Genre: Contemporary
I may have been going through a blogging and reading slump but I read some good books before my slump and a few good ones during which sadly didn’t quite shift it. As such I have review back logs! I know, unheard of. Now, some of these reviews are older than others. Also, some books are fresher in my mind than others so we'll see how this goes.
Also, does anyone else forget what they have and haven't reviewed? I know I've not been blogging for a while but I had to go through and check my posts as I couldn't remember if I'd reviewed something before The Big Slump and simply forgotten about t. Book amnesia turns into blogging amnesia?
Published: 5th May 2020
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, LGBT+
My Rating:
Jordan Collins doesn’t need a man.
What he needs is for his favorite author to release another one of her sexy supernatural novels and more people to sign up for the romance book club that he fears is slowly and steadily losing its steam. He also needs for the new employee at his local bookstore to stop making fun of him for reading things meant for “grandmas.”
The very last thing he needs is for that same employee, Rex Bailey, to waltz into his living room and ask to join Meet Cute Club. Despite his immediate thoughts—like laughing in his face and telling him to kick rocks—Jordan decides that if he wants this club to continue thriving, he can’t turn away any new members. Not even ones like Rex, who somehow manage to be both frustratingly obnoxious and breathtakingly handsome.
As Jordan and Rex team up to bring the club back from the ashes, Jordan soon discovers that Rex might not be the arrogant troll he made himself out to be, and that, like with all things in life, maybe he was wrong to judge a book by its cover.
Swoon.
Meet Cute Club was such an adorable read. I knew it was gonna be cute from the cover. I mean it's in the name! But it still surprised me how enjoyable it was. I ended up reading it in one evening! This was partially because it wasn't the longest book but also because I wanted Jordan to get his happily ever after. I was invested!
I will say I think if I'd have stopped reading and finished the next day (which would have been sensible as the next day I was like a zombie and had a video call with my friends) I might have found it a little cavity inducing to come back to. It was borderline too much but honestly, at the moment I read it it was perfect. And I enjoyed it. I can't say a bad word against it really, it being too cute? That's not a bad thing but very much mood thing on my part.
Jordan was an organised individual who liked to escape into romance during his free time. He loved the romance between the characters and sensibly acknowledged they were empowering. I think he also liked there were set rules for a romance and they always ended with a HEA (or happy for now ending as any decent romance should). And Rex was the douche at the bookstore who teased him about his purchases. Jordan gave him some sass back and thought that was the end of that but Rex's interest was piqued. He wanted to know what was so good about romance it had Jordan all wound up and ready to fight him on it? And that was how he read his first romance and joined the book club Jordan ran.
I loved the spark between these two. Jordan needed that teasing from Rex to keep him on his toes and Rex needed Jordan to show him how romance worked and prove that he can stay and be loved.
This wasn't too drama filled. And really when I think about it there wasn't that much story. There was the romance plot and then there was an exploration of Jordan trying to build up the book club and pursuing a new career. There was also a little Rex family drama. But I liked that the plot wasn't too heavy, it made this a great soft read to lose myself in. The cover should show it all, this a soft book... But don't let that fool you into thinking it's not good.
I haven't read that many M/M romances, but I hadn't realised I'd not read many F/F romances either. I definitely need to expand my reading. What was interesting is this was a romance written by a man, I don't read many male authors as it is but it was interesting to have romance from a male perspective.
Published: 18th June 2020
Source: Author
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
This match is no game.
When a rogue wave strips Tess Dunn of her bikini top, desperate, half-naked times call for desperate, please-cover-me-kids-are-coming-closer measures. Enter Lucas Karlsson, AKA that flirty Swede in the water nearby. When he prevents her bare buoys from being exposed to fellow vacationers, even an ocean can’t drown the sparks that fly.
Lucas, a former top-level tennis pro now giving lessons at the resort, fled there after the abrupt, painful end to his injury-plagued career. But he’s finally ready to move on with his life—and after a few late-night, hands-on sessions with Tess, he’s eager to prove he’s the ace she wants.
But this match comes with challenges: She’s forty, and at twenty-six, he’s barely old enough to rent a car. Worse, they only have two weeks together before Tess returns to her assistant-principal life in Virginia. During that brief time, they’ll have to play hard, take a few risks, and find out whether their chemistry is a one-shot wonder…or whether they’re meant to be doubles partners for life.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Who doesn't love an age gap romance? And with the woman being older? Even better!
I always enjoy books from Olivia Dade, she just sweeps me up in her romances. I mean Teach Me? Still a favourite of mine. So it was great to see Marysburg again, even at a distance since this was all set in Florida while Tess was on vacation.
It was safe to say I loved every moment of this book. I mean, it began with boob jokes and puns and just carried on making me smile. I loved how Tess was so fine in her body and with herself. She was turning 40 and she was overweight but she was cool with that. I mean, when it came to her weight she acknowledged this may have led to her knee pain, but she was happier eating whatever and not having time to exercise rather than being miserable and thinner. She could still play a decent game of tennis so it’s not like she was unfit. I loved that message of being chill with yourself and prioritising your happiness and weight not being the be all and end of all of who you are.
Anyway, I loved Tess and she was even better when she was with Lucas flirting. I liked Lucas from the start, yes he had a dude-bro persona he projected but I could tell he was a genuinely good guy. He always let Tess set the pace but made his intentions known and he always checked in with her when he thought he was putting too much stress on her. Yes, he did learn to show more of himself, he had issues with not speaking enough about himself. But he knew his mind and what he wanted and I admired that, I didn’t have that kind of knowledge at his age… still don’t. I also liked that, for him, age was never an issue. He started his career young. He had to grow up at a young age and so yes he was younger than Tess but he is far more mature than many.
I liked that the age difference was always Tess’s issue and never Lucas’s. In fact, he fought her on it and it was a central issue Tess had to overcome in the book.
Basically, this was aces and you should all go out and buy. You’ll also really want to start playing tennis after reading (except, tennis looks hard so maybe not). It also made me want to rewatch the film Wimbledon, only for tennis related reasons obviously.
Published: 22nd June 2020
Source: Author
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, LGBT+
My Rating:
As his twenty-sixth birthday approaches, Desta Joy Walker finds himself in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the one place he's been actively avoiding most of his life. For Desta, the East African capital encompasses some of the happiest and saddest parts of his life--his first home and the place where his father died. When an unavoidable work obligation lands him there for twelve weeks, he may finally have a chance for the closure he so desperately needs. What Desta never expected was to catch a glimpse of his future as he reconnects with the beautiful country and his family's past.
Elias Fikru has never met an opportunity he hasn't seized. Except, of course, for the life-changing one he's stubbornly ignored for the past nine months. He'd be a fool not to accept the chance to pursue his doctoral studies in the U.S., but saying yes means leaving his homeland, and Elias isn't ready to make that commitment.
Meeting Desta, the Dominican-American emergency relief worker with the easy smile and sad eyes, makes Elias want things he's never envisioned for himself. Rediscovering his country through Desta's eyes emboldens Elias to reach for a future where he can be open about every part of himself. But when something threatens the future that's within their grasp, Elias and Desta must put it all on the line for love.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Finding Joy was my first book from Adriana Herrera but it won't be my last. It was just so beautiful. I was in such a reading funk when I started, both because I'd just finished 40-Love (which was fantastic) but also my head just wasn't there with life stuff really getting me down and stopping me from wanting to read. Thankfully, I started reading this all the same and it honestly was perfect. I needed to read this to both put my real life problems into perspective but also because this romance was beautiful.
Desta was a little lost before he arrived in Addis Ababa. He had come out of a 2-year relationship he had put all of the work into only to find his boyfriend never viewed him as anything more than someone to sleep with. This was also the first time he had come to Ethiopia since he was young. The country his father had in fact died. It was a country of his childhood even though his memories of that country were fuzzy at best. And it was also a place where he intended to make some life choices about what was next. I'm so glad he went there because then we got to meet Elias. Let me tell you I was swooning as hard as Desta was for him and I loved their friendship which slowly developed before they ever admitted their feelings. I didn't realise that homosexuality was illegal there and the tension which built between them because they had to keep their feelings on the DL was brilliant.
This book was an excellent romance (although Desta needed some strong words spoken to him when he was messing Elias about because he did not deserve the cold shoulder) but it was also a celebration of such a wonderful country. When I read the author's note at the end I smiled because I could already tell there was a strong love for Ethiopia, you could feel it in how it was written, but I was so pleased to see that was because Herrera herself had such a strong love for it from her own experiences there. This was not an impulsive setting but instead a celebration of a brilliant country and the people there but also a chance to show we shouldn't be those ex-pats assuming the saviour role but instead be celebrating the loud and proud voices of those who live there.
***
And there are my reviews, anyone else read any of these? Do you have a favourite or have I introduced you to something new to read?
17 September 2019
Call It What You Want // Another Brilliant Book From An Author Who Always Hits the Mark
Source: Netgalley/Purchased
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult
My Rating:
When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.
Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.
When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship...
This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?
Brigid Kemmerer is a goddess who writes some of the best YA and I know this and still sometimes put off reading her releases. I was approved for an ARC a while back on this one and was so insanely excited, but then the formatting for it was a little skewiff on my Kindle and I put off reading when various slumps happened. I treated myself to a copy (because there was never any doubt I would buy myself a copy as well) and I have no regrets.
This one was a little darker than some YA I’ve read of late. Rob is struggling with his fall from popularity due to the revelation his dad had been stealing from people and had blown the money folks had given him to invest. Rob used to be that popular, privileged guy in high school that you hated but people seemed to flock to just to be in his orbit. He’s struggling with that change and the isolation of losing his friends is tough on him. It’s made even worse that people seem to hate him and believe he was stealing right along with his dad. When the book starts he spends more time reading than anything else and it inadvertently led to him getting excellent grades.
And Meaghan? Everyone knows her as the girl who tried to cheat on the SATs and made everyone fail their test and have to retake it. She’s struggling with her own issues and she’s certainly had a few snide comments made in her direction. When she’s paired with Rob on a class project it’s hard to say who is less excited to be working with the other.
I have to say, I wasn’t sure how Rob and Maegan were going to work together, I mean they didn’t seem like they should fir but somehow they really did. It was lovely to see Rob’s polite good side come out, especially when so many people expected the worse from him from no other reason than who his dad was. Meagan saw the best side of Rob and I think he needed someone to see him that way. Especially as Rob has to face his father every day and struggle with the man he once viewed him as and then the reality facing him. He and his mom were primary carers for his dad and that was tough to read. It’s something no kid should have to deal with and it was a tough blow for Rob as he felt a lot of hatred for his dad but also loved who he once thought he was. It was a lot for him to reconcile and having Meagan there really helped him, I think, because she felt the pain Rob did and helped him realise it was ok to be hurt by his dad and still love him.
Now, the next paragraph is like a major spoiler so please skip it if you don’t want to know a big plot point of this book.
There were some moral questions being asked in this book. Rob is seen as a thief by everyone so is it wrong for him to follow through, especially when he’s doing it to help others? Where is the line on these things? And the people who are benefitting, would they want to know where these things are coming from and would they accept if they knew? It was all a series of questions and I really liked exploring it in this book. I didn’t know how Rob would resolve it with himself doing wrong and how it could possibly end well for him. It did go a little wrong, but I loved the ethics explored as he struggled with his choices as he was driven so far he wanted to cross the line. And was that how his dad felt when he crossed the line to stealing?
And now to non-spoilery things. I loved the friendships in this book, and how it explored friendship where you may not agree with your BFF’s actions but how they can act badly and still be looking out for your best interests. And the friendship between Meagan and her sister! I love strong bonds between family and seeing Meagan slowly grow slower to her older sister once more was brilliant, and when she had to stick up for her sister at one point in the book I was full on cheering, even though she was the younger sister she totally had her sister’s back.
This book was just brilliant and I strongly recommend you read if you haven’t already. it looks at ethics, friendship and what being an outsider is really like. It was just so good.
Have you read this or any of Brigid Kemmerer’s other YA books? What did you think?
The Simple Wild – K.A. Tucker
Published: 7th August 2018Source: Scribd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult
My Rating:
Calla Fletcher wasn't even two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when Calla learns that Wren’s days may be numbered, she knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.
She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional—dear God—outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this rugged environment, Jonah—the unkempt, obnoxious, and proud Alaskan pilot who helps keep her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.
Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. Soon, she finds herself forming an unexpected bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried—and failed at—years ago. It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.
You know you're on to a winner when the book you're reading has you tearing up and it has barely started. I was a sobbing mess by the end of this book, like ugly crying, face blotchy crying when it was all over. It was not pretty but the emotion was so worth it for this book!
The Simple Wild had been on my radar for at least a year and I kept convincing myself not to buy it because it was a lot of money to spend on a book if I didn’t like it. Then I saw it on Scribd and I figured I might as well read one book with this 30 day free trial and I am so glad I did. This book was devoured in one sitting and I don’t think I could have read it any other way. I was dying to know how the book would develop and, honestly, it would have been too painful to read stretched over several days or several sittings. I didn’t even get distracted reading like I usually do. There was no looking at my phone constantly, or looking up something up online. None of that, It was just so good I did not want to put it down for even a second.
So this book is all about Calla, who has a father in Alaska she hasn’t spoken to in years and has never actually seen face to face (because no one remembers being a baby so meeting before the age of two does not count). She receives some news that her father’s health is less than stellar she throws caution to the wind and heads to the far reaches of Alaska to finally meet her dad and boy am I glad she did. I actually really liked the character of Calla. I admit I might have judged her a little at first, much like Jonah did. When it was mentioned she had a standing appointment for her nails and begged her stylist for a last minute hair appointment before she went to Alaska I did worry we wouldn't get on. I mean, it seemed a little superficial… but then if you were meeting your father for the first time I guess you kind of want to look your best. Thankfully, I was as wrong as Jonah was. Yes Calla liked to look good and, like any of us, spent too much money on clothes but that wasn't all she was and I loved seeing her have the chance to realise that too. During her time in Alaska she lost her clothes and was stuck wearing uncomfortable shows and like two pairs of jeans, and she has all of her makeup and hair products taken away from her for a while. but during all this she learnt that her appearance didn’t define her. This is especially significant as she was a lifestyle blogger with a strong social media presence where appearance is everything. Throughout this she learnt that she was more than how she looked and a picture didn’t tell a whole story and I really liked that aspect of the book and do wish that could have been explored a bit more.
Another thing I really liked in this book? The romance! Jonah was a sweetheart who I kind of hated at first appearance and was slowly charmed by as you learnt he was not as much of a dick as he first presented himself to be. Jonah is Calla’s pilot to the small town her father lives in and he gives the absolute worst first impression but he is a big presence in her dad’s life and quickly becomes a regular in Calla’s days in Alaska. The banter between Jonah and Calla was A+ and I couldn't get enough of them getting funny digs in and their joking. They were so entertaining to read together. I have always loved some good banter in romance because it so damn fun to read and you definitely get that here. And I think you needed the fun banter between Calla and Jonah to balance some of the heavy emotions which come up within this book because otherwise it would just be too much. I adored their romance but I don't think it was my highlight.
My favourite part of this book were the family connections. Honestly, I adored Wren, Calla's father, and the sweet moments of them being together as they tentatively got to know each other. They were both so hesitant around each other but I was crying at little moments like Wren being willing to eat a salad Calla had prepared even though he hated vegetables just so he could say he enjoyed a meal his daughter prepared. I was crying at him drinking the coffee she made even though she was clueless and it was way too strong. Seriously, this book has me tearing up even thinking about it. I will always love a strong family connection in a book but this father/daughter relationship just killed me. And let’s not forget Wren’s makeshift Alaska family of Mabel, Agnes and Jonah and really all of Bangor, Alaska was brilliant. It was so lovely to see this small, close knit community and how everyone there seemed to be part of this massive extended family. I adored how close everyone was and I just wanted to be part of it for a little while. This book had me about ready to book a flight out to Alaska.
This will definitely be going into a favourites list because I couldn't put it down. I will be investing my money in my own copy soon enough because this book destroyed my emotions and I am sure I’ll want to return for the happy moments.
Have you read this, or any other books by K.A. Rucker? And what was the last book you read which destroyed you emotionally?
Published: 7th May 2019 (6th June 2019 UK Paperback)
Source: Netgalley/Purchased
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
From the bestselling author of The Kiss Quotient.Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, not big, important emotions - like grief. And love. He thinks he's defective. His family knows better - that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly refuses to consider a relationship, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. So when the opportunity arises to go to America and meet a potential husband, she can't turn it down. This could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn't go quite as planned. Esme's lessons in love seem to be working... but only on herself. She's hopelessly smitten with a man who's convinced he can never return her affection.As Esme's time in the United States dwindles, will Khai let his head catch up with his heart? Will he find the strength to let go, and let love in?
The Bride Test was one of my most anticipated reads of this year. After reading (and loving) The Kiss Quotient I couldn’t wait to see what Helen Hoang had in store for us next and I am pleased to say this book was so so good. I didn't think Helen Hoang could beat The Kiss Quotient, I was actually scared this may book may suffer from the sophomore slump but it was utterly brilliant. I'd been excited to learn this second book would be Khai's book as he was an utter sweetheart and I wanted his HEA but I don't think anything could have prepared me for this book.
The basic premise is Khai’s mom goes and interviews potential wives for him in Vietnam as he has shown no interest in finding a wife (or even girlfriend) for himself. She luckily comes across My and pays for her to travel to the US and to complete a trial as Khai’s girlfriend and try and convince him to marry her.
I know, it sounds like we shouldn’t like it. That is the premise. But turns out it is genius. My (who changes her name to Esme, short for Esmerelda, when she goes to the US) was someone I was a little uncertain of at first meeting her. I admired how hardworking she was and how she was wary of accepting an offer from a strange, rich lady to travel to the US as a mail-order bride of sorts. She didn’t want to accept something which seemed too easy, so when she changed her name, her outfit, and began to act almost opposite to how she had first appeared I was scared she would lose all sense of self in the US. I was utterly wrong and Esme charmed all over again with how nice and hardworking she was and how she never once judged Khai, maybe because she had no idea others would in her situation. She knew nothing of Khai’s autism and even when she did learn of it not once was she critical of him, she simply acknowledged it as another facet of who he was and I adored that.
Esme was strong-willed and always wished to succeed by herself and it was so believable her path to find her place in the US not defined by Khai but instead for herself. There were so many roadblocks stopping her, even more now with the new administration in place in the US who wish to prevent people from coming in. And although she had a major inferiority complex she did not deserve as she was awe-inspiring at how hard she worked at absolutely everything, she never became downtrodden. It was very interesting how she was comparing herself to people at home and in the US. She had a US father she never met so she was mixed race and this mixed heritage left her very conflicted. She was not like those she grew up with, she viewed herself as having large hands and being ugly, but then when she saw women in the US she was nothing like them either. It was very interesting seeing her look at this new side of her heritage she had never seen and feeling she did not fit there as well. She continually felt out of place and this led to her quest to find her father, which was a brilliant side story which may have not developed quite as I expected but really enjoyed.
I could write pages on my love for Esme and how her character grew and developed. I know I said I was excited about Khai’s story but I couldn’t help but feel that this book was far more Esme’s than anyone else's as she struggled to find her place and a home she belonged to. She broke my heart and made me feel like a total slacker with the amount of work she did each and every day and still she felt like she fell short. I swear, on some pages I wish I could have climbed in and shaken some people. Esme needed protecting!
And now I feel I should talk about Khai as I did say this was his book. I think part i loved most about Khai’s story was how his autism was represented. We had autism written in a new light for The Kiss Quotient as the way women present can be very different to men, but then Khai himself presents differently to how someone else might. I think I really admired how Hoang showed the nuances of it and how he experienced it. He himself knew he was autistic and brushed off many of his personality quirks as just being his autism and as he got to know Esme and explained things to her I think he learnt new things about himself I really admired. Khai was extremely successful in running a company that made money and worked for him. He did not have a massive social circle but he had friends and family and was not incapable of social interaction, he just did not interpret all social cues and tBut it was just as much Esme's. Many might say Khai didn't come across as autistic but then many would have said the same thing about Stella in The Kiss Quotient. I really appreciate how Helen Hoang shows autism is not one set of rules. Each person has a different experience and she shows that here. In many ways, Khai is extremely successful. He uses his intelligence to run a successful company and plays to his strengths. He is not incapable of social interaction he just prefers not to. He processes some emotional things differently and he is adverse to touch. Especially a gentle touch. He has his own boundaries he has when it comes to touch. There was an amazing scene when we first more about his preferences with touch when Esme offers to cut his hair. I knew I was going to adore Esme and Khai together as he made himself vulnerable and explained he was averse to a gentle touch like a soft brush of his hair and she tested different pressures to get it right. It was such a simple scene and could have easily been overlooked but I was a goner then.
Their romance was spectacular. As they grew closer (even when Khai didn't want to) I was cheering as they were so sweet and they had so much chemistry. I was so fully invested in everything that happened. This pair had me cheering when things were going well and broke my heart and had me crying at their lows. It was a complete rollercoaster and didn't even want to put this book down to work.
I didn't think she could beat The Kiss Quotient for me but The Bride Test was just as good if not better. Now I just want to know what Helen Hoang will write next?
Have you read this and did you enjoy it? What were some of your favourite moments?
Teach Me – Olivia Dade
Published: 30th March 2019
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
Their lesson plans didn't include love. But that's about to change...
When Martin Krause arrives at Rose Owens's high school, she's determined to remain chilly with her new colleague. Unfriendly? Maybe. Understandable? Yes, since a loathsome administrator gave Rose's beloved world history classes to Martin, knowing it would hurt her.
But keeping her distance from a man as warm and kind as Martin will prove challenging, even for a stubborn, guarded ice queen. Especially when she begins to see him for what he truly is: a man who's never been taught his own value. Martin could use a good teacher--and luckily, Rose is the best.
Rose has her own lessons--about trust, about vulnerability, about her past--to learn. And over the course of a single school year, the two of them will find out just how hot it can get when an ice queen melts.
I first saw this book on Twitter. I saw this book being talked about by some authors whose books I love on Twitter and so it was on my TBR. And then I saw in Netgalley and thought ‘why not’ I gave it a shot and requested and I got approved like same day! It was insane and decided to instantly start reading.
All I knew going in was that it involved teachers and this fell into the ‘seasoned romance’ category and we all know it’s rare to have a romance with characters outside of their 30s. And I loved seeing these more mature characters have a second chance at love. Both were divorced and each had their issues, but they each deserved a chance to be happy.
Rose is a wonder. She is a teacher at a high school, practically an institution she’s been there for a long while and her long service means she has gotten to know her students and has a system. She has her very own classroom, she has gotten used to the lessons she gets to teach and she is incredibly happy. And Martin puts a wrinkle in that because he is messing with her system and he doesn’t even know it. He just knows he is at a new school hoping to be closer to his daughter and have a chance to teach history, a subject he loves. He is fresh off of a divorce and romance is the last thing on his mind. He arrives and is sharing Rose’s classroom and views her as a bit of an ice queen, but he sees beyond that. He knows there is more to it and he gets he’s interrupting her routine and soon learns he is stopping her from helping students who she loves.
I don’t want to reveal too much because this book is just so wonderful and I want you guys to experience it for yourselves. Martin was such a sweetheart. He is struggling to move on from a divorce where, towards the end, it was continually drilled home that he was boring and had no sense of humour. It brought up old demons and meeting Rose both brings that all back, but also helps him move forward and learn he is hilarious with his dry sense of humour. He is sharp and witty and he is such a good guy and sometimes in romance that can be boring, but he is anything but. And Rose? She is a woman who has been beaten down a lot. She has been told she isn’t good enough and told to change and she has worked harder than most to make it. She is thrown off by the arrival of Martin and some would hate him, but she can’t when it’s not his fault and he is a genuinely nice guy. They have some excellent banter as they get to know each other and when they hit bumps in the road? They talk and they are (mostly) mature.
My only grumble about this book? I didn’t get the US school system! Like, what are honors and AP classes? What’s the difference? Why was it so important Rose teach one to be able to get students onto the other? I didn’t get it and that almost threw me out of the book. But once the school talk was over, I was totally there for this book.
Have you read this book? And have you read any romance with older MCs you want to recommend?
Source: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
My Rating:
From the author of Letters to the Lost comes a heart-wrenching story of two teens with big secrets and a love that could set them free.
Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay...until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.
Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.
When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.
After adoring Letters to the Lost, I waited far too long to read Rev's story and that's my bad but it was really good and just what I'd hoped to get for Rev’s story.
In Letters to the Lost we all knew Rev had a dark backstory, I mean, he was abused by his dad and was preached at and blamed each time he was hurt. That’s messed up and my heart broke for him each time we learnt something new because a guy that good and that kind did not deserve such a past. He got lucky and was adopted by a truly wonderful couple who couldn’t have been kinder. I cried when I read about why they adopted him and how they developed a connection with Rev. And when you found out the reason they’ve continued to foster children after they’d adopted Rev was because he asked them why they hadn’t. I mean, even once he had a safe home he still wanted his parents to help out others. That’s a truly good person.
Rev was kind-hearted, but he still had so many issues to work through from the abuse of his father and this is what we get in this book. He has to reconcile his father was to blame, not him, for everything that happened to him. Rev was paranoid that he was going to become like his father and he was nothing like that man. It was slow going but he did finally realise it. He had me crying because I cared so much for him and I wanted him to believe the best in his self. His progression in believing himself was helped by a new foster kid that was taken in, Matthew. He was older, a teenager, when he came to them, the oldest child that they’d taken in and this was a new experience for Rev. He worried about how he would react to having someone he could potentially hurt in the house. He thought he could harm him and Matthew helped him slowly realise that he wasn’t that type of person.
Rev was also helped along by Emma. I know this was very much Rev’s book, but it was a little bit Emma’s too. She was not my favourite character, but I liked that a lot of this book was about women in gaming and the sheer amount of abuse they receive simply for their gender. It’s disgusting and it’s half the reason I hate laying online in games because I just don’t want to put up with the idiots you always get that it’s a man’s world. I really respected her passion for gaming and her dedication for trying to make it in the gaming industry, she developed her very own game and she hadn’t even left school But because of it she faced abuse from an online troll who hated women and took it out on her. She was struggling with that when she met Rev by accident and slowly a connection developed. They had a sweet friendship and romance and Rev very much deserved this. Emma wasn’t perfect, I mean she made some idiot choices towards the end of the book, but I got why, but she helped Rev and he helped her and it was what he needed. He needed someone outside of his friends and family to help him realise a few things and drive him outside of his comfort zone and moving forward.
This was exactly the story we deserved for Rev and I’m so glad I read it in the end. I may have been slow about it but I’m so happy to see this book on my shelf.
Have you read this? Wasn’t Rev a sweetheart?
I have two very different books to review today. both released last week (although one of them has been around a little longer than the other) and I wanted to get my review up for both. I liked one a touch more than the author, but both are very awesome reads. First up is an amazing YA romance which
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
My Rating:
Bollywood film fanatic Winnie has grown up believing the future is written in the stars. Her family's pandit predicted she would find the love of her life before her eighteenth birthday. So when her relationship with Raj collapses, despite him meeting all the criteria, Winnie is lost. This is not how her perfect ending is scripted.Then fellow film geek Dev challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope: is taking the future into her own hands the way to find her happily ever after? To get the perfect ending, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family and, of course, a Bollywood movie star.A fate-filled debut sure to dazzle fans of Stephanie Perkins, Maureen Johnson and Sandhya Menon.
First up we have My So-Called Bollywood Life and it was a young adult read in a run of them. It did mean I was a little harsher on this book than I might have been otherwise. That being said, I did really enjoy it and thinking back on it I am so impressed by it and am glad I read it. I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a lighter romance read which will probably make you want to watch a Bollywood film (or five).
When you start this book it's with Winnie breaking into her ex-boyfriend’s house to steal back everything she had given to him after he cheated when they were on a break (yes, all I thought of was friends when I read that) and from that first moment, I knew I liked her. She was not shy or retiring, she was strong and she knew her mind. Raj seemed like the boy she was meant to fall in love with but he did so much wrong and she knew he wasn’t, no matter what others might think. But her family believes in the prediction from her family pandit since he got so much else right. So this is very much about family expectations and making your own destiny and I was cheering Winnie on to make her own choices because Raj sounded like he did not get her at all.
I loved that the whole book was filled with Bollywood references and films considering the book title. It was obvious many a Bollywood film was watched in the writing of this book and I was tempted to compile a list of some to watch given I'm a complete newbie to Bollywood films. I got Winnie's passion for Bollywood films and films in general. Not everyone can make reference to some of their favourite Bollywood films and follow it up with references to Pride & Prejudice or Never Been Kissed. It was little things like that which helped show the character of Winnie was well-written to show she wasn't some Bollywood fangirl (she was) but someone who was serious about film as a whole and willing to learn and watch everything in her quest to pursue her passion. It was that which made me so very frustrated by the character of Raj. He continually brushed off Winnie’s love of film and dreams of being a film critic as impractical but anyone who listened to her talk about films would have been blind to not see her dedication to it. I think that's why I was so pleased she continually turned Raj down when he kept trying to get back with her. As soon as someone is unwilling to support your dreams you have to cut them loose as they don't want the best for you.
And Dev! Now that boy was adorable. He was exactly right for Winnie. He challenged her but never held her back. He tried to get her to think of new things and wanted to help her move forward not to hold her back or change her. I loved seeing them together as they went through meeting each others family and got to know each other. I was sad when the inevitable separation happened as drama came to keep them apart but it made the ending all the more rewarding. But the separation portion of this book bothered me. I got why Winnie was annoyed, and I got why Dev was angry too, but I felt like the massive deal that was made out of the whole situation just to be able to have the dramatic reunion at the end. I knew it was going to happen but it just felt a little much. More talking was needed I think, but it’s a minor grumble.
I loved how involved Winnie’s parents and family was in her life as well. Her parents were so cute both scolding her and telling her to follow rules and be good but always pushing her to pursue her dream as well. I think because I've read a lot of books where parents are trying to force their kids to do something they don't want to do, especially in YA because the 'my parents don't understand me' trope is strong that seeing supportive parents was exciting to see.
I really enjoyed this book and it was such an easy read. I'm sad I kept comparing it to other books I read because honestly, it was really good and definitely one I think others should read too as it's better than at least 50% of contemporary YA books I've read. And it was fun.
Source: Netgalley/Author
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
Finding a family…
…with her ex?
In this Billionaires for Heiresses story, Autumn is stunned when Hunter Lee, her billionaire ex turned best friend, appears on her doorstep—with a son! Their relationship changed because she wanted a family and he didn’t believe he’d make a good father, but they never stopped loving each other. Now he needs her help. Will caring for baby Eli together make them realize how much they both want this little family…forever?
This was only my second Therese Beharrie book and I enjoyed it a lot, but I think the first one, Second Chance With Her Billionaire, was just that bit better so I was constantly comparing this to that one and that meant I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I might. It was still a really good book and I was wholly invested and wanted to give Autumn a big old hug on basically every other page because she was hurting, but the angst of the first book was stronger somehow. But me saying this doesn’t match up to the first is me just saying it was really good rather than amazing because that bar was set quite high.
I think it was the baby element that might have taken it down that notch. Or it could be the fact that the break-up reasons were way more Hunter’s fault and I got my back up a little that he then turned to Autumn for help when kids were one of the reasons the two split. I mean it did lead to an epic amount of emotional angst that was so satisfying to read as the two slowly worked through their issues but having your back up at the start of a book can occasionally lead to you thinking a little less kindly of some characters. Hunter won me over in the end, but that man had to work for it much like he did with winning Autumn over so I suppose he’d romanced us both by the end of the book hadn’t he? That just shows Therese Beharrie skill that I came out at the end having really enjoyed the book and love the ending.
Hunter and Autumn are so good together and they both had their issues to unpack which stopped them being able to be a successful couple. Autumn needed to work on accepting herself and not doubting the opinions of those around her and that they actually cared. And Hunter had both daddy issues and a huge amount t of grief and guilt to deal with and had no place being in a relationship when he had that to contend with. But the two had had a relationship and it ended badly. Hunter was too scared to commit and give Autumn the family and future she wished and Autumn found she couldn't keep twisting herself up trying to please Hunter and give him what she thought he wanted. But she also couldn't expect him to love her when she didn't love herself and allow others to love her without her doubting them. Like I said they had issues. But they worked through them using their words… and raising a baby together (sort of, the actual mom honestly is in the picture but you really should read to get the details on that). Them working together to help Hunter be a good dad and get over some of his issues meant that they also worked through their issues for why their relationship didn’t work in the first place.
This book did really well in making me care for the characters. Autumn and Hunter got together at the wrong time and they broke up for the wrong reasons but this baby coming into their life? It totally brought them together. I may have hated that Hunter’s first instinct when finding out he had a surprise baby was to call Autumn which was gutting to her as she so wanted kids, but also the fact that his first instinct was to do that really says everything. He loved her and when something major happened she was the first person he wanted to turn to for help. It was a book with a whole heap of angst, I mean, a lot, and so I looked away a lot because damn I hurt for them both, but I was smiling by the end and that’s the important part really.
Have you read either of these books? Do you find yourself inevitably comparing books to others and finding yourself being overly critical?
Serious Moonlight – Jenn Bennett
Published: 16th May 2019 (UK paperback)
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
My Rating:
From award-winning Jenn Bennett comes a swoon-worthy story with a compelling mystery at its heart
Raised in isolation and home-schooled by her strict grandparents, the only experience Birdie has had of the outside world is through her favourite crime books. But everything changes when she takes a summer job working the night shift at a historic Seattle hotel.
There she meets Daniel Aoki, the hotel’s charismatic driver, and together they stumble upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—is secretly meeting someone at the hotel.
To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell, and in doing so, realize that the most confounding mystery of all may just be her growing feelings for Daniel.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I’ve dithered over this review for several days, maybe even a week. I just couldn’t figure out how to explain my love for it whilst balancing out with… not complaints, but maybe niggling moments that bothered me only after I was looking back on what I’d read. They didn’t mean there was anything wrong with the book, I loved it, but they are things to think on I suppose.
The most important thing to know is I honestly really loved it. Serious Moonlight is a rare read for me, I don’t read as many YA books anymore and this was a reminder why YA books of any genre are not to be overlooked. It reminded me why I love books in this category so very much even though many are not for me anymore. Jenn Bennett is an author who could convince me to read anything she wrote, though, so as soon as I saw this on Netgalley I knew I had to request it and I was jumping in joy when the approval came in.
This book has some strong characters within its pages and I was seriously impressed at how she made me like all of them. Birdie is a teenage girl who has not had much chance to just be a teenager. She grew up with her mother in Seattle until she, unfortunately, died far too soon and left Birdie with some serious abandonment issues. She then lived with her grandparents on a small island and was home-schooled by her grandmother who had some very strict rules for Birdie. She was sheltered and she had few friends beyond her mother’s best friend, Mona. Birdie and Mona were Daring Dames together and I really loved their friendship and how Mona acted as both as parent and friend for Birdie yet never treated her like a child. Mona treated Birdie as a grown up and although I think she sometimes forgot how young Birdie was, she always treated her with respect and it meant Birdie was open with her about everything that happens from speaking about sex to talking about Mona’s own boyfriend and that was awesome to see.
And there is Daniel, our love interest and such a charmer. He isn’t some cocky ladies man or even a really popular guy, he is just a good-looking guy who couldn’t believe his luck when Birdie showed some interest in him after he showed her a magic trick in a diner… until she ran away because she didn’t know how to act around a boy she liked. Daniel Aoki is into magic and gaming and things like D&D. He is geeky and sweet and was such a nice guy. I adored him, even if I wanted to have a few strong words with him towards the end. He was a genuinely good guy so I couldn’t stay mad with him for long.
Jenn Bennett doesn’t just do awesome characters I easily like, though. She also writes about many issues well. She writes sex positive books, which I adore, and has her characters talk about sex and I respect that. I want YA books to approach sex, not as a negative and there should certainly be no shame about it either, but I like when characters talk about sex before it happens and approach it sensibly. And we have that here, there is mention of using protection (because it still really pisses me off when protection is not talked about in any book with sex, including romance). And when Birdie was talking to Mona about it she was always so positive just asking the ever important question of if she was safe. I want sex to be talked about honestly, about being safe and about being comfortable when it happens. The honesty that it isn’t always good but it’s also about being comfortable with the one you’re with to make it better.
This book also dealt with some heavy issues within its pages beyond not shaming anyone for the choices they make with their body and it handled them well. Birdie is still reeling from losing her grandmother recently (even if their relationship was not all sunshine and rainbows but more a bit antagonistic) and she hasn’t fully recovered from losing her mother as a child. She had some serious abandonment issues which are heavily explored throughout the book and I respected that. And I really loved how well grief is shown not be a short process you get over but instead an experience you go through again and again. You never get over losing someone you love but instead come to terms with it and the fact that they’re absent and reflect on what that means. But it’s not just grief, there was also suicide and a very sensible and mature approach to mental health which came as a surprise in the storyline but meant some impressive character development.
I liked that Birdie was in denial about her narcolepsy as well. She had a method of avoidance about many an issue in her life (which I understand but was very unhealthy) and her health was one part of it. I liked that eventually she was forced to address her health and that getting medical help (and not relying upon google answers to health) was the best way and she was slowly getting a grasp on her well being by the end. And therapy was promoted as a healthy choice for mental health and having a strong family support system that still allowed independence.
I do wish Birdie had a larger circle of friends beyond her family. Her support system was so small and that was partially due to circumstance but also because she closed herself off. I got that a lot of this book was about learning to let people in and make friends, but so much of the book was centred on her and Daniel and although her aunt Mona was there I did wish she had someone her own age to speak with who wasn’t a romantic interest. Same goes for Daniel, we don’t see things from his perspective, but I felt like they were a little isolated and would have liked to see more side characters,
Anyway, I really loved this book, even if I wanted more of a friends and family presence in the book, that was a minor grumble about a truly amazing book. I was smiling and hugging this book close by the end. I loved the slowly developing friendship and romance between Birdie and Daniel and the mystery element was brilliant, although I guessed it by the end. I seem to be a fan of mystery within my romantic reads and this was pretty good. I definitely recommend.
Have you read this, what did you think?
The Flatshare – Beth O’Leary
Published: 18th April 2019 (hardback)
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
Tiffy Moore and Leon Twomey each have a problem and need a quick fix.
Tiffy’s been dumped by her cheating boyfriend and urgently needs a new flat. But earning minimum wage at a quirky publishing house means that her choices are limited in London.
Leon, a palliative care nurse, is more concerned with other people’s welfare than his own. Along with working night shifts looking after the terminally ill, his sole focus is on raising money to fight his brother’s unfair imprisonment.
Leon has a flat that he only uses 9 to 5. Tiffy works 9 to 5 and needs a place to sleep. The solution to their problems? To share a bed of course...
As Leon and Tiffy’s unusual arrangement becomes a reality, they start to connect through Post-It notes left for each other around the flat.
Can true love blossom even in the unlikeliest of situations?
Can true love blossom even if you never see one another?
Or does true love blossom when you are least expecting it?
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
It's not often a book makes me stay up well past my bedtime on a school night! It's even rarer that I finish a book in one day when I've been at work for most of it. Those facts alone should say everything about this book. I know that probably won't be enough to convince most of you to read, though, which sucks because writing a review for a book you really love is hard.
It was wonderful. I was so very surprised considering I forced myself to pick up this ARC. I’d just read a really good book and knew I needed to read an ARC to try and catch up. I’d had this book on my Kindle since December and after three months I was a little less excited to read it. I should know by now I'm always making bad choices when it comes to books and the good ones come along when you least expect them.
This book is so well written and I couldn't help but be sucked in from the moment Tiffy is looking at diabolical flats in London. Tiffy was so charming she wasn't some delicate woman out of a bad relationship about to fall apart (partially because she had yet to register it was a bad relationship but more on that later). She was a 6-foot redhead who wore outrageous outfits in a rainbow of colours. She was quirky but not a manic pixie dream girl. She was just a genuine quirky woman who used to like to DIY her toys to make them fit more to her and has moved on to working in publishing where she specialises in DIY and creative books. Unfortunately, publishing is not the gold mine you dream it is as a child. So when she was on a deadline to move out of her ex’s apartment her best option is to flatshare with L Twomey who she doesn't even get to meet because his girlfriend does not want any interaction. It's weird enough they'll share a bed (not at the same time). It seems ideal. She gets it on a night and why does she care who will be sleeping there during the day since she’ll be working anyway? And weekends? Well, he’ll be at his girlfriend's. It’s ideal for her, who doesn’t want a flatmate they don’t actually have to interact with?
And L Twomey? That's Leon. He's a sweetheart and a man of few words. He works as a palliative care nurse and has decided to stick with working nights in the week to earn more money. And he desperately needs all the cash he can get which is why he has decided to share his flat (and his bed) with a stranger is his best option. Leon seems like he will be hard to get to know since he is so monosyllabic but as soon as I met him I was charmed. I mean, a man who chats to an elderly man who is dying about his wartime romance and puts a smile on a young girls face is a sweetheart in my book. He didn’t really think through the fact that when he started sharing his flat it will involve someone else’s stuff inhabiting his space which swiftly leads to notes being lead to notes being left about the flat for them to give each other updates. And well… the rest is history.
Note passing normally brings up the idea of teens at school passing notes in class. It’s sweet and occasionally flirty but all very innocent. I didn’t expect notes to be the thing which triggers an epic romance, though. But it totally worked. From little notes offering up food to another after they’ve cooked to notes complaining about someone leaving the toilet seat up. They soon descend into actual conversations which give more personal details and Tiffy discovers why Leon needs money and Leon discovers why she was so eager to find a cheap flat in central London. They get to know each other as friends and soon that friendship becomes something more once they meet and it was adorable. The notes might be what made me fall in love with this book. It's such a cute way for a romance to start and the quirk that these two are flatmates who haven't seen each other in person? That's even better.
The book is told from both Tiffy and Leon’s perspective and I was impressed with how O'Leary managed to make both Beth and Leon’s voice distinctive in both letter form and their own chapters. They each had a completely different writing style for their chapters as each mirrored their personality. Leon's was short sentences chopped down to the bare minimum to get his point across. Tiffy's were long and detailed and so positive (like her). It had plenty of detail and was quirky and fun and a bit scattered from time to time. And Leon's is so to the point he cuts through a lot of bullshit but also time flies because he spent so much time considering. You could even tell when he was tired. Whilst Tiffy’s ends up avoiding a lot of things so even I didn't see the signs about her toxic ex until she did.
The book was so much more than just Leon and Tiffy’s romance, though. They had their own storylines, Leon was trying to help his brother and Tiffy was moving on from her ex, who was toxic and emotionally manipulated her. She didn’t even want to admit how much to herself. It was only as she got used to her single life and thought about moving on with someone new that she truly realised the extent that he messed with her head. Her best friends were there to support her and I loved each and every one of them. And I adored Leon’s brother as well, I would happy for him to have his very own book. I would totally read it because I do want to know what happens next for him.
This was an absolutely brilliant read and I am so happy I didn’t keep putting off reading. It was exactly what I wanted and nothing like I expected. It packed a real punch and it was well worth the zombie-like state I was in the next day.
Have you read this, or have I convinced you to read? And what was the last book you stayed up past your bedtime to finish?
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