There is so much to enjoy about this novella, but like almost every novella I've ever read, I wanted it to be longer. This enemies-to-more has fun banThere is so much to enjoy about this novella, but like almost every novella I've ever read, I wanted it to be longer. This enemies-to-more has fun banter and a good anger-to-love relationship arc. Emmeline is on the fringes of society, despite her noble birth. Her father is dead and, in order to make ends meet, her baroness mother is a Victorian spiritualist. Emmeline and Lord Mather have a tumultuous meet-cute that leaves them wary of the other's presence at a mutual friend's house party. I wish there had been mention of The Blue Orchid Society, but after reading the summary, it sounds like it's introduced in Solving Sophronia. I'm looking forward to reading it!
Merged review:
There is so much to enjoy about this novella, but like almost every novella I've ever read, I wanted it to be longer. This enemies-to-more has fun banter and a good anger-to-love relationship arc. Emmeline is on the fringes of society, despite her noble birth. Her father is dead and, in order to make ends meet, her baroness mother is a Victorian spiritualist. Emmeline and Lord Mather have a tumultuous meet-cute that leaves them wary of the other's presence at a mutual friend's house party. I wish there had been mention of The Blue Orchid Society, but after reading the summary, it sounds like it's introduced in Solving Sophronia. I'm looking forward to reading it!...more
4.5 stars Elizabeth's life plans are on hold, but whether it's temporary or permanent is anyone's guess. She's hardheaded enough to carry her family's 4.5 stars Elizabeth's life plans are on hold, but whether it's temporary or permanent is anyone's guess. She's hardheaded enough to carry her family's burdens on her own and attempt to push and coddle her sisters at every given moment. She could absolutely do without Will Darcy's snobbery though as his friend and her sister experience an instant connection. There's lots of pride and lots of prejudice as one might expect. Emily and Audrey did a fantastic job of balancing a nod to the original while hitting the key notes that will make any die hard Austen fan content. Bringing such a beloved story to a modern setting has to be nerve-wracking, but I think their style and attention to those details we love is pretty fantastic. I didn't even miss Mr. Collins and his undying adoration for potatoes. I'm hopeful for a Persuasion retelling from this duo next! Thank you Gallery Books for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own....more
Powerless left us with a bit of trouble and a cliff hangar I was all kinds of curious over. Unfortunately, the repetitive nature of the interactions bPowerless left us with a bit of trouble and a cliff hangar I was all kinds of curious over. Unfortunately, the repetitive nature of the interactions between Paedyn and Kai drove me a bit bonkers in this follow up and it needed editing down. I was surprised that my favorite POV ended up being Kitt. I’m hoping this is the common case of sophomore book slump and that the next one brings more adventure. I fully expected the ending but hope book three has a good surprise or two in store. The narration from Cecily Bednar Schmidt, Chase Brown, and Jared Zeus, is absolutely incredible. I loved listen to their performances and each perfectly suits the three POVs. Five star listening experience! Thank you to Simon Audiofor the alc. All thoughts are my own....more
Blake the Flake has unexpectedly come back to Hallmark Beach and the worst part is not that he's Lucy's roommate. Lucy's teenage crush was crushed by Blake the Flake has unexpectedly come back to Hallmark Beach and the worst part is not that he's Lucy's roommate. Lucy's teenage crush was crushed by his blatant disregard for everyone's feelings, including her own, when he left and never looked back. Now he's taking business from her beloved restaurant and expects a truce in the meantime.
Juliana is trying. Trying to be the best mom, the best employee, the best friend. Literally.. her best friend's other best friend is Juliana's workplaJuliana is trying. Trying to be the best mom, the best employee, the best friend. Literally.. her best friend's other best friend is Juliana's workplace nemesis. Ben is the root of all evil. But with a big promotion on the line, Juliana and Ben have to figure out how to coexist harmoniously. The vibe is absolutely The Hating Game but with more than enough to set it a part and stand on its own. I love a mom main character with big responsibilities at work and home AND ready for a romance. Amy shows such care with balancing attention for both sides of Juliana giving her precious wins when she needs them most. And Ben? He's next to sexy in the dictionary, pretty sure. I'm not big on ultimatums, but the reasoning behind it and the reactions are completely believable. Amy has so much potential and is an author to watch! I am intrigued by her style and cannot wait to read more from her. Thank you to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own....more
4.5 Stars RTC Erin is at her wit's end with her job and for what? With no love lost, she searches for a job that will be worth getting out of the house4.5 Stars RTC Erin is at her wit's end with her job and for what? With no love lost, she searches for a job that will be worth getting out of the house for. In the meantime, she's feng shuied her messy existence only to discover a well-loved copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to be missing and left in a little free library. Hopeful for its return, Erin haunts the LFL and finally finds it with a note to "meet me in Great Expectations" with notes from a stranger. On the other side of the mystery book exchange, James can't help but love the exchange they've unwittingly embarked on, finding inspiration and something to look forward to within the pages. While this book is much heavier than I anticipated based on the blurb and cover, it wrapped me up in the best literary hug and had pockets of humor throughout for needed levity. Every single win was worth it and WELL EARNED. I loved so much about it - the epistolary element, the little free library, the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, the flashbacks, and the near misses - and it kept me flipping the pages. I will absolutely read another from Tessa. Thank you to HTP Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own....more
Cassie moves to Boneyard Key to fulfill the American dream of owning her own home. She’s ill prepared for the grump she’s forced to deal with to securCassie moves to Boneyard Key to fulfill the American dream of owning her own home. She’s ill prepared for the grump she’s forced to deal with to secure a daily coffee nor the antics of the locals and their claim to fame: ghosts in residence. Her new home is supposedly haunted and the faulty wiring is the least of her problems. The cozy small town setting is fantastic and I really enjoyed the supporting cast of characters. It feels quaint without being to kitschy, the right amount of spooky balancing the fun. The romance was a bit too insta-love for me and there’s a scene that absolutely made me cringe, but I’m invested and looking forward to more in a spin off or two. Thank you to Berkley Besties for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own....more
Thank you to @hachetteaudio for the #complimentary audiobook. All thoughts are my own.
What happens when your best friend dies helping someone4.5 Stars
Thank you to @hachetteaudio for the #complimentary audiobook. All thoughts are my own.
What happens when your best friend dies helping someone else? The one person who’s always there and your best and only companion? Scarlet leaves a big hole in a big way and Evie struggles to accept Nate’s role. But he keeps showing up and things look brighter in an unexpected way. I knew going in this may require tissues and I geared up with plenty of fluff ahead of time. It was so good! And I didn’t even ugly cry as I expected (although I probably would have if I read it physically...) The friendships, the grief, the romance were all so heartbreakingly beautiful....more
Kendall is not well liked nor does he aim to please. He does his duty and feels compelled to make the world a better place through politics. With no lKendall is not well liked nor does he aim to please. He does his duty and feels compelled to make the world a better place through politics. With no love for Hadley, he actively has made it his mission to take him down. A mere accident with Hadley's daughter, Isolde, is a nightmare for all involved. She has pushed Kendall to his limits at every turn and a forced ceasefire becomes paramount for peace. So. much. love. for this book. I absolutely hesitated requesting the arc (due to time constraints) and that would have been a tragedy. The push. The pull! Incredible. Nichole really found the perfect counterpart to her stern overbearing duke in a fiery bighearted redhead. She created the best tension, yearning, heartbreak, all while staying true to their characters with a believable transition between enemies and lovers. It's easily one of my favorite historical romances I've read in some time. Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own....more
A friend of mine gave this to me and I hadn't had the opportunity for this author before. While I didn't love this book, it was entertaining. I think A friend of mine gave this to me and I hadn't had the opportunity for this author before. While I didn't love this book, it was entertaining. I think Gigi's writing works for me but I lacked chemistry with the characters. I just don't relate to January at all. What I did love, however, was the setting and the sort of reverse Cinderella vibes. It's refreshing to read about a couple with financial disparity and it's the female richer than Hades....more
I was underwhelmed for the first 26% and then Fate brought his A-game reveal and I was hooked. I'm so intrigued by the ending and very much looking foI was underwhelmed for the first 26% and then Fate brought his A-game reveal and I was hooked. I'm so intrigued by the ending and very much looking forward to Wisteria. Signa 2 stars Death 3 stars Blythe 4 stars Fate 10 stars...more
Pining is my favorite and a good slow burn delivers it perfectly. I picked this up kind of on a whim as I didn't know much about it outside of romantaPining is my favorite and a good slow burn delivers it perfectly. I picked this up kind of on a whim as I didn't know much about it outside of romantasy and enemies to lovers. So basically prequalifiers for a good time. (cackling) It fit my mood and I'll definitely continue the series. In trying to save her brother, Arwen is captured and held prisoner by the enemy. Forced to heal their wounded, Arwen warily befriends a fellow prisoner to find a way to escape, futile as it may be. The audiobook features Ruby Cherise and Joe Arden (say less! amiright?) and works so well with these two performing. It's just under 12.5 hours in length and one of those fantasies that are easy to listen to without requiring a CSI chart to keep who's who straight. Thank you to PRHA for the alc. All thoughts are my own....more
Collins is living the hustler's nightmare. She is blocked, with writing, relationships, and independence. Moving home to her parents to hide out was nCollins is living the hustler's nightmare. She is blocked, with writing, relationships, and independence. Moving home to her parents to hide out was not where she ever saw life headed. Luckily, she finds inspiration and the will to get out of bed when she crosses paths with her long ago nemesis, Nathanial. Collins would just love to one-up him one more time and what better way than to steal his glory with the HOA. This started out with such a funny hook: "If I hear live, laugh, love one more time, I'm going to die, scream, rage." What followed lived up to the beginning and this childhood nemeses to lovers brought me that Alexa joy I loved in her Playbook series (which I'm still not so subtly wishing for a spin-off of). I'll never say no to Alexa's sense of humor. Thank you to Berkley Besties and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Why it wasn't a five star: I wanted a little bit more out of Collins' arc faster. I sometimes struggle with a heroine who has a journey that takes longer to get jump started....more
4.5 stars A big misunderstanding and a floundering hotel have rivals Izzy and Lucas grudgingly team up. They equally love where they work and everyone 4.5 stars A big misunderstanding and a floundering hotel have rivals Izzy and Lucas grudgingly team up. They equally love where they work and everyone except each other. A guest offers the hotel a reward for a missing ring, sending Izzy and Lucas on a competitive mission to have a repeat with others. I'm a big fan of Beth's writing and have found that her books always sit well with me. The setting is fantastic and the push to work together was perfect fodder for Izzy and Lucas to reconcile and see past their differences. The narrators, Jessie Cave and Lino Facioli, took me a bit to get accustomed to, particularly Lucas's POV. His performance was a bit lackluster. However, I did get used to it and ended up really enjoying the book. Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the advanced copy and PRHA for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own. Why this wasn't a five star: I didn't connect well to the characters initially and had assumed this would be more about character growth, less romance focused, based on previous reads from Beth. However, the last 30% was excellent and bumped my rating from a solid 4 to a 4.5....more
3.5 stars Jolie put Harvest Hollow in her review mirror as quickly as possible. She had the brains and the scholarship to escape her roots and took adv3.5 stars Jolie put Harvest Hollow in her review mirror as quickly as possible. She had the brains and the scholarship to escape her roots and took advantage of both. Ten years goes by and a bad breakup later has her reevaluating. She decides to take Harvest Hollow by storm and payback all the jerks from her past by flaunting her success in their faces. Meanwhile, Lucas has turned a new leaf. He's now the sheriff and his delinquent past is long forgotten. By everyone except for Jolie. Jolie and Lucas equally have baggage that allows for them to understand and support the other. Brooklyn and Mr. John allowed both MC's to show a softer side. This was an easy book to binge on a lazy Sunday. Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
Why it wasn’t a five star: What I struggled with mostly is Jolie's personification. I cannot stand when a grumpy woman is labeled "prickly". Maybe because I'm not Suzy Sunshine myself, but a reserved or guarded man would never be labeled that way. It would be something sexy like brooding or disagreeable. I also wish Melanie had either leaned more into a spooky vibe or adjusted the mystery to something a little more tame. Either way would have been more my style but the conclusion was satisfying....more
One sentence review: Everything I could ever want in a fantasy.
This! This is why enemies-to-lovers is so freaking good. A witch and a witch hunter haveOne sentence review: Everything I could ever want in a fantasy.
This! This is why enemies-to-lovers is so freaking good. A witch and a witch hunter have irreconcilable differences and I'm here for it. Two years have gone by since Rune gave up her grandmother to be executed for being a witch. Upon discovering that she is one too, Rune does everything in her power to redeem herself by saving other witches from purging. In order to gain intel, she makes romantic advances on the captain of the Blood Guard, Gideon, who also just happens to be brother to her best friend, Alex. Gideon has been on the hunt for the Crimson Moth and will stop at nothing until she's been captured. With everything on the line, Rune and Gideon keep their enemy as close as possible to outwit the other. Between the banter and the plot twists, this was a perfect beginner to a new adult fantasy series from Kristen Ciccarelli. I will jump on book two as soon as I can get my hot little hands on it. Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own....more
My heart is full. I stayed up way too late and "just one more chaptered" my way to finishing. I smirked, smiled, and laughed my way through this one - My heart is full. I stayed up way too late and "just one more chaptered" my way to finishing. I smirked, smiled, and laughed my way through this one - a perfect romantic comedy in my book. This is easily a top contender for favorite contemporary romance of 2023. Marina is practical. She'll give up swooning to get what she wants: a promotion, beautiful flat, stable husband and a penguin family. Growing up an only child of soulmates made for a lonely childhood but she knows she can have it all even if a romance is lackluster. Creating Dealbreakers, an app that allows women to date and rate men from dating apps, helps her weed through the guys only looking for a hookup. With her eye on a promotion, Marina shares her vision of the future only to be thwarted (again!) by the ever-charming Lucas, her nemesis. It's the women's fiction/romance mash-up with the perfect amount of funny I can adore. There's so many relatable and quotable moments. I loved the full cast and most especially Lucas's brand of quick wit and charm. Lauren is officially on my auto-buy list. Thank you to Putnam for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own....more
3.5 stars Laurel is a hot mess express with somewhat recent success at holding down a stable job. But her lies of omissions are catching up to her when3.5 stars Laurel is a hot mess express with somewhat recent success at holding down a stable job. But her lies of omissions are catching up to her when her boss mistakenly assumes he is invited to her farm for her annual family Christmas Eve-Eve dinner. Scrambling to have the lies look like truth, her sister Holly helps her hatch a plan to get through the night. Unfortunately, her nemesis has been roped in to play her loving husband. While there was a lot to love about this novel - Kerry is so great at developing a fun relationship and setting - I was bothered by a few things. Gilbert was so annoying and had way too much page time. I would have loved it far more if more focus had been on Laurel and Max or even Laurel and Holly. Max was completely charming and pulled at the heartstrings, but he was the only character to really believe in Laurel and value her for exactly who she was. It's not my favorite book from Kerry, but I would recommend for readers wanting the spirit of Christmas wrapped up in a Hallmark-type storyline. Jennifer Jill Araya was a great choice for Kerry's style of writing. I would love to see them pair up for another audiobook in the future. Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the advanced copy and PRHA for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own....more
No one needs me to write this review so I'll keep it short. I get the hype. This is a first half four star, second half five star kinda read. I read iNo one needs me to write this review so I'll keep it short. I get the hype. This is a first half four star, second half five star kinda read. I read it with my SO and it was a good one to get into together.
Why it wasn't a five star: I think right out the gate it reads very YA with some adult content - which is perfect for a new adult. Based on other reader I know who have read it, I expected more world building, more focus on dragons, less on character. I also kind of hated how weak and incompetent outlet supposedly is but somehow can handle it all?...more
Ashlee (bookswithnopictures)
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