Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.Happy Medium by Sarah Adler had me grinning like a lovestruck fool—I love Sarah Adler’s imagination & the sparks of humor that fly everywhere but don’t overbalance the heart of the narrative. This book is made funnier by the presence of a ghost who died in the 1920s & a narrator—our heroine, Gretchen—who sees the world & the people in it in a way that riveted. The chemistry between Bullshit Artist Gretchen & “nice guy” Charlie Waybill is gooood & something that my “good girl” fans will appreciate. On the whole, Happy Medium is winsome & funny & emotionally sharp, & I had such a good time. It was just shy of 5 ️ for me bc some of the aspects of the story don’t quite feel as complete or smooth as I would like—but this book is a delight & a joy. 4.5⭐️. Out 04/30.CWs: grief, memory loss, parental abandonment & estrangement, death, curse.
0 Comments
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.The historical details surrounding American heiresses marrying British titles is so interesting to me, so I was excited by the premise of The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George. Cora Dove has a bit of a scandalous background that she keeps a secret from her new husband, Devon, an impoverished Earl who—like her—also happens to be progressive & passionate about social issues (yay!). They enter into a marriage of convenience that—despite the initial boundaries they set—turns into something more. Their attraction, & their mutual admiration of each other’s appearances, propels things forward, as does that aforementioned mutual interest in social causes. While I’m all about leads digging each other’s looks, in this case it kind of just seemed emblematic of the overall superficial feel of their romance. Did I believe they were attracted to each other & respected each other & liked each other? Yes, yes, & yes. Did I feel a burning love between them? No. Sadly, while the book is good, it also didn’t overall wow me. On the whole, my experience reading Harper St. George’s historicals has been a bit uneven. I’ve read three now, & two were good but didn’t rock my socks off, while I thought the last—with Jacob Thorne & his duchess Camille—was really great. I definitely recommend that one--The Duchess Takes a Husband—if you’re looking for a book to read by the author! 3.5⭐️. Out 04/23.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
Hi and welcome to my blog tour stop for When I Think of You* by Myah Ariel! I loved seeing the heroine in this chase her dreams--that journey, with its challenges & the successes she wrested for herself--felt very real. [ID: Jess’s hand holds the ebook in front of a yellow & green mural.]Summary.Kaliya Wilson’s years behind the reception desk at a flashy film studio have only pushed her movie-making dreams further out of reach. That is, until a surprise reunion presents an opportunity that could make her career, or break her heart… a second time. When her college ex—now hot shot director—reappears to offer her a job on his next production, it’s a shock to the system. Their connection is undeniable as they work together, but Hollywood politics and scandal threaten to sink the production and her career. Kaliya may have to risk everything to do what’s right—even if it means letting go of the second chance love of a lifetime. My review.Kaliya is a front desk person at the film production studio where she’s always hoped to get her big producing break when she encounters the director genius who also broke her heart in film school. Though Danny Prescott’s arrival back in her life brings lots of emotions, particularly since he broke her heart, remains smolderingly attractive, and now has a girlfriend, it also presents the opportunity for Kaliya to get that big break she’s been wanting. When I Think of You brings a charismatic heroine who has twists of phrase that often made me smile, a strong sense of emotional adeptness & understanding of people, & a thoughtful consideration of biracial lead Danny’s challenges but also privileges in Hollywood as the son of a Hollywood legend. I loved the personal nature of the movie that Kaliya & Danny are working on, & how interviews with his mother & other bits of his family history are included in the book. Though When I Think of You starts off so strongly for me, it gradually wears down some under the weight of the back & forth between the leads. Their romantic trajectory isn’t as straightforward as I would like, & Danny’s consistently poor communication & overall behavior while in a relationship—whether with Kaliya or his previous girlfriend—doesn’t inspire the warm & fuzzies from me. This is one of those novels that has so many pieces of a great romance—I adored the writing voice. But unfortunately, the actual romance arc doesn’t work for me, & I didn’t love their love story. 3.5⭐️. Out now!CWs: reference to interracial marriage & the challenges associated with that; MS; racism including reference to racial slur; privilege & challenges in Hollywood; grief.Do you have When I Think of You on your radar? I hope you enjoy it if you check it out!
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post features affiliate links.Yes, please for a wary alliance made between two hotties who have to work together to rescue a kidnapped child & bring down a major baddie—all in space. Bounty hunter Cyn Khaw has one major mission: to find the person responsible for kidnapping her cousin years ago & bring them down before they can cause any more devastation. She joins in with the crew of the Calamity to do so, including medic Micah who she’s had physical feelings for since their introduction in the previous book. Trust is not automatically granted from either of them, something made more tension-filled since Cyn has been forced into betraying him (but will she actually do it?). A yummy book, Fiasco offers so much to space romance fans: an intriguing mystery & suspense plot, two wary leads learning to trust & falling in love, a heroine who reconnects with her family & takes an ultimate leap… Such a great book & I can’t wait to see where the series goes next. 5⭐️. Out 05/21.Lots of CWs including: death, violence, blackmail, kidnapping of children, reference to human trafficking, reference to cults, being spaced.
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post features affiliate links. I so enjoy Charis Michaels’ take on romance novels: if you haven’t read any of them yet, I would liken them to Lisa Kleypas’, but often with a healthy dose of Tessa Dare thrown in. The Prince’s Bride feels a bit heavier from her than I’m used to, & with good reason, I think, given the hero’s backstory. Gabriel’s a French prince who has lived in hiding for years after his father was killed during the French Revolution & his family was torn apart. So obviously Gabriel’s backstory, & his lingering feelings regarding freedom, captivity, & social expectation, are pretty dark. Though his backstory offers an interesting variation on historical romance for me, I sometimes find it too short-sighted, particularly when it comes to considering the Revolution itself. Moreover, the lives of Gabriel & heroine Lady Ryan are so different, & Gabriel’s needs & wants feel so strong, that I didn’t feel about their compatibility, even though I totally bought their attraction & their love. I realize that this review is basically just a discussion of things that didn’t work for me so far, so let me say again that I really enjoy CM’s writing style, & the attraction between reclusive Gabriel & his serene Lady Ryan is very clear, believe you me. If you’re a fan of angst, you will probably really like this one, bc it takes you for an angsty ride. While they are aspects of this book I really liked, & I’m a CM stan for sure, overall this romance didn’t leave me with that feeling of total satisfaction that I wanted. 3.5⭐️. Out 05/21.CWs: Violent man trying to compel Lady Ryan to marry him. Previous dog attack. References made to killed father & the French Revolution in general.
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post features affiliate links.If you’re a fan of Chloe Liese’s books, try Tarah DeWitt’s Savor It, which feels very similar—minus a bit of the overt earnestness that sometimes come across for me in CL’s dialogue. An emotional, character-driven contemporary, Savor It is about a picking up the pieces & turning it up into Thrive Time when life doesn’t go totally to plan. Sage Byrd lives in small-town Oregon where semi-disgraced chef Fisher moves with the orphaned niece he’s guardian of. Neighbors & soon friends, Sage & Fisher are the grumpy & sunshine pair you might be looking for. This book pulls on so many feelings, offering a romance that deals with weighty things—grief, a bad break-up, career success—& also captures the sweetness & thrill of falling in love with someone unexpected. It’s often adorable & on the whole, heartwarming. 4.5⭐️. Out 05/21.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
Hi and welcome to my blog tour stop for Only & Forever by Chloe Liese! It was so exciting to know that Viggo was going to get his HEA! Read more for a summary and my review. |
About me.Give me that HEA, please.
Join my mailing list.Want to receive a weekly email with links to my latest blog posts? Sign up below!
Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|