Review: Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon

Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon

My Rating: 4 out of 5

"The third novel in the Ice Planet Barbarians series, an international publishing

phenomenon—now in a special print edition with bonus materials and an exclusive epilogue!

Kira plans on remaining single on this alien planet—she doesn’t want a mate anyway. At least, that’s what she tells herself. But when Aehako comes along, everything changes. . . .

As one of the humans stranded on the ice planet, I should be happy that I have a new home. Human women are treasured here, and one alien in particular has made it clear that he’s interested in me. It’s hard to push away the sexy, flirtatious Aehako when I long to grab him by his horns and insist he take me to his furs.

But I’ve got a terrible secret—a few of them, actually. I’m convinced that Aehako can never love me if he knows the full truth. More worryingly, the aliens who abducted me are back, and thanks to the translator in my ear, they can find me. My presence here endangers everyone . . . but can I give up my new life and the man I desire more than anything? And will he even want me if he knows my secrets?"

My thoughts:

Another quick and enjoyable read thanks to Dixon’s playful and quirky humor. Some situations in this series are so absurd and awkward that they are laugh-out-loud, refreshingly funny. I skipped book two just to dive into Kira’s story because I thought the girl with the transmitter in her ear would have an interesting plot. My only small issue was that one major challenge Kira faced was resolved a little too conveniently for my taste, feeling a bit more like fantasy with “magic” than sci-fi. Still, I know I’ll be reading more of the author’s work in the future.

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Review: The Chelsea Milliner by Annie R. McEwen

The Chelsea Milliner by Annie R. McEwen

My Rating: 5 out of 5

"All Paris-born Amelia de Maupassant ever wanted was to make hats. But overnight her dream’s gone up in smoke, along with her London millinery shop. When witty and handsome Hugh Fyne comes to her rescue, Amelia has doubts. Is he there to save her or seduce her?
Hugh’s heart leaps to its own conclusions. He must have Amelia and he will, if she doesn’t discover his secret.

Betrayal and horror in Revolutionary France haunt Amelia. Memories of war and a father’s villainy ravage Hugh. A woman sick of lies. A man lying for love. Will the truth destroy them? Or release them from their pasts to make a future together?"


My Thoughts: 

The Chelsea Milliner by Annie R. McEwen is a lively Regency romance filled with charm, adventure, and rich historical details. When Amelia de Maupassant’s beloved Chelsea hat shop burns down on Twelfth Night, her future seems bleak—until Hugh Fyne steps in with an offer of help. What follows is a delightful journey through the vibrant streets of Regency London, filled with witty banter, unexpected sparks, and a sense of adventure that keeps you turning the pages.

Despite their difficult pasts—Amelia’s betrayals in Revolutionary France and Hugh’s struggles with war and family secrets—the story remains lighthearted and fun. Perfect for fans of Regency romances, this novella is a quick and satisfying read.

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Review: Book Lovers By Emily Henry

 

Book Lovers By Emily Henry

My Rating: 4 out 5

The synopsis reads:

"One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn't see coming....

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves."

I feel like this one was on everyone’s TBR or wishlist, and I finally got around to it a bit late.

While the plot was solid, I found it hard to relate to the New Yorkers wanting to escape to a small town. Even though I don’t share that experience, I could still appreciate and imagine the appeal. The chemistry and some of the bookish banter between Nora and Charlie were enjoyable, and book lovers will definitely appreciate the insider look at a literary agent’s life. However, the characters themselves frustrated me. I didn’t really like any of them. Despite having seemingly good lives—with successful careers, the ability to travel, and only a few setbacks—they all came across as perpetually miserable. I guess misery loves company. I would have enjoyed the book more if the characters had balanced their seriousness with a little more fun and lightness.

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Review: Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez

Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez

My Rating: 5 out 5

The synopsis reads:

"Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?"

This book came highly recommended, although I’ll admit I was hesitant and delayed buying it because the idea of toxic family members unexpectedly showing up sounded like a lot of melodrama—reminiscent of the days of Sally Jesse and those soap operas you’d watch with your grandmother.

Thankfully, Just for the Summer is a well-written, emotionally developed romance that perfectly balances fun with a mature handling of issues like abandonment and family secrets. It was refreshing to read a romance where not only the relationship between the hero and heroine grows, but the characters themselves experience realistic personal growth. This was my first Abby Jimenez novel, but it won’t be my last—I’m now a huge fan. It was nearly perfect.

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Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

My Rating: 4 out 5

Review: 

Like any longtime vampire and werewolf romance fan (shoutout to the good old ‘90s Buffy days), I was immediately excited when I learned that Ali Hazelwood was releasing her first paranormal romance novel. I readily admit that I’ve been a fan since her Reylo fanfic days (yes, I’m a terrible person 24/7). I found her first novel, The Love Hypothesis, very refreshing because of my favorite fake relationship trope, the fun grumpy-sunshine moments, and the STEM heroine. As a romance fan, sometimes you have to take the good with the bad… every now and then, you find heroines who are too stupid to live—characters I don’t vicariously want to be. However, Olive from The Love Hypothesis was both smart and sweet. Having relatives with science backgrounds, I knew Hazelwood either personally had a biology background or did great research, allowing me to vicariously explore the path not taken, as I almost committed to being a biology major at one point. It was a fun, romantic adventure. With Bride, I felt I was in for a similar mental exploration and real-life escape.

The synopsis reads:

“Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.”


In summary, Misery fits the willing heroine archetype. She agrees to the ultra-strange arranged marriage to werewolf pack leader Lowe Moreland in order to investigate her best friend’s mysterious disappearance. To Hazelwood’s credit, I had a difficult time predicting the ending, and at times, I even assumed Misery’s friend had been murdered, turning the plot into a murder mystery. I liked Lowe as a hero—Hazelwood did a good job developing him as the reliable, trustworthy, and wise big brother to the members of his pack. I didn’t particularly like Misery, though I didn’t hate her either. Sometimes her language was just too much, to the point of annoyance, and a few times it happened in front of a small child. As a mom, I felt like, come on, let a character call her out on this already. I’m pretty sure Hazelwood and the beta readers for this weren’t moms.

Ultimately, Hazelwood created a sweet connection between Misery and Lowe. However, the spicy scenes were a bit weird. Without going into too much detail, there were some unique werewolf anatomy issues, which was a risky choice. I bet it turned some people off from her work.

All in all, I’m actually surprised that Bride is a standalone novel. Not to spoil anything, but there were plenty of interesting supporting characters who could star in sequels titled Groom, Best Man, Maid of Honor, etc.
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Review: The Bromance Bookclub by Lyssa Kay Adams

 

The Bromance Bookclub by Lyssa Kay Adams

My Rating: 4 out 5

Review: 

“Oh my gosh, baseball is my default favorite sport. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I actually played softball for a while. But even before that, for as long as I can remember, my entire family spent weekends cheering for the Atlanta Braves on local TV stations. I have fond memories of sharing in the fans’ joy of victory and the agony of defeat. And as a Braves fangirl, of course, I couldn’t help but admire how handsome players like Chipper Jones, David Justice, John Smoltz, and Javy López were. This made me a natural fit for sports romances like ‘The Bromance Book Club.’”


The synopsis reads:


"The first rule of book club: You don't talk about book club.

Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife."


At first, I thought this would make a fun movie—part buddy comedy, part romcom—starring go-to leading men like Sebastian Stan, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, or Luke Owens. But the plot didn’t feature the fun hijinks surrounding the secret book club that I had hoped for. Overall, I expected more focus on the ‘bro’ dynamics, baseball, and the book club, but instead, the story ended up centering around the hero and heroine going back and forth about divorce—a lot. The heroine’s mommy and daddy issues were portrayed realistically, but I was looking for a more lighthearted romcom, and at times, this felt a bit heavy. I would read another book by the author or in this series, but not when I’m in the mood for something light. It wasn’t what I expected, but it wasn’t bad either.

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One-Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I Read

 

One-Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I Read 

1) This Is Your Brain On Food - Undecided.

2) Silver Linings Playbook - Touchdown.

3) Crumbs - Hermoine?

4) Lore Olympus Vol 3 - Melodrama.

5) Cryptic Club - Adorkable.

6) Chasing American Monsters - Mythical.

7) Object: Matrimony: The Risky Business of Mail-Order Matchmaking on the Western Frontier - Shocking.

8) Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds - Can-Do!

9) The Trope Thesaurus - Useful.

10) Ungovernable - Frustrating.

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Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0) by Suzanne Collins

 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0) by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 4 out of 5

Being from the foothills of Appalachia, having supported my family at a tender young (although I was in my twenties when The Hunger Games was first published), and coming off the recent recession, as a reader I quickly connected to the characters and the dystopian world of The Hunger Games series. When the final movie wrapped in theaters, I had no clue what fandom or series could replace its spot in my bookish heart.

When a new book was announced, I automatically, wrongly, assumed that the next installment would jump to the future and possibly feature President Snow's granddaughter, whom Katniss doomed to be in the next Hunger Games post-downfall-of-the-Capitol. I speculated that Katniss' children might somehow cross this Snow granddaughter's path. Perhaps they would have to work to right the wrong of their mother's decision; that no Hunger Game is a right way to govern. Anyways, yes, I was wrong, and I was surprised and apprehensive about reading a novel about a young President Snow.

Prior to giving the story a chance, my head canon more or less decided that President Snow had an upbringing similar to the Harry Potter character Draco Malfoy; possibly rich, spoiled, well-connected, and able to rely on his powerful daddy. Thankfully, I was wrong again, and President Snow's background is actually more complicated and interesting.

I NEVER ever thought I'd actually like President Snow or feel sympathy for his plight in his younger days. Collins succeed in making me care about this villain. She succeed in making the District 12 connections in the story feel natural, and in my opinion, not pure fan-service (although for a moment I was getting worried that Snow was going to Katniss' grandpappy...).

But that ending...like so many others have said before now: So.Super.Rushed.. Snow goes from being madly in love to suddenly-rethinking-everything-cause-he-doesn't-like-walking-in-the-woods-for-very-long. I could re-read it all day and still not decide if the girl got away. It's vagueness makes it interesting and memorable, although it's still a pity Snow's change-of-heart wasn't more well developed.

I have no doubt it'll eventually be an original mini-series on one of the streaming companies. In fact, I'll be disappointed if it isn't. But I still want my Hunger Games sequel featuring Snow's granddaughter and the Everdeen-Mellark children. Tweet

Review: The Other Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys, #3) by Julia Quinn

The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My book year is not complete without a read from the incredibly witty Julia Quinn.

I felt like I had to wait forever for this one, while also waiting for more news on the Bridgerton Netflix series, that I've longed for years.

The Other Miss Bridgerton had its moments. Star-gazing. A surprise dinner-guest twist. It's an adventurous novel, in which the heroine is kidnapped by pirates. And, in which, the captain hero is undercover for the government, and also secretly a friend of her family. More kidnapping.

I've been bored by the "kidnapped-by-pirates" trope before. Mainly because it usually means spending a lot of time on a ship, doing nothing. But, as always, Quinn made it fresh, with enough tension and distractions to keep me from feeling trapped as a reader. Although, I did eventually speed-read through some of the back-and-forth sibling-like bickering between the heroine and hero. It was nearly akin to slow-burn.

Overall, "Because of Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys #1)" has been my favorite. But, again, this one had some very darling moments.


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Review: The Headmistress of Rosemere (Whispers on the Moors, #2) by Sarah E. Ladd

The Headmistress of Rosemere (Whispers on the Moors, #2)  by Sarah E. Ladd

My Rating: 4 out 5
A little bit Jane Eyre, a little bit gambling debts, horses, and two suitors at dinner.

Patience Creighton is the "unofficial" headmistress of Rosemere. Her father, the former headmaster, has died. Her brother has not been heard from in months. Her grieving mother is stricken with melancholy.

One night, their wayward landlord, William Sterling, suddenly appears beaten and in need of aid. As Patience tends to him, the attraction is clear. Except he kept muttering the name "Isabelle."

When a fire threatens Rosemere, Patience comes to trust William. Could he be the romantic hero she dreamed of as a girl? The dream suitor she envisioned when she refused an offer of marriage from her childhood friend?

William knows he should be thinking of his gambling debts and finding a buyer for his foal. However, his thoughts are increasingly on the headmistress of Rosemere. But how could he ever hope to love, again? What can he offer her? When he finds his late mother's jewelry in the headmaster's office, a mystery from his past resurfaces.

Very enjoyable read. I couldn't put it down.

The ending was a little rushed for me. I needed a chapter in which Patience takes in or thinks over the mystery of William's past. She did a lot of thinking about every other situation.

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Review: Lucky In Love by Kasie West

Lucky In Love by Kasie West

Info: Published July 25th 2017, 337 pages, (ISBN13: 9781338058017)

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Vonze's Review: Another adorable YA read from Kasie West!

Ever daydream you've won the lottery? Yes? No?? Experience the ups and downs of striking it "lucky" with Maddie, a girl who splits her time studying and working at a zoo. After taking a chance on her birthday, she wins bigs. Suddenly her problems seem to vanish. No more worrying about college, her brother's degree, her family's money issues, parents fighting, etc. Until she realizes she's only replaced her old problems with new ones. Mainly who to trust? Can she depend on her old friends, family, her "sudden" new friends, distant relatives, or her co-worker "Zoo Seth" who she's been crushing on for a while?

For me, it was heavy on the be-careful-what-you-wish-for and seek-wise-counsel, and light on the romance. However, it has a perfectly sweet ending with Zoo Seth that is gush worthy.

Fav Quote: “Sometimes regardless of what we want, reality takes over.”

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Review: Leia, Princess of Alderaan

Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Being a longtime Star Wars fangirl, for years, I've wanted more information on the young Princess Leia. Finally, we now have that book. And, wow, does it ever deliver the feels! By the end I was nearly overcome by bittersweet tears.

As the book opens, we follow Leia as she faces her Day of Demand, the biggest ceremony and day of her life thus far. In front of her adoptive parents, Bail and Queen Breha, and the people of Alderaan she declares the tasks she will complete for her challenges of mind, heart, and body. Tasks to prove her worth as future Queen.

Course our adventurous heroine doesn't stay on Alderaan the entire time. She journeys to many planets, both old and new to Star Wars fans. She makes new friends along the way. Falling significantly in love for the first time. As well as, making enemies who will eventually destroy her homeworld. Leia grows and accepts the challenges in front of her before the reader's very eyes. Personally, I felt like I was on a trip with a childhood friend.

In short, everything a Princess Leia fan could dream of!


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Review: The Devil In Spring by Lisa Kleypas

Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, I heard of the book's predecessor 'Devil In Winter' (story of hero's parents) long ago, but I've never read it. I'm sure for long-time fans of Kleypas' work, this a wonderful continuation of a story from 10+ years ago. All and all, I might bump 'Devil In Winter' a little higher on the historical romance TBR pile, solely based on enjoying this book.

Secondly, LOVED the heroine Pandora! An eccentric, trouble-making wallflower?? One who doesn't want to marry and wants to start her own business? YAY! Great, funny, and relatable heroine. Probably going to add her to my 'best heroines' list. I was so happy when she back talked the hero, I laughed out loud. I'll never forget Pandora's character.

The hero, the new Lord St. Vincent, was pretty typical of this genre. Of course, he's an affluent rake (personally I'm getting burnt out on rakes...maybe it's why I liked Marrying Winterborne better). But his real saving grace, with me anyways, was his careful observation of Pandora's difficulties and his dedication to helping her overcome them. Once he set his cap for her, he didn't stop.

The dramatic ending felt a little, surprisingly, over-the-top for me...maybe some hints about it should have been weaved into the beginning.

Overall, enjoyable, laugh-out-loud (thanks, Pandora!) historical romance. Looking forward to Kleypas' next story in the series.


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Review: Tune In (The Beatles: All These Years, #1)

Tune In by Mark Lewisohn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, what do I get the Beatles fan who has everything? (i.e. my brother)

This massive book is a good start!

For the ultimate Beatles fanatic, this book covers the Fab four from before their childhoods to their cusp of fame in 1962.

Sections on their formative years include: Old Before Our Birth, Year 1, 1958: Thinking of Linking, Year 2, 1959: Three Cool Cats, Year 3, 1960: Competence, Confidence & Continuity, Year 4, 1961: The Rock Age, and Year 5, 1962: Always Be True.

Tune In also includes several great school shots and candid photos of the soon-to-be famous lads.

All and all, a great first volume about the band who changed the world of music forever.

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.


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Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You've probably read dozens of reviews for this book/play by now...anyhow, here's mine!

I guess, we can ignore that, months and months ago, I was immediately disappointed to learn this was going to be a play and not a novel. I mean, I was happy to have new Harry Potter canon in any form. It just wasn't my ideal form.

Without J.K.'s beautiful descriptions, it took a little bit for the story to feel Potter-esque. But once it got going, I didn't really miss Harry as the main character so much. Once they got to Hogwarts, I was cool with following Albus and Scorpius. (Totally shipping Scorpius and Rose now, btw). I never thought I'd like a Malfoy, but Scorpius is a lovable dork.

Oddly enough, I actually ended up liking everyone but Harry in the story. Wow. Harry is old and kinda a dummy. He's "the man" now and has forgotten all the mischief he got into as a kid. Even though Harry saved Draco, doesn't have a problem with Albus being in Slytherin, and wants to honor Snape, he hates Scorpius based on rumors. Did Harry forget all the rumors that followed his path to adulthood? Anyhow, I suspended my belief. I might could have understood if Ginny didn't like Scorpius, based on her history being manipulated by Riddle's Diary and cause Malfoy was never nice to the Weasley family. I guess I thought Harry would know better. Anyhow, for the sake of the story, ok.

Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The time-turner was one of my favorite elements in the Harry Potter universe, and I was glad to see it back. Parts of the book were hilarious. The rest of the plot although shocking, felt right. It left me wanting another book/play/movie. Here's to hoping I can see the play someday or there's a movie in the works. Maybe even a movie of the play.


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