I loved Holly James' 2023 release The Deja Glitch, so I was super excited to get Name Your Price! I am a Reality TV fan, and I thought it was such a gI loved Holly James' 2023 release The Deja Glitch, so I was super excited to get Name Your Price! I am a Reality TV fan, and I thought it was such a great idea for James to take this storyline into a TV show about people doing things they REALLY don't want to do for prize money. I loved Olivia and Chuck even when they were fighting, and their chemistry was off the charts. There is a dab of spice in the book but mostly it was a rom-com with forced proximity and lots of sexual tension. ...more
Holy moly, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is Briony Cameron's debut, and I couldn't put this action-Holy moly, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is Briony Cameron's debut, and I couldn't put this action-packed thrill ride down. Cameron focuses on a woman who may be fictitious or made up from many forgotten women in the past with Jacquotte, and brings her idea of what her story could have been to life in this swashbuckling pirate tale. This was unlike any other historical fiction novel I have ever read, and I was completely wrapped up in both the storyline and worrying about how things would end for our fearless FMC.
I listened to the audiobook and have to say Angel Pean did an incredible job narrating. It felt like she was destined to be the voice of Jacquotte, and I thoroughly loved every bit of her narration. There is a lot of violence which can be expected when we are talking about pirates, and I could totally see this being made into an amazing movie. There is also a queer romance at its heart that I couldn't get enough of and Jacquotte is just the type of badass female lead that I love. She was unbreakable even at the hardest times, and this work of fiction will be something I remember long into the future....more
I have only just started dipping my toes into romantasy and smuttier books, and I LOVED Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee! It took until about the 70% marI have only just started dipping my toes into romantasy and smuttier books, and I LOVED Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee! It took until about the 70% mark for the spiciness to really even come into play, and by that time Cate and Lachlan had quite the rapport going. I loved both characters but especially our fierce FMC Cate. She is just the type of woman you want as the star of the show, and she wasn’t a weak character in any aspect. The majority of the story is told from her perspective with Lach coming in near the end. Even though his POV is minimal it gave me chills and it was a smart move on Lee’s part.
The audiobook is freaking fantastic with Raquel Beattie as the narrator for Cate and Aiden Snow narrating Lach. Even though it is a little lengthy at 14 hours and 27 minutes, I was so caught up in the story that it didn’t feel like it. And THAT CLIFFHANGER! I knew it was coming even though I still held out hope there would be some sort of closure, but nope, and now I’m dead. I hope we don’t have to wait long for book 2 of this series or I might lose my mind with the not knowing. Lee’s writing sucked me in from the first SENTENCE and it is very fluent, concise, and expressive which is everything I needed for Filthy Rich Fae. I will definitely need to read more from this author, and if you enjoy romatasy with an air of mystery I highly recommend this deliciously dark book! ...more
When I saw the cover of The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields I knew I had to read it, and I would say this would make a great spooky season/fall4.25/5
When I saw the cover of The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields I knew I had to read it, and I would say this would make a great spooky season/fall read especially! It is a solid debut full of witchy magic, beautiful imagery, and ultimately romance! Bees and honey take a front seat in the storyline which is nice and unique, and though the pace felt a little slow to me, it picks way up at the end and I couldn't put it down. I would categorize this queer romance as grumpy/sunshine since Marigold is spunky and light, while Lottie is moody and grumpy.
Mia Hutchinson Shaw narrates the audiobook and I thought she did a lovely job. I didn't have any issues understanding her even at a quicker speed (I listened around 3x) and her pacing, tone, and pitch all felt spot on. The Honey Witch is action-packed when we get near the end, and I feel like I said "aw" quite a bit as well. The conclusion was very sweet and will be a crowd pleaser! I also loved that the female leads were compelling and determined and not pushovers in the slightest. I will be keeping my eyes open for future books from Shields for sure! ...more
So stinking cute! These are the words I would use to describe Birding with Benefits by debut author Sarah T. Dubb. I immediately knew I was goin4.25/5
So stinking cute! These are the words I would use to describe Birding with Benefits by debut author Sarah T. Dubb. I immediately knew I was going to enjoy this book, and I loved the characters, plot, and humor equally. There is spice in here that managed to be steamy and humorous at the same time, and I adored Celeste and John individually. The birding element ended up being adorable, and it was so sweet watching John teach Celeste about birds and their calls. ...more
I will be honest, The Bachelor is one of the few reality shows that I'm not into, but boy did I love the concepBook Rating: 4.5/5 Audiobook Rating: 3/5
I will be honest, The Bachelor is one of the few reality shows that I'm not into, but boy did I love the concept in My Royal Showmance by Lexi Blake. This is the second book in the Park Avenue Promise series, and I love the group of female friends the series is based on. Even though I read Start Us Up almost a year ago, I had no problem jumping into this one since the series is based on individual characters. I loved our headstrong and confident but maybe too trusting FMC Anika, and I was glad to see Blake taking on the topic of sexual harassment, especially in a world with songs like Woman's World by Katy Perry and the mess that is Harvey Weinstein.
I listened to the audiobook which is what I did with the first book, and I don’t know if she was having an off day but I was not a fan of Kitty Bang’s narration as much as I was the first time around. She had such long pauses even when I was on 3x speed, and I have no idea if that was actually her issue or an editing issue, but it was not something I was happy with. Her narration was excellent at other times though, and I still loved the book despite this. If you are a fan of reality TV (especially shows like The Bachelor) and want a laugh-out-loud, empowering, and sweet read My Royal Showmance is definitely all of those things and more. I loved the touch of German thrown in and the romance was ...more
I saw a lot of hype on #Bookstagram over How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley, and I can tell you without a doubt it is worth every bit of hype itI saw a lot of hype on #Bookstagram over How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley, and I can tell you without a doubt it is worth every bit of hype it has gotten. I loved our merry band of senior citizens with Lydia at the helm, and even though it isn't really a mystery, it gave me strong Thursday Murder Club vibes right down to the multiple viewpoints. And speaking of that, there is only 1 narrator for the audiobook as well! So many similarities but also a lot of differences, and I loved this heartwarming romp of a book.
The narrator for the audio is Clare Corbett whom I have listened to and loved before, and she was the perfect fit for How to Age Disgracefully. Always easy to understand, her narration was also expertly executed, and I could feel every emotion the characters were feeling. Daphne was my favorite character of them all, and I adored her feisty and intelligent personality. The hint of mysteriousness, amazing cast of characters, heartfelt and funny moments, and general badassery made this a huge winner for me and I can't wait to read more from Pooley! ...more
Lilith was a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt and now I am seriously questioning my life choices. Eric Rickstad's Canaan Crime series has been on my TBR for ageLilith was a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt and now I am seriously questioning my life choices. Eric Rickstad's Canaan Crime series has been on my TBR for ages and yet I am just now reading this man! The storyline is a really tough one and this definitely isn't going to be for everyone, but I was completely blown away by the lengths Elisabeth would go in more ways than one. She is such a strong, STRONG, female lead and I found her incredibly likable personally. She stood up for herself in the world of men and protocols, and I couldn’t help but admire her. This is a very political and violent read, and yet I couldn’t get enough of it.
The audiobook is narrated by my beloved Brittany Pressley who was so perfect as Elisabeth/Lilith that if this character were real, I would think she was her. Pressley always fully embodies the character(s) she voices, and this was no exception. I was also thrilled with how much suspense was packed into Lilith and the pacing is literally nonstop without any dull moments. This is such a hard hitter for being a whole 275 pages, and I was incredibly happy with how it ended. This is preaching something that most people feel a certain way about, and I am honestly surprised it isn’t more controversial. I was definitely in the target audience, and I loved every minute of this bone-chilling read.
PSA: Shoutout to @bookswithjams (IG) who made me move it up!! ...more
Kimberly Belle has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read and loved Dear Wife, and I love how varied and interesting her plot lines are. ThKimberly Belle has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read and loved Dear Wife, and I love how varied and interesting her plot lines are. The Paris Widow is set in Paris as the title suggests, with Stella and Adam as our main characters/viewpoints. I can't say I actually loved either of these people, and my favorite character in the entire book was definitely Kat though she doesn't get too much page time. Stella irritated me for much of the book (which could also have been because of the narrator for the audio), but the storyline ended up getting completely wild and the pace is fast and never quits.
The audiobook features Patrick Zeller voicing Adam while Marni Penning voices Stella. I had no issues with Zeller, but Penning is very screechy which is a complaint I had with her narration for Johanna Porter Is Not Sorry. I think that influenced how I felt about Stella's character as a whole, and I just wish she would have calmed it down a bit since I love her voice besides that. I am going to start paying more attention to audiobooks with her as the narrator, and I am seriously considering going back and reading The Paris Widow with my eyes at some point. I loved the Paris setting as well as the nonstop action, and the end completely blew my mind. This is another winner from the amazing Kimberly Belle, and I can’t wait to see what she cooks up next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I have had Courtney Walsh on my list of authors to read for quite some time, and I'm really glad I finally stopped waiting and decided to read Th4.5/5
I have had Courtney Walsh on my list of authors to read for quite some time, and I'm really glad I finally stopped waiting and decided to read The Summer of Yes right away. I loved this book so much, and there was an excellent grumpy/sunshine quality between Georgina and Kelsey as they became unlikely friends. I loved that we got both of their viewpoints throughout the story and the romance that Kelsey has plus the second chance romance for Georgina were both extremely heartwarming. I feel like most people would benefit from saying yes more and as much as I hate it myself, this novel made me feel the need to get out of my comfort zone as well.
The audiobook was truly delightful, and I thought Tanya Eby & Cathi Colas both did a beautiful job with their narration. They brought Kelsey and Georgina to life in a perfect way and made me connect to the characters even further than I would have by simply reading. While Kelsey has to grow a bit to get there, both of these women had such great boss babe energy and there were a couple of moments that Georgina's words and actions gave me happy chills. If you are looking for something to put a smile on your face, make you feel all the feels, and give you that you-go-girl vibe, The Summer of Yes will do all that and more!...more
I know I keep saying this, but I absolutely adore Alli Frank and Asha Youmans, and so far, I have not read a single book by them I haven't loved. BossI know I keep saying this, but I absolutely adore Alli Frank and Asha Youmans, and so far, I have not read a single book by them I haven't loved. Boss Lady was no different and their blend of uniqueness, humor, and tear-jerking topics get me every single time, so it's no wonder this book blew me away! I love where they got their idea for Toni's job and their not-so-subtle references to a famous TV show and a certain male entrepreneur. ...more
I have now read every single Charlie Donlea novel there is minus his debut Summit Lake, and he never ceases to surprise me. Long Time Gone was a whirlwind of mystery and emotion, and the pacing took off right away and there was never a lull. The book is jam-packed with mixed media which I loved, and there are quite a few viewpoints to keep things interesting. Sometimes I don't think they are all necessary but all of the POVs Donlea used here were great additions to the storyline and added quite a bit to the suspense factor. I've read quite a few books recently that involve DNA tests, but I loved where the author took that with Sloan turning out to be a missing-presumed-dead baby.
As with every Donlea novel, Vivienne Leheny narrates the audiobook and I hope this is a theme that never quits. She did an incredible job with each of the viewpoints as well as the mixed media, and I could listen to her read a grocery list I love her narration so much. I did take away .25 of a star due to constant repetition which is something I am not used to with Donlea's books. Not to be mean, but unless you are Tom from Fifty First Dates, we don't need to have the same major parts of a story on repeat. Besides that, I loved everything about Long Time Gone and the twists were extra twisty! This will take you on a roller coaster ride, and I would love to see it onscreen.
I received an advanced listening copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I am currently here scratching my head over the fact that this is the first time I've read Kristan Higgins! I've had her books on my TBR for quite somI am currently here scratching my head over the fact that this is the first time I've read Kristan Higgins! I've had her books on my TBR for quite some time, but finally decided to read Look on the Bright Side and I am so glad I did! I kept waiting for the moment I would cry because I could feel it coming, and sure enough I ended up ugly crying more than once. Amidst the sadness, there is joy as well, and I have to say Higgins writes some excellent banter! The characters (especially the women) are super relatable, and even though Joy and Ellie are much older than me, there were aspects to them that fully resonated with me. I agree with other reviewers who said this could have just been solely Lark’s story, but at the same time I also loved both Ellie and Joy’s stories. It is a fairly long book at just over 400 pages and a bit of a slow burn, but I was so thoroughly engrossed to the point that it did not even feel like it.
Susan Bennett, Christina Moore & Xe Sands were our narrators for the audiobook, with Sands as the voice of Lark. I am personally a huge fan of Sands but do have to admit her narration felt a tiny bit off for this one and I can’t figure out why. That being said, I still adored the audiobook and would fully recommend it. I don’t think Sands's narration is for everyone, but she grew on me as I listened to her more in other audiobooks and I loved her here for Lark. While Look on the Bright Side has a sad side to it that took my breath away, the moments that made me laugh were pure gold, and I was moved by everything that happened. It made the characters feel so real to me, and like I was listening to real stories, not just fictional characters. There was even some fake dating which is my favorite romance trope! However, it isn’t REALLY a romance at heart, so I would recommend it to women’s fiction lovers first.
I received an advanced listening copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts made my heart so happy and while it is only the second book of hers I have read, it is also my new favorite!The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts made my heart so happy and while it is only the second book of hers I have read, it is also my new favorite! I loved how Roberts dove into each character's life and how well we got to know each one along with their triumphs and struggles. The friendships and romance were touching and real, and the story is bookish beyond the book club which I loved. Karissa, Alice, Margot, and Alice’s sister Josie were all unique and well-characterized which made it easy to keep them all straight. Plus, their interactions provided lots of laugh-out-loud moments, even some I wasn't expecting.
The audiobook is narrated by Ann Marie Gideon, and I can't say enough good things about her narration. She did a wonderful job will all of the different viewpoints, and at times it felt like I was listening to more than one narrator! I would 100% recommend the audio for how talented she was, and I think it made the characters and emotional moments feel that much more vivid. The Best Life Book Club was a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt that I went into totally blind, and it worked out perfectly for me. Roberts's articulate writing style combined with her blend of humor, wit, and emotional subject matters made for the perfect combo here and I loved everything about it. I would even go so far as to call it a lovely comfort read. ...more
I freaking LOVE Sara Goodman Confino and Behind Every Good Man was everything I could have hoped it would be. It might be set in 1962 but Beverly is nI freaking LOVE Sara Goodman Confino and Behind Every Good Man was everything I could have hoped it would be. It might be set in 1962 but Beverly is not letting anyone walk all over her, and that includes her no-good cheating husband. The storyline has politics at its heart, but it is also about making your dreams come true and not taking any crap. There is a dusting of romance that was a lovely addition to the plotline, and it brings up so many issues that we can still see present today. In fact, this would make a fantastic book club selection since there is a lot to talk about.
I oohed and aahed over so many moments, and I probably laughed out loud just as many times if not more. I also have to make a special mention of the audiobook which is narrated by Helen Laser and available on Kindle Unlimited. She truly nails Bev as well as the entire vibe of the book and was such a joy to listen to. Once I started, I couldn't put it down, and I listened to this baby in a single day. SGC always has such emotive and authentic characters, and I felt that to the max in Behind Every Good Man. You will be rooting for Bev and Michael the entire time, and I dare say learn some things along the way. Be sure not to miss the author's note!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Even though Suzanne Park's debut was a bit of a miss for me, I am so glad I decided to read her again and got to experience One Last Word! This book fEven though Suzanne Park's debut was a bit of a miss for me, I am so glad I decided to read her again and got to experience One Last Word! This book focuses on Sara who creates an app called One Last Word which allows you to send messages to people after you die. It throws us headfirst into the world of venture capital, and as you can guess it is an area dominated by men. The romance between Sara and Harry was cute and sweet, but the main focus was on Sara and her finding her voice which I loved. All of the characters are diverse and approachable, and the family dynamics, especially between younger and older sisters, were spot on.
Catherine Ho is a great narrator, and though it felt like it took a little bit for her to find her footing with the audiobook, she eventually did, and I loved her as the voice of Sara. Women in STEM is something I haven’t read enough of, and I’m glad that’s where Park decided to take this storyline. Sara’s app and her decisiveness stole the show making this a real treat to read, and the way it all wrapped up was perfect and had me pumping my fist. One Last Word makes for an excellent summer read and how the author mixes humor, culture, romance, and fighting for what you want is enlightening and delightful!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
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