I haven't read anything by Jayne Allen before, but I was in the mood for something Christmassy and decided that would be The Most Wonderful Time! WhilI haven't read anything by Jayne Allen before, but I was in the mood for something Christmassy and decided that would be The Most Wonderful Time! While this wasn't brimming with holiday cheer as I had hoped, it was a nice romance that was both humorous and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed Ramona and Chelsea's viewpoints, and I loved that we get something different from each of them after they swap homes for a week. Ramona's refusal to accept her fiancé breaking up with her and Chelsea's creative funk get put into a different perspective after they see how the other lives and meet people in each other’s lives.
The Most Wonderful Time is solid on audio and while it wasn't anything I would call special, I really enjoyed listening to Mela Lee and I thought she did a great job differentiating her voice between the two female characters. At times it felt like there were 2 narrators instead of 1 and that is something I always like! The end isn’t necessarily wrapped up in a pretty HEA, but it was very realistic and left me feeling hopeful for Ramona and Chelsea. I would recommend this if you enjoy books that focus on family and reflection and are set around the holidays instead of focusing on them. ...more
When I was on my most recent road trip, I was looking for something quick to finish up with and I decided to make that All the Other Mothers Hate Me bWhen I was on my most recent road trip, I was looking for something quick to finish up with and I decided to make that All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman. I'm glad I did because this was a fast-paced, short, and very engrossing read that I read almost in its entirety before we got home. I will say it, I did not like a single character and sometimes I almost downright hated Florence. She is incredibly selfish, has an addiction problem, and sleeps with random men, some of whom are married. But her love and devotion to her son never wavered even in the face of something potentially terrible, so I guess she wasn’t all bad.
Florence might be one of the worst amateur sleuths I have ever seen, but she was also very determined no matter what was thrown at her, and I loved that she managed to make a true friend along the way. There were a lot of moments that made me cringe and laugh in equal measure and man does Harman know how write an entertaining storyline! The climax almost completely surprised me and though I did see one part coming, I didn’t have it completely figured out. This is Harman’s debut novel, and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Funnily enough, my dentist actually recommended Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger to me, and I honestly don’t think I ever would have picked it up if not forFunnily enough, my dentist actually recommended Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger to me, and I honestly don’t think I ever would have picked it up if not for her. Thank goodness she did though, because this book left my heart in my throat and my jaw on the floor. It was a fabulous mix of the supernatural and fiery romance with characters I loved and a twist I didn’t see coming despite the breadcrumbs that are left for the reader.
The audiobook is one of the best I have ever listened to, and Tara Langella & Troy Duran were both incredible narrators. I loved that their voices mingle throughout so it’s like watching something on TV or hearing a conversation as opposed to one sided narration. This is also probably the steamiest book I have ever read, and I would be lying if I said none of it made me blush. Almost all of the steamy scenes did, so prepare yourself for dirty! If you have an open mind when it comes to what you read and you enjoy dark romance, pick this up ASAP!
I'm torn between a 4 or 5 ⭐ for Heads Will Roll byJosh Winning but one thing I do know is that I loved it! I expected this to be more of a blood bath I'm torn between a 4 or 5 ⭐ for Heads Will Roll byJosh Winning but one thing I do know is that I loved it! I expected this to be more of a blood bath right away but instead the author sets the scene and the characters first and it is off to a bit of a slow start in that aspect. As we get closer to the end that definitely changes though and then heads are indeed rolling and there is gore and violence aplenty. My favorite character of them all is definitely Willow's favorite actress (Juniper?), and she was a badass until the very end.
I would thoroughly recommend the audiobook, and I loved the narrator, EJ Lavery. I loved listening to her, and I thought she had the perfect amount of emotion all the way to the end as well bringing the fear, terror, and confusion of the characters to life. I was shocked by a couple of the revelations, and the truth to many facets of the storyline was actually pretty sad. As being more of a horror newbie, I think that is who I would recommend this to over the seasoned horror reader who is looking for something darker/more slasher. Heads Will Roll was perfect for me and now I need to actually get to Winning's backlist!...more
I have had Darcy Coates on my TBR for ages and have purchased (but not read) so many books by her. Well, I decided this spooky season was going to be I have had Darcy Coates on my TBR for ages and have purchased (but not read) so many books by her. Well, I decided this spooky season was going to be the one for me and started with Ghost Camera! This is a collection of short stories that are mostly new, with the title story being one of the first she ever wrote. Make sure you get the author’s note in the front of the book for more detail on that, but thankfully it was included in the audiobook format as well. As with any collection of short stories, I enjoyed some more than others but the majority of them were utterly fantastic and super creepy.
The audiobook is narrated by Vanessa Moyen who did an amazing job bringing every single story to life. A full cast COULD have been better as with some short story collections, but she was so easy and enjoyable to listen to that it didn’t bother me. My favorites of the bunch were Ghost Camera, Untamed Things, and A Box of Tapes which also happen to be on the longer side of all of them. I felt like they had the most character development and fully formed storylines, and they were also very suspenseful and chilling. That being said, I loved all of them except for one which was good, just not my favorite, so that was a win in my book. Read this if you enjoy horror, short stories, weirdness, and feeling on edge! ...more
Christmas Camp Wedding by Karen Schaler was such an adorable continuation to Christmas Camp and I'm so glad Schaler decided to keep Haley and Jeff's story going. This short novella was the perfect length and was laugh-out-loud funny. I loved the addition of Trisha (Jeff's ex) as the wedding planner, and of course everything that could go wrong does which made the book even better (you'll see what I mean). The end made me excited that there might be more of these books coming, and I would love a continuation of this series! It has the best characters and each book is heartwarming and entertaining. This has some serious Hallmark vibes as well, and it was the perfect, quick read for around Christmas. There was no audio, but the novella was super short and it's such a quick read that I didn't mind not having it. If you loved Christmas Camp, then I have a feeling you love Christmas Camp Wedding as well!
Merged review:
Song/s the book brought to mind: Here Tonight by Brett Young
Christmas Camp Wedding by Karen Schaler was such an adorable continuation to Christmas Camp and I'm so glad Schaler decided to keep Haley and Jeff's story going. This short novella was the perfect length and was laugh-out-loud funny. I loved the addition of Trisha (Jeff's ex) as the wedding planner, and of course everything that could go wrong does which made the book even better (you'll see what I mean). The end made me excited that there might be more of these books coming, and I would love a continuation of this series! It has the best characters and each book is heartwarming and entertaining. This has some serious Hallmark vibes as well, and it was the perfect, quick read for around Christmas. There was no audio, but the novella was super short and it's such a quick read that I didn't mind not having it. If you loved Christmas Camp, then I have a feeling you love Christmas Camp Wedding as well!...more
I have never read Laura van den Berg before and I am still collecting my thoughts for State of Paradise. This is a very short book coming in at just oI have never read Laura van den Berg before and I am still collecting my thoughts for State of Paradise. This is a very short book coming in at just over 200 pages, and though it was about the same main character throughout (a ghostwriter whom we never learn the name of) it almost felt like short stories. The story's structure is also interesting with it being broken into 3 time periods: May 15 - July 1, July 1-14, and July 15 - x. Clearly a continuous storyline, but it was like we got a look into various aspects of this woman's life. I got lost in the Florida setting, and I am sure some (many? ...more
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she didAudiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she did a wonderful job of using the showing not telling method, almost to the point where sometimes I wasn't quite sure what she was getting at, but it felt electric all the same. I loved our FMC Evander “Vandy” Myrick, and she was a very relatable character between her quest for justice and the way her dad was the center of her world. Loss of a child is discussed among other things, so I would make sure to check your triggers as this book does get a little dark.
I loved Bahni Turpin as the narrator for the audiobook, and thought she made the entire storyline along with its characters come alive in an exciting way. She was on it during the action scenes as well, and I was impressed with the way she made Vandy shine. I loved how the book was broken down into Vandy's different cases though it also came along with the progression of the plot itself. I love a gritty PI novel, but I also felt like something was missing from this one to keep me from connecting with it fully. ...more
I did not know headed into Lowcountry Lost by T.I. Lowe that it was Christian fiction (not a normal genre for me), but since I love Lauren K. DentonI did not know headed into Lowcountry Lost by T.I. Lowe that it was Christian fiction (not a normal genre for me), but since I love Lauren K. Denton it shouldn't be a surprise that I loved it. The entire book is told from the viewpoint of Avalee and man did I love this headstrong leading lady. She is basically trying to hide her trauma in a box and not think about it, but once her ex-husband arrives onsite to help with the reconstruction of the ghost town she is bringing back to life, she can't help but deal with it and all the pain that brings. There are triggers in this book that I felt despite not experiencing them myself, and I would definitely check subject matters prior to reading.
I loved the found family elements as well as the rekindling of a romance that was thought long gone on Avalee's end. This is a slow burn with a setup much like an HGTV show and I was hooked from the very beginning. The southern vibes are off the chart since this is set in South Carolina, and there are so many food references that it was literally making my mouth water. The secondary characters are anything but second, and I fell in love with every single person (and animal - looking at you Preacher!) in the novel.
Lowcountry Lost exceeded any expectations I could have possibly had, and I ended up laughing but also crying my eyes out, especially after the must-read note from the author. Even if you aren't a fan of clean romance/Christian fiction but are in the mood for something that will rip your heart out and put it back together again with plenty of laughs along the way I would highly recommend giving this incredible story a chance. I will definitely be looking into reading more from Lowe!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in!4.25/5
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in! It was a 1-day read for me and once I started, I just couldn't put it down. Through various viewpoints, we get lots of twists and turns as well as some fantastic suspense. I had no idea until after I was done that this is a retelling of Henry VIII and his many wives set in the present-day as a rich businessman instead of royalty. After reading about him further I could see so many similarities, and I loved how Olson brought him and all that craziness into life in a crime novel.
One of the ways I was able to turn An Inconvenient Wife into a one-sitting read was thanks to the audiobook, and while a full cast would have been helpful for all of the different POVs, Nikki Thomas still knocked it out of the park. I thought she did a great job changing her voice up for the various characters and she was a delight to listen to. While the reader finds out rather early on part of what is going on, there is still much to discover and lies to unravel. The ending gave me actual chills, and I sure love it when an author can do that....more
Holy moly, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is Briony Cameron's debut, and I couldn't put this action-Holy moly, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is Briony Cameron's debut, and I couldn't put this action-packed thrill ride down. Cameron focuses on a woman who may be fictitious or made up from many forgotten women in the past with Jacquotte, and brings her idea of what her story could have been to life in this swashbuckling pirate tale. This was unlike any other historical fiction novel I have ever read, and I was completely wrapped up in both the storyline and worrying about how things would end for our fearless FMC.
I listened to the audiobook and have to say Angel Pean did an incredible job narrating. It felt like she was destined to be the voice of Jacquotte, and I thoroughly loved every bit of her narration. There is a lot of violence which can be expected when we are talking about pirates, and I could totally see this being made into an amazing movie. There is also a queer romance at its heart that I couldn't get enough of and Jacquotte is just the type of badass female lead that I love. She was unbreakable even at the hardest times, and this work of fiction will be something I remember long into the future....more
As with any short story collection, I definitely enjoyed some more than others in Stories I Told My Dead Lover by Jo Paquette. This is her adult debutAs with any short story collection, I definitely enjoyed some more than others in Stories I Told My Dead Lover by Jo Paquette. This is her adult debut and I found it interesting that she decided to go with short stories instead of a full-length novel, but who am I to judge, and it piqued my interest all the same. My favorite story of the bunch was Confidence Game which involved something called a Neep. It was one of the most fully formed stories for me, and I would have loved a full book just on that one.
My opinion is that the audiobook is the way to go here and the full cast: Emily Woo Zeller, Joe Hempel, Vikas Adam, Sophie Amoss, Soneela Nankani, Gabra Zackman, Jenn Lee & the author made these stories for me. Their narration was all spot on and I had zero complaints with any of them; plus, I loved that we were told who the narrator was before each story. Most of the endings were a bit ambiguous for my tastes and some were just plain strange, so this was mostly a miss for me. That being said, I would recommend it if you like short story collections and I would certainly read more from this author.
Thank you to the publishers and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's otheAudiobook Rating: 5/5
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's other books. I loved the dual timelines between Marlowe and the Ralston family in 1932 which eventually come together so the reader knows exactly what happened at Morning House. There was so much to uncover, and I loved all of the little clues and twists along the way. Marlowe made me LOL quite a bit, while the Ralston POV was more serious and ominous. Who knew candles could be so dangerous?!
I listened to and loved the audiobook and thought Katherine Littrell did a wonderful job as the narrator. I am a pretty large fan of hers in general, and she did an excellent job with every aspect of her narration here. Death at Morning House is a queer romance and murder mystery all wrapped up in one fast-paced story and thriller readers who love YA are sure to enjoy it. I especially enjoyed the end and the introduction with the articles! Plus, Marlowe's POV gives new meaning to the phrase if you can't be good, be careful. ...more
When I saw the cover of The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields I knew I had to read it, and I would say this would make a great spooky season/fall4.25/5
When I saw the cover of The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields I knew I had to read it, and I would say this would make a great spooky season/fall read especially! It is a solid debut full of witchy magic, beautiful imagery, and ultimately romance! Bees and honey take a front seat in the storyline which is nice and unique, and though the pace felt a little slow to me, it picks way up at the end and I couldn't put it down. I would categorize this queer romance as grumpy/sunshine since Marigold is spunky and light, while Lottie is moody and grumpy.
Mia Hutchinson Shaw narrates the audiobook and I thought she did a lovely job. I didn't have any issues understanding her even at a quicker speed (I listened around 3x) and her pacing, tone, and pitch all felt spot on. The Honey Witch is action-packed when we get near the end, and I feel like I said "aw" quite a bit as well. The conclusion was very sweet and will be a crowd pleaser! I also loved that the female leads were compelling and determined and not pushovers in the slightest. I will be keeping my eyes open for future books from Shields for sure! ...more
If there was ever a book that made me want to read an author's backlist, it is The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray. I had already been eyiIf there was ever a book that made me want to read an author's backlist, it is The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray. I had already been eying her debut Cooking for Picasso, but now I will be reading anything and everything this woman writes that is in novel format. I always enjoy my time in a historical fiction story, and this lead in to WWII was both suspenseful at times and very informative. I was a big fan of the characters, especially Annabel who was very headstrong and while foolish at times, I couldn’t help but admire her bravery and tenacity. Aubray did a superb job capturing the glamour of 1930s Europe, and I loved my stay at the Côte d'Azur.
I strongly believe the audiobook is the way to go with The Girl from the Grand Hotel and I personally found Mozhan Navabi to be an amazing narrator. I loved listening to her voice, and she did a fantastic job bringing Annabel and all facets of the story to life. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing names like F. Scott Fitzgerald and I loved that Aubray had Annabel interacting with these famous names. I do wish there had been some sort of author’s note in the book to express what was entirely fictional and what was based on real life, but I loved it all the same and would definitely recommend this to historical fiction readers who like some mystery and drama in their books!...more
Malibu Summer is Libby Gill's fiction debut, and what an interesting debut it was! This was such a unique premise with opposites-attract romance,3.5/5
Malibu Summer is Libby Gill's fiction debut, and what an interesting debut it was! This was such a unique premise with opposites-attract romance, found family, and forced proximity. I loved Ivy, and this is the first time I have seen an environmental scientist as the FMC of a romance which made it incredibly refreshing. She is one smart cookie and her intellect shines throughout the story. I wasn't the BIGGEST fan of Conrad, but he was a sweet dad to his stepson, and grief is a huge element since both Ivy and Conrad lost a partner. Hudson was the cutest little boy, and I thought he stole the show here.
The audiobook is narrated by one of my favorites, Thérèse Plummer, and even at the slow for me speed of 2x, her narration was completely on point. She had perfect pacing the entire time and made the speed feel less like a slog and more like a conversational pace. The only things that held me back a bit were parts of the book felt a bit disjointed and I didn't really feel any chemistry between our MCs. However, I did love the friendship between Ivy and Mak, and I appreciated the focus on grief and how healing can take different forms for different people. Gill's background in television shone through as well, and there was plenty I enjoyed!
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I will read everything Emily Giffin writes, hands down, no question, no reading the synopsis. So, I had no idea what The Summer Pact was going to be aI will read everything Emily Giffin writes, hands down, no question, no reading the synopsis. So, I had no idea what The Summer Pact was going to be about or just how moving it was going to be. Essentially (and I think this is important to know) it is about three friends who make a pact to always come to each other when they are feeling down/depressed after their other friend commits suicide. This later leads them to come together after Hannah makes a very startling discovery about her fiancé. I loved the friendship theme of this book and there are many heartbreaking moments layered on top of humor and camaraderie that you just don't find anywhere except your true friends.
I loved the audiobook, and I thought Karissa Vacker, Alex McKenna & JD Jackson were the perfect narrators for Hannah, Lainey, and Tyson. I normally listen at a 3x speed, but because I was on the PRHA app I could only be at a 2x, and man was I glad these narrators were so on point. Some voice actors are brutal to listen to at a 2x, but not Vacker, McKenna, and Jackson! They were perfection in every way and definitely enhanced my experience. Also though, McKenna's narration of Hannah as Lainey made her sound extremely whiny, and it made me LOL. This was a very dark read which I wasn't expecting, so don't let that cute sunshiny cover fool you!
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
It didn't take long for Wanda M. Morris to become one of my favorite authors, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on What You Leave Behind. I loved thIt didn't take long for Wanda M. Morris to become one of my favorite authors, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on What You Leave Behind. I loved the basis of the story here, and it was all very mysterious. Deena was a very empathetic character and I got wrapped up in her sleuthing after the man she meets disappears. I learned so much through this book and it also made me think about things I knew nothing about going in. I was wrapped up in it from the very start, and there is plenty of suspense as the story goes on. This could easily be read in a day and is so gripping that it made for a bingeable read for sure.
I listened to the audiobook as per usual and thought Joniece Abbott-Pratt & Lynnette R. Freeman did a great job as narrators. Besides Deena's viewpoint, we also have another POV, and it took me a bit to figure out who/what that was supposed to be. The supernatural element to that was a little confusing TBH, and I almost wish that POV hadn't existed. I would have preferred to get full realization through Deena, but when I neared the end, I did appreciate it a bit more. What You Leave Behind left me feeling shook and was a heavier read with a bit of humor. I will also say that the author's note is a must-read, and if you enjoy learning about timely issues with your fiction I would definitely give this one a read!...more
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