This one was okay, very sweet and cutesy. I was kinda expecting more but it’s a pretty straight-to-it plot and story, not a whole lot of character depThis one was okay, very sweet and cutesy. I was kinda expecting more but it’s a pretty straight-to-it plot and story, not a whole lot of character depth.
It definitely delivers on the tropes, so if you’re here for those then this one will work. Workplace romance (boss x assistant), she’s pregnant with someone else’s baby, forced proximity (he moves her and her baby in with him), he’s very obsessed. I just didn’t feel like it went anywhere beyond the tropes and I didn’t get their chemistry completely. Sure it’s cute and sweet he wants to care for her and her baby, but like I don’t know I wasn’t swooning personally with this one....more
His Tesoro is an age gap (she’s 21, he’s 38), arranged marriage, grumpy x sunshine, mafia romance with disability rep. This one was on my TBR for a whHis Tesoro is an age gap (she’s 21, he’s 38), arranged marriage, grumpy x sunshine, mafia romance with disability rep. This one was on my TBR for a while but the audio finally released so I got to it!
Sofiya has hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), which is a rare genetic connective tissue disorder. Her father is in the mafia and she has rarely left their home in Chicago, but now her life is about to change! Matteo is a mafia boss, and the head of the Five families in New York. Sofiya and Matteo meet because of an arranged marriage and we see that pretty early on to the story.
I liked seeing how much caretaking and protectiveness he has towards her. He gets her access to better mobility aids (wheelchair plus other mobility aids), a service dog, doctors, etc. Unlike her life growing up, he also lets her be involved in the mafia business. I liked seeing her list of new things she wanted to do and him and his crew helping her, the found family was great (especially for her character who didn’t have a good family life but craved it), I feel like the disability rep was handed really well, and I liked how he was a bit of a cold grump at first but that melted with her sweet sunshiny ways (she even bakes sweet treats). We do get some elements of light BDSM in here too and he even made sure to check that the things he wanted them to do was safe for her first. A fun new to me author I’m excited to read more from, like the next book that comes out in this series later this year!...more
“I am hungry. But there is nothing here for me to eat.”
Hungerstone is a Carmilla retelling. We get fear, desire, dread, lust, appetite, isolation, hun“I am hungry. But there is nothing here for me to eat.”
Hungerstone is a Carmilla retelling. We get fear, desire, dread, lust, appetite, isolation, hunger. I was excited for this, Carmilla inspired, vampires, sapphic, gothic setting in the moors. Lenore lacks desire, she’s solely focused on her husband, his career and his image. While in the moors, Lenore meets their mysterious houseguest Carmilla.
I really liked parts of this, but I also felt like I was reaching for more things to love about it at times. I think I just need something more. Something more with Lenore (we hear about how she feels a lot but I’d rather have seen it play out at times too?), def more with Carmilla (she’s on page for a bit but then gone for a lot of the story), and def lean more into the sapphic aspect of it all (hello, Carmilla is right there). I did really like how hunger and appetite plays such a role in this story, whether that was actually hunger for food, blood, sexual appetite, power. It changed at parts in the story and changes for the way the reader reads it too.
I received an audio ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own. ...more
Beyond the Moon is a historical fiction that takes place during WWI and has time travel. I was recommended this one and decided to give it a try sinceBeyond the Moon is a historical fiction that takes place during WWI and has time travel. I was recommended this one and decided to give it a try since my library had the audio. I feel conflicted about this one, I was enjoying it at first and then started not to.
We have dual timeline in this story at first. In 1916, Robert is a lieutenant during WWI who has temporarily lost his sight and is in a military hospital in Sussex to get better before he can possibly return to his men fighting in France. In 2017 we follow Louisa who is mourning the loss of her grandmother. She is drowning her sorrows in alcohol one night on some cliffs when she stumbles and falls. Doctors assume she was trying to commit suicide since she has a history of depression and was found fallen on cliffs notorious for jumpers, so she’s involuntarily admitted into a psychiatric hospital. She’s in the same hospital Robert is but separated by 100 years…at first.
The premise had me intrigued and the writing at first I liked. But slowly as the story got going it became less interesting and lost its luster. It felt very long and tedious in details and felt very insta love. We get a lot of moments of detailed wartime and this pulling of these 2 characters across time. But I just wasn’t as invested. And then the ending definitely had me feeling a certain kinda way, not sure how I feel about it still. It was a choice for sure.
CW: military hospital, war descriptions (and scenes on page), violence, nightmares, medical misdiagnosis and “treatments” of the time, forced admittance to psychiatric hospital ...more
An Inconvenient Duke is a brother’s best friend, childhood friends, historical romance.
Lady Alice needs a husband, and fast! Her brother is reckless aAn Inconvenient Duke is a brother’s best friend, childhood friends, historical romance.
Lady Alice needs a husband, and fast! Her brother is reckless and about to throw away the dukedom, and with it her future. The Duke of Blackwood is one of her brother’s friends and has known Alice as well since childhood.
I was just so bored with this one. Lord of Scoundrels by this author is iconic and everything else I’ve tried from her…just hasn’t worked. I decided to try this one because the cover is so pretty, but that was about the only thing I liked sadly. The characters fell flat and so did the plot. Not sure if this one would have been more enjoyable after reading the rest of the series or not.
I received an audio ALC, all thoughts are my own....more
This author’s books just work for me, I always know what they’re going to deliver on and I’m here for it. Fun, steamy, emotional connection, plus sizeThis author’s books just work for me, I always know what they’re going to deliver on and I’m here for it. Fun, steamy, emotional connection, plus size characters.
Whirlwind is exactly what you expect from the cover! An action adventure romance involving stormchasing! Twisters who? If you enjoyed that movie franchise and was like yeah I wish it was steamier, well here ya go. This has a forbidden element to it (professor x student) and an age gap (he’s 42, she’s 25). We drop in to the story realizing that the characters have a bit of a connection already. Sure it could have been nice to see a little bit more of that on page, but I think this worked for me at the same time cause of the length of the book, it’s just under 250 pages and I feel like that was just the right amount!
I received an audio ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own.
3.5 stars! A YA debut, coming of age story with a hockey, mm romance at the center of it. What started off as a rivalry for years turns into so much m3.5 stars! A YA debut, coming of age story with a hockey, mm romance at the center of it. What started off as a rivalry for years turns into so much more. I think this was a little too character-focused for me, I do enjoy character driven stories but I needed some additional plot with it.
I really appreciated the mental health and depression rep, the conversations around that were really strong. The ending was good, albeit a bit rushed! Solid for a debut though and the audio from the library was an easy listen!...more
I just did not connect with this one and was so bored! I kinda forgot I stopped liking this author’s books, but this reminded me of all the things I hI just did not connect with this one and was so bored! I kinda forgot I stopped liking this author’s books, but this reminded me of all the things I had begun not to like a few years back. ...more
This series was a lot of fun to binge! Especially the audiobooks (available through the library on hoopla too). A why choose, fated mates romance seriThis series was a lot of fun to binge! Especially the audiobooks (available through the library on hoopla too). A why choose, fated mates romance series with elemental powers, broody protective heroes, and a bond!
Just know that each book in the trilogy ends on a cliffhanger so it’ll have you wanting to jump into the next book immediately to see where the story goes! lol I love the way this author writes why choose, each hero feels so unique and the royals aspect of this world was fun to see play out and added another level to the relationships!...more
This is the second book in the Royals of Kingwood Academy trilogy and after the cliffhanger of book 1 I couldn’t wait to jump into this one! I do thinThis is the second book in the Royals of Kingwood Academy trilogy and after the cliffhanger of book 1 I couldn’t wait to jump into this one! I do think this book definitely felt like the middle book, the plot felt like it slowed down quite a bit, but also it makes sense since we got more character growth in this book.
This is a fated mates, fantasy/paranormal, why choose romance. This book especially we get character growth/development for Riven and Phoenix! I really like the characters in this series and how unique they all feel. I loved the first book so after the cliffhanger of the first book I wanted this book’s pace to match that so I wanted just a bit more, BUT I am so excited to see how this story concludes in the next/last book!...more
Junie takes place in 1860 Alabama, it’s right before the Civil War begins and we follow the titular character Junie. Junie is 16-years old and has beeJunie takes place in 1860 Alabama, it’s right before the Civil War begins and we follow the titular character Junie. Junie is 16-years old and has been enslaved since she was born, we see her coming of age story and her complex relationships.
This book is a historical fiction but it does read younger at times and feels almost YA-adjacent, it also has some supernatural/magical realism moments to the story. The cover for this book is a stunner and while I was initially invested in Junie’s story, I’m not sure the writing style worked for me and halfway through the story I was starting to lose interest. Not sure what exactly was missing for me with this one. ...more
4.5 stars. Wow, what a story! First off, the writing for this was absolutely beautiful, almost poetic, I was immediately pulled in. And then secondly,4.5 stars. Wow, what a story! First off, the writing for this was absolutely beautiful, almost poetic, I was immediately pulled in. And then secondly, the actual story…and it being based on a true woman in history, just wild! What a tale of survival, hope, loss, and the strength of this woman.
This is a historical fiction saga that follows Marguerite de la Rocque in the 1530-1540s. A French noblewoman from birth, Marguerite lost so much in her life starting with her mother during her childbirth and then her father was killed while fighting for the King when she was just a child. Born wealthy and the heir to a chateau, Marguerite has everything taken away from her when her guardian shows up and claims her inheritance for his own and uses it to fund his own adventures. When she’s a teenager he ends up insisting she voyage with him on an expedition to conquer New France (French Canada). Having no one, she befriends her guardian’s servant on board. Their secretive relationship is found out and they’re severely punished by being abandoned on an uninhabited island with an arctic winter fast approaching. And what a story from there!
The author’s note at the end describing how she stumbled across this tale in history and the accounts of Marguerite’s life are just wild. This brave woman fighting for not only survival in the 16th century, but survival while marooned on an arctic island, what a story. ...more
3.5 stars. Last Twilight in Paris is a historical fiction set during and post WWII. We get a story centered around a necklace with dual timeline from 3.5 stars. Last Twilight in Paris is a historical fiction set during and post WWII. We get a story centered around a necklace with dual timeline from 1943 in Nazi-occupied Paris and 1953 in London and Paris.
In 1953 Louise is living in London and finds a necklace in a second hand shop and is sure she’s seen it before around the same time a friend mysteriously died when they were working with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe. The necklace is marked with a department store in Paris, so she takes off there with the hopes to learn more. We then flashback to 1943 Paris, Helaine is a young Jewish woman whose husband goes missing while fighting in the war. When she tries finding out information about him she’s taken custody and put into a labor camp of sorts that was once a fancy department store where she has to sort through belongings taken from other Jewish families.
This one had a lot going on with all the characters backstory, maybe a tad bit too much at times since it started to take away from the overall story. I wasn’t as invested in Louise’s timeline as much. All in all, a decent read, my first from this author! ...more
An entertaining take on Sleeping Beauty but with a twist and without following her, instead we get a story around her tale. We follow Toadling, she waAn entertaining take on Sleeping Beauty but with a twist and without following her, instead we get a story around her tale. We follow Toadling, she was stolen away when she was a baby and taking to live with fae, as an adult she’s sent back to the human realm she’s from and tasked with a job. Now a hundred years later a knight is trying to chop down thorns to save a princess.
This is a novella and a very quick read. I’ve been reading a bunch of stories from this author recently and grabbed this one on a whim! ...more
Not to be dramatic, but it’s February 1st and I just read the best book I’m going to read all year. Stayed up until 430am reading this book because thNot to be dramatic, but it’s February 1st and I just read the best book I’m going to read all year. Stayed up until 430am reading this book because there was no place to just stop and not finish these two precious souls story. I love them to pieces and the way Peyton Corinne writes must be bubble wrapped and protected. I loved Unsteady, it was in my top books of 2024 list, but this book, just wow. It hits so hard emotionally and that is exactly the kind of read I want and crave and need deep in my soul.
“I think you’re amazing and…and I hope you think you’re amazing, too.”
Freddy is a left winger for his college’s hockey team, has a playboy reputation, and a potential future with the NHL hanging in the balance. But he needs to get his grades up…desperately. He’s barely scraping by with a 2.0 GPA, having to retake dropped classes, and struggling with a mix of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. Enter Ro, his newly assigned tutor. Ro is in an on-again, off-again relationship with a toxic boyfriend who treats her horribly. And all she wants is acceptance, to be good enough, and to be loved. Freddy is wanting the same things and the way these two find one another in life is just everything.
This book slaps hard, so for anyone who has ever felt like they had to shrink themselves for someone else, sought validation from a toxic relationship (partner, parental, etc), wanted to be “enough”, or has lost who they “are” after being chipped away at…ugh this book is for you. The way this book shines a light on parts of all of us that might feel unloveable and seeing these 2 find someone who truly sees them. This book just has my whole heart. It’s tender and sweet and slow burn and real and hard and friends to lovers and this is why I read romance books.
So many other moments I loved in this book: him texting with loads of emojis, the flirting, calling her “Princess”, him googling where he can watch her favorite movie, “who hurt you?”, when he shows up with her coffee order and she’s surprised he was paying attention, “why are you crying?”, butterfly clips, tattoos, her romance books, “do you ever get lonely?”, bracelets she’s made, the protectiveness they both have for one another, he FaceTimes her mom for her when he knows she’s missing home, her turning around and asking him for help ...more
Ok first off, this cover is soooo cute! I was sent a copy of this from the publisher and that’s what put it on my radar, so I had to jump into You BetOk first off, this cover is soooo cute! I was sent a copy of this from the publisher and that’s what put it on my radar, so I had to jump into You Between the Lines immediately.
So maybe I thought I was more into poetry than I am? ...more
3.5 stars. Never Gamble Your Heart is the second book in The Secret Society of Governess Spies series. This was my first time reading this historical 3.5 stars. Never Gamble Your Heart is the second book in The Secret Society of Governess Spies series. This was my first time reading this historical romance author.
This one I kinda struggled with. While it had a lot of things I enjoy: historical romance, self made man (fish monger turned successful gaming hell owner), she’s a governess, secrets, gaming hell. I was really enjoying the first half, laughed out loud a couple times, was really into the characters and how smart she was with math and accidentally teaching his niece to count cards on her first day (lol when he realizes). But then somewhere around the middle/second half the story, it felt like there was maybe too much added in and nothing was given the time it probably should have had.
Jasper is a gaming hell owner who has suddenly become the guardian of his 15-year old niece (his late brother’s daughter). He’s in need of a governess for his niece and hires Frankie, who was sent over from a governess agency that is actually more than it seems… “The Dove” owns a governess agency and uses her governesses to spy on the ton to hold them accountable for their crimes and tip off the police. Frankie is one of those governesses and The Dove wants her to find out the identities of dowry thieves (men who purposefully compromise ladies to get access to their dowries) and in return, Frankie can find out more about her missing sister.
The first half of the story was solid, the second half lost my interest. So much started happening plot wise and I just wasn’t as invested in the plot points. I think more attention could have been spent on the couple and their romance. The cover is pretty, love the green dress!
I received an ALC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own....more
No, cause be so for real right now, Pen was trash from jump. And this book did not need to be almost 500 pages.
I’ve read everything AH has written anNo, cause be so for real right now, Pen was trash from jump. And this book did not need to be almost 500 pages.
I’ve read everything AH has written and loved some of her books, but maybe I need to stop cause her last 3 releases now have not been it for me. If you want 50 shades style of dom/sub convos and spice (no shade, just facts), then maybe this book will be for you. Like we quickly get into how “super duper kinky” these MCs are at 5% into the book. Then at 9% into the story Lukas’s ex (who happens to be Scarlett’s swim teammate/captain/friend) tells Scarlett how Lukas is into kinky stuff like S and they should just get together to start hooking up cause her (the ex) and L are not meant to be romantically even though they’re besties. So they do end up starting a kinky fling (where they decide the word for them to ever stop is literally “stop”).
Anyways, he’s from Sweden and a swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy. He thrives on discipline and complete focus. She’s a Stanford student-athlete who specializes in platform diving and is determined to get into med school, while also recovering from an injury. The swim world and those competitions were interesting, a half-heartedly slapped together love triangle-esque competition was not interesting. And the way it all played out was soooo frustrating to see. Messy and not in the fun way. But if you’re just here for spice, I mean it has that. Very meh about this one.
I had an audio ALC from LibroFM, all thoughts in this review are my own....more
Iconic, old school historical romance author publishes a brand new sci-fi, fantasy out of nowhere…ummm immediately had to check it out! Order of SwansIconic, old school historical romance author publishes a brand new sci-fi, fantasy out of nowhere…ummm immediately had to check it out! Order of Swans is the first book in the Blue Swan duology by Jude Deveraux (who I honestly thought stopped writing/publishing).
This is described as a spellbinding, fantasy-rich romance, where a woman is swept into a world where she has the power to alter fairy tales and change a kingdom's destiny! And I was both intrigued and confused by this book. ...more
The Lost Elemental is the first book in the Royals of Kingwood Academy series and is a fun, why choose, fated mates, fantasy/paranormal series!
“You seThe Lost Elemental is the first book in the Royals of Kingwood Academy series and is a fun, why choose, fated mates, fantasy/paranormal series!
“You see us. Not for our birthrights, but for who we are.”
We meet Aura and I like how we get to see this world she’s introduced to around the same time she does. The story kicks off right away with her (and others) having to take an abilities test to discover if they have elemental gifts or not. While her friend who desperately wants to be an elemental fails the test, Aura is fully expecting to not have any gifts as well (and fine with it), but surprisingly has a whole lot of elemental gifts. She’s immediately whisked away to Kingwood Academy where she quickly meets 4 princes of elemental kingdoms (earth, water, air, fire).
One thing I always love about Tessa Hale’s why choose are how different the heroes are, they are all uniquely themselves and don’t just blend as the same guy times 4. I loved seeing Aura’s interactions with each of them (Riven, Kai, Atlas, Phoenix) and how they help her/deal with her in different ways. This was a fun intro to this trilogy and seeing the way the elemental powers work, the fated mates aspect, touch her and die vibes, the protectiveness. The cliffhangers always get me with Tessa’s books, even having read multiple series from her now, I’m always shocked at the abrupt endings lol so needless to say, I can’t wait to binge the rest! All the audios are on hoopla for this series. ...more
Christi (christireadsalot)
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