Opposites attract in this forced proximity holiday romance from British author Emily Stone. Like all her books, this story had a lot of 3.5 rounded up
Opposites attract in this forced proximity holiday romance from British author Emily Stone. Like all her books, this story had a lot of emotional depth dealing with Lexi's grief over the death of her estranged father who leaves her half his travel company in his will. The catch is she has to run it for a year with her new co-owner, Theo. With travel to exotic locations, the two have to figure out how to coexist peacefully and end up falling in love along the way. This was a bit spicier than I expected from Emily Stone but I enjoyed it a lot. Still fairly tame on the spice scale but definitely not a totally closed door/fade to black completely situation. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review....more
I love historical fiction books that are able to successfully transport me to worlds I knew little about and it's even better when they feature strongI love historical fiction books that are able to successfully transport me to worlds I knew little about and it's even better when they feature strong, trailblazing women.
Set in Gilded age New York City, this story blends fact with fiction and follows two women, one an aspiring architect and the other an actress turned interior designer, who both find themselves working on The Colony club building - the first women's only society club of its kind in the early 20th century.
Fascinating, inspiring and about a subject I didn't know about before picking the book up, this kept my interest from start to finish and resonates for women in the workplace today who are still dealing with gendered wage gaps and sexism.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the William Morrow for sending me a digital and physical copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
Recently dumped Callie wants to ignore Christmas this year but her sister won't let her. She arranges a series of Christmas countdown challenges and tRecently dumped Callie wants to ignore Christmas this year but her sister won't let her. She arranges a series of Christmas countdown challenges and treats and implores Callie to find someone to help her with them when she can't do it herself. Enter baker Marco who enthusiastically volunteers to help Callie with the challenges. The more time they spend together, the closer Callie and Marco get learning to take a chance on love again together. A cozy, Hallmark Holiday movie style romcom with a bit of closed door spice and lots of charm. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Jenny Bayliss. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A great debut graphic novel set in London about a famous biracial, pansexual celebrity chef and the nerdy gay freelance foodie reporter who is assigneA great debut graphic novel set in London about a famous biracial, pansexual celebrity chef and the nerdy gay freelance foodie reporter who is assigned to write a series of articles about him. This story focuses on some heavy topics, from fame, sexuality, anxiety, eating disorders and more plus features a great cast of found family secondary characters. The illustrations were fun and bright but some of the more anime style parts were a bit too cartoony for my personal tastes. Still a great read, perfect for fans of books like Chef's kiss by Jarrett Melendez. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I hope there are more volumes to come in the future! ...more
A solid small town paranormal debut about estranged sisters, second chances, forgiveness and magical curses that has Scarlet Melrose returning home toA solid small town paranormal debut about estranged sisters, second chances, forgiveness and magical curses that has Scarlet Melrose returning home to Oak Haven where her mother's inn has been curses and her sister's need her help. As the middle child, Scarlet always felt like the screw up especially when she believes herself to have been responsible for their father's death. Returning home drudges up all those feelings and also forces her to confront her first love, Nate. Full of Gilmore girls meets Charmed vibes and a dose of Practical magic, this was good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Lana Harper, Hazel Beck and Erin Sterling. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I hope we get more stories in this world featuring the other two Melrose sisters!
Steam level: low spice, mostly fade to black...more
I enjoyed this enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine holiday novella that sees Tristan, a Grinchy, uptight architect trying to sabotage Daphne, the c3.5
I enjoyed this enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine holiday novella that sees Tristan, a Grinchy, uptight architect trying to sabotage Daphne, the charming pop up baker who has a little Gingerbread house stand in the lobby of his building. Despite getting off to a disastrous first start, Tristan finds himself in need of Daphne's baking services to help him cater a number of holiday events. While I thought Tristan was a bit of a jerk throughout most of the book, he did slowly win me over towards the end and heart of gold Daphne was irresistible! Great on audio narrated by Melanie Mendez and a fun read for the season! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
I have to be honest, this was a bit disappointing. The cover is so fantastic but this witchy debut just didn't live up to some of the better spooky seI have to be honest, this was a bit disappointing. The cover is so fantastic but this witchy debut just didn't live up to some of the better spooky season books I've read this year. I found it long, a tad boring and the romance just wasn't there for me. Just an okay read that I wouldn't implore anyone to rush out and prioritize and buy sadly. Overall it had potential but the execution fell flat for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A fantastic witchy forbidden romance that's full of dark deals, curses and more and sees hedge witch, Hecate Goodwin (Kate), trying to get to the bottA fantastic witchy forbidden romance that's full of dark deals, curses and more and sees hedge witch, Hecate Goodwin (Kate), trying to get to the bottom of why her mother went against tradition naming her a hedge witch rather than letting Kate choose her own fate. With the help of a mysterious man who insists on Kate granting him asylum, Kate learns how to shadow walk, commune with the dead and fully come into her powers. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Practical Magic or The Crescent moon tea room. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to more by this talented new author!...more
This just might be my new favorite Georgia Clark book yet! Three half-siblings spend the holidays together with their mother and get second chances atThis just might be my new favorite Georgia Clark book yet! Three half-siblings spend the holidays together with their mother and get second chances at love.
Told from alternating POVs of each sibling, we get to know Liz, a hotshot LA show runner who is crushing hard on the show's star, Birdie, a standup comic who drinks too much and sleeps around a lot and Rafi, who recently had his marriage proposal rejected.
Each sibling grows in this book in important ways, learns a secret about their mother and finds love, making for a heartwarming holiday queer romcom full of laughs, heart and great mental health rep!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
⚠️CW: parental abandonment, MS diagnosis, alcoholism, therapy, depression...more
A perfect cozy Fall murder mystery set in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen universe that has Lila and the gang trying to solve the murder of the3.5 rounded up
A perfect cozy Fall murder mystery set in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen universe that has Lila and the gang trying to solve the murder of the mayor's wife and clear their best friend Adeena from suspicion. I loved that this book was set in Autumn and the town's Corn Festival. We get some new characters, lots of red herrings, a bit of romance, best friend relationships are put to the test and we even get a new dachshund companion for Lila's beloved pet. Great on audio and perfect for fans of The Caribbean kitchen cozy mystery series by Raquel V. Reyes. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Includes more great Filipino recipes to make and enjoy too!...more
Definitely not my usual go-to genre of choice but I got sucked in to this dark YA romantasy by the fantastic cover/packaging and the way it gave off FDefinitely not my usual go-to genre of choice but I got sucked in to this dark YA romantasy by the fantastic cover/packaging and the way it gave off Fourth Wing mixed with Daughter of Sparta vibes. Featuring, Alexis, an abandoned, abused young girl who discovers she has the blood of Hercules in her veins and gets kidnapped and forced to compete enroll in the Spartan War Academy where she will have to fight to the death to survive.
I did really love the disability rep (Alexis has a stutter and is partially blind/deaf on one side), she also has a lot of childhood trauma, an invisible best friend/familiar snake, Nyx, and a bevy of morally grey men vying for her attention and affection. Reverse harem love stories aren't typically my favs but I loved Alexis's character and look forward to seeing where her story goes.
As far as the romance in the book, it wasn't as spicy as I was expecting and I didn't find myself rooting for any of the male prospects in particular over the others. Great on audio with a full cast of narrators and while a tad long for my tastes, still worth picking up for fans of the genre. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
A bit too dramatic for my tastes tbh. I wasn't expecting this to be a book about three battling bubbies aka Jewish grandmothers. When podiatrist, JodiA bit too dramatic for my tastes tbh. I wasn't expecting this to be a book about three battling bubbies aka Jewish grandmothers. When podiatrist, Jodi Wexler's daughter asks her to come watch her granddaughter for a few weeks, she jumps at the chance to spend some quality time with Macallan. However she didn't expect to be competing for her granddaughter's time and affection from two other important older ladies in her life - the other grandma, a real estate agent, and the kind neighbor who acts as her stand in grandma when the real ones aren't there. Humorous with lots of family antics and old woman drama, this just kind of missed the mark for me. I could see it being a fun movie with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as two of the grandmas. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest opinion....more
A fun debut opposites attract, dual POV, travel romance that has Vietnamese American poet, Evie going on a matchmaking tour in Vietnam to satisfy the A fun debut opposites attract, dual POV, travel romance that has Vietnamese American poet, Evie going on a matchmaking tour in Vietnam to satisfy the requirements of her inheritance after getting let go from her teaching job. While on the tour Evie meets, Adam, the tour company head's brother who reluctantly agree to go along on the inaugural tour to help make sure things run smoothly. While Adam is attracted to Evie right away, he knows they could only ever have a fling since they live on different continents. Steamy and full of heart, this was entertaining and perfect for fans of books like Two for the road by Chantel Guertin. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
A fantastic YA timeloop story that has two Desi Canadian college teens trying to solve the disappearance and supposed murder of one of them. Great on A fantastic YA timeloop story that has two Desi Canadian college teens trying to solve the disappearance and supposed murder of one of them. Great on audio narrated by Soneela Nonkali and perfect for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon or Lynn Painter. This was a very entertaining and compelling read/listen and possibly my new fav YA book by Canadian author Farah Heron!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
Lyla Sage and Elsie Silver are leading the pack in reviving the contemporary cowboy romance genre and I am HERE FOR IT!!! I honestly can't get enough Lyla Sage and Elsie Silver are leading the pack in reviving the contemporary cowboy romance genre and I am HERE FOR IT!!! I honestly can't get enough of the Rebel Blue Ranch crew and was rooting for Teddy and Gus from the first page! A grumpy single dad with dyslexia, Gus has thought his little sister's best friend, Teddy was too over the top, sunshiney and loud but when she agrees to help watch his little girl, the two become close and the sparks fly. Sizzling with chemistry and great caretaking moments, Gus helps Teddy when her rockstar older father has a health crisis and these two just can't help admitting they are gone for one another. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
CW: parental abandonment, single Dads, heart attacks, dyslexia...more
An incredibly moving debut about an anonymous popular children's author with early onset dementia who is struggling to finish the last book in the serAn incredibly moving debut about an anonymous popular children's author with early onset dementia who is struggling to finish the last book in the series.
Faced with a harrowing diagnosis and a spiraling ability to remember ordinary day to day things, Libby gets the idea to pair up with one of her young super fans, travelling to her small town with her loyal canine companion.
What follows is a family drama, a heartwarming friendship and a beautiful story of forgiveness and redemption. Perfect for fans of books like The brilliant life of Eudora Honeysett.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was a funny and compelling YA romcom that features a Haitian American teen girl looking for love and popularity who ocassionally goes over the toThis was a funny and compelling YA romcom that features a Haitian American teen girl looking for love and popularity who ocassionally goes over the top in pursuit of romance only to find herself constantly in the guidance councillor's office. Fancy has to sacrifice her best friend and her integrity when she opts for popularity over honesty disappointing not only her best friend but also her parents. Perfect for fans of authors like Elise Bryant and a fabulous over the top dramatic debut that is sure to delight high schoolers who have an idealized romantic streak. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and physical copy in exchange for my honest review
An entertaining YA romcom that has a senior high school teen girl trying to help her younger sister by running for class president and fake dating oneAn entertaining YA romcom that has a senior high school teen girl trying to help her younger sister by running for class president and fake dating one of the more popular boys in school. Full of emotional depth, great mental health rep (she has depression) and lots of fun antics, this was great on audio narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and perfect for fans of authors like Lynn Painter. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more