Something Gained by Erin Fitzgerald Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Age gap

➮ Friends to lovers

➮ Single mom

➮ Reverse grumpy x sunshine

➮ Cinnamon roll MMC

Synopsis

My plans and dreams have been put aside in favor of survival. The cowboy who finds me walking home offers me a ride and food. He has demons of his own, stating he doesn't expect repayment as he understands the struggle. When my son and I are in danger, Jacob provides us shelter. Both of us are hiding dark pasts. After a lifetime of feeling like I'm not enough, the thought of not being enough for him scares me the most.

Best Quote From the Book

“With a little effort, I could pour all the anger, mistrust, and hurt into the snow to leave behind."

My Thoughts

The magic is back! I love the callbacks to the characters in the previous books. They still give Mark flack for how protective he is of Lana which was well-deserved. Both Jacob and Emily go to Ashley for therapy which is cute and very fitting. Fitzgerald is excellent and weaving the stories of characters together without making an overly complicated web. Not everyone has to know everyone incredibly well and she does this perfectly! That said, I would've loved to see at least a little cameo from Travis, not just Ashley.

I loved the character of an ass-grabbing old lady so much. There were truly moments where her boldness made me chuckle. She is one of a few side characters that bring a little bit of light to a much heavier story. Their inclusion is much needed. 

I will say, Erin... I hate you a little for killing off the cutie horse. That poor baby did nothing to deserve that pain and suffering. At least it actually propelled the story forward and gave Jacob the push he needed to confront his feelings. 

This story is absolutely filled to the brim with heartbreak and teary-eyed moments. I definitely sobbed more than a few times with all they went through. The trauma was so authentic. I am unbelievably amazed at Fitzgerald's ability to express raw and deep emotion through her storytelling. The way they had to work through it all and the setbacks they endured are very reflective of the real lives of people who went through challenging times. Fitzgerald creates characters with deep deep trauma and then actually makes them put in the work to grow and move on towards happiness. There is no fast-forwarding through Jacob and Emily's respective traumas, they confront it for the long term. 

By the end, I was incredibly happy for Emily's son Riley. He went through so much so young and he came out at the end all the better. The bond he creates with Jacob is so heart-warming and gave me the warm fuzzies. I really appreciate how while Emily is a single mom, she isn't desperate or trying to fling her responsibilities onto someone else. Riley isn't just a character that is there to be there. He gives depth and significance to the bond between Emily and Jacob. 

This book has some open-door spice. It does contribute to the plot and how the characters are growing. That said, it can probably be skipped without missing all too much. 

Overall this was another incredible cowboy romance. The characters and depth of the story are by far the best aspects. I loved the cameos from the characters in the earlier books. I highly advise looking at the trigger warnings before reading this book because there are many that can be very raw and deep for those with similar experiences. 

I received this book as an arc and am part of the author's arc team. My review is honest and voluntary

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

The Trouble With Love and Ink by Harriet Ashford Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Fake dating

➮ Slow burn

➮ Office romance

Synopsis

Emily Lane was supposed to be on vacation but is instead meeting a new hire who steals the position meant for her. Needing an escape, Emily takes on her sister's calligraphy company, which fits her skills quite well. The only caveat to this arrangement is that she has to pretend to be her sister. This was all going well until she discovered her client's brother was Beckett Atteridge, the office promotion thief. He will keep her identity secret on one condition: she is his fake date at the wedding in Costa Rica. As lines are blurred between real and fake, the vacation will either become as escape or a heartbreak. 

Best Quote From the Book

“But when [my pen] finally connected with the page, that's when the magic happened. Heavy strokes going down followed by the lightest of up strokes. It reminded me of  following music in choir. Every downstroke belted a proud fortissimo, and every upstroke sang a delicate, hushed pianissimo."

LGBTQ+ Representation

3/5 🌈

While not at all prominent in the story, there is a small mention of a gay couple amongst the bridal party. They are portrayed as very fun and kind. Everyone is totally chill and accepting of it. 

My Thoughts

I am shocked with how I genuinely have nothing negative to say about this book. There is always at least one thing I can critique in all of my reviews. That will not be happening here. This book is absolutely wonderful from cover to cover. 

From literally the second page, I was completely hooked on the story. It was nearly impossible to put down, I took every stolen minute to read the book, even standing in line at the store. For a debut novel, this book blew it out of the water completely! 

Ashford's writing style is naturally very witty. At times that can end up being rather grating, but not here. It just feels very natural and easily funny. There were so many moments I was legitimately laughing at this book. I kind of felt like a teenage schoolgirl giggling and kicking my feet at their dynamic and romance. There is one funny moment that involves aggressively floating that I want to shout out as a moment to look out for. The humor was exactly the kind I like with lots of inside jokes and references to each other. 

Both Emily and Beck are such endearing characters. Emily and I have a passion for calligraphy and letting. Having that in common with the FMC just added even more value to the story. I will also give a lot of love to Beck for his character design, meaningful tattoos, and casual elegance. We all have to appreciate a man who knows how to dress well and doesn't make a huge deal out of it. 

Ashford gives a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle nods to her home state of Texas. This includes Buc-ee's among other Texas staples. I admire how she puts herself into her book without literally just basing the FMC entirely on herself. It can be a difficult balance to incorporate special author's touches without making it overly personal. Especially for a debut novel, this line was totally respected.

I will note this book has a few spicy scenes, they are open-door. Don't bother skipping them; they add so much to the plot and give another peek into the characters. If you are uncomfortable with any spice, this book is one to skip. 

I am absolutely ecstatic that this book has a nearly non-ruined vacation. They don't have to run away entirely due to tragedy. They actually communicate and address things as they come up in a very supportive way. 

This was an absolutely smashing debut novel. This was the easiest 5-star I've given in years. Zero complaints. Go, run, and preorder this book so that you experience the magic and humor that is Emily and Beck. This hidden gem deserves to become a bestseller ASAP!

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

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

2.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Black and grey morality

➮ Book about books

➮ Unreliable narrator

Synopsis

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars, but Athena’s a literary darling, and June didn’t get a paperback release. When June witnesses Athena’s death, she acts on impulse and she steals Athena’s experimental novel about the contributions of Chinese laborers to the British and French war efforts during WWI. So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song including an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this story deserve to be told, whoever the teller is? June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, but evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. 

Best Quote From the Book

“Reading lets us live in someone else’s shoes. Literature builds bridges; it makes our world larger, not smaller."

LGBTQ+ Representation

2/5 🌈

Athena is referred to as vaguely queer. I want to iterate that this is a completely valid identity and does not take away from the LGBTQ+ community so no negativity is needed. I would've loved to see this aspect of her character come into play more throughout the story. 

My Thoughts

This book is the cornerstone of the unreliable narrator trope. June is incredibly delusional and cannot be trusted. As the story progresses, she goes further and further off the deep end. It got to the point I could hardly stand to finish the book. June is just so insufferable the important message of the book just falls by the wayside as I was blinded by my distaste for her character. I acknowledge that June is not supposed to be likable, but rarely do I feel prickly about and character and June hit that mark. 

This book takes a powerful stance in terms of the state of the literary world and the inherent racism within it. I admire Kuang's strength it took to express such a bold viewpoint. That said, it did feel like Kuang made this book overly personal. It morphed into a misguided perspective on racism in the form of self-insert fanfiction. A lot of the criticism of Kuang's other works is thrown into the narrative of this one. 

I went into this book as blindly as I could given this book's popularity. In a way, I wish I hadn't. This book would've had more value to me if while reading it I was taking it as more of a literary commentary instead of a narrative. My perspective while reading definitely negatively impacted my rating of the book because my ratings are based almost purely on my enjoyment while reading. 

Overall, if this book lost its last portion where June becomes insane in her delusions to the point of neuroticism, this story would be a lot easier to get through and still get the message. I highly respect this book for its commentary aspects, especially in terms of what would slide in the publishing industry as it stands today. I recommend reading it for those involved in the publishing industry or highly interested in it. If that is not you, the annoyance you will feel while reading is not worth the hype.

Love on the Scottish Spring Isle by Beatrice Bradshaw Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Runaway bride

➮ Dual POV

➮ International romance

➮ Travel romance

➮ Forced proximity

Synopsis

April is a runaway bride who escapes to a Scottish Isle. When she is there she runs into Euan MacLeod, a Scottish surf instructor, bartender, and infamous womanizer with a long streak of one-night-stands. Yearning for a chance at freedom April wants one of his one-night-stands. But Euan has to risk more than his beloved camper van. Will their vacation fling become an anchoring love?

Best Quote From the Book

“He kissed her hair. It was the color of  Saorsa's sand, her eyes the color of the ocean. She looked and tasted as if she were made of this isle. The place he loved most in all the world."

LGBTQ+ Representation

4/5 🌈

This book has a lot of wonderful LGBTQ+ representation sprinkled throughout the end portion of the book. I noticed a non-binary best friend, an advertisement with two fathers, and an old lesbian couple. All of these instances of representation were brought up casually and positively. 

My Thoughts

This book has an absolutely beautiful setting! I want to visit that island and see all of the amazing scenery in the book. I am impressed with how well Bradshaw wove the scenery seamlessly into the story. She is linguistically talented for this reason alone. 

My second favorite part of this book after the setting is how this book allows both main characters to grow on their own. In so many romance books the love interests only grow in the presence of the other person or do not grow at all. April and Euan learn and decide how they want their lives to proceed separately from one another. I want to see more of this!

There was one part that I did find a tad bit cringy. This is a personal grievance/ick of mine that I did not realize I had until now. April referred to Euan's butt as his peach emoji. I feel like especially in a book with spice, we are all adults here and can call body parts by their proper names.

The nicknames they both gave each other were so fun and clever. It reminded me of all of the various nicknames I have given my friends over the years. Their banter overall was quite good and funny to read.

During my reading experience, I was reading this book with a thunderstorm outside as I got to the scene with a thunderstorm. I can say this highly elevated my reading journey. It was so vibey and cool to feel extra connected to the book. I already felt connected to the setting through the writing, this just took it to another level. If you happen to be able to have the same experience, you will understand. 

I will note this book has multiple explicit sex scenes. The author has stated that she is a big advocate for sexual liberation and conveys such in her books. That said, these scenes can be skipped without missing too much plot if spicy scenes are not your cup of tea.  There is also a spicy bonus chapter available for anyone who enjoys that content. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The setting is immersive and gorgeous above all else. April and Euan's banter is amusing and flows well. Both April and Euan grow on their own which adds a lot of value to their commitment. I cannot wait to dive into future books by Beatrice Bradshaw. 

I received this book as an arc from Book Sirens. My review is honest and voluntary

Crushing on the Grumpy Best Man by Lila Marlow

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.25/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Grumpy x sunshine

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Opposites attract

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

In an attempt to make peace, Max Waltons invites Jessa on a cruise back to Europe after her best friend and his brother's wedding. At the wedding, they butt heads a lot. Now that they are stuck on a cruise together, will they be able to play house and get along?

My Thoughts

This book is pretty much the definition of short and sweet. It is naturally very fast-paced. I enjoyed a fun vacationy read to get me in the warm weather mood. I would've loved to see the book slow down the pace a bit. 

It really felt like the characters barely knew each other and were suddenly in love. Readers don't get to know the characters all that much beyond their attraction. Particularly, I would've liked to see more of them before the wedding. Perhaps the other books in the series would help with that.

My favorite part of this book by far is all of the scenes where they have to play house with Emil. The little one is just so cute and sweet. He propelled the plot a lot simply by existing. 

I am a bit sad that the ruined vacation trope happened again in this book. This is really just my request for people to be able to have a nice vacation in a book. That said, I will forgive it this time because this book did need the conflict. I liked how the conflict was handled. 

Overall if you want a short, sweet, lighthearted, and vacationy read, this book is for you. It is a spice-free enemies-to-lovers story. I would've liked to see it be a tad bit longer but I appreciate that it trims out unnecessary parts of the story. 

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

2024 Quarter 1 Stats

 

2024 Quarter 1 Stats 

So far I have read 30 books

I have read 5,616 pages

I have listened to 130.55 hours of audiobooks

My most prevalent moods are emotional, funny, and tense

I have read 29% fast-paced, 59% medium-paced, and 12% slow-paced

I have read 97% fiction and 3% non-fiction

My most popular genres are romance, contemporary, and thriller

I have read 53% digital, 37% audio, and 10% physical

My average rating is 3.91 stars

November 2023 Reads

  November 2023 Reads 

This month I read 4 books 

These books were 100% fiction

The most popular genres were contemporary, LGBTQ+, and young adult

My average rating was 4.69 stars

The Books

➽ The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

➽ A Fabumouse Vacation for Geronimo by Geronimo Stilton

➽ The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

➽ People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

March 2024 Reads

 March 2024 Reads 

This month I read 12 books 

These books were 100% fiction

The most popular genres were romance, thriller, and literary

My average rating was 3.92 stars

The Books

➽ S.T.A.G.S by M.A. Bennett

➽ Hour of the Olympics (Magic Tree House #16) by Mary Pope Osborne

➽ The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

➽ Lege et Lacrima by Alina Comsa

➽ Bunny Hunting by H.N. DeFore

➽ Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg

➽ None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

➽ Catching Feelings by Maren Moore

➽ The Heart to Seek Part I by Sushidren Jayasingham

➽ Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

➽ The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton

➽ Crushing on the Grumpy Best Man by Lila Marlow

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

The Heart To Seek Part I by Shushindren Jayasingham Review

* This review is spoiler-free *

3/5 ⭐

Synopsis

Creerloshin starts a journey to discover true love and kindness. In this journey, he meets 24 different women who all shape his life. How will he grow and learn about love? What will these women teach him? This book is inspired by true events.

LGBTQ+ Representation

0/5 🌈

Admittedly if anything, this book is a bit transphobic and doesn't accept the concept of there being more than two genders. I cannot say anything about the author's personal beliefs but I did think it was worth pointing out.

My Thoughts

The first thing that struck me about this story is the very poetic and thoughtful writing style. It felt like the narrator was wistfully sitting down to have a chat about how the loves in his life have gone so far. It was quite natural and reminiscent. 

Readers can clearly see the desperation in the narrator's perspective demonstrates the high value he places on love. From the beginning to the end, so much thought and contemplation is made about every relationship Creerloshin has had. 

That said the overanalyzing of every relationship he has ever had with women was a bit jarring. He seems to assess every female he meets as a potential wife. While likely unintentional, there are some parts of the book that read rather arrogant and borderline narcissistic. These women are people of their own and just because they talk to you doesn't mean they are suddenly potential wives. I would've loved to see greater acknowledgment of the importance of platonic love in friendship. For a book that places so much value on love, the different kinds of love often fall by the wayside. 

One part of this story that rubbed me the wrong way is the insinuation that there are only two genders. I realize that it was an off-handed line, but it felt very unnecessary and out of place to what was happening in the story at the time. I was tempted to take off an additional star just for this factor but decided that was a bit harsh. 

This book has absolutely zero dialogue. The author said this was a deliberate choice to respect the privacy of people's conversations. Due to this lack of dialogue, the point of view and perspective is quite one-sided. I would've loved to see more from the women's perspectives. How did they feel when getting to know Creerloshin? Were their feelings anywhere near the level of his?

This book does an excellent job of expressing the feelings associated with the rise and fall of falling in love. When Ceerloshin fumbles his relationships, a lot of depth and care is shown as to why it all went wrong. From the elation to the heartbreak, this book dives into it all.

This book inspires readers to take an in-depth look at their own relationships and what makes them thrive or fail. In the journey of searching for those who we love and who love us in return, it would be a good idea to take a page from Creerloshin's book.

Overall this book is excellent for those looking for a book that dives into what it means to love and be loved. This book sometimes comes off a bit concerning with stalking behavior or overall arrogance, so do keep that in mind. 

Catching Feelings by Maren Moore Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Roommates to lovers

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Found family

➮ Sports romance

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

After an "accidental" hook-up, Viv is distressed to learn that she is stuck with Reese Laundry. Reese is the All-Star Catcher at Orleans University. He is rich, handsome, connected, and charming. Viv is the only girl on campus that doesn't fall at his feet. With an unfortunate curveball in life, Viv and Reese become roommates. As they get to know each other better, maybe Reese isn't so bad?

Best Quote From the Book

“I don't get what the big deal is. Everyone's so annoyed that I am being an over-the-top cat daddy, but I can't help it that I love her. I'm a proud helicopter cat dad."

My Thoughts

This book opens up with an absolutely fantastic playlist! It has songs for everyone from pop-punk to Taylor Swift. While this book isn't about music, the songs in the playlist are actually relevant to the story. It's been a while since I saw a story with a good playlist so it was a pleasant surprise when I opened the story. 

I love the combination of a writer FMC and a baseball player MMC. They naturally go together quite well and do what they can to support the other's passion. Reese's sister is also a huge reader so I love the representation of girls bonding over books. 

As a huge sucker for good banter, this book left me very satisfied. Reese and Viv's teasing felt very natural and funny. There is an inherent level of comfort in their quips that demonstrates how well the characters play off of each other. You can tell Moore took a lot of time and care to explore the dynamics of the relationships between all of the characters.

The found family in this book are all so supportive of each other and show up when they need to. Their trust and bond propel the growth in the book.

Honestly, there is almost nothing I would change about this book. The only thing I wish was different is their wonderful vacation getting quickly cut short. One of my least favorite romance tropes is when the main characters are finally having a nice time together and something comes along to quickly end their happiness. I would love to see a book with a fully played-out nice vacation, date, trip, experience, etc.

This story is absolutely spicy and is not the book for those who aren't into spice. The spice genuinely contributes to the plot and helps the story move along so I wouldn't recommend skipping it. There are also some truly funny spicy moments (all I will say is body wash, if you know you know).

In sum, I really enjoyed this book and it was an easy 5-star. Do I think it will be a book I remember forever and ever? Probably not, but at least in the short term, I found it quite excellent and well-balanced. I particularly love the character dynamics and how they shape the plot. It wasn't just that plot points were thrown onto the characters, they were actually navigating various changes.

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

Lege et Lacrima by Alina Comsa Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Small-town romance

➮ Chosen family

➮ Strangers to lovers

➮ Dual POV

➮ Instalove

Synopsis

When Lalah finds her boyfriend in bed with another woman, she knows she has to absolutely change her life. After years of being a nomad, Lalah settles in the town of Lost Hope.  After a snowstorm, Cole and his family end up on her doorstep. The knight in shining tattoos brings his two step sisters with him as they begin to warm her heart once again. Cole makes fighting Lalah's demons his new mission. 

Best Quote From the Book

“Reading was my escape, my safe place, my protective cocoon."

LGBTQ+ Representation

2/5 🌈

Cole's little brother Blake is bisexual. This is briefly mentioned in the story and is totally accepted. Blake is not properly out at the time of the book but it is implied he has some sort of relationship with a man. 

Cole is totally supportive and is simply happy if Blake is happy. The reason this rating is not higher is because that part of his character was set up as if more would be done with it but it simply never happens. Blake does not have a book of his own planned but it does seem like things were set up with that possibility in mind. Until he gets to properly explore his bisexuality, this rating will not be higher. 

My Thoughts

When I discovered that Lalah is a reader girlie, I started to love her character. She is confident and knows what she wants. A lot of what she wants is to read in peace and avoid people. I find that dream highly relatable. When she creates her dream house, I want to steal it. I will gladly take that state-of-the-art security system and that beautiful giant library. I'm pretty sure anyone reading this review would also love that.

This book seems like it is trying a bit too hard to set up the plot and establish the characters for the entirety of the rest of the series. As a result, trying to learn about every single character relevant to the town is a lot for readers to process. It's okay to not know the characters in book five all the way from book one. Readers are confronted with a lot of backstories and a spider web of relationships to shift through. Even in a small town, not every person in town will be connected to one another directly. I would've loved to see the web built out over the course of the series instead of being aggressively peppered in throughout the first book. 

I was shocked to see how happy I was with Lalah and Cole's instalove attitude. It was quite funny during many different moments. Including the extreme caveman energy of many of the guys in town. 

Admittedly I don't really get the heavy inclusion of Latin in the story. It threw me off a bit initially because I've never seen another story employ Latin in that way. 

This book in total is over 500 pages. Surprisingly I don't think those pages were wasted. The entire book was truly filled with plot and character-building. That said, I would've loved to see it trimmed down at least 100 pages. Perhaps that is mostly due to my short attention span. 

The found and thrown-together family works incredibly well together. I love seeing the girls interact, Blake's funny moments, and how naturally Lalah lets Cole's family into her life. It truly seems like they were all destined to have a life as a family. They chose each other and supported one another in a very powerful way. 

Please do keep in mind this book does have a decent amount of spice. It would be difficult to skip so I do not recommend this book to those not interested in or uncomfortable with spice. In addition, please review the trigger warnings before diving into this book because it does cover some heavier topics. 

Overall I quite enjoyed reading this story. The fond family, funny bonds, and host of solid characters make it stand out. Going forward, I hope the rest of the series is slower to introduce new characters.

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

S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ YA thriller

➮ Isolated

➮ Estate

➮ Cult

Synopsis

Greer MacDonald has just started as a scholarship student at the exclusive St. Aidan the Great boarding school, known as STAGS. STAGS is a place where the new is avoided. The school is run by a group of students known as the Medivals. Greer is given an invitation to spend an illustrious weekend retreat by the head of the Midevals. The weekend is known as the weekend of huntin' shootin' fishin'. As the weekend begins, it is apparent that beyond the luxurious trappings, predators are lurking, and they're out for blood.

 

Best Quote From the Book

“ 'The hunter…became the hunted,' she translated haltingly. 'The hounds…were struck with a wolf’s frenzy…and tore him to pieces as they would a stag.' "

My Thoughts

This book is absolutely a thriller, but in the end, it is not too scary. Any acts of violence or moments of stark fear are not described in too much detail. In addition, this book is a young-adult thriller which means it is not too gorey or addresses any overly adult topics.

If you are a fan of many different films, you will unexpectedly enjoy this book. There are a ton of film references all throughout that cover all different genres of film. I found it quite rewarding when there was a reference to a film I had seen. It was like an additional treat to add to my reading experience.

At times the narrator becomes a bit too self-aware and breaks the fourth wall frequently, to the point of addressing the readers directly. For some readers, I know this can be a non-starter. While that is not my preference for books, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. I think instead of coming off as overly annoying, it felt like it was the narrator bringing it back to focus that she is looking back on what happened and telling her story about it. 

I found the entire story incredibly thrilling and hard to put down. Lately, I have been missing the feeling of getting totally lost in a book and rarely checking the page count. I actually put off reading other books with a higher obligation for me to read them in exchange for finishing this book over the weekend. Each time I would check the page count, a good chunk of the book passed. This feeling is great evidence of how naturally engaging this book is. 

I did not know this while reading, but I discovered this book is actually the first in a 5 book series. I did notice that it was totally open for a squeal but I don't love that the plot takes 5 books to wrap up. I think I might keep it as an open-ended standalone because I am not necessarily interested in following another narrator tackling the same issues. 

This book is full of entirely morally grey characters. Even the allegedly good and bad guys are a mix of both. Bennett does an excellent job of portraying how what is right and just is often very complicated. Even decidedly evil people can have positive characteristics. Many times throughout the book right and wrong are questioned. Is the natural order better or a more modern revolution. This debate is part of what catapulted this book to a 5-star for me. I like how even with a reliable narrator, Greer was never entirely in the right or entirely innocent. 

The book plays with modern vs ancient ideals very well. The school is strongly on the side of minimizing modern influence. This is shown to have benefits for all of the staff and students living more in the moment and not losing hours a day to social media. The main trio at the center of this book are more connected to the modern world than the rest of the student body. They show how modern technology in moderation can alter the course of their lives for better and for worse. It gave me a lot to think about in terms of how I want technology to be a part of my current life. Obviously, I like social media for running this blog and my bookstagram, but I had actually been almost entirely off of social media for months prior to starting this project. I have a lot to contemplate in the coming weeks thanks to this book. 

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and highly enjoyed the unique perspective of a group of students who dress and act like priests. That said, I would not classify this book as having religious theming. I highly recommend this book to those who like a medium-paced thriller that isn't too dark. 

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.

Something Broken by Erin FitzGerald Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Best friend's brother

➮ Small-town 

➮ Cowboy

➮  Second chance

➮ Single dad

➮ Only one bed

➮ It's always been you

➮  Dual POV

Synopsis

His sister's best friend wasn't supposed to upend his life. Ashley was a thunderbolt compared to Travis' slow ranch attitude. He quickly fell for her when they met years ago. After a foolish choice, he lost her for decades. His sister orchestrates them a second chance. Will they be able to reconnect?

Best Quote From the Book

“We'd always had this connection, something deep and emotional, a link from his heart to mine, and I'd thought I was going to die when he'd been the one to sever it"

LGBTQ+ Representation

3/5 🌈

There is a background character who is married to a gay partner. They play a minor role and have multiple lines. Their appearance is deemed completely normal and is portrayed in a positive light. 

My Thoughts

This book is the second in the Wolf Mountain Rancher series. This book follows the best friend and the brother of Lana from Something Lost. As such, the end result of this book is revealed in book one as well as a good bit of their journey. Even so, I found it worth reading. There were a lot of surprising caveats in Travis' point of view that helped differentiate it from the first book. In addition, reading the first book is not necessary to understand this one but there is a ton of character overlap. 

There were some rather skippable scenes because many of the days were quite repetitive. There were many instances discussing Ashley getting sad and drinking. I found myself skimming these scenes because they weren't very unique. I do understand that the reputation does demonstrate that Ashley was stuck in the cycle for a long time. 

This book goes back and forth in time a lot as the characters remember and address more of the past as the story progresses. I really appreciate that these time changes are clearly labeled throughout the chapter and at the beginning of the chapter. This clarity is highly beneficial to understanding the story. 

While I am not going to go into details to avoid spoilers, I want to shout out a hilarious scene to look out for. The scene with Ajmal and Travis was by far my favorite part of the entire book. I will be rereading that scene in the future.

At the end of the book, there is a completely adorable wedding scene. I loved seeing all of the family members interact and witness the squabbling. I absolutely had misty eyes by the end. It's impressive for a not-sad scene to incite some tears. 

I will note that there is some spice in this book. These scenes do not go into too much detail or depth. These scenes can be skipped without missing any important plot points. 

Overall, to my surprise, I felt there was still a lot to gain from this book after reading the first one. I would've liked it even more if it was a little less repetitive. There were a lot of emotional and funny scenes that help the reader see the depth and complexity of Travis and Ashley's relationship. This book was excellent at showing progress instead of telling. 

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