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
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in!4.25/5
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in! It was a 1-day read for me and once I started, I just couldn't put it down. Through various viewpoints, we get lots of twists and turns as well as some fantastic suspense. I had no idea until after I was done that this is a retelling of Henry VIII and his many wives set in the present-day as a rich businessman instead of royalty. After reading about him further I could see so many similarities, and I loved how Olson brought him and all that craziness into life in a crime novel.
One of the ways I was able to turn An Inconvenient Wife into a one-sitting read was thanks to the audiobook, and while a full cast would have been helpful for all of the different POVs, Nikki Thomas still knocked it out of the park. I thought she did a great job changing her voice up for the various characters and she was a delight to listen to. While the reader finds out rather early on part of what is going on, there is still much to discover and lies to unravel. The ending gave me actual chills, and I sure love it when an author can do that....more
The Drowning House was a weird one for me, which was especially sad because I LOVE Cherie Priest's series The Booking Agents. This was definitely a veThe Drowning House was a weird one for me, which was especially sad because I LOVE Cherie Priest's series The Booking Agents. This was definitely a very far departure from that kind of cozy crime mystery, and it had all the witchy, eerie, and gothic vibes that make for a perfect fall read. However, I thought the pacing got bogged down by the inclusion of the 1985 timeline as well as the other viewpoints minus one at the very end. I would have been perfectly fine staying in the present time exclusively from Melissa's viewpoint.
The audiobook is narrated by Mara Wilson, and I thought she did an excellent job of heightening the seclusion and creepiness of the storyline. I love an isolated location and the setting at an exceptionally spooky house on a rural beach was perfection. Wilson is probably what kept this from being a DNF for me and in between the disjointedness I felt and some aspects that were just plain bizarre (I kept thinking wth as I was listening), it was mostly a miss for me. That being said I know some readers will truly love it, so I wouldn't let my review stop you and there were many elements I did love.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
As with any short story collection, I definitely enjoyed some more than others in Stories I Told My Dead Lover by Jo Paquette. This is her adult debutAs with any short story collection, I definitely enjoyed some more than others in Stories I Told My Dead Lover by Jo Paquette. This is her adult debut and I found it interesting that she decided to go with short stories instead of a full-length novel, but who am I to judge, and it piqued my interest all the same. My favorite story of the bunch was Confidence Game which involved something called a Neep. It was one of the most fully formed stories for me, and I would have loved a full book just on that one.
My opinion is that the audiobook is the way to go here and the full cast: Emily Woo Zeller, Joe Hempel, Vikas Adam, Sophie Amoss, Soneela Nankani, Gabra Zackman, Jenn Lee & the author made these stories for me. Their narration was all spot on and I had zero complaints with any of them; plus, I loved that we were told who the narrator was before each story. Most of the endings were a bit ambiguous for my tastes and some were just plain strange, so this was mostly a miss for me. That being said, I would recommend it if you like short story collections and I would certainly read more from this author.
Thank you to the publishers and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's otheAudiobook Rating: 5/5
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's other books. I loved the dual timelines between Marlowe and the Ralston family in 1932 which eventually come together so the reader knows exactly what happened at Morning House. There was so much to uncover, and I loved all of the little clues and twists along the way. Marlowe made me LOL quite a bit, while the Ralston POV was more serious and ominous. Who knew candles could be so dangerous?!
I listened to and loved the audiobook and thought Katherine Littrell did a wonderful job as the narrator. I am a pretty large fan of hers in general, and she did an excellent job with every aspect of her narration here. Death at Morning House is a queer romance and murder mystery all wrapped up in one fast-paced story and thriller readers who love YA are sure to enjoy it. I especially enjoyed the end and the introduction with the articles! Plus, Marlowe's POV gives new meaning to the phrase if you can't be good, be careful. ...more
Things Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins felt very literary mystery to me, and though it is very character-driven I loved it to the maxThings Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins felt very literary mystery to me, and though it is very character-driven I loved it to the max! The bonds of family run deep in this one, and the blend of Willa's quest to find her missing sister plus the alternating viewpoints and general heartbreak and drama created the perfect storm of readability. I listened to this in basically one sitting, and it grabbed me from the first page. I got lost in Collins' writing and I still can't believe this is a debut.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Christina Cole, Emily Lucienne & Nathalie Buscombe, and damn was it good! Each of these narrators did an excellent job with their characters and helped to completely envelop me in the story. I feel like I'm being really vague, but the synopsis is also pretty vague, and I don't want to give anything away. Things Don't Break on Their Own is an onion with many layers and excellent characterization, and I teared up and got chills at the same time. Just outstanding, and I can't wait for the author's next book.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....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
I've probably said it before but I will say it again: I have not met a Robyn Harding book I haven't liked, and I was dying to read The Haters. This liI've probably said it before but I will say it again: I have not met a Robyn Harding book I haven't liked, and I was dying to read The Haters. This lived up to every expectation I could have had for it, and it completely blew my mind! ...more
I hadn't read Yasmin Angoe until I read Not What She Seems, and I definitely think I need to change that! This book was super wild at the end and whilI hadn't read Yasmin Angoe until I read Not What She Seems, and I definitely think I need to change that! This book was super wild at the end and while it was a slower burn to start, I was completely invested and couldn't wait to see what would happen. Jac is the main viewpoint in the story, and while I didn't always understand or agree with her choices, she was a multifaceted character who was both relatable and frustrating at the same time. She made for an entertaining and interesting FMC and the drama was top-notch.
Jordan Cobb narrates the audiobook, and I would recommend it to all the audio fans out there. I thought Cobb was an excellent narrator, especially for Jac, and she helped keep me on the edge of my seat. The conclusion of Not What She Seems blew my mind a little bit and was completely unexpected. Including Faye’s viewpoint later in the book was a brilliant idea and helped me get a better idea of her character and what was driving her throughout the story since we don't have her viewpoint elsewhere. There were a lot of what I would call stupid decisions being made when I neared the end, but it added lots of suspense, and I couldn't look away.
Thank you to the publishers, author, and Over the River Public Relations for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I am so glad I decided to pick up Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet by Molly Morris because it was a pure delight! I do wish what was going on with bringing a person back from the dead had been explained better in the actual book and not just mentioned in the synopsis, but I caught on pretty quickly and it was a very unique concept for a book. Through Wilson choosing Annie, it brings up a lot of old wounds and Wilson quickly realizes things she didn't before Annie's passing. I loved the journey the story took me on, and the eventual queer romance was very heartwarming.
The audiobook was pure perfection with Georgina Sadler as the narrator and I loved the way she brought Wilson to life. She was fun to listen to, and I thought she did a great job bringing all of the emotions in the storyline front and center. I thought this would be a light and breezy read, but it is a touch heavier, and I thought that brought a lot of depth to the story. I also loved Morris's writing style immediately and it flowed so well! I will definitely be adding this author to my new favorites list.
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is most likely going to make my top 10 list of 2024, and it is just the type of heartwarming magical read that makes me The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is most likely going to make my top 10 list of 2024, and it is just the type of heartwarming magical read that makes me light up. The synopsis states it was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia and I can definitely see that. I hadn't read the synopsis before reading but that is the vibe I got while reading through and through, and it made me desperately want to do a reread. Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie were some of the most loveable MCs I have ever met, and so many of the secondary characters were as well.
The audiobook would have been incredible with a full cast, but I loved Jorjeana Marie's narration just the same. Her voice was very pleasant and easy to listen to, and she made the story come alive. Some of my favorite parts were the storyteller sections which are an unknown narrator until the end, and I loved the fairy tale quality they provided. Shaffer's writing is vivid and enchanting, and I could have stayed in the world of Shenandoah forever. There is also a lovely queer romance that made my heart happy, but we couldn't get to the end without some pain and suffering as well. I am now an instant fan of this author, and I can't wait to get a copy to add to my shelves. ...more
I wasn't really sure how I wanted to rate Knife River by Justine Champine and I still don’t know if I like my rating. This is a character driven 3.5/5
I wasn't really sure how I wanted to rate Knife River by Justine Champine and I still don’t know if I like my rating. This is a character driven storyline that reminded me a lot of In Cold Blood by the beloved Truman Capote. I didn’t like that book because of how slow and over-the-top descriptive it was, which was the vibe I got from this one except different? I liked the mystery element but that isn’t really as front and center as the character study of Jess and the bonds of sisterhood after a tragedy.
I got to listen to the audiobook which is narrated by Jennifer Pickens, and she is definitely what kept me going. Slow, character-driven books aren’t always my jam and without her this may have been a DNF. However, I am really glad I finished because the ending completely shocked me. I can’t say it made the slowness worth it, but it was up there with twists I didn’t see coming. I also have to admit that Champine’s writing is very expressive and sharp; something I took into consideration when giving Knife River a star rating.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
If there was ever a book that made me want to read an author's backlist, it is The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray. I had already been eyiIf there was ever a book that made me want to read an author's backlist, it is The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray. I had already been eying her debut Cooking for Picasso, but now I will be reading anything and everything this woman writes that is in novel format. I always enjoy my time in a historical fiction story, and this lead in to WWII was both suspenseful at times and very informative. I was a big fan of the characters, especially Annabel who was very headstrong and while foolish at times, I couldn’t help but admire her bravery and tenacity. Aubray did a superb job capturing the glamour of 1930s Europe, and I loved my stay at the Côte d'Azur.
I strongly believe the audiobook is the way to go with The Girl from the Grand Hotel and I personally found Mozhan Navabi to be an amazing narrator. I loved listening to her voice, and she did a fantastic job bringing Annabel and all facets of the story to life. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing names like F. Scott Fitzgerald and I loved that Aubray had Annabel interacting with these famous names. I do wish there had been some sort of author’s note in the book to express what was entirely fictional and what was based on real life, but I loved it all the same and would definitely recommend this to historical fiction readers who like some mystery and drama in their books!...more
The Ride of Her Life BY Jennifer Dugan is an endearing and delightful queer romance filled with family drama and friendships that aren't always perfecThe Ride of Her Life BY Jennifer Dugan is an endearing and delightful queer romance filled with family drama and friendships that aren't always perfect. I loved the uniqueness of this enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine storyline, and I felt like I learned something about horse barns and the rodeo along the way. It felt like a bit of déjà vu reading about a rodeo in this book after recently finishing Homebound, and I am learning how much I love cowboy/cowgirl-esque romances (and can I just mention the cowboy hat scene? ...more
You Won't Believe Me by Cyn Balog never would have been on my radar if not thanks to my bestie, and I have to say this story rocked my world because You Won't Believe Me by Cyn Balog never would have been on my radar if not thanks to my bestie, and I have to say this story rocked my world because ...more
I still can hardly believe Everything We Never Said is Sloan Harlow's debut novel and I think she did an amazing job with it! This is a young adult noI still can hardly believe Everything We Never Said is Sloan Harlow's debut novel and I think she did an amazing job with it! This is a young adult novel with some spice, but besides the romance, there is plenty of mystery and suspense. I thought it was a thriller going in (and the synopsis says it is one), but I didn't really get that thriller vibe until the last quarter of the book. That's where things started getting super twisted and it blew my mind.
The audiobook for this one is great and something I would highly recommend. Steven Molony, Ferdelle Capistrano & Brittany Pressley were fantastic narrators with Molony voicing Sawyer, Capistrano voicing Ella, and Pressley as the voice of Hayley’s diary. They were all great to listen to even at a (slow to me) 2x speed. One twist I saw coming, but there were a couple of others that shocked the hell out of me. Triggers are present so I would check those out prior to reading, but Everything We Never Said was an engaging YA debut.
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I don't know what I was expecting from All the Summers in Between by Brooke Lea Foster, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! Told inI don't know what I was expecting from All the Summers in Between by Brooke Lea Foster, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! Told in dual timelines from Thea’s viewpoint, we explore her and Margot's friendship growing up as well as what happens a decade later when Margot pops into her life again. There is a hint of mystery, but it was mostly a coming-of-age tale mixed with the intricacies of friendship and figuring out what you want in life. There are a couple of triggers in here, so I would recommend checking those out on StoryGraph prior to reading.
I really enjoyed the audiobook and thought Emily Ellet was the perfect choice for the narrator. She made me feel like I was actually in Thea's head and brought her to life perfectly. I was quite surprised by the darkness this story reaches, and I was completely fooled by the cover into thinking this was a beachy read. It really isn’t and would best be enjoyed when you are in the mood for something more serious. All the Summers in Between has a slower pace but one that kept me reading, and I will definitely be checking out more from Foster.
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I love Ellery Lloyd but I have to say I was a little hesitant going into The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby. I heard there were a lot of characters I love Ellery Lloyd but I have to say I was a little hesitant going into The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby. I heard there were a lot of characters on top of time jumps, and I was very worried I would get confused especially since I was listening to the audio. It turns out I had absolutely nothing to worry about and I loved this captivating tale full of dirty laundry and revenge. I love when art takes center stage in a novel even though I know nothing about it, and that is certainly what happened here. I wish it had been an even larger part of the storyline, but as it was, I still loved it.
Nneka Okoye, Joshua Akehurst & Eleanor Jackson narrate the audiobook and I have to say I enjoyed each one immensely. I loved that Juliette, Caroline, and Patrick all got a voice in this book, and I would say I actually enjoyed Juliette's POV the most. I also loved how they each tied together, and this is a complex plot with lots of moving parts. This author duo never disappoints, and I felt like The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby was different from their other work but just as well executed. I heard this was a follow-up to The Club but honestly, I have zero idea how. I would say you definitely don't need to read that first to get this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
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