Can a person/author be a happy place? If so, I think mine is officially Victoria Lavine. Any Trope but You may be a debut novel but I would never peg Can a person/author be a happy place? If so, I think mine is officially Victoria Lavine. Any Trope but You may be a debut novel but I would never peg it as one, and Margot and Forrest's story stole my heart. The title is quite literal in the respect that this book is jam PACKED with the standard romance tropes, and Margot as a romance author definitely thinks Forrest is too good to be true. There is some excellent sexual tension between the two and my god did things get spicy.
Not only did I ugly cry during the ending, but I also teared up multiple times and it’s kind of ridiculous how beautiful Lavine made this book. There is chronic pain rep (so important!) and a sisterly bond between Margot and Savannah that will probably make some people jealous. You can tell that the author loves the romance community, and this is basically a love letter to romance readers everywhere. I loved every minute of this moving and hilarious read, and I will definitely be buying a finished copy once it is out in the world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Third act breakup here we go! I've Got My Mind Set on Brew by debut author Stephanie Jayne has boss girl energy thanks to Kat perusing her love of brewing beer and has a unique premise set against the backdrop of a brewpub named Resistance. I loved that each chapter started with a different kind of beer along with a brief description and sometimes a fun quip. I honestly wouldn't mind owning a copy just so I have those chapter headings. ...more
The Ride of Her Life BY Jennifer Dugan is an endearing and delightful queer romance filled with family drama and friendships that aren't always perfecThe Ride of Her Life BY Jennifer Dugan is an endearing and delightful queer romance filled with family drama and friendships that aren't always perfect. I loved the uniqueness of this enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine storyline, and I felt like I learned something about horse barns and the rodeo along the way. It felt like a bit of déjà vu reading about a rodeo in this book after recently finishing Homebound, and I am learning how much I love cowboy/cowgirl-esque romances (and can I just mention the cowboy hat scene? ...more
I feel as though Jilly Gagnon just proved she is adept at writing all different genres, and I love how she went from mystery/thriller to romance with I feel as though Jilly Gagnon just proved she is adept at writing all different genres, and I love how she went from mystery/thriller to romance with Love You, Mean It. Ellie is sassy and sarcastic in all the best ways and has the mouth of a sailor, so this isn't just some super sugary romance. The characters start as basically enemies with Theo not being particularly helpful until the ceiling problem where he gets a bit of amnesia and Ellie pretends to be his fiancée to make sure he is ok. Things get more and more interesting from there, and I really enjoyed the way Gagnon added fake dating into the mix! It is my favorite romance trope and it worked well here.
The audiobook is narrated by Amanda Ronconi, and she was the absolute best as Ellie. Her voice, tone, and narration perfectly fit the character in my opinion, and I loved listening to her. There was a bit of tinniness that I picked up on in the audio which may have been an editing thing, but otherwise, it was fantastic. There is also plenty of family and small-town drama mixed in with the romance and I loved all of the different elements. There was some spiciness mixed in, which after reading her thrillers kind of threw me for a loop! Overall, I was really satisfied with Love You, Mean It and there were plenty of laughs along the way.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I had no idea how I was going to feel about Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura, but I loved this book more than I ever would have thought possibleI had no idea how I was going to feel about Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura, but I loved this book more than I ever would have thought possible! It has some open-door spiciness, but overall, I just loved how adventurous the plot was outside of the romance, and I have never read a book where the female lead is an archaeologist. Corrie is definitely one of my new favorite FMCs, and I loved that the ending left a door open for a follow-up. I would love to see this be turned into a series with Corrie and Ford, and I think this would also be the perfect book to be made into a miniseries or movie. The Mexican jungle and the Aztec empire are brought to life pretty vividly, and I am so happy that Segura chose to write about things she is enthusiastic about.
The audiobook for Raiders of the Lost Heart is a great listen as well, and I was already a big fan of the narrator going into it. Frankie Corzo brought Corrie to life in such a moving and rich way, and I think she was the perfect person to narrate this book. I will be honest, there are definitely things about Ford that were douchebag worthy, but I thought he redeemed himself (mostly) by the end and I probably would have felt the same way as Corrie did. Segura tried to throw the reader for a loop at the end, but I knew what she was up to ...more
I had absolutely NO idea what to expect from French Holiday by Sarah Ready, but I am so happy I read it becauseBook Rating: 4.5/5 Audiobook Rating: 5/5
I had absolutely NO idea what to expect from French Holiday by Sarah Ready, but I am so happy I read it because it is a winner and so much dang fun. Merry is a great character and I loved being in her head and seeing the spelling of her name like this. My name is Mary, but I had someone spell it Merry once and I guess now I know why? ...more
Christmas at Corgi Cove: A Novel by Annie England Noblin has all the markings of a Hallmark movie with the way it starts and the aspect of a small-towChristmas at Corgi Cove: A Novel by Annie England Noblin has all the markings of a Hallmark movie with the way it starts and the aspect of a small-town Christmas-themed inn on the road to being bought by a big city chain. Enter our female leading lady Rosie and the big-city boy Everett who has come to convince her aunt and uncle to sell. There was a bit more steam than I was expecting, but I could totally see this being made into a movie and I would love to see it, especially for the adorable Corgis! ...more
Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel is probably my favorite Christmas-themed book that I have read in December, and it was just what I needed to get me laFaking Christmas by Cindy Steel is probably my favorite Christmas-themed book that I have read in December, and it was just what I needed to get me laughing and put me in a festive mood. I love the fake dating trope and Olive and Miles had great chemistry and banter just like the synopsis promised. This reminded me a bit of a Hallmark movie as it is sweet and fun but not steamy at all. Olive grew as a person as the book went on and I loved that it had humor and romance as well as fantastic character development. I also really got a kick out of all of the nicknames used in this book and they just gave the storyline even more personality.
I recommend going the audiobook route as Justis Bolding was the perfect narrator. I loved listening to her voice, and I thought she did a great job bringing both the storyline and Olive to life. I laughed out loud throughout the entire novel and this is a lighthearted read good for any time of the year but especially around Christmas. I haven't seen many reviews for Faking Christmas on #Bookstagram and I don't know why because I will definitely be hyping it up as the perfect holiday romcom! It was full of sparks and the cutest, most cozy thing I have read ALL year. ...more
The Christmas Wager is Hannah Mary McKinnon's first novel writing as Holly Cassidy and I can't even tell you how happy this book made me! I was a tinyThe Christmas Wager is Hannah Mary McKinnon's first novel writing as Holly Cassidy and I can't even tell you how happy this book made me! I was a tiny bit disappointed to learn that Maple Falls wasn't based on a place in Colorado, but I did love that she drew on her experiences in the Swiss Alps to make it happen. From the very beginning, it read exactly like a Hallmark Christmas movie, and since it is no secret that I adore those movies, it really isn't a surprise that I loved this as well. The story alternates between Bella and Jesse's viewpoints, and since I hadn't read the synopsis before reading this, it made the meet-cute even better and more Hallmark-y for me. I loved the tension between them that slowly builds to love, and their banter was perfection.
Lauren Ezzo & Adam Verner narrate the audiobook, and they were wonderful as the voices of Bella and Jesse, so much so that I dare say they made the book even better for me. Their narration allowed me to connect even more to the MCs and I highly recommend it to the audio lovers out there! As with a Hallmark movie, you have a general idea of what will happen, but there was still plenty that managed to surprise me and some deviousness I wasn't expecting! The end made my heart happy, and more than a few people ended up getting their HEAs... The Christmas Wager would be an excellent choice for readers who love Hallmark, are looking for a happily ever after with some twists, and characters that will make them want to keep reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
If you're looking for a funny storyline filled with goats, family shenanigans, and an all-around good time, look no further than Faking Christmas by KIf you're looking for a funny storyline filled with goats, family shenanigans, and an all-around good time, look no further than Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey! This is actually my first time reading this author though I keep buying all of her books, and I'm glad I FINALLY got to one! I love starting Christmas books in November, and this was the perfect novel to get me in the holiday spirit while also making me laugh uncontrollably. The start of the book is pretty comedic considering Laurel's boss invites himself to her farm that isn't really hers and into a family that isn't really hers either. Now she must not only pretend to be married to her nemesis but also a mother who can milk goats and cook a full holiday meal. You can just imagine how interesting this can and does get!
I am going to go out on a limb here and say the best way to enjoy Faking Christmas is going to be the audiobook because you seriously can't ask for a better narrator than Jennifer Jill Araya. It might be weird to say, but Araya's goat sounds were spot on, and I was almost in tears I was laughing so hard with her narration added to this already hilarious book. But don't let the humor fool you, because this also has plenty of heart as well, and along with the romance it gave me all the warm fuzzies while also making me tear up a bit at times. Faking Christmas was an enjoyable and delightful book, and I can't wait to read more from Winfrey!...more
FIRST OF ALL, the amount of spice in Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun was enough to get the people going, and I have to call this a romance since I FIRST OF ALL, the amount of spice in Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun was enough to get the people going, and I have to call this a romance since I consider romcoms like Hallmark Christmas movies. ...more
I have been meaning to read a novel by Kate Bromley for a while now, and I'm thrilled I started with Ciao For Now. There are quite a few different troI have been meaning to read a novel by Kate Bromley for a while now, and I'm thrilled I started with Ciao For Now. There are quite a few different tropes woven into it, such as forced proximity and enemies to lovers, and it was a wonderful romcom that I would definitely watch if it were made into a movie. Much of the book is set in Rome which I loved, but I also really enjoyed that it ended in New York with Violet realizing precisely what she needs to do. The book is told entirely from her perspective, which I thought worked quite well for the storyline, and she grows quite a bit by the novel's end. I also loved the focus on fashion and despite this being a romance, it is also about Violet's journey and how she pursues her passion for design.
If you enjoy audiobooks, I would highly recommend listening to Ciao For Now, and I loved the narrator, Natalie Naudus. She made my listening experience incredibly enjoyable, and I thought she got the flow spot on. I was swept away into the story even more so thanks to Naudus, and she made me like it more than if I had simply been reading it. There is lots of witty banter and laugh-out-loud moments, and it doesn’t hurt that Matteo was quite ...more
There is nothing I love more than a closed-door, truly funny, rom-com, and Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker completely delivered. I loved the variousThere is nothing I love more than a closed-door, truly funny, rom-com, and Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker completely delivered. I loved the various characters in the book, especially Gillian's 3 older neighbors Carol, Arnette, and Judy. These women were hilarious and delivered lots of comic relief to the storyline, not that anything ever got *too* serious. The viewpoints alternate between Gillian and her neighbor Noah, and this story was perfection on audiobook! Katelyn Levering narrates our FMC while Nick Mondelli narrates our MMC, and together they really brought these characters to life for me.
I kinda loved that the rivalry between the two characters is based on a gardening competition, and sometimes the way Noah acted was just so eye roll inducing, that he seemed like a kid acting out. Especially when he pulls out a bunch of bushes and so ensues the love/hate feud between himself and Gillian. I could have done without some of that, but overall, I still generally enjoyed him as a character, and they definitely made for a cute pairing in the end. I would have loved some more characterization and depth to the story, but overall Hedging Your Bets was sweet and fun, and I would give it a read if you are in the mood for something light.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I have only read one other novel by Katy Birchall, but something makes me keep wanting to come back to her and I am glad I did with The Last Word. ThiI have only read one other novel by Katy Birchall, but something makes me keep wanting to come back to her and I am glad I did with The Last Word. This is a slow-burning romance, no instalove here, and while a bit too long for me (my only real gripe), I loved that it really lets you get to know the characters and give them a nice story to play out. There are 2 timelines going on in the book, and I do have to confess that I tended to get confused about when I was in the past and when I was in the present, but I did enjoy getting to see both. Ryan 'betrays' Harper not once but TWICE in the story, and even I was saying oh no he didn't! Clearly, there are good reasons here, and it was nice getting to see Harper gain some insight and come to terms with the fact that maybe she wasn't completely in the right to get so angry. In other words - she grows!
I loved the London and magazine settings, and it was incredibly fun to watch Harper at work with the Hollywood stars and getting them to chat and open up to her. I quite liked both of the MCs and I didn't want to hit Harper over the head at all which was a huge bonus. Karen Cass was the narrator for the audiobook, and I so enjoyed her narration. Audio may have been part of the reason I was confused by past/present changes, but I don't even care because she was so fun to listen to. In my "educated" opinion, I don't think you can go wrong by listening to OR reading The Last Word. If you are so inclined, I could easily see this being a one-sitting type of read, and I really did get lost in Birchall's writing and the characters. She did a fantastic job of keeping me interested in what was going on, and if you like a good slow-burn, longish romance, I would definitely recommend this to you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
It looks like I may have enjoyed Hot Pursuit by Rebecca Freeborn more than most, and while I didn't like Sarah all that much, I loved the action and aIt looks like I may have enjoyed Hot Pursuit by Rebecca Freeborn more than most, and while I didn't like Sarah all that much, I loved the action and adventure this book provided. We went all over the place including Paris, Venice, and Rome and I thought the author did a great job of describing the surroundings in a way that made it feel like I was part of the story myself. I definitely thought this was going to be almost completely romance, but I got a heck of a lot more than I bargained for! The last half of the book was action-packed, but there wasn't really a dull moment either. Sarah goes deep on the hunt for a missing rockstar and ends up in the middle of much more than that. You will have to suspend disbelief for basically the entire book because there is no way she wouldn't have gotten killed had this been real.
I was disappointed that there wasn't an audiobook for this debut novel, but if I would have had the time, I could have easily finished it in a couple of days. It is apparently over 400 pages, but it really didn't feel like that to me when I was reading it. I sped through the last 30% of the book because I couldn’t wait to see how it would play out, and I ended up loving the way it ended. I think the biggest issue a reader would have with Hot Pursuit is the fact that Sarah is a complete idiot. She is holding onto a crappy ex, making extremely stupid mistakes, and doing things no one in their right mind would do, journalist or not. She did frustrate me at times, but I still really enjoyed the story, so if you are able to get through that and understand this book is in no way plausible, I think you will be able to enjoy it just as much as I did.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
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