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Book Review: All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 256 pages
Author: Falon Ballard
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Bitter exes. Professional rivals. Just one bed.
What could go wrong?

Jessica Carrington always wanted her own happily ever after. But, until that happens, she spends her days as a small-time romance writer, penning satisfying Happily Ever Afters to soothe the heartache left by her ex-boyfriend Nick Matthews, a fellow romance writer and now her biggest rival, who has found success writing love stories without happy endings. It’s clearly what he’s good at, after all . . .

So, when their professional obligations find them snowed in – and forced to share a room! – at the same remote inn a few days before Christmas, Jess and Nick are both fuming. But what’s more fitting for two romantic writers in a slump? And when they realise the friction between them might be the only cure for their writer’s block, they decide to turn their frustration into fiction . . . and the pages start flying.

Jess can’t shake the feeling that Nick is the last guy on earth she should be falling for (again), but, as they both finally get back in their flow, is he actually all she wants for Christmas?

VERY FRUSTRATING.

This book made me angry. Anger inducing books get two stars.

So let’s see. The entire book is about the physicality of their relationship. It was practically the only thing they could talk about and it was not endearing in any way, shape, or form. I was tired of hearing about it and the book is less than 300 pages.

And the reason he broke up with her?! DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED. If I could have thrown a book I would have.

I enjoyed Lease on Love and everything after that has been downhill. I am calling it on reading anymore books by Falon Ballard.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4+ open door

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Book Review: The Weaver Bride (The Weaver Bride #1) by Lydia Gregovic

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Lydia Gregovic
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A sweeping fantasy about a witch who must navigate a ruthless marriage competition—and try not to fall in love along the way. Part twisting mystery, part thrilling romance, The Weaver Bride is an unputdownable romantasy steeped in a lush magical world.

Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch. Like all girls of her kind, she holds a rare magic—a magic that can be harnessed only through marriage to a Weaver. But finding a Weaver husband requires status, refinement, and money, all of which Lovett sadly lacks. Her one secret ability, to open any door, is her saving grace. Hidden in plain sight, Lovett spends her days using her gift to steal from wealthy families and her nights avoiding the fate imposed on all unwed silkwitches: a life confined to the cloisters.

But opening doors can be dangerous, and when Lovett steals from the wrong person, she finds herself face to face with Eliot Lear, the notorious son of a prominent Weaver. It turns out Eliot’s been watching Lovett. He knows she’s a silkwitch, and he offers her a life-altering opportunity: entrance to the Vainglory, a competition with the ultimate prize—marriage to Noé Alaire, heir to generations of Weaver wealth. The catch? Last year, the Vainglory ended in tragedy. The winner died. And the winner was Eliot’s sister.

The arrangement is simple: If Lovett solves the mystery of Ophelia Lear’s death and unmasks her killer, Eliot will ensure she has her pick of Weaver suitors, regardless of who wins the competition. Yet unraveling Ophelia’s murder proves far more complicated than either of them anticipated. And Lovett should know better than to take a Weaver at his word.

After all . . . what is love without betrayal?

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and GetUnderlined for the final copy.

GIMME BOOK TWO.

After enjoying Lydia Gregovic’s debut I knew I had to get my hands on this one and it was a solid upper YA/NA fantasy romance! I liked the world building a lot and the complexity of the silkwitches and how they functioned in society. It set up the perfect atmosphere for rebellion and takedowns that I hope to see in the sequel.

The romance is a good heated enemies to lovers that pushes and pulls as the pages turn. I enjoy betrayal plotlines and I liked the ruthlessness that their story gave off. I do recommend the audiobook as the narrator did a great job voicing Lovett and the other characters (single POV).

I wasn’t 100% convinced by the competition storyline but it’s an easy book to consume. I like LG’s writing style and the way the romances are crafted. Looking forward to more!

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA/NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Miss Adeline’s Match by Joanna Barker

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 263 pages
Author: Joanna Barker
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: April 1st, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Miss Adeline Hayes is the perfect lady’s companion: pleasant, conversational, and unceasingly proper. But when her closest friend, Charity Edgeworth, breaks off her arranged marriage without explanation, even Adeline’s superior skills are put to the test. Charity’s father banishes the two young women to the country, sending Adeline with a charge to find Charity a husband or suffer dire consequences.

As Adeline takes on the role of reluctant matchmaker, she discovers more than one obstacle in her path. Not only does Charity prefer escaping in books to socializing, but Adeline soon finds her own attentions distracted by the standoffish—and irritatingly handsome—Mr. Evan Whitfield. Amidst an eventful foxhunt and the unexpected arrival of Charity’s former betrothed, Adeline simply doesn’t have time for a battle of wits with Evan. But the two are continually drawn together until Adeline begins to question her tightly guarded convictions about love and marriage.

However, when secrets are revealed and truths made known, Adeline must face her most fearsome obstacle yet: herself.

GREAT FOR FALL.

I feel like the mention of apple orchards automatically has me feeling a fall vibe so I loved that I picked this one up in October. I am now caught up on all of Joanna Barker’s full story back list!! Gosh I love her books.

This was a charming read. I loved the forced proximity based setting and the growth in Adeline’s character. She had to make up for some big mistakes and I’m glad she found her way in the end.

I do think the Charity plot took up way too much of the book and overwhelmed the romance. I wanted more of Adeline and Evan, less of everything else.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Mummy Snatcher Curse (The Wand Keepers #2) by Tiffany McDaniel

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: MG Fantasy
Length: 368 pages
Author: Tiffany McDaniel
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Spella the young witch must save her friends from a dangerous mummy snatcher in this second book in the whimsical Wand Keepers middle grade fantasy series perfect for younger fans of Witchlings and Eva Evergreen.

After Spella and her friends successfully rescued her magical hat-making aunt from the dangerous Dragon King, Spella is back! This time, she is off to relax and have some fun with her aunt and best friend, Tolden, in the vibrant and colorful Mummy City. But all is not as calm and weirdly wonderful as it seems in this magical place. After the defeat of Dragon King, another dangerous threat has appeared—the terrorizing mummy snatcher!

It’s up to Spella to stop this monster from kidnapping any more mummies—including Spella’s mummified, talking cat, Egypt—before the worst happens. If the mummy snatcher succeeds, it will awaken the slumbering giants beneath Mummy City, throwing the entire city into chaos! To save the city and her friends, Spella must out-magic her bullies and call upon her skills to defeat the mummy snatcher and get Mummy City back to its unique and whimsical self. But doing so means confronting a hard truth—the terrifying Dragon King may not be gone for good.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

A GEM.

I love finding good middle grade books that I can’t wait to hand off to my littles. This is the kind of fun adventure with low intensity that makes it a delight to read.

I really like this cast and the fun that they have. It’s imaginative and clever and unique. I love the whimsical vibes and the fast pace that keeps things moving. The interesting creatures throughout are cool to see and the pictures, footnotes and other bonus content really sets this up for a great younger audience read.

Overall audience notes:

  • MG Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: low

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