The Something Smutty Book Club by Erin FitzGerald Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Silly novella

➮ Found family

➮ HEA

Synopsis

The last thing anyone should have allowed Mathilda Cooper to do was start a book club. The town's librarian and notorious man fiend has made it her mission in life to find the smuttiest, filthiest books in print and the women attending are starting to wonder if it's entirely for shock value.

Every other Wednesday night, the women in the small community of the Wolf Mountain Ranchers meet to talk books--and listen to Mathilda run her mouth. Catch up with Emily, Genesis, Lana, Ashley, Jenna, Clara, Talia, and Morgan in this fun collection of Wednesday night revelations.

My Thoughts

This novella was just a further reminder of how in love I am with these characters and this series as a whole. While I am very sad to see it go, I am also so happy with how it was wrapped up. It truly did such an amazing job at helping the plotlines of the main characters and background characters feel settled. While I will always be down for more of this series, I am also quite happy with this as the series conclusion.

This was such a perfectly silly goofy good time seeing everyone in the town come together. I really applaud Erin for creating character relationships in a small town that are genuinely interwoven but didn't end up where every character somehow automatically knew every other character just because they are from the same area. I really can see all of these ladies having a fun time in a book club together and most of their men reaping the benefits of their reading materials content.

This paragraph is to Erin and only Erin, everyone else can scroll past. Erin, babes you did it again! You absolutely knocked it out of the park. I am always amazed at how I love your writing more and more with every single book. I would give this more than 5 stars if possible honestly.  Thank you for blessing us with such beautiful characters! You know I am a ride-or-die for your writing and will shout from the rooftops about how everyone needs to experience the magic in your stories. 

You absolutely need to read the rest of the series before picking this one up but when you do it will be so worth it. It truly felt like coming home and being wrapped in a warm hug. Even one page in, there were no punches pulled with the silliness. Coop will always be Coop (iykyk). So many moments in this book pulled at my heartstrings to see everyone growing older and settling into their lives. 

If it wasn't obvious from the title, this book does contain spicy content. If you aren't into that sort of thing this book isn't for you. 

I received this book as an arc from the author. My review is honest and voluntary

October 2024 Reads

October 2024 Reads 

This month I read 21 books 

These books were 95% fiction

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and mystery

My average rating was 4.38 stars

The Books

➽ Trouble in Love by Bindi Kennedy

➽ Daydream by Hannah Grace

➽ Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

➽ Time & Time Again by Chatham Greenfield

➽ Tips and Trysts by Rebecca Kinkade

➽ The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

➽ A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

➽ Check Please #1: Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu

➽ Puck Dirty to Me by Wynter Ryan

➽ Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

➽ Tag, You're Dead by Kathryn Foxfield

➽ The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets of Happy Living by Meik Wiking

➽ The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

➽ The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren

➽ Summoned by Shae Ruby

➽ Text Appeal by Kylie Scott

➽ Puck Me Better by Wynter Ryan

➽ Mr. Heartbreaker by Piper Rayne

➽ Love Sick by Cynthia A. Rodriguez

➽ Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

➽ Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Text Appeal by Kylie Scott Review

 

3.25/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Small town

➮ Fake dating

➮ Grumpy x sunshine

Synopsis

Romance author Riley always dreamed of living by the water. Within a day of landing in Port Stewart, she's getting calls and texts for some dude on her new number. Weird ones. Sad ones. Sexy ones. Ones that make her want to meet him. For curiosity's sake...if nothing else.

After years of being on-again-off-again with his high school sweetheart, Connor wants to move on. If only everyone in Port Stewart agreed. What he needs is to be seen with someone else. So when fate puts him in the path of the new girl who got his old number, faking it seems like the solution.

Spending time with him might be great research for Riley’s romance writing…if only she can keep her feelings in check. The more she gets to know him, the harder she’s falling. Can their serendipitous meeting turn into something real and true?

My Thoughts

I have a bit of mixed feelings about this one. It wasn't bad by any means, it was just incredibly unoriginal. Everything in this book has been done before many times over. Nothing makes it special or unique in any way. I really wanted something more from it. 

For a book called Text Appeal, I wanted a lot more text conversations. While there were some, I was really wanting more of them. The texting aspect is what inspired me to pick this one up in the first place so I was sad to see how lackluster it ended up being. I've seen other books include way more text conversations and more entertaining ones that weren't advertised in that way. 

All of this said it was a solid story. If you are looking for a predictable small-town fake dating romance, this one has you covered. The characters are nice enough and it checks all expected boxes. I just simply wanted more or at least something to make this story stand out more. I'll be honest here, in a week's time, I will not remember this one at all. That's okay! Not every read is going to be earth-shattering or life-altering. 

There was one element of the book that made me really pissed. This is a spoiler warning for the rest of this paragraph. He gave her fucking breakup oral. Who the actual hell does that and doesn't expect to be stomped in the face as a result? Riley then suddenly forgives him and commits to a man who is very much not ready to actually be in a relationship. It was so toxic and frankly gross. He leaves a toxic woman, only to become toxic himself. 

This book does have a few spicy scenes but they can be skipped without missing any plot. 

Overall, this book was incredibly basic but not terrible (minus the ending). If you are looking for a predictable read, I can recommend it. It isn't making any waves nor is it very impactful but not everyone is looking for that all the time. 

I received this book as an arc from Valentine PR. My review is honest and voluntary. 

Tips and Trysts by Rebecca Kinkade Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Definitely spicy (it's how it sends its message)

➮ So many piercings

➮ Old money politician MMC

➮ Sneaking around

➮ BIPOC author and FMC

Synopsis

Best Quote From the Book

“If I could suck my own d*ck, do you think I would be here right now?"

LGBTQ+ Representation

2/5 🌈

While the MCs are not queer overtly, they have all explored queerness in different ways. I can also almost guarantee they would all be very chill with it. 

My Thoughts

I truly never could've imagined how much I could enjoy a book with as much spice as this one has. Kinkade really puts the spicy scenes to use and uses them to tell a story with an important message. It really brings about discussions about racism, racial fetishization, bodily autonomy, privilege, and discrimination as a whole. The message was powerful and clear throughout. To blend that with such an entertaining story takes an incredible amount of skill I absolutely admire. 

The dialogue was so expertly employed. It was a perfect mix of sarcasm, directness, and funny moments. I have so many little notes of me just having a ball while reading. There were definitely had me quite literally clutching my non-existent pearls so prepare yourself for a wild ride if you decide to pick this one up. 

I am absolutely in love with Cora and Everett. Not gonna lie, they have definitely played a part in increasing my standards for people. They are both such dynamic and fascinating characters. At this point I find myself going about my day thinking "Cora would hate that" or "Everett would totally do that for her" etc. They live in my head! Honestly, for that reason alone this could definitely be called a 6-star. I can't wait to go back and read the first book in the series! 

My only complaint about this one is how often I had to bust out a dictionary. I would consider myself familiar with a variety of vocabulary, but this one threw me for a loop. If it were part of the dialogue it would make a bit more sense for the characters. As it stands as part of the descriptions. My consistent research took me out of the amazing story a bit. That said, I am always happy to learn new words so thank you for introducing them to me!

If the title and literally everything else about it didn't give it away this book is absolutely positively quite spicy. Unless you are a bit... special like I am, this is not the one to try if you are not a fan of spice. (I deal with spice for the sake of you all). 

I received this book as an arc from the author. My review is honest and voluntary.

2024 Quarter 3 Stats

 

2024 Quarter 3 Stats 

So far I have read 130 books

I have read 19,416 pages

I have listened to 529.57 hours of audiobooks

My most prevalent moods are emotional, lighthearted, and funny

I have read 26% fast-paced, 67% medium-paced, and 7% slow-paced

I have read 94% fiction and 6% non-fiction

My most popular genres are romance, contemporary, and LGBTQ+

I have read 44% digital, 45% audio, and 11% physical

My average rating is 4.16 stars

September 2024 Reads

 September 2024 Reads 

This month I read 19 books 

These books were 89% fiction

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

My average rating was 4.45 stars

The Books

➽ Mismatched by Anne Camlin

➽ Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

➽ Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

➽ More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

➽ Forward Progress by Lisa Suzanne

➽ Love in the Scottish Fall Forrest by Beatrice Bradshaw

➽ The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul

➽ Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

➽ How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis

➽ Something Saved by Erin FitzGerald

➽ Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood

➽ The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim

➽ Puck Me All Night Long by Wynter Ryan

➽ Delayed Penalty by Teagan Hunter

➽ Field Goal by Lisa Suzanne

➽ Rookie Mistake by Maren Moore

➽ Silver Fox Billionaire Boss by Evie Sterling

➽ The Club by Ellery Llyod

➽ The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard

Something Saved by Erin FitzGerald Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Single uncle

➮ Cowboy romance

➮ Small town

➮ Nanny romance

Synopsis

When Morgan shows up on my doorstep wearing a pencil skirt and heels, demanding she be allowed to interview for the position I posted for a nanny, I'm reasonably sure she's joking. The woman the kids take to immediately makes it plain straight away that she has no experience as a nanny, and I wonder what's the real backstory to the slightly familiar-looking woman who doesn't seem to legally exist. In my experience, women have secrets and it turns out Morgan is no exception. Something about her begins to glue the pieces back together. I'm exhausted, fighting to fill the financial holes my father's big dreams have created, and the truth is that my third-generation ranch is under threat from developers with deep pockets. The bigger problem? The kids Morgan is nannying aren't actually mine yet. Can I live with what she's hidden, or is it best for everyone if I just cut her loose?

My Thoughts

It is truly so devastating to me that this is the last full-length story in this series. I am truly so in love with all of the characters and their entangled stories. I am going to have to deal with the angst-neglect I feel until the spinoff series next year. (I'm not crying, you are!) But for real, this series will forever have a place in my heart, this story included. 

I am so happy Grant finally has his happy ending. He's had the short end of the stick for this entire series so Morgan was definitely what he needed. Their angst was exactly what I've come to expect from Erin. They are such a natural pairing and draw out the best in each other. It certainly isn't simple for them to reach their happy ending but that is what makes it have that incredibly rewarding feeling. 

If it wasn't for Erin, I still wouldn't be a fan of kids in books. Brandt and Amelia are both precious and entertaining respectively. They added some very necessary propulsion to the plot. Without them, this story wouldn't have been nearly as impactful. Seriously, if you don't like single-parent figures, this series may very well change your mind as it did mine. Also, I want to highlight how fun of a character Alberte is as well. She pairs so well with the kids and provides some much-needed comic relief. 

Of all the books in this series, this one really excels at having an intriguing intermingled A and B plot. It gave a more sitcom feeling in that way which I didn't notice in the other books. It was a nice twist to the style of the series thus far that kept things interesting. I love it when the MCs in romance books grow both together and apart.

My favorite scene in the book was definitely when Jenna showed up. It was the justice for Grant moment I was hoping for and made me giggle. 

This book was also riddled with many fun references to all sorts of things. I won't go into specifics so you can find them on your own but they certainly brought me joy

This upcoming novella to wrap up the series has me intrigued and I cannot wait for it. Also, the series following Ashley's brothers should be quite entertaining. Thank you Erin for continuing to keep us well-fed.

Psssst, Erin if you are reading this, I think Morgan's family could make an interesting series on their own. Is this me begging you to never stop writing? Maybe...

This book does contain open-door spice. It can probably be skipped without missing too much important content. 

Overall, I highly recommend this series as a whole. Not only is it written by a woman who has my heart, but it will keep you up reading with angst to die for. The characters have wonderfully rich backstories that truly impact who they are today. Now that the series is (mostly) concluded, you have zero excuses to not binge the whole thing!

Thank you Erin for the arc! Trust me, I have nothing to lie about how much I adore this series

Love in the Scottish Fall Forest by Beatrice Bradshaw Review

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Single dad

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Grumpy x sunshine

➮ Opposites attract

➮ Age gap

Synopsis

Gennie Rivers lives for the thrill, both on and off set. Her wildest stunt yet is a gig on a film set in Scotland. Nathan, hiding from a scandalous past as a pop star, is determined to protect his little daughter Abby from the spotlight at all costs. When financial troubles force the protective single dad to rent out his land, the last thing he needs is a daredevil disrupting his carefully constructed peace. Forced into close proximity at his rural estate, the grumpy Scot and the free spirit from LA can’t resist their magnetic attraction. With the ghosts of past hurt and betrayal lingering, they must decide if they’ll take the greatest leap of all – trusting each other. 

LGBTQ+ Representation

5/5 🌈

There were nice levels of inclusion of LGBTQ+ side characters. They are naturally woven into the story and being queer is a normal part of their identity just as any other trait would be. 

My Thoughts

This was definitely my favorite of the series. You can tell how Bradshaw has been honing her craft through the series and this is the beautiful result. It was a well-balanced story with enchanting characters. I quite enjoyed my time with it.

The one part of the book that wasn't my favorite is that there were almost too many beautiful descriptions. At times it felt a bit over-narrated. I'd love to see more moments of dialogue that are just purely the dialogue. 

I really appreciated how self-aware Gennie was throughout, especially at the beginning. It was refreshing to see a character who knows she needs character growth and knows how she feels in a clear way. Nathan is also pretty self-aware but not as strongly as she is. Also just having a strong FMC in general is something I will always appreciate. 

Speaking of lovely characters, this book definitely awakened a phase in me of enjoying funny/sweet children in books. Abby was such a delight and her unbridled optimism helped propel the plot when needed. Now I just want to read all of the single parent books I have (don't worry I am already getting this desire fulfilled). 

I want to applaud Bradshaw once again for including queer side characters in her stories. It is nice to see and is done in an artfully subtle way. As she mentioned to me, she doesn't want to appropriate stories but knows.

As always, the scenery throughout is so aptly described. It felt like I was there with the autumn leaves along with the characters (if only it were actually fall weather outside). This series has definitely made me want to plan a trip to Scotland to see the beauty for myself. 

Oh my gosh, the tension in this one was unmatched by the rest of the series. It had me absolutely eating it up! It was the perfect balance of will they won't they combined with moments of non-romantic bonding. 

I will keep this part brief to avoid spoilers but I need to note my favorite scene was by far when Gennie gave Daniel a piece of her mind. It was peak entertainment and wholeheartedly well-deserved. 

There is spice in this story so if that is not your thing, this is not the series for you. That said, the spice is much more artfully done than a lot of spice in romance books.  

I received this book as an arc from the author. My review is honest and voluntary

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Small town

➮ Practice partners

➮ Grumpy x sunshine

➮ He falls first

Synopsis

Annie wants to find her perfect match. Finding her dream man may be harder than she imagined. Annie starts to think the problem might be her. Maybe she only needs a little practice . . . and Annie has the perfect person in mind to be her tutor: Will.

Will the bodyguard is temporarily back in Rome, providing security for Amelia Rose as excitement builds for her upcoming marriage to Noah Walker, Annie’s brother. He has one personal objective while on the job: stay away from Annie and other attachments to this sleepy town.

Amid steamy practice dates and strictly “educational” tutoring lessons, Annie discovers there are more layers to Will’s usual stoic attitude. Maybe her love life doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be real.

Best Quote From the Book

“I am the quiet one in my family. The one with her nose always in a book because she prefers worlds where she doesn’t have to interact with other humans. It’s so much easier to read about relationships than to foster them. Less dangerous too."

My Thoughts

I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, When in Rome. You can find my review here. This one was even better which I didn't even know was possible! Both Annie and Will are just so perfect. We ALL need someone as supportive as Will in our lives. 

I have to give massive props to Adams for creating characters who always make each other grow and blossom into their best selves. It gives the essence of a real healthy relationship which is always refreshing to see. They felt like two flawed people who both had things to gain in the relationship. The way their character development was executed was particularly sweet and fantastically paced. There were also no stupid third-act breakups so that's a nice bonus. 

I am truly so in love with both Will and Annie. I absolutely would want to be friends with both of them because they seem like such genuinely nice and fun people to be around. They support each other's passions and feel nicely fleshed out. They both do small gestures that show how much they care. 

It was overall such an entertaining story. There were emotional moments, deep moments, steamy moments, funny moments, and ones that made readers smile. It strikes the perfect balance and hits all of the notes I want a romance book to hit. 

Also, I love that Annie and all of her sisters are romance reader girlies of different kinds. It was definitely a full-circle feeling that truly encompassed all that Annie had become. 

There are a few spicy scenes that contribute to character development so if you don't like spice this probably isn't the best book for you. If you do like spice, this spice was particularly fun!

Overall, I highly recommend this one! It was a well-balanced and entertaining read with many lovely elements. All of the characters are well-rounded and fun to read about.  

August 2024 Reads

August 2024 Reads 

This month I read 23 books (yes I know that's insane, many audiobooks helped)

These books were 95% fiction

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and literary

My average rating was 4.22 stars

The Books

➽ Puck Up and Dance by Wynter Ryan

➽ Too Hot To Handle by Tessa Bailey

➽ Fumbled by Lisa Suzanne

➽ Escape from Mr. Limoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

➽ Just Partners by Evie Sterling

➽ Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

➽ Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar

➽ Hooked by Emily McIntire

➽ Light 'em Up by Kelly Jamieson

➽ It's Raining Men by Dani Galliaro

➽ It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

➽ Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

➽ False Start by Lisa Suzanne

➽ Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly

➽ Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield

➽ Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

➽ Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

➽ The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord

➽ Fair Catch by Lisa Suzanne

➽ Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

➽ The Fine Print by Lauren Asher

➽ Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

➽ Big Hero Six: The Junior Novelization by The Walt Disney Company

Hooked by Emily McIntire Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Enemy's daughter

➮ Fairytale retelling

➮ Opposites attract

➮ Off limits

➮ Mistaken identity

➮ Grumpy x sunshine

➮ Dual POV

➮ Kidnapping

➮ Instalust

➮ Forbidden

➮ Mafia romance

Synopsis

James has always had one agenda: destroy his enemy, Peter. When Peter’s daughter Wendy shows up in James’s bar, he sees his way in. Seduce the girl and use her for his revenge. It’s the perfect plan, until things in James’s organization begin to crumble. Suddenly, he has to find the traitor in his midst, and his plan for revenge gets murkier as James starts to see Wendy as more than just a pawn in his game.

Wendy was hidden away most of her life by her wealthy cold father, but a spontaneous night out with friends turns into an intense and addictive love affair with the dark and brooding James. As much as she knows James is dangerous, Wendy can’t seem to shake her desire for him. But as their relationship grows, she learns more about the world he moves in, and she's unsure if she’s falling for James or Hook.

Best Quote From the Book

“Darling if I'm the dark, you're the stars."

My Thoughts

It took me a bit to really wrap up all of my thoughts and figure out a way to put them into words. For how dark this one was I am a bit surprised it is a five star but I truly cannot stop thinking about it and really want to continue the series. There is something about the pacing and nuggets of excitement in her writing that makes it really addictive. 

I also have to applaud the narrators for speaking with actual emotion and conviction when appropriate. Recently I've been listening to more audiobooks and wow there are a lot of lackluster narrators out there. The depth of emotion they can convey makes it quite engaging the whole time.

This twist on the original Peter Pan tale felt absolutely perfect. The modern setting with just enough nods to the original kept a lovely balance. I am also super happy to read a fairytale retelling that isn't fantasy. So so many retellings are fantasy and I don't like fantasy so I've always felt left out of an amazing concept. So thank you McIntire for letting us romance fans have a chance to experience it too!

I knew this was a dark romance booked but I was shocked by how quickly things took a very dark and violent turn. James' character is incredibly intense but it makes total sense. It fits really well into a modern-day villain. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I applaud McIntire for creating a multi-faceted villain character. Nobody is all good or all bad, we are all complex creatures. Wendy, James, and Peter strike an excellent balance between the good and bad elements of each of them. Their backstories are also fantastically deep without being overly confusing. 

It felt like the number of characters in total was quite well-balanced. There were a limited number of main characters but enough side characters to make the world feel full. That said, we aren't overintroduced to characters that play no part in the narrative. 

I will admit, the plot twist at the end originally made me a bit uncomfortable. I won't be explaining why to avoid spoilers but just know it isn't my favorite to be sure. For a spell, it was going to drag this star rating down just because of how much it initially made my skin crawl. After sitting with it for a while, I am happy to report that even with my distaste for it, it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book as a whole in a notable way. Just be prepared for some questionable moral decisions and shocking reveals. 

Please please please look up trigger warnings before reading as there are a lot. Personally, I know I wouldn't be able to stand this one if not for the sped-up audiobook due to the graphic and heavy nature of a lot of the subject matter. This book has some very spicy spice scenes so do not read if that isn't your thing. 

Overall, the writing as a whole is so well-done which is what sold me on this one being a five star for me. McIntire writes balanced worlds with flawed characters with emotional depth and the perfect balance of harking back to the original story. If I had to summarize this story simply, I would call it a beautiful nightmare. 

Light 'em Up by Kelly Jamieson Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.75/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Hockey romance

➮ Enemies to lovers

➮ Matchmaking

➮ One night stand

➮ Brother's rival

➮ Workplace romance

➮ Dual POV

Synopsis

Annie is thrilled to be working in professional hockey since her brothers are all players. Her new role as skating coach to the New York Bears is the perfect fit. Except one of the guys is Logan Coates—the guy who sent her brother to the hospital in a memorable game three seasons ago. She wants nothing to do with him.

Logan doesn't need some tiny figure skater telling him what to do. Although he's a fourth-liner, he wants more ice time. Learning from Annie Bang, who hates his guts. She’s a pint-sized badass, that's sexy as hell.

Best Quote From the Book

“Your cold hands aren't getting anywhere near my beefy baloney"... my man-sized manicotti... zipper sausage? How about love stick? Magic wand?"

My Thoughts

I adored this story for including a badass woman doing better than all of the men around her. Of course she's faster with less effort, that's how queens do it! But seriously, she's a FMC we can all look up to who knows her worth and doesn't take any flack from the boys. I love to see it. While she is a petite woman, she doesn't let that become her whole personality. She is also iconic for standing up for figure skating and getting some skin in the game. Overall she's a fun character who I would love to be friends with.

 

Speaking of iconic, Logan and Ivan are iconic for loving country music. I love seeing two strong men in sports unafraid to show their love for music which is often teased. I adore Ivan, he needs his own series just so he can be his amazing quippy self. Another character I would adore being friends with. This book does a great job of demonstrating a platonic relationship full of trust with physicality purely from the nature of figure skating. We need more really close best friends who really have no feelings for each other.

The only thing I wasn't fully in love with was how there were moments that highly promoted good communication amongst everyone but it felt like it wasn't as fleshed out as it could be. The moment everyone starts talking, it all gets resolved. In reality, I feel like there would be more pushback and would take more time to get there, especially for Logan and his father. 

This book seems to me like it would be fantastic adapted into a movie. I'd especially love to see Annie and Ivan's skating routine to the song Beggin' as I just know it would be incredible. Or all of the cute moments such as Logan's jealousy that I will not spoil despite how much I want to gush about them. 

I will say this book does include open-door spice and a good bit of it. That said, if you don't find that cumbersome, it can be skipped

Overall, this book does a great job with lovable characters with personalities, flaws, and complex character dynamics more indicative of real life than the average romance. It would be fantastic as a movie and was an engaging read from cover to cover.

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

July 2024 Reads

  July 2024 Reads 

This month I read 16 books 

These books were 94% fiction

The most popular genres were romance, contemporary, and sci-fi

My average rating was 3.95 stars

The Books

➽ Love on the Scottish Summer Coast by Beatrice Bradshaw

➽ Dishonestly Yours by Krista and Becca Ritchie

➽ Antidote by Shae Ruby

➽ The Second Wave by Krista Street

➽ Fake Dating My Billionaire Boss by Evie Sterling

➽ Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski

➽ Puck Me Baby One More Time by Wynter Ryan

➽ Compound 26 by Krista Street

➽ Christopher Robin: The Novelization by Elizabeth Rudnick

➽ Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

➽ The Baller by Lulu Moore

➽ Jellypie Firefly by Mareka Stake and A. Theresa Graham

➽ The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

➽ So Not My Romantic Getaway by Evie Sterling

➽ Life's Too Short by Darius Rucker

➽ The Little Things by Lena Duke

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

2024 Quarter 2 Stats

 

2024 Quarter 2 Stats 

So far I have read 68 books

I have read 12,318 pages

I have listened to 236.7 hours of audiobooks

My most prevalent moods are emotional, lighthearted, and funny

I have read 21% fast-paced, 71% medium-paced, and 8% slow-paced

I have read 95% fiction and 5% non-fiction

My most popular genres are romance, contemporary, and LGBTQ+

I have read 52% digital, 33% audio, and 15% physical

My average rating is 4.1 stars

Dishonestly Yours by Krista and Becca Ritchie Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

5/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Angsty

➮ Grumpy x grumpy

➮ If he can't have her no one can

➮ Best friend's brother

Synopsis

Phoebe grew up where deception and seduction are commonplace. The Graves and her best friend Hailey's family have been on the run their whole lives. After a high-stakes con goes south, Phoebe and Hailey decide to start over. The biggest flaw in their plan is Hailey's brother, Rocky, who insists on coming with them. Living honestly isn't in his DNA, and his past with Phoebe is messy. He's everything she wants, but nothing she can have. Phoebe worries that Rocky will tempt them into their old ways. She doesn't want him to mess up their new life. The longer she stays in town, the more she realizes what it means to have a reputation--and what a normal life with the man she loves could look like.

Best Quote From the Book

“If I fuck you, it won't be for power or for the money or for them. It'll be because I love you and every ounce of my being couldn't contain the love I have for you, no matter how much I should've."

LGBTQ+ Representation

4/5 🌈

There is some minor but included lesbian representation in this book. It is positively portrayed in a casual way. 

My Thoughts

Oh my goshhhhh! This book is INCREDIBLE. It is fighting for my top book of this year with The Trouble with Love and Ink. Super super easy 5-star to give! I've never read any books from these sisters before but that is clearly going to have to change. You already know I'm looking to their backlist to get holds at my local library. Please inject this story into my veins. Everything about this story is purely incredible and just what I needed. 

This book is super angsty, dark, and drama-filled and I am here for it. This book was in the trenches pulling me out of a potentially major slump. This story had the depth and action-packed elements I have been craving. This was a perfect start to reading a few stories on the darker end of things. 

This book absolutely flew by! I had to break it up into chunks due to being busy but I know I would've totally binged this if I were less busy. I totally ate it up and adored every moment. This factor is a good part of why I knew this gave me the 5-star feeling. 

I want to take a moment to just appreciate the strawberry motif throughout the story. It really humanized Phoebe and was a nice thing to continually circle back to. It felt like how someone actually passionate about something would have it as a small part of their life all of the time. 

Every single one of the characters in this book is fantastically written. They are all morally grey and create an interesting love-hate relationship with the reader. Even during conning moments, I am tempted to root for the characters. They are all just so addictive. I want to be in their inner circle (hopefully not by being conned lol). Not just Phoebe and Rocky, absolutely all of the kids and even the side characters and parents. Some of them are more devilish than others which made them even more appealing. Their various complicated relationship dynamics and inherent trust (or distrust) in one another made them perfect for the plot. There genuinely wasn't a character I didn't like. I really really want to see more from this group.

There were a ton of moments when I was genuinely laughing out loud and reading parts out loud to people I was around. The banter and quips the boys had in particular were especially amusing. The blend of humorous moments with more serious moments was totally perfect. If I ever write my own book, I hope I can achieve this balance. 

Speaking of wanting more, that cliffhanger at the end has me foaming at the mouth for this to become a major series and never end. I was shockingly satisfied with the answers that were given in the story versus the things that are still secret to perfectly set up for a continuation. I need more. Krista and Becca, I am begging for the next installment to come out as soon as possible because I need it. 

This book is definitely a dark romance. There are violent and graphic moments that may be triggering to some readers. There is also open door spice of various levels. If those are not your vibe, sadly this is not the book for you. 

If you couldn't tell from the extreme ranty length of this review, I adored it! I will probably skip the blub on Instagram for this one so I can squeeze in more review. If you can handle it, you need to read this. Just go, go get the book for yourself, it is worth every penny. 

I received this book as an arc from Valentine PR. This review is honest and voluntary

Love on the Scottish Summer Coast by Beatrice Bradshaw Review

* This review is spoiler-free *

4/5 ⭐

Tropes

➮ Second chance

➮ Grumpy x sunshine

➮ Forced proximity

➮ Childhood sweethearts

➮ Slow burn

➮ Sibling rivalry

➮ Miscommunication

Synopsis

Kirsty Munro unexpectedly returns to her Scottish hometown to run her parents' café, only to collide with her first love and heartbreaker, Connor Bannerman. In the scenic Scottish town of Cairnhaven, old sparks reignite amid unresolved tensions. Thrust together, they face a crucial choice: can they forgive and give love a second chance?

LGBTQ+ Representation

4/5 🌈

While the representation in this book was brief, it did feel significant. Kritsy's best friend identifies as bisexual and has dated both men and women. This aspect of her identity is relevant to her character and does help propel the story a bit. Overall this was a nice hint of rep without being too overt but portrayed as completely normal and okay.

My Thoughts

There were a few little nods in this book that made me smile. For example, the characters in the book listened to my favorite Bon Jovi songs. These little touches added a lot to the reading experience to help ground it in the real world and the current zeitgeist. 

For adults coming back together, I would've loved to see more communication from Kristy and Connor. There were more than a few moments I wished they would just be honest about how they were feeling instead of bottling everything up. That said, their banter was absolutely great. Honestly, their best communication is through banter. 

A lot of my negative feelings about this book were because I simply wasn't in the mood for it. If I had been, it would've been a higher rating most likely. The pacing of this book is superrr slow which I just wasn't looking for as I am feeling a bit slumpy lately. The slow burn was slowly burning, that is for sure. 

I felt like this book felt even more Scottish in terms of slang and attitudes than the previous books in this series. The beauty of the coast was very apparent. That said, there was almost too much description of the visuals and facial expressions and whatnot. All of this description minorly bogged down the plot. I found myself skipping through to the dialogue to get through with it if I am being honest. 

I do applaud Bradshaw for writing characters that actually help each other and bring each other to a new form of growth. It was refreshing compared to a number of books I have read lately. There needs to be more books where both of the characters actually help each other grow, not just get together because that is allegedly the thing to do. 

This book is definitely spicy which is the point of the story. If you don't like reading spice, this is not the book for you.

Overall, this book was not the right book for me at the time which definitely impacted my thoughts about it. The pace is slow, there is a lot of description, and the miscommunication was a bit much. If you are up for a slow-paced story, this would be a better fit for you.