Manson as Holden Ford and Bill Tench continue to interview serial killers and help solve cases. The Atlanta Child Killings are supposed to have a large focus and I expect that we'll have Cameron Britton's Ed Kemper show up again.

5. Fosse/Verdon

 I saw this trailer during the Golden Globes and immediately wanted to watch this show. Both Michelle Williams and Sam Rockwell are great actors and this looks like a potential Emmy contender.

I love the way this trailer bounces from the obvious more dramatic elements, but also has the flair and fun of the dancing.

MOVIES

There are way too many movies on my list for 2019. Instead of listing every single one I figured I would keep it to a maximum of 10. As more and more movies are announced I am certain there will be some that end up my favourites that are not even on my radar this early in the year. The list is in no particular order other than by release month as it was easier.

I am also going to keep all of the Disney and Marvel movies off this list. It goes without saying that I am excited for them and it gives me a chance to spotlight other titles instead of a whole list featuring them.

1. Us (March 15th)

Anyone who has seen Get Out knows exactly why Jordan Peele's newest movie would be on this list!

The trailer is creepy and I am so intrigued by the entire premise! There is a lot of potential with the 'we're our own worst enemy' vibe that this movie has. 

2. Wounds (March 29th)

I was intrigued by this one the instant I heard it was a New Orleans set thriller.

No trailer yet so I'll share the description provided on IMDB: Disturbing and mysterious things begin to happen to a bartender in New Orleans after he picks up a phone left behind at his bar. 

3. Rocketman (May 31st)

This Elton John biopic seems to be offering a unique twist to the genre.

Taron Egerton looks great as Elton and I love the 'based on a true fantasy' tagline.

4. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (July 26th)

There has not been much released for this one yet but I've been cautiously optimistic about it since the movie was announced.  For those who may have missed what this one is about, here is the IMDB description.

A faded TV actor and his stunt double embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the film industry during the Helter Skelter reign of terror in 1969 Los Angeles.

The true crime aspect of this movie was the hook, but I appreciate that the murders are going to be in the background. Plenty of movies have already been made about these crimes. It'll be interesting to see it from a different perspective.

5. The Goldfinch (October 11th)

This is based off the book by Donna Tartt and it seems to already be popping up on potential Oscar contenders lists. The IMDB page has this description:

A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

It also caught my eye because it has Sarah Paulson in it. I am looking forward to seeing a trailer (and reading the book this year hopefully).

6. Last Christmas (November 15th)

This sounds like a fun holiday movie with a very charming cast! It also happens to be named after the famous song.

There isn't a description or much known about the movie other than it is a holiday romance set in London. It stars Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding which is enough to get me to go see it.

7. Queen and Slim (November 27th - rumoured)

Again, not much is known about this movie. It has a rumoured release date of November 27th and I was intrigued by the fact it stars Daniel Kaluuya whom I have loved in everything I have seen him in.

The IMDB and release date sound like potential Oscar bait to me:

A couple's first date takes an unexpected turn when a police officer pulls them over.

8. Knives Out (November 27th)

This one sounds like it could be a lot of fun. It's described as a modern murder mystery in a classic whodunit style (as per IMDB) and stars Chris Evans, Toni Collette, and Michael Shannon (to name a few). 

9. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (release date unknown)

Our first glimpse of Zac Efron as Ted Bundy was enough to get me excited for this movie.

This tells the story from the point of view of Ted's girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer, and her coming to terms with the fact he was a monster.

10. The Highwaymen (release date unknown)

I have always been fascinated by the story of Bonnie and Clyde. This movie seems to offer up a different point of view by focusing on the law enforcement who tried to apprehend them.

The description from IMDB reads:

A pair of police officers come out of retirement to catch the infamous outlaws Bonnie & Clyde.

There is, interestingly, no Bonnie or Clyde listed in the cast so we may not even see the infamous duo. This one has a rumoured release date of March 29th but I cannot find anything definitive.

What are you most looking forward to in 2019? Let me know in the comments! I am excited to add new books, shows, and movies to my list (and always love podcast recommendations) so I cannot wait to see what you're all excited about.

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Just a small Weekly Obsessions post this week to fangirl over some Stranger Things news that was recently revealed! It is also being posted on a Sunday as I did not have any new books to share this week!

MOVIE / TELEVISION

Stranger Things Season 3 Details

We have a release date for the third season and a brand new poster!

July 4th cannot come soon enough! I have lots of theories about this season based on this poster (like the fact that Eleven, Will and Dustin are on the darker side and are three most connected to the upside down) and I cannot wait to see if any of them are correct!

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

Best Of 2018 - Everything Else

Wrapping up my look back at 2018 with the best of everything else (ie: not books or movies) before looking forward to what I am excited for in 2019!

Television 

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace

This was, perhaps, my favourite season of television in 2018. Darren Criss' incredible performance as Andrew Cunanan, the show introduced us to the talented Cody Fern, gave us a fantastic Judith Light performance, reminded us that Finn Wittrock is incredibly talented, and it offered up a socially relevant message about the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. It may have been quieter than the OJ Simpson season, but, I personally feel, the performances were event stronger.

Killing Eve

Two amazing performances from Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. It's a cat-and-mouse style thriller that was also really fun to watch!

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

This fun, and darker, twist to the Sabrina Spellman story was a welcome one. The casting is pretty perfect (I especially love Ross Lynch's Harvey and Chance Perdomo's Ambrose) and the show has just enough humour to balance its darker plot. 

Other

Disgraceland Podcast

I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts so it will come as no surprise that I immediately gravitated towards this podcast that is basically musicians behaving badly. Some of the episodes are very true crime based, others are just outrageous stories of performers at their worst. It's a fascinating, entertaining podcast whose host also happens to have an incredible voice and a talent for storytelling.

Little Gold Men Podcast

Vanity Fair's podcast focusing on the path to the Oscars has been a delight for me this year. Following them through this entire year from immediately after the last Oscars to this one has allowed me to follow the long and interesting path to get there in a way I never had before. It's a must listen for fans of movie award shows, but particularly if Oscars are your thing.

My Favorite Murder Podcast

This also made my list last year but Karen and Georgia continue to be my go to for podcasts. I also got to attend a live show in 2018 and it was one of my favourite moments of the year.

What television and podcasts from 2018 made your own best of lists? Let me know in the comments!

Waiting On Wednesday ... Four Dead Queens

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick Four Dead Queens Astrid Scholte

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Maddie and Theo have two things in common:

A divided nation. Four Queens. A ruthless pickpocket. A noble messenger. And the murders that unite them.
​
Get in quick, get out quicker.

These are the words Keralie Corrington lives by as the preeminent dipper in the Concord, the central area uniting the four quadrants of Quadara. She steals under the guidance of her mentor Mackiel, who runs a black market selling their bounty to buyers desperate for what they can’t get in their own quarter. For in the nation of Quadara, each quarter is strictly divided from the other. Four queens rule together, one from each region:

Toria: the intellectual quarter that values education and ambition
Ludia: the pleasure quarter that values celebration, passion, and entertainment
Archia: the agricultural quarter that values simplicity and nature
Eonia: the futurist quarter that values technology, stoicism and harmonious community

When Keralie intercepts a comm disk coming from the House of Concord, what seems like a standard job goes horribly wrong. Upon watching the comm disks, Keralie sees all four queens murdered in four brutal ways. Hoping that discovering the intended recipient will reveal the culprit – information that is bound to be valuable bartering material with the palace – Keralie teams up with Varin Bollt, the Eonist messenger she stole from, to complete Varin’s original job and see where it takes them

I was in as soon as I read the synopsis! A mystery revolving around four murdered Queens, and a sci-fi feel to the story are making me eager to get my hands on this one.

Luckily, the wait time for this is barely anything at all with the release date being in February. It'll be here before you know it!

Expected release date - February 26, 2019