ARC Book Review: Rebel Heiress (The Diamonds #3) by Amalie Howard

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Amalie Howard
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Release Date: May 19th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A young heiress must disguise herself to attend a prestigious, all-male university, where she unexpectedly falls for her handsome tutor, in this swoony historical romance by the USA Today bestselling author of Queen Bee.

Lady Rosalin Chen has a secret—she isn’t as vapid as she pretends to be. In fact, she’s a computing genius and smarter than most of her peers in the ton, including her own cousin, Ansel. It’s a secret she’s kept for years, not that hiding her intelligence has done her any favors in the marriage department. 

In fact, after several dismal social seasons in London, she’s practically considered a spinster. With little to lose, she decides to set her sights on getting a proper education rather than finding a husband. Disguised as Ansel, who truly could be her twin, she attends Cambridge University while he galivants around Europe on a secret Grand Tour.

There Rosalin crosses quills with the Trinity College’s mathematics prodigy and her tutor Tarik St. Clair. For the first time in her life, Rosalin is genuinely intrigued by a boy. His mind seems to be as sharp as hers. Unfortunately, as a commoner, Tarik doesn’t fit her parents’ expectations. But what if he could? What if she concocted one more audacious plan that could raise his station and finally take her off the market? She just has to hope that her lies don’t catch up to her.

Thank you PRH Audio for the audiobook and Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

IT’S CUTE.

I don’t have a lot to say because it kind of went in one ear and out the other? But I also didn’t hate reading it so? I will say it’s another genuine teen friendly read and I always love when I find a book I can add to that list. It does a good job of feeling historical and also adding a touch of modern phrases. I don’t think it’s overdone and once again, makes it work for the age group.

I was worried with how this plot was going to play out and I ended up liking the way it was handled. The romantic aspects were able to play out on a different playing field and I liked the contrast. Rosalin and Tarik had great chemistry and I loved the way they discussed science and the stars and all the things they held common ground on.

Most of this I read via audiobook and I liked the narrator! It’s a good format to pick up if you want to try this series. It’s complete now!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Spur of the Moment (Willow Creek #1) by Juliana Smith

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Juliana Smith
Publisher: Bloom Books
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This beautiful edition of Spur of the Moment will include spot gloss and a gorgeous inside cover design.

“This might just be my favorite summer yet at Willow Creek. Lottie doesn’t know it, but I’m determined to make it her favorite too.”

Seventeen-year-old Lottie Turner was born to ride bulls.

Rodeos, big dreams, dusty boots—bull-riding was her whole life. Until the accident. Until the diagnosis that changed epilepsy. Now her doctor and her family have grounded her for good. No bulls. No danger. No freedom.

Then Walker—her former best friend, first crush, and the boy who once knew every piece of her—returns to town for the summer. Walker’s supposed to be chasing stars with NASA, not mucking stalls, even if he really does want dirt, sweat, and saddles. He wants Lottie Turner and all of her wildness.

When Lottie makes a summer bucket list to find herself again, Walker’s the first to volunteer to do it with her. One item at a time, they tumble back into laughter, heat, and everything they left unsaid.

But as the sparks between them reignite, Lottie has to face the hardest truth of some risks can break you, but others are worth taking anyway.

Thank you Bloom Books for the gifted ARC and audiobook.

ADORABLE.

Alright Juliana Smith officially has my attention. I really liked this book and can’t wait to see what couple is next at Willow Creek! I loved the epilepsy rep and all of the conversations surrounding it. The loss of things you can no longer do, the worry for yourself, the worry from your loved ones, and so much more. It made the book have a real rawness to the emotions and journey a new diagnosis can take.

I loved seeing Lottie push, learn, and grow. Two things can be true, you can be upset and what’s happening and be hopeful for new opportunities on the horizon. I loved where she ended up and the lightness brought in.

The romance with Walker was filled with just the right amount of tension. I loved having his perspective too and seeing where he was coming from on the decisions he had to make as well. I thought Walker and Lottie were a beautifully match pair and the chemistry between them sang towards that young love in the summertime vibe.

🎧 The audiobook is duet narration and is wonderful! Absolutely loved it and recommend that format for a great read.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low, infrequent
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: epilepsy (mentions of seizures and one on page), distant parents, infidelity (FMC’s Dad)

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Book Review: Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Alexandra Kiley
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Release Date: March 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

SCOT ON THE TRAIL!

Brooke Sinclair’s dream of being a published author derailed when she was expelled from the University of Edinburgh seven years ago. Now a ghostwriter, she sticks to other people’s stories. But when her college mentor Mhairi McCallister needs a co-writer for her memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trek, Brooke would do anything for the opportunity—including agreeing to hike the rugged Skye Trail for authenticity’s sake… not knowing the nature photographer who’ll join her is Jack Sutherland, the man who shattered Brooke’s writing career—and her heart.

Between getting sacked from the University and walking away from his family’s tour-guiding business to follow his photography dreams, Jack is desperate to prove he didn’t disappoint his family for nothing. And he can’t ignore his Aunt Mhairi’s final wishes for her memoir. Even if it means acting as guide and storyteller for the one who got away. Even if it means keeping secrets about Mhairi’s health.

As Jack and Brooke head into the solitude of the sweeping Scottish landscape, they’re forced to confront old feelings that haven’t disappeared with time. But can two weeks and eighty miles heal years of unspoken hurt and offer a second chance at the end of the trail?

I AM FRUSTRATED.

And honestly I am writing this review days after finishing and I can’t even think of the specifics because of how much I have blocked it out already.

The flashback chapters didn’t add anything for me. I was not swooning over the first chance they had in a relationship and by the epilogue I still wasn’t convinced this couple actually made it that far.

I watched many characters struggle with miscommunication and that took away from what I thought were originally good bones of the story. I am getting exhausted from how often I am coming across books with a main plot of miscommunication. It feels like a weak plot device for 85% of situations.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3+ open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: loved one with cancer

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ARC/ALC Book Review: The Shippers by Katherine Center

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Katherine Center
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: May 19th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.

Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.

No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the audiobook and St. Martin’s for the the gifted ebook.

WELL I HAD A GOOD TIME.

This book found me at just the right time when I needed a sunshine filled romcom and Katherine Center delivered. It’s got the quirky writing I leaned right into and a humorous story full of heart and joy.

The FMC, JoJo, made me struggle just a bit because there were one or two small plots that didn’t work for me, but I digress, I was here for the rest. I LVOED the banter between her and Cooper. Gosh, it was sassy and smile inducing and I’m sorry, how could you not see from 10 miles away that Cooper is madly in love with JoJo??? We love a man who yearns.

There’s plenty of wedding shenanigans, cruise ship antics and drama throughout. I really liked the sub plots as well. I liked the conversations and themes and the supportive nature of JoJo’s family. This has a lot of those hallmark *romcom* moments that always bring me joy (one bed, stuck in a stairwell…you know you want to know more).

Also the audiobook! Stellar as always. The narrator does an amazing job. I loved it. JoJo’s character was brought to life beautifully. And don’t miss the special note from Katherine Center either.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: kidnapping & child abuse (recounted), sexual harassment and attempted assault

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