Started reading this advanced reader copy and literally the first thing I could think of... how can anyone be THIS bad at serving tables? It's not rocStarted reading this advanced reader copy and literally the first thing I could think of... how can anyone be THIS bad at serving tables? It's not rocket science, but listening to the main character, Lexi, is quite literally a train wreck - but I think it's also from losing every ounce of confidence in her life.
Disability representation in romance novels is becoming increasingly commonplace, but I genuinely feel there should be more of these!!
Also - I'm biasDisability representation in romance novels is becoming increasingly commonplace, but I genuinely feel there should be more of these!!
Also - I'm biased regarding Mimi Matthews because I've always loved her books. However, one of the reasons I love her and the reason you'll love the fourth book in the Belles of London series is that her characters have SO much depth. Their relationships are unconventional but in a lovely, inspiring way.
- The first book in the series was The Siren of Sussex where the main couple was interracial during the Victorian Era. - The second book, which I haven't read yet, although I have a physical copy waiting for me - Is a marriage of convenience romance and I will 100% be reading that while at the beach in a few weeks!! - The third book in the series tackles overcoming serious self-doubt issues. **The Muse of Maiden Lane is the fourth book, and one of the characters was an artist in a wheelchair - not the gentry at all, and I loved their characters all the more for it!!
(4.3/5) - I'll pretty much read anything that Mimi Matthews writes and most likely fall in love with her characters!! The one thing I was thinking throughout all of this though is that the MMC was very young? 24 seems like a really young little lad lol But overall - I still really enjoyed the story!
**Thank you to Berkley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
What historical figure would you go back and meet again today if you could?
The Nightingale’s Castle is one of those novels that immediately transformWhat historical figure would you go back and meet again today if you could?
The Nightingale’s Castle is one of those novels that immediately transforms your surroundings. Readers will feel every jostle of the carriage traversing the Carpathian mountains of Hungary and become a fly on the wall to perhaps the most accurate reimagining of the infamous Blood Countess’s story!
There’s something magical about diving into stories we’ve heard a thousand times, especially when they’re told through a new lens. For me, reading historical accounts from a woman’s perspective is like discovering hidden chapters in a well-loved book. It’s not just about the stories but how these fresh viewpoints can completely reshape our understanding of history’s most iconic figures. This was easily another 5 star read for these reminders alone!!!
When women writers, historians, or fictional voices reinterpret these tales, they breathe new life into the narratives. Suddenly, the figures we thought we knew become more nuanced, their struggles and triumphs more relatable. It’s as if the history we’ve always seen in black and white becomes vibrant and multidimensional. Each page turns into a window through which we can view the past in a way that’s rich with empathy and insight.
Reading these perspectives has a profound effect on how we process and relate to historical events. It challenges long-standing assumptions and invites us to see the past with fresh eyes. These stories make us reconsider the roles and impacts of figures who have often been oversimplified or overlooked, offering a fuller, more inclusive view of history. So, next time you pick up a book that reimagines a familiar tale, savor how it transforms your perception and deepens your connection to the past.
HISTORICAL NOTES: Báthory’s notoriety stems from accusations of horrific acts, including the t0rture and murd3r of young women. Reports suggest that she believed bathing in the blood of virgins would preserve her youth and beauty. These allegations were largely brought to light by political rivals and fueled by sensationalist accounts of the time. The true extent of her guilt remains debated among historians, with some suggesting that she may have been the victim of a politically motivated conspiracy to strip her of her wealth and power. In 1610, after a lengthy investigation, Báthory was imprisoned in her castle and later died in 1614. Her legacy blends historical fact and myth, with her life often overshadowed by folklore and dramatic retellings.
**Thank you, @bibliolifestyle & @harperperennial, for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own. - SLR...more
Could you live on a remote island with only one way on or off every 6 months or so?
After being completely surprised by the genre of Welcome to GloriouCould you live on a remote island with only one way on or off every 6 months or so?
After being completely surprised by the genre of Welcome to Glorious Tuga - I’m so glad I have more diverse reads on my list this month. This has happened to me a few times now - especially since starting this account and being exposed to a myriad of genres & it’s such a good feeling to feel refreshed after you read something entirely new! As I look to expand my thoughts and attempt perspectives I’ve never read before - one I’ve never considered was reading from the perspective of a remote islander and what it would be like to come in as an outsider looking to make a life somewhere.
Fitting in and making friends is already hard enough as an adult - and while I thought that was going to be the majority of Segal’s novel - about two-thirds of the way in, there was a major pivot that had me not putting it down until the very end!!
If you love: - Conservation efforts - conversations surrounding self/governance of island territories - Tight-knit communities - stories of female friendship ... you’ll love this book!! (I also plan on gifting this to a few people before the summer’s end!)
**Welcome to Glorious Tuga also won the Costa First Novel Award and rightly earned! Thank you, Ecco, for sending a copy of this lovely read. All thoughts are my own. - SLR
I started this ARC and in less than 50 pages - I am immediately swept away to the lovely island of Tuga where lush greenery and tropical life abound.
Some random thoughts: - I can't imagine what kind of life you'd live if you were on an island like this, sequestered away from the world. Who would you really be if you didn't have much outside influence? TV and books can't really explain the world in the way that experience does.. - Could I live in such an isolated way? With access to books and the internet - I feel like anything is possible!!...more
For everyone who loved Carrie & Big... you'll love this too.
I absolutely hated the heroine, Molly, and truly adored the hero, Seth - but I love this For everyone who loved Carrie & Big... you'll love this too.
I absolutely hated the heroine, Molly, and truly adored the hero, Seth - but I love this book. I still rated it high even though one character put the other through a heaping mound of manure...and I'm saying this upfront because - I don't consider this a romance. This is more a reflection of how our choices can either make or break us in the happiness department.
So let's discuss a brief synopsis - a young woman is incredibly damaged by her parent's horrific divorce (i.e., a cautionary tale on why you should take marriage seriously and not get married to the wrong person) and has a lifetime situation-ship with a divorce lawyer, Seth. Their journey is so heartbreaking and emotional and makes you want to scream!!
Of course, you're happy for the couple in the end. You will get that HEA ending we all so desperately crave when we read romance novels.. but again, I say.. this isn't a romance. This book is more of an exploration of the psychology of how people make romantic decisions when they are well and truly jacked up.
I dated my now husband on and off for over three years before we married, and it was just a cluster, to say the least. He was the Molly & I was the Seth. I knew what I wanted, and I knew he was the one for me.. looking back, though, I wouldn't change it because we're rock solid now. I think when you read a book like this, where the love story isn't on some traditional linear path, you have to have a lot of grace for these characters.
To all of my 'Seths' out there... I am sending you much love!
**Thank you to Flatiron Books for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
If you knew your friend was crushing on a taken man.. what would you do?
When I first started reading Gamez's contemporary romance - I didn't expect tIf you knew your friend was crushing on a taken man.. what would you do?
When I first started reading Gamez's contemporary romance - I didn't expect to feel the way I did about the main character!! Marcela is an amazing librarian, friend and loves to read.. but she definitely has her issues to work out. Getting to know her and see her growth is what made me love this book! When I started reading, I almost didn't like her. If you have a crush on a taken man and you remain in his orbit - you're doing yourself and the other couple a disservice. It's pretty point-blank for me, really. People will end up hurt for no reason!! When I started reading, I felt frustrated with her character because the solutions seemed so black and white to me: make other friends, branch out, and create healthy boundaries, right?! However, she quickly turned around and became one of my favorite on-page librarians I've ever read!
I'm also incredibly happy with the ending. There was so much that I wanted to happen, and I felt like all of it happened exactly the way it should have!!! The other characters experienced growth, and the one that's a bad guy that I felt needed to be exposed to in my GUT?? They got EXACTLY what they deserved. Literary justice is one of my favorite things of all time, and Gamez does it well!!
**Thank you, Forever, for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
Now that I've re-read this one - I can confidently say that I love it. I already loved these characters from Fangirl Down -- and I think I know where Now that I've re-read this one - I can confidently say that I love it. I already loved these characters from Fangirl Down -- and I think I know where the series is going for the third book!! I can't wait to read more of these characters and I love seeing little snippets of them in the series to come.
Also - the main characters are exactly what you want them to be. Their relationship is all about healthy growth!! I've become a pretty big Tessa Bailey fan at this point.
Here are the ones I've loved: - Fangirl Down - The Au Pair Affair - Getaway Girl
*I have so many more to read!
**10/10 recommend reading the books in order to avoid spoilers!!
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6-15-2024 I was obsessed with Fangirl Down and this is a fun continuation of that series! Love to see TB venturing into sports romances!
**Ok, here's the thing about this one. I really wanted to like it more than I did because I was such a fan of Fangirl Down, but I'm realizing I never like my digital reads as much as I like my physical ones. I may update my rating after I grab a physical copy of this and do a re-read!
**Thank you to Forever & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy(ies). I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
Waiting to get married or get married young? Always curious about what people want to do/what they did and why!
I got married when I was 25, and althoWaiting to get married or get married young? Always curious about what people want to do/what they did and why!
I got married when I was 25, and although I still felt young - my hubs and I have a great relationship because we work so well together!
Now that I've lived three decades on this planet - my reading tastes have changed over the years. I still love angsty romances, but not in quite the same way as I used to. I *need* my literary heroines to overcome gargantuan tasks/battles (even if those struggles only seem big in their minds), whether it's fantasy or romance!
This is why I so appreciated receiving 'Finding Mr.Write' by Kelley Armstrong. Forever Romance really knows how to find authors who can tell an amazing story—even when the content isn't so absurd or over the top. Armstrong wrote characters I genuinely liked and rooted for throughout every part of this book, and that really is SO rare when I read romance novels these days.
Romance as a genre has always been my bread and butter as a reader and that will probably never change!!
**Thank you to Forever for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
3.5/5 - I really wanted to love this because the premise is one I haven't personally read before. It seems like a lot of dystopian fiction centers on 3.5/5 - I really wanted to love this because the premise is one I haven't personally read before. It seems like a lot of dystopian fiction centers on the idea that there are perfect / safe-haven societies that someone could become a part of or that just exist in general... but A Better World did a good job of including thriller/mystery elements that made me want to figure out what was really going on.
The reason I'm detracting from 5/5 rating: #1. A Better World is WAY too long. With sci-fi elements and a creepy population of people .. it should have moved at a little faster pace! #2: (Really more of a 1A) - I needed more of the dystopian action and more people to start acting weird sooner. I knew something would be wrong with the science because very little is that perfect.. so it was almost a letdown that the end to have ended the way it did.
**Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
3.5/5 - Katy Brent's series of books is disturbing but also - I'm not sure I can read the next one. If you haven't read these books - there are A LOT 3.5/5 - Katy Brent's series of books is disturbing but also - I'm not sure I can read the next one. If you haven't read these books - there are A LOT of content warnings that should be firmly in your mind before you start.
CWs: - Nonconsensual s3x - Unauthorized recording & distribution of non consensual s3x - Police non-response to victims of s3xual trauma - Stalking and the police doing nothing about it - domestic violence
It's short and a great feminist read for those who need to see the bad guy caught - but perhaps a little too dark for an every day read.
Starting this today to rinse out another romance I just read from my mind palace.
**Thank you to HQ Digital for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
I loved this! It's such an easy little read, and I liked it more than I thought I would. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments, and I zipped throuI loved this! It's such an easy little read, and I liked it more than I thought I would. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments, and I zipped through it really quickly when I needed a fun springtime read. Something about the cover art and the sweetness of the story made it easy to slip into before bed as one of those indulgent brain candy reads that just doesn't require too much of us.
**Thank you to Booksparks & Jessica Lepe for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
DNFed this. I didn't read the premise and that's my fault - I think I got it confused with something else becuase let me tell you -- I would NOT have DNFed this. I didn't read the premise and that's my fault - I think I got it confused with something else becuase let me tell you -- I would NOT have chosen to read something based on a dating show. (I quite literally loathe reality TV. It's so bad. All of it makes me immediately cringe.)...more
Surprisingly cute college romance!! I very rarely read college romances because they smack of silly drama but their relationship was cute and had the Surprisingly cute college romance!! I very rarely read college romances because they smack of silly drama but their relationship was cute and had the echoes of real life. It's also one of the only times I've ever liked the idea of fake dating!! Normally I detest that trope but I liked it here!!
*Remember that when I'm rating romances, I rate them in the genre/for the intended audience. Deke Me's intended audience is for those who love college romances! If you're a typical college romance lover, you'll probs love this one!!
****Thank you to Rae-Allen Publishing for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
Recently, romances aren't sticking with me and I think I've been burnt out on them - HOWEVER - I felt like One Last Word was a nice breath of fresh aiRecently, romances aren't sticking with me and I think I've been burnt out on them - HOWEVER - I felt like One Last Word was a nice breath of fresh air!!
So many women in STEM romance novels make the woman this quirky manic pixie, and it annoys me - not because those women don't exist, etc. It's because there are so many other women out there who are plus-sized, etc... and sometimes it seems like unless you're a pretty perfect smart gal - there's no romance coming your way.
One Last Word, though? Our heroine is of Asian descent and short, but she's a bit of a gremlin and has been focused on her career rather than doing skin care treatments. I NEEDED that character!!
I also really liked our main couple's relationship because it truly felt like two real people just getting to know each other again without a ton of drama, etc.
NOTES: - A few steamier scenes but overall, the book focuses on the plot
**Thank you to Avon for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR ...more
This book really isn't bad - I just need to come back to it!! I've had so many arcs on my plate that I wasn't in the mood for it the way I should've bThis book really isn't bad - I just need to come back to it!! I've had so many arcs on my plate that I wasn't in the mood for it the way I should've been... and the main character really annoyed me a couple of times. ...more
Southern Lady Reads (Crazy Busy-Will Catch Up!)
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