Book Reviews & Thoughts |
Goodreads Synopsis: A city bookshop owner heads to the English countryside for a holiday reunion— only to face her childhood enemy. Elinor Noel—Nory for short—is quite content running her secondhand bookshop in London. Forever torn between her working-class upbringing and her classmates’ extravagant lifestyles at the posh private school she attended on scholarship, Nory has finally figured out how to keep both at equal distance. So when two of her oldest friends invite their whole gang to spend the time leading up to their wedding together at the castle near their old school, Nory must prepare herself for an emotionally complicated few days. The reunion brings back fond memories, but also requires Nory to dodge an ill-advised former fling. When she falls quite literally into the arms of Isaac, the castle’s head gardener, who has nothing but contempt for the “snobby prep school kids,” the attraction between them is undeniable. And as Nory spends more time with Isaac during the wedding festivities, she finds herself falling hard for the boy she used to consider an enemy. Nory and Isaac explore their common ground, but pressures mount on all sides, and Nory must decide what kind of life she wants to live and what sort of love is worth the risk . . . Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss | Goodreads This was definitely a unique and interesting holiday rom-com! I am not typically someone who would choose to read a holiday book, however this book was chosen by one of my book clubs and I am glad to have read it. I loved that there were many intelligent aspects included in the book with the business building and horticulture aspects of the story as it gave much more depth to the characters. I realize it is a Christmas themed book, however I found the last name of the main character being Noel to be cringe-worthy. I think the story could have been just as festive and wonderful without using that last name. Bayliss was able to include many characters each with their own set of unique challenges and backstories and show so much growth and development throughout the story. I will definitely be recommending this one! 4 Stars!
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Goodreads Synopsis: The queen of online dating has met the man of her dreams. But her best friend found him first. -- Aster’s been on more dates than she’s had hot dinners, from players to weirdos, she’s met them all. So, when flatmate and fellow dater Edie suggests a new approach to weed out the undesirables, she’s right on board. It’s a great strategy, until Edie gets together with her physiotherapist. Aster can’t see why she likes him; he’s a know-it-all health nut who rubs her up the wrong way. She tolerates him for Edie's sake but when a friendship develops and, to her horror, a heart-thundering attraction, Aster has to face the uncomfortable truth—her best friend is dating the guy she's been looking for. -- A deliciously funny rom-com about friendship, breaking down walls and how far should you go to hook Mr Right. The House of Dating Disasters by Angela Pearse | Goodreads Thank you to Angela Pearse and Book Sirens for providing me with an ebook copy of The House of Dating Disasters for me to read and review. This is the second book by Pearse that I've read and she did not disappoint! This rom-com was well written with interesting and relatable characters. Some of the characters, like Maxie, were more lovable than others. This was a quick, fun, easy read that pulled me in right from the start and I was truly hooked! There were so many funny moments that made me laugh out loud and Pearse did an excellent job of bringing the comedy and romance together. This book also included a very transparent look at the world of dating, online or in person, and some of the challenges women can face when trying to find Mr. Right. This made it even more relatable and tied in some feminist elements to the story in a very cohesive way. I am really glad that the main character got her happy ending after going through so much. This is one that I will definitely be recommending. 4 Stars! Goodreads Synopsis: I’m finally free. College was supposed to be my ticket to freedom and independence, my escape from my controlling and unsupportive parents. But one choice made on a night in September of my Freshman year changed the trajectory of my life forever. I met a handsome man from another state. It was just one night, but Andrew Greenwood ruined me for all others… and left me with a permanent reminder of our night together. Two reminders, actually. Two beautiful, innocent reminders in the form of his twin sons, who I will love with all my heart for the rest of my life. But it’s becoming impossible to take care of the boys on my own. I thought I'd be okay, but my luck keeps going south. The last thing I want to do is move back home with my judgmental parents, and all my friends have bailed. When I hit rock bottom, I swallow my pride and give Andrew a call, sure he won’t even remember me. But he does remember. He shows up… and he takes us home. It’s only for a while. Only until the twins are older and can go to daycare. Only until I get back on my feet, so I can follow my dreams and go back to my life. I’m pretty sure Andrew is only helping me because he feels guilty. But the more time we spend together acting like a happy little family, the more I want him to give me a reason to stay. A Reason to Stay is an age-gap, secret baby standalone. It takes place as a prequel to the Greenwood Valley Kindle Vella series. This work was originally published under the title A Second Chance at Beautiful. Story has been edited and expanded. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62459596-a-reason-to-stay Thank you to Lindsay Murray and Book Sirens for providing me with an ebook copy of A Reason to Stay for me to read and review. Wow, what a great story! The chemistry between the 2 main characters was off the charts and the sexy scenes were so hot. The fact that birth control is not 100% effective being included in the story was done in a very accurate and authentic way. I loved the unique plot of overcoming obstacles and challenges in life and the character growth and development was excellently shown. I can't wait to read the connected Greenwood Valley series! 5 Stars! Synopsis: Celia is done with romance. Broken and betrayed, Celia returns to her home town, the last place she wants to be. She agrees to live with Trenton, her cousin’s best friend. Trenton is understanding and kind and completely hands off, no matter how much she begins to wish otherwise. Trenton has already loved and lost. The most important thing to Trenton is keeping his promise to his late wife. So it should be no problem when his new roommate stirs his protective side. He wants only to remove the shadows in her eyes, and tries his best to ignore the aching need he never thought he’d feel again. When a run-in with her ex rekindles her self-doubt, Trenton can’t resist proving to Celia how special she is. Only one night isn’t enough. The experience is hotter and more addictive than either of them could have imagined. Celia knows it would be best to run. That way Trenton can remain true to his memories. And she can prevent the wounds she’s buried since childhood from destroying them both. Thank you to Amber Warden and Book Sirens for providing me with an ebook copy of Finding Comfort for me to read and review. This is book 1 in the Last Shot Tavern series. I am normally super particular about reading a series in order, but I accidentally read books 2 and 3 before reading this one and the books in this series can definitely be read as standalones, but reading them in order definitely deepens your understanding of and connection to each of the characters. I absolutely loved the characters in this book and the strength and growth they showed when overcoming some overwhelming and tragic life circumstances. The chemistry between them was fiery and the spicy scenes were very hot. This is definitely one that I will be recommending and I can't wait to read another by Warden! 5 Stars! Goodreads Synopsis: WHO’S THE BEST PERSON TO FAKE DATE? THE ONE YOU KNOW YOU WILL NEVER FALL FOR… I feel like my life is ending when my best friend breaks my heart. But it only gets that much worse when I find out why: he made a bet with his sworn enemy over which one of them could convince me to go out with them first — and he only stopped being friends with me because I wasn’t interested in him. Gross, much? The bet is with Jaxon Andrews, the star of the track team and most popular guy at Bayshore Academy, who I am more than happy to stay away from. That is, until he accosts me in a janitor’s closet and insists that a fake relationship is the best way to solve both of our problems. As much as I hate to admit it, he’s not wrong. All I want is to see my ex-best friend get knocked down a peg… even if it comes at the cost of pretending to date an arrogant jock. We agreed that it would all be fake — no feelings involved and we never have to speak again once it’s over. So what am I supposed to do now that I’ve fallen for real? https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61553908-my-fake-relationship-with-the-popular-boy Thank you to Clara Nielsen and Book Sirens for providing me with an ebook copy of My Fake Relationship with the Popular Boy for me to read and review. The fake dating trope is one that I enjoy reading and this storyline did not disappoint in that regard. I liked the unique challenges and plot twists that were included and the character's growth throughout the story. There were quite a few spelling, grammar, and wording issues here and there that I noticed throughout the story. These errors definitely disrupted the flow of my reading, and dampened my enjoyment of the story overall. I am still curious to see another book in this series and will still hope to enjoy more stories by this author. 3 Stars! Goodreads Synopsis: He sings behind powdered courage. She’s got his greatest hits album in her backseat. And just when they think the grass is greener together…it turns blood red. Storm is the sexiest man alive. He just doesn’t know it. What he also doesn’t know is that I’m his biggest fan. Until he shows up at a mutual friend’s place of business one day, and there’s no denying it. But behind those musical lips is a man standing on a ledge, and I’m not sure who or what can talk him down off it. But I’m not about to abandon him. At least, not by choice… *** The second she walks into Ray’s office, I’m done. Dez is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, hands down. But I can’t tell her why I’m here, at a psychiatrist’s office, so, instead I tell a lie that I’ll later regret. And just when I think that I’ve led her on, she shows me in a way that I never dreamed, that she already knows. We fall fast and hard for each other, despite my secret, despite how bad things get at a time when they should be getting better. And then it happens one night. The other shoe falls during a show, but the world is shocked to learn who sets our course on a different path…and who will be the one clinging to life. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61626929-unchained Thank you to Sandra Alex for providing me with an ebook copy of Unchained for me to read and review. What an addictive roller coaster ride of a story! I was hooked right from the first chapter! I loved how Alex wrote the story though multiple perspectives to help tie up the loose ends that were left from previous books in the series and show the many characters relationships with one another. The character development and strength shown by each of the main character's was excellent. The struggles they faced definitely hit a nerve and might be difficult for some people to read. Overall an excellent addition to the Big Bands, Big Hearts series and I am anxiously awaiting the next book so that I can figure out the cliffhanger ending readers are left with. 4 Stars! Goodreads Synopsis: Could you survive on your own in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weight survival against humanity and life against love. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games I can't believe I waited this long to read this book! If you have The Hunger Games on your to-be-read list, don't wait, move it to the top of the list. I was hooked right from the first chapter and did not want to put it down. I stayed up well into the night just to find out how it ends. The characters are such interesting unique individuals with their own backstories filled with challenges and secrets. I found that the style of the story reminded me alot of how I felt when reading Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series. I can't wait to see where the series goes next in Catching Fire. 5 Stars! I am very much in the habit of waiting to watch the movie until after I have read the book and I most often find that I enjoy the book better. This story was no different! I watched the movie pretty immediately following finishing the book and writing my review, and I was quite disappointed in the number of things that were left out or changed in the movie. I found myself constantly having to explain things to my husband who hasn't read the book when things happened that had been explained in the book, but not in the movie. The movie was only 2 stars for me. |
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