T10T: Books Titles That Describe Me/My Life

      

Welcome back to Top 10 Tuesday, following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! I've been pretty busy lately, so I am happy for an easy prompt

This week's prompt is..... books titles that describe me/my life

These are in no particular order

1. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
2. Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
3. The Good Girl Exception by Maren Moore
4. The Gender Binary is a Big Lie by Lee Wind
5. Thinky Thoughts: All Grown Up and Still Just as Confused by Gwenna Laithland
6. It Seemed Like a Good Idea by Lauren Blakely
7. Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell
8. Just Us by Evie Sterling
9. Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
10. Back to December by Laurel Osterkamp

I will not be diving into how all of these apply as it can get rather personal and dark depending on the book, but they all do in different ways. In many cases, the actual plot of the book would not apply at all, but title alone would which is interesting.

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic as always

This prompt was an interesting thought experiment. What's a book title that would apply to your life? See ya next week!

FFAF: The Easter Book Tag

    

Intro

Can you believe Easter is in 2 days? Tomorrow I'm hosting a community Easter party so it is the perfect time to do the Easter Book Tag! I found this tag from the Alli the Book Giraffe blog. It originated from the YouTube channel Rosie the Reader.

The Prompts and My Picks

Rabbits: a book that you wish would multiply (become a series)

Cambria by A.R. Tyler

I found something about this book incredibly addictive. I feel like you could follow a side character or two and make an interesting series out of it.

Egg: a book that surprised you

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

This book was a lot darker and triggering than I was lead to believe. It is truly depraved and a difficult read. I barely finished it. 

Hunt: a book that was hard for you to get your hands on

Addicted by Krista & Becca Ritche

As I am on a permanent book-buying ban (I make very low income), I very rarely get the chance to buy books. I got this one with a gift card.

Lambs: a children's book you still enjoy

The Geronimo Stilton series

It is simply lighthearted goofy fun with lovely illustrations. This series has been near and dear to my heart since I was a kid. 

Spring: a book with a cover that makes you think of spring

It Seemed Like a Good Idea by Lauren Blakely

The pretty lavender storefront is totally giving a spring vibe. Gorgeous flowers automatically makes me think of spring.

Jesus: a religous or spiritual book you love

Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell

I am not a religious or spiritual person at all. It simply does not interest me. This is the only book I've read that would count.

Rising from the dead: a book from a deceased author

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This one is one of my favorite classic books. I did a project about it in English class which made me connect to it even more.

Baskets: a book that is on your wish list right now

Addicted for Now by Krista & Becca Ritchie

As I discussed a bit ago, I am working on collecting this series. This is the next one I need to obtain.

Candy: a book that is sweet

So Not My Mr. Wright by Evie Sterling

Evie is my go-to author for sweeter reads. They are all lovely and lighthearted. This is my favorite of hers.

Outro

Well... this challenge leaned a bit more religious than I am comfortable with. Just remember, I do not support Christianity and the great falsification of what The Bible actually says. This was just meant to be lighthearted fun. As always, if you'd like to do the challenge, consider yourself tagged.

January 2026 Reads

This month I read 11 books 

I DNFed 2 books

These books were 100% fiction

They were 0% physical, 36% digital, and 64% audio

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and LGBTQ+

My average rating was 4.09 stars

My longest reading day was the 24th

The Books

➽ The Weight of Ashes by Erin FitzGerald

➽ The Sweetheart Shortcut by Evie Sterling

➽ Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis-Featherstone

➽ Game Changer by Rachel Reid

➽ Just Breaking the Rules by Lauren Blakely

➽ Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke

➽ Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

➽ Dear Red, Be Mine by Bella Greene

➽ Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman

➽ Just For the Cameras by Meghan Quinn

➽ Superfan: A Novel by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Top 5 Tuesday: Satisfying Book Series

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday, now following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! As always, I do a top 5 instead of a top 10 because I tend to struggle to find 10 books for prompts.

This week's prompt is..... satisfying book series

These are in no particular order

1. The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
2. Wolf Mountain Ranchers series by Erin FitzGerald
3. Orleans University series by Maren Moore
4. So Not My... series by Evie Sterling
5. Streams and Schemes series by Rebecca Kinkade

I am admittedly not the best at finishing series, but here are a few that I did finish that I feel like were bangers all the way through. All are romance series apart from The Naturals. I know there are a lot of series currently in progress that I am reading and loving. I would be happy to include those if a similar prompts comes up again when those series are concluded.

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

It took me a minute to find all completed series, but I did it! All of these have different vibes, but all are ones I loved. Have any of y'all finished any of these series? See you tomorrow!

 

Top 5 Tuesday: Books with Occupations in the Title

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday, now following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! As always, I do a top 5 instead of a top 10 because I tend to struggle to find 10 books for prompts.

(Yes, I am late today, I am sick and doing odd shifts at work, so I am doing my best)

This week's prompt is..... books with occupations in the title

These are in no particular order

1. The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford
2. The Manicurist's Daughter by Susan Lieu
3. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
4. Game, Get, Matchmaker by Evie Sterling
5. The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard

This was honestly such a fun prompt to look for. I had a bunch that most certainly referenced an MC's profession and whatnot. Even one that mentions being a hockey boy, but I dug deep into my reads from last year as well and found titles that truly due include the name of a profession. The last book on this list does count because one of the characters is a tour guide.

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

Truly, I think this week's prompt is my favorite I have done so far. I hope there are more like this on the list soon in the future! I fully intend on doing this (actually on Tuesday) next week, so I shall see you then!

March 2025 Reads

March 2025 Reads 

This month I read 15 books 

These books were 93% fiction

They were 13% physical, 47% digital, and 40% audio

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and LGBTQ+

My average rating was 4.28 stars

My longest reading day was the 28th

The Books

➽ The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy

➽ Just Complicated by Evie Sterling

➽ Overturned by Lamar Giles

➽ A beta read (sorry can't discuss it)

➽ Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger

➽ A Mark On My Soul by Jordon Greene

➽ Never Lie by Frieda McFadden

➽ Shot for Mercy by Shae Ruby (no review because this book is getting rewritten)

➽ Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

➽ Hired By My Rich Highland Husband by Beatrice Bradshaw

➽ About That Kiss by Harper Bliss

➽ Again!! Volume 1 by Mitsurou Kubo

➽ Again!! Volume 2 by Mitsurou Kubo

➽ The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford

➽ The P*ssy Next Door by Amy Award

So Not My Romantic Getaway by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Coworkers to lovers

➮ Fake dating

➮ Opposites attract

➮ Off limits

➮ Mistaken identity

➮ HEA

➮ Meddling friends/family

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

I am stuck at a Hawaiian resort with my rival coworker… He’s terrible to work with but way too good at playing fake-boyfriend.

My Thoughts

One of Evie's best-written stories so far! It is super obvious that over the past year, she has greatly refined her writing style. This improvement has been very fascinating to see. I look forward to seeing it get even better in the future. 

In addition, this was the earliest in the story that I remember Evie's characters ever kissing. I'm used to her pacing being similar to a romance anime where the characters only kiss at the very end of a will-they-won't-they situation. It also felt steamier than before. This is a welcome change in my opinion. The steam made the tension higher which made the story more hard-hitting as a whole. 

There were a lot of smile-worthy moments. From adorable times with Jack's family (particularly his nieces). The animals involved also made me smile a lot. I think we would all benefit from a sea turtle as a therapist. The gorgeous setting of a Hawaiian island helped massively with this. Evie really made the setting part of the story without it taking over too much. 

The one part of the story I wasn't as in love with was how held back Hazel was by her overthinking. It felt like it took a very long time relative to the length of the book for Jack's free spirit to rub off on her at all. I really just wanted to shove them together and see her relax a bit more earlier on. 

Jack's character as a whole is super adorable. From him being a certified Swiftie, to his baby fever. I appreciate that while he is a daredevil masculine man, he also isn't afraid to like stereotypically girly things. His well-roundedness is so refreshing to see. I definitely wanted more of his perspective. 

I also really liked the way this book wrapped up. I will not spoil anything but I will say it is very fitting to who both Hazel and Jack have become by the end. 

Overall, this is definitely a top contender for my favorite book by Evie Sterling. The increased steaminess, beautiful setting, and well-written MMC caused me to smile a ton while reading. If are looking for a light-hearted summery romance to read while summer is still upon us, I recommend this one. 

I received this book as part of the haylingbookstorm street team for Evie Sterling. My review is honest and voluntary

June 2024 Reads

  June 2024 Reads 

This month I read 10 books 

These books were 90% fiction

The most popular genres were contemporary, romance, and LGBTQ+

My average rating was 4.08 stars

The Books

➽ Desolation and Epiphany by James W.A.

➽ Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

➽ Single Dad Billionaire Boss by Evie Sterling

➽ Something Sacrificed by Erin FitzGerald

➽ Pillow Forts and Hurricanes by Margherita Scialla

➽ Pucker Up Cowboy by Zee Irwin

➽ Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

➽ Protective Billionaire Boss by Evie Sterling

➽ Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez

➽ Flying by Jordana Blake

Protective Billionaire Boss by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

3.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Instalove

➮ Surprise pregnancy

➮ Love after death

➮ Opposites attract

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

Warren DuPont sets off alarms I never knew existed. After my husband’s death, I wasn't expecting love. “Love has a way of finding us when we least expect it.” Turns out, it’s true. I also was not expecting to be pregnant. Unmistakably handsome and protective, Warren gives me a sense of comfort that is surprisingly intoxicating. Each encounter brings our relationship to heightened levels of connection. As our bond deepens, Warren might understand the pregnancy. But will he forgive me when he finds out I am not who I pretended to be?

Best Quote From the Book

“Emily's jaw drops. I didn't realize that was something that happened in real life. I thought that was only for movies. 'You have your own private elevator?'"

My Thoughts

While some of these tropes are very much not my thing, I will always give Evie a chance. Her short and sweet clean romances have become a staple of my reading this year. I was pleasantly surprised how a story that would typically not be for me turned out pretty good. I will say the provided synopsis is basically the entire plot so you know exactly what to expect going in. The story as a whole just flew by. I would sit down for a few minutes with it and suddenly I was 10% further in the book. 

Both Warren and Emily are grieving when they meet. Their different approaches to handling grief are both quite realistic. Many people will just try to push on like Warren. Many people struggle with what is and isn't allowed when a significant person is in your life like Emily. I would've loved to see more of both of them helping each other navigate that to help the instalove aspects seem less jarring. 

It was genuinely amusing to see Emily's reactions to the rich lifestyle. Especially her worries about taking Warren to Target. I have definitely felt that fish out of water experience before when in a situation where I was among a higher status. As dumb as it may sound, I did not know how to act or not feel bad when other people did things for me to that level just like Emily. Warren's "it's the least I can do" adage also adds to the humor of their dynamic. Bro will causally buy you a house at the minimum if he is fond of you. 

The glee I felt when Warren started interacting with his hobbies and just having a more well-rounded life was unmatched. I was so happy for him to get the happy ending he deserved. Emily also has a fitting ending for her character that gives her all she hoped for given the current circumstances. 

I also want to give Evie props for briefly noting that just trauma dumping on someone is pretty uncool without consent. Warren's cousin is pretty cool for that. 

There is one thing that irked me about the story that just kept coming up and definitely detracted from my enjoyment. There are constant "hint" drops about Emily's pregnancy. How on earth it didn't occur to her that she might get pregnant when she was trying with her late husband Caleb is totally beyond me. Every third page she is nauseous and not fitting her clothes again. It was so tremendously obvious it completely detracted from the story.

Overall while there were certain elements to this story that were not my favorite, I had way more enjoyment than I was expecting. I will be happy to continue reading the stories in this series. I think the best way to explain it is that Evie's writing is now further improved.

I received this book as part of the haylingsbookstorm street team for Evie Sterling. My review is honest and voluntary

May 2024 Reads

  May 2024 Reads 

This month I read 13 books 

These books were 92% fiction

The most popular genres were romance, children's, and contemporary

My average rating was 4.17 stars

The Books

➽ I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

➽ Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan

➽ You Will Get Through This Night by Daniel Howell

➽ The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

➽ Fake Dating and Matchmaking 101 by Evie Sterling

➽ Puck Money by Dani Galliaro

➽ Falling for My Fake Kisser Neighbor by Lila Marlow

➽ The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella

➽ Geronimo Stilton 15 & 16 audio

➽ Geronimo Stilton 4-6 audio

➽ So Not My Boss Crush by Evie Sterling

➽ Smudges by Lauren Emerson

➽ Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Single Dad Billionaire Boss by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Single dad

➮ Age gap

➮ Billionaire

➮ Off limits

➮ Gumpy x sunshine

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

Let’s be real, a single dad billionaire looking to hire a nanny: sign. me. up. What I didn’t sign up for was a man who looks like he stepped out of a romance novel. The complaint is: that he’s off-limits. We unexpectedly get snowed in together and both of us clearly feel the connection, but this can not happen. Reality begs me to resist. My heart wants to augment reality. 

Best Quote From the Book

“Life is not about worrying and mistrusting everyone, it's about going after and cherishing the things that matter. It's okay to be afraid, but not when it gets in the way of love."

My Thoughts

I do not tend to gravitate towards books with single parents. Often times the kid is in the way, annoying, or so rarely included it makes me wonder why they were even written into the story. This book had me praying that Zoe would be a cute and sweet kid. Thankfully, Zoe blew me away. For a 5 year old she has a lot of spunk and is incredibly funny and charismatic. A lot of her lines were my favorites in the whole book. I feel like we all need to approach life a little more like Zoe sometimes. There were times that her language skills did seem a bit above what I would expect for a 5-year-old which did take me out of the story for a brief period. 

Zoe was not the only character from this story I adored. Once I got to know Ella and Jacob I was quite enamored by them too. Truly I have never met characters with such a similar sense of humor to my own. Their jokes and quips had me laughing out loud. They have immaculate jokes from cover to cover. I also love how they write notes for each other. They are already excellent communicators who have experience tackling disagreements from the moment they met. 

As is the case with all of Evie's books, this one was on the shorter side. I basically read this whole book in one sitting (minus a lunch break). The beauty of the shorter style is that any parts of a story that may have dragged on are not included. 

This one is the first I have read of her billionaire bosses series. I love how even earlier on in her writing career Evie excels at writing sweet and funny romances. Of all of the books of hers I have read so far, this is one of the funniest. I would say the humor is on par with Fake Dating and Matchmaking 101. This story is also the one that I would say is most begging for a sequel. I could absolutely see the need for another story when Zoe is older. 

The only reason this book is not a 5-star is that it includes another rushed engagement. I would've preferred that instead of them getting engaged so fast, it was left off with Ella and Jacob simply dating. 

Ella is a social worker who has a special place in my heart. As a psychology major, I took a lot of classes related to social work. It was obvious that Evie did her research about how social workers build trust with kids and how ethics work in the profession. This realism made me love the story even more. 

I received this book as part of the Haylingsbookstorm street team for Evie Sterling. My review is honest and voluntary

So Not My Boss Crush by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Office romance

➮ Opposites attract

➮ Reformed playboy MMC

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

For six years, Brock Benson was the monster I worked for. The gorgeous monster—who never even said hello. Then one morning, everything changed. When Brock’s assistant quit, I had no choice. Brock approved, and gave me a promotion I didn’t want… Now I’m fielding calls from his ex, managing his schedule, and caring for his sister's dogs. I’m intertwined with Brock’s life and it’s not terrible. When he gives me a house key, my heart skips a beat. Our texts are getting more flirty by the day. Our usual morning has been replaced by stolen kisses in the break room. But Brock's go-go, and I like to stop and smell the roses. Crushing on my boss is bad enough. Falling in love with him is completely out of the question. This relationship should come with one of those coffee-cup warnings: ‘CAUTION: CONTENTS HOT.’  We have to cool it off, or else one of us will get burned

Best Quote From the Book

“Brock Benson's Sizzling, Scandalous Dating Life"

My Thoughts

I will admit at first I was nervous about how quickly Gwen and Brock began to fall for each other. It felt like a bit of a breakneck pace for people who barely interacted previously. That said. the longer it went on, the more realistic it felt. At first, it was like okay he's hot and actually talking to you now but he is incredibly belligerent. Eventually, it became more like, wow that is a genuine connection. I have seen such an instant connection in my own life before, so it was just an oddly portrayed version of that. Granted Brock isn't any better, he was head over heels just because she was pretty and genuinely nice. 

Brock is so tone-deaf about how he comes off. How did he not notice how much of a jerk he sounded when talking to most people? It felt more like a caricature than an actual person when we first met him. It was like Gwen reminded him to act like a decent human being. 

There are so many wonderful meddling characters in this book. Among them are Brock's sister, Gwen's best friend, and even Gwen's mother. Knowing all of them were rooting for the duo made the book have a nice and comfy vibe. They were all also an excellent source of giggles. 

The part of the book that really surprised me was the plot twist. It truly felt like it suddenly came out of left field. I would've loved to have seen a few foreshadowing moments leading up to the climax of the story. 

The part about the castle room was truly beautiful. I loved seeing Gwen's spirits become lifted as she remembers her grandmother's legacy. I wish I could've had an experience like that of my own. This entire series is really making me want to visit that castle if I am honest.

Overall, this story is a pretty lighthearted romance. There are some instalovey vibes but I do suggest you give it a chance. The side characters are what really made this story shine. Their meddling and genuine nature was a refreshing element to the story. 

I received this book as an arc and am part of the haylingsbookstorm street team for Evie Sterling. My review is honest and voluntary

Fake Dating and Matchmaking 101 by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Frenemies to lovers

➮ Brother's best friend

➮ Second chance

➮ Fake dating

➮ Opposites attract

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

Fake dating my frenemy to save a wedding? Not my most brilliant scheme because now I’m starting to want real kisses instead of fake. My brother’s best friend, Cole, has always been majorly annoying. He’s my opposite in every way, and we’re better at bickering than getting along. So, it’s super awkward when we have to fake date at a couples' yoga retreat. It’s the only plan I can come up with to save my brother’s wedding. Cole and I get on each other’s nerves and now we’re forced to do couples’ activities for hours a day! He can’t wait until the charade is over. When we rescue a baby goat together, I see his softer side. Add fake kisses to the mix, and I’m basically seeing stars. This insane chemistry is a fluke… right? He asked me out over a decade ago, and that was a total disaster. Should we give this a second shot? 

Best Quote From the Book

“Even out here in the middle of nowhere, with the sun sinking lower each passing minute, I feel completely safe."

My Thoughts

I loved the little feature of Gemma in a podcast episode. It reminded me of my time reading Game, Set, Matchmaker. This little nod is just the right level of callback to show that the books are set in the same universe but the characters do not have to know each other personally. It is a nice thing to see done right. 

I truly cannot believe I am reading another book prominently featuring yurts in such a short time period. The Trouble with Love and Ink also includes yurts as a major propellant of the plot. Are they trendier than I realize? Dear reader, have you ever heard of a yurt? 

The best part of this book by far is the goat. This adorable creature is named Blue. In the same way he snuck into all of the characters' hearts, he snuck into mine. Blue is a large part of the many funny moments in this book. A baby goat can cause a surprising amount of comical hijinks. This is my official petition for more authors to include baby goats in their work. 

I really like how the characters are written about in this book. Oliva is a curvy girl full of determination. Cole is much more reserved and is much less in tune with his feelings. Each of them has notable flaws that help add realism to the story. They aren't just perfect cookie-cutter characters. These flaws are a major component and are not ignored throughout the story. They also help ground both of them as they have to tackle their flaws head-on. 

I love how even though Cole is not the best communicator, he demonstrates his feelings through actions. He goes totally above and beyond for Oliva and Blue. I will not give specifics to avoid spoilers, but let's just say we would all be lucky to have a Cole take an interest in us. 

The one thing I thought was really missing was Oliva's brother Trent's reaction to them getting together officially and admitting their feelings. There is a lot of hype up throughout the book about his obliviousness for it not to be resolved. The perfect time to reveal it all is cut short and the book proceeds to the epilogue. I would've also adored to see Blue's further hijinks at the wedding as the ring bearer. Evie, girl, you held out on us which I am upset by. 

Overall if you are looking for a clean romance with a cute goat and characters with flaws, this is definitely a book to check out. I would've loved a few more moments described above but even without them, the story is endearing. 

I received this book as an arc and am part of the haylingsbookstorm street team for Evie Sterling. My review is honest and voluntary

April 2024 Reads

  April 2024 Reads 

This month I read 12 books 

These books were 100% fiction

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and sports

My average rating was 4.48 stars

The Books

➽ Love on the Scottish Spring Isle by Beatrice Bradshaw

➽ Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

➽ Number Thirty-Two by Cassie Steward

➽ The Trouble with Love and Ink by Harriet Ashford

➽ Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

➽ So Not My Mr. Wright by Evie Sterling

➽ Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman

➽ When in Rome by Sarah Adams

➽ The Karate Mouse by Geronimo Stilton

➽ Something Gained by Erin Fitzgerald

➽ Frisky Collections Volume 1: Frisky & Queer by Michelle Mars

➽ Puck Like a Girl by Wynter Ryan

So Not My Mr. Wright by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.25/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Professor x student

➮ Age gap

➮ Fake dating

Synopsis

Fake-dating my hunky professor was not part of my story. He’s an older single dad. I vowed that for once, I’d become the heroine of my own fairytale. I drove my hot neighbor’s classic Cadillac into a cement barrier. It was accidental, but Micah didn’t agree. To avoid jail, I agreed to play his girlfriend while his family’s in town. That sounded harmless until I arrived at my neuroscience class and he was the teacher. Now I’m stuck in a faux relationship with my professor. I spend my days getting butterflies during his office hours, swooning over his cooking abilities, and feeling protective of his adorable son. A relationship between us is strictly forbidden by school rules. I feel guilty riding in his car, let alone sipping merlot with him. When flirting leads to kisses, we both know the situation is dangerous

Best Quote From the Book

“'You stormed the castle on the hill.' 'Stormed might not be the right word. With the shape that old car is in, it was more like I puttered up the road and hoped to reach the castle without having to hitchhike.'"

My Thoughts

This book was a very solid and sweet romance with some taboo elements. It is completely clean and wholesome. Evie Sterling is a master at creating sweet clean romances and this book is no exception. It is funny, authentic, gratifying, and very easy to read. The shorter nature of this book made it fly by easily. 

For the most part, their 16-year age gap shockingly didn't bother me that much. That said, when they were confronted with the consequences of their choices, the age gap and their professor-student relationship did feel a bit uncomfortable. They claim to be people who are trying to go about this ethically but barely consider that their power dynamic is not at all balanced and never will be. 

This book has amazing and adorable autistic representation through Micah's son. Sebastian is on the high-functioning end of the spectrum but never once does the book push away his autistic traits. Micah always wants to do his best for his son and make him as comfortable and accommodating as he can. It also portrays how people can have very different reactions to a child with autism and how that can lead to some very complicated and murky relationships. Having a brutally honest autistic character like Sebastian also propelled the story quite well. He was completely truthful about what he saw and felt which helped bring things to light for Clare and Micah. I loved this positive and realistic but not forceful example of autistic rep. I love seeing more and more books that include neurodivergent representation without expecting brownie points for it.

They hit their stride as a fake couple almost seamlessly. I loved seeing them play house together and just, fit. They naturally played well into each other's lives and stories. Especially with Sebastian in the mix, they got along quite well. The trust they built and how they meshed together was so sweet to see. 

I feel like their story didn't hit quite the way I wanted it to because the repercussions were shockingly minimal in the long run. People who would care suddenly and conveniently didn't care anymore. They didn't have to struggle with the taboo of their relationship for all that long at all. It was just boom, it's all okay, happily ever after. There was a lot of rising action and conflict with no crescendo. 

Overall if you are looking for a cute and sweet age-gap romance book with a cute kid, this is the book for you. I would've loved a bit more from the conflict inherent in the story. Even so, the characters and funny moments easily make up for it

I received this book as part of a haylingsbookstorm arc and street team. My review is honest and voluntary

February 2024 Reads

  February 2024 Reads 

This month I read 10 books 

These books were 90% fiction

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and young adult

My average rating was 3.73 stars

The Books

➽ Chasing Waves by Dani Hart

➽ Something Lost by Erin FitzGerald

➽ Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

➽ The Anatomy of Matchmaking by Evie Sterling

➽ Digging Up Love With the Sheriff by Evie Sterling

➽ Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

➽ Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

➽ Something Broken by Erin FitzGerald

➽ Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin

➽ Game, Set, Matchmaker by Evie Sterling

Game, Set, Matchmaker by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Matchmaker

➮ Best friend's brother

➮ Second chance

➮ Dual POV

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Opposites attract

➮ Small town

Synopsis

Game, Set, Matchmaker is a second-chance, opposites-attract, clean romance featuring a perfectionist heroine and her bad-boy ex who's actually super sweet. This book follows their happily ever after including a basket of kittens, leaf peeping, and the swoony feeling of falling in love with a perfect match.

Best Quote From the Book

“How do you leave a postcard-worthy town, Parker Manning, apple pie, and kittens? Not easily. Not happily."

My Thoughts

I was surprised that, unlike The Anatomy of Matchmaking, this book actually includes evidence that Gemma has matchmaking skills. I liked that this book showed her passion for matchmaking instead of just telling about it and not actually including much of it at all. 

The concept for the book is very similar to The Soulmate Equation and a few other science romances. It's all about how love can be boiled down into an equation or a formula. Thankfully as this book goes on, it is shown that love is more than that. 

I would say the style of this book is more like The Anatomy of Matchmaking than Digging Up Love With the Sheriff. With a strong small-town vibe and a greater focus on other characters in the story helping to push forward the plot. 

The setting for this book was absolutely immaculate. The small-town vibe felt very realistic and connected. As a person currently living in a small town, I can confirm that once you are connected to the town you know a lot of the people in it, or at least know somebody who knows somebody. The other people in the town had just the right amount of meddling and honesty to help push Gemma and Parker together without forcing anything. 

My biggest complaint is that for a good portion of the book, the majority of Gemma's personality is her obsession with her Perfect Match program and looking exclusively at the numbers. I would've loved to see more about her other passions, interests, or even just varied facets of her personality. 

I absolutely love Gemma and Parker's dynamic. Parker's character is an excellent laid-back contrast to Gemma's uptight nature. They balance each other out and play well together. I love seeing Parker tease her and get her to come out of her shell and let loose.

I would've loved to have seen the last portion of the book be expanded a bit. From the beginning, the book has a relatively slow pace. The last 15% of the book feels very packed together and lacks depth. That 15% includes the majority of the plot and action of the book so I wish there was more detail about it. 

As is the case with all of Evie Sterling's romances, there is absolutely no spice.

In sum, I recommend this book to fans of small-town, second-chance romances with no spice. The characters are interesting, the plot is entertaining, and the relationship dynamics make the reader feel like they are watching it all unfold in front of their eyes.

I received this book as part of a release team. My review is honest and voluntary.

Digging Up Love With the Sheriff by Evie Sterling Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Opposites Attract

➮ Small-town romance

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

The new sheriff in town Rory McEvoy ends up meeting the town historian Constance Chaplain because a set of deer bones in Constance's museum go missing. These bones end up mixed together with a human skeleton. This quickly makes Constance a top suspect. Constance has to earn the trust of Rory to try to get her bones back. While they cross paths, they realize they act differently around each other than anyone else.

Best Quote From the Book

“Her eyes alight and... is that a smile on her face? Couldn't be. I must be imagining the upturned corners of her mouth. But to be honest, I like the thought of making her smile way more than I should."

My Thoughts

I will admit this review will probably be a bit on the shorter side for my blog because this book was such a quick and easy read. It is less than 200 pages in total so not too much happens in it. 

This book uses a lot of language that really gives it a happy quirky vibe. Some of my favorites of these words include kerfuffled, chutzpah, and chargin. That coupled with such a wacky mystery to unsolve, it was an easy read that made me laugh and smile. It gave me that comforting mystery vibe of watching Scooby Doo when I was a kid.

If any of you have watched the TV series Bones, I can say that Constance highly reminds me of Temperance Brennan from that series. They are both quite straightforward and value their jobs over most other things. I absolutely adore that show and that character so I especially admire Constance for that reason. 

If you have seen my review of Evie Sterling's other recent release Anatomy of Matchmaking, I will note this book has a very different tone, vibe, and even writing style. I have to applaud Evie Sterling for her ability to write such varied but good clean romance stories that are engaging, fast-paced, and fun to read. 

I received this book as part of Evie Sterling's street team and got access to it as an arc. My review is honest and voluntary.