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Book Review: World’s Worst Boyfriend (Fake It #3) by Carina Taylor

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 
Audience: Contemporary romance
Length: 263 pages
Author: Carina Taylor
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: April 7th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A romantic comedy adventure

Fletcher is the “World’s Worst Boyfriend” and I have the trophy to prove it—along with the consolation gift card I’ve already spent.

Entering him into the anonymous contest was cathartic and eye opening. It’s obvious I need to end this farce of a relationship… so, I do.

Too bad I’m still comparing every man I meet to Fletcher.
Too bad I can’t get him out of my mind—or my house, for that matter, with the way he’s always stopping by to ‘fix’ something.
And it’s especially too bad that I’m learning not everything is as it seems, and that maybe, just maybe, Fletcher had a good reason for his actions. (Although, there is no justification for the moldy laundry.)

What’s a girl to do? He says he’ll explain everything soon. But am I ready to face that explanation? What if he’s really not the worst—what if I am?

A romantic comedy adventure to make you laugh out loud!

A FUN ROM-COM.

Trope: disgruntled couple finding the love again.

Not usually my jam, but I really liked and appreciated the way that this one was accomplished! It’s a very quick read, I never felt like I wanted to put it down and enjoyed the humorous storytelling.

I like that this all felt legitmate. Saidy had concerns that I completely understood and I get why she was upset and frustrated. Since there is ALSO the point-of-view from Fletcher, you get his side of the story too. I love dual POV’s in romance books. It adds so much more.

This is a light-hearted book that had lots of good relationship nuggets. About not letting others dictate your relationship. Learning to listen and communicate. And what I love espcially is when the truth came out (and to me, it was a reasonable reason) neither party dragged it out. There was clearly love there and a commitment to their future.

It could have used maybe a bit of lengthening to deepen these characters and their arcs. I would have loved to have more of them on screen, with some angst. It felt that way towards the end, but not enough overall.

I like that the sub-storyline (which I’m not mentioning because it’s a minor spoiler) was wrapped up simply. Since the focus is on Saidy and Fletcher, I’m glad Fletcher’s side drama wasn’t a huge ordeal.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: little light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: nearly being shot, being wounded

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Book Review: Swotting Up (Wayfair Witches #9) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 279 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: November 8th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

College isn’t quite as much fun as Wanda Wayfair had hoped. But when a dead body turns up in the library, it seems like her crime-solving life might be calling her back.

There’s more at risk, though, than finding the killer. Wanda and the gang also need to track down a Bad, Bad Book – quite possibly the worst book of all.

But as more murders take place, it seems like time might be running out. Will they find the book, and the killer, before an ancient evil is unleashed upon the world?

SO MANY QUESTIONS.

I feel like I was left with more questions than answers this time around. Which isn’t a bad thing. There’s 2 books left so I was hoping for some mystery to still be alive. And there is!

I’m super invested in what’s happening in Wanda’s love life (when am I not involved in the romance?). It’s becoming one of those last pieces to the story. I might be changing my mind about who I was leaning towards. Frankly, I JUST NEED TO KNOW.

This mystery was a lot more broad and dangerous for Wanda. I like that this had more pieces and intricacies than previous murder mysteries. This story definitely isn’t over. They’re so many emotions and things happening that it’s hard to put down. I love the humor that’s always thrown in and how it balances everything out.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: murder

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Book Review: Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 464 pages
Author: Ariel Lawhon
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Release Date: March 31st. 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This book is based on the life of Nancy Wake, an Australian expat who worked as a reporter for Hearst in Paris just before WWII and later as a spy for the British. Lawhon throws readers into the middle of the action, as Nancy, under the alias Hélène, prepares to parachute from an RAF plane into France to help the Resistance in 1944, carrying in her head memorized lists of vital data, including bridges targeted for destruction and safe house addresses. After she lands, the story flashes back eight years, as Nancy struggles for respect and recognition as a journalist; despite her firsthand observations of Nazi brutality in 1930s Vienna, her editor is reluctant to publish a story about what she’s seen. Frequent jumps in time draw out the arc of Wake’s remarkable life; despite her statement early on that women’s weapons of warfare were limited to “silk stockings and red lipstick,” by the end she’s proven herself skillful at physical combat as well.

I’M CRYING.

Oh, I have found another book to make me cry and hug it to my chest upon closing. I loved this one that much.

Nancy Wake is a flippin’ bada**. I loved the way she was portrayed in this historical fiction version of her life. It was magnificent. Her ability to stay brave and courageous in the face of such horrid evil.

I love the converging timelines and how this kept me on my toes. It’s some tiny word/big page writing, and yet I never felt like it dragged. Ever. The absolutely beautiful writing combined Nancy’s story with dialogue and descriptions of the French countryside. It was truly a new tale for historical fiction in the World War 2 sub-genre. I know it’s often said that there are too many WW2 books, but this one proved that all wrong.

Nancy’s romance with Henri was, EVERYTHING. Oh my goodness I love him so much. I was smitten with his love and devotion to Nancy (and hers with him). I love a beautiful portrayal of marriage. They never gave up on each other and I couldn’t help but cry at the ending of the war.

This is without a doubt one of my new favorites in historical fiction. I loved getting to read the author’s note at the ending about the real Nancy Wake and I want to learn more about her and her missions. What a powerful woman.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction [WW2]
  • Language: some strong throughout (often in French)
  • Romance: kisses; one fade out closed door scene
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: this is a book about war; a lot of violence and murder; mentions of rape, horrendous war crimes (descriptive and intense)

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Book Review: Legally Red (Wayfair Witches #8.5) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal cozy mystery
Length: 238 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: August 26th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

*This is a full-length, standalone cozy mystery novel, set in the Wayfair Witches world. It can be enjoyed without having read the Wayfair Witches series.*

Melissa Wayfair might be about to sit the LOL exam, but she sure isn’t laughing about it. Because if she wants to become a legally operating lawyer, then she has to do more than answer a few questions – she also has to clerk under the most obnoxious lawyer known to witch.

While working for Miles Master, Melissa has a lot to contend with. There’s a murder case to solve, there’s a young witch who wants to be emancipated from her parents, and there’s also the slight matter of a broken heart …

But once Melissa has dealt with all of the above, she might have to face her greatest challenge yet – learning how to stand up to her horrible boss.

ENJOYABLE.

I was (and always am) hesitant to read a side story/novella in the midst of the entire series. But after seeing some reviews, and loving Melissa as a character, I wanted to go ahead and read this where it fit into the story!

But no, you do not have to read this in order. It could be read anytime after book 8.

I loved seeing Melissa on this journey! It broke up the series well and gave me some new insight into Melissa and a few other characters. It was well written and the mystery still kept me on my toes. I love the lawyer she’s working with and loved seeing some more of Candace. Melissa has some really cool power combinations that I liked learning about too.

The super cute romance with Mack was just precious. It made me smile and really solidified their ship for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery side story
  • Language: none
  • Violence: murder

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