ARC Book Review: Last Call at the Local (Love, Lists & Fancy Ships #3) by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Sarah Grunder Ruiz
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalize his family’s pub in the next heartfelt romance from the author of Luck and Last Resorts.

Raine Hart is used to the challenges of living with ADHD. It’s why she ditched her life in Boston to busk around Europe as a traveling musician. No boss. No schedule. No one to disappoint but herself. But when a careless mistake in Ireland leaves her unable to perform, she sees no other option but to give up her nomadic life.

Since inheriting the Local, Jack Dunne has wanted to make the pub his own. But the baggage of running a family business and the intrusive thoughts that stem from his OCD make changing things a challenge.

Over a pint with handsome, tattooed Jack, Raine accidentally insults him and the pub. Instead of taking offense, Jack, impressed by her vision of what the pub could be, offers her a job bringing it to life.

But when Raine and Jack develop feelings for one another their opposite lifestyles won’t accommodate, it becomes clear the pub isn’t the only thing that needs reinventing. As the end of their business collaboration draws near, they’ll have to find a way past the limits they’ve placed on themselves or let go of a love that could last a lifetime.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC.

OH HOW I LOVED THIS.

This book was beautiful. I thought it had incredible ADHD and OCD rep. I felt so many things and am just a puddle over here about them. Not to mention, I really want to travel to Ireland ASAP…and maybe get a tattoo? IDK THIS BOOK MADE ME FEEL OKAY.

I loved how the instant connection was written. THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT. I absolutely believed that undeniable bond that Jack and Raine had from the moment they met. I felt those sparks. They were so dang sweet to each other. I loved how they took care of each other and also allowed the other person to be. There wasn’t pressure to be something your not. And I loved how they approached hard conversations.

The music themes were amazing, I don’t even have a tattoo and I loved all of that content too. I loved the mental health discussions. Seeing Ollie and Nina again!! And the whole crew at the pub. And even though I’m not a cat gal, Sebastian was pretty great too.

This whole book worked for me on all the levels. It might just be my new favorite of this series. I was captivated from the get-go and I will protect Jack and Raine at all costs. This won’t be a high angst saga, it’s a slow and gentle romance that will squeeze your heart and bring some sunshine to your day.

READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2 open door; moderate explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: OCD and ADHD rep, mentions of past domestic abuse (brief)

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Book Review: The Mobster’s Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Christian Historical Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
Publisher: Ally Press
Release Date: November 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The one man who could help her, must never know her name.

If Kate Chamberlin can’t reveal her true identity to the world, she must settle for sharing only her talent. Hired as a musician for KDKA radio, Kate plays everything from sponsors’ jingles to complex sonatas. As long as the whispers around the broadcasting room refer to her as “Killjoy Kate” and not “Catarina the crime boss’s daughter,” then her life is safe from danger.

Or so she thinks.

When anonymous, violent threats surface, Kate’s wary of accepting protection from the handsome private investigator, Detective Jennings. His save-the-world attitude is as charming as his manners, but no one, especially him, can know the gruesome realities of her birth.

The 1924 Pittsburgh underworld is as complicated as it is elusive, and though the dealings of the Salvastanos have dwindled, Rhett Jennings is certain the man responsible for his father’s death is still at large. But his personal hunt for justice must be set aside when his day job requires him to investigate threats directed at a young radio broadcaster with enamoring brown eyes and secretive behavior.

When danger surrounds them, will the truth of Kate’s past become the key to their survival?

I LIKED IT.

This is my first by the author, and the first Christian romance I’ve read in a very long time. Both turned out better than I expected and I’m grateful for that.

I liked the plot and setting. The historical aspects worked so well and I felt transported to the 1920’s. The mystery brought out enough intrigue to keep the page turning and I did not see some of the ending reveals coming!

Romance wise, it was rather swoony and sweet. I love protective heroes, it’s just my favorite, and there were plenty of opportunities for that here. A tiny bit of fake dating, taking care of you scenes and you can consider me charmed. There were a few things about purity that I didn’t love and I’m mostly chalking up to a time period situation. Otherwise the Christianity aspects worked well into the plot and I liked the themes of forgiveness and God accepting you where you are.

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: non-consensual drugged beverage, attempted murder, loss of a parent, gun violence, break-ins

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: December 2023

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We have made it! It was a fantastic year with so many good books and reaching new highs I didn’t think I would get to. Excited to see 2024 and what books it’ll hold.

Favorites this month:

  • The Christmas Letters
  • The Last Love Note
  • The Duet
  • House of Earth and Blood
  • Even If It Breaks Your Heart
  • The Letter Tree
  • The Golden Goal
  • Powerless
  • An Heir of Frost
  • Bride
  • Emma M. Lion Vol. 4
  • The Catch
  • The Christmas Guest
  • Fate Calls the Elf Queen
  • Divine Rivals
  • Ruthless Vows

Least favorites:

  • Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White
  • Daughter of the Sun (The Mothmar Trilogy #1) by Amanda Auler
  • [ARC] The Christmas Letters by Jenny Proctor
  • The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
  • Love on Deck (Arcadia Creek #1) by Kasey Stockton
  • The Duet (Falling for Franklin #3) by Hailey Gardiner
  • Peaches & Honey: These Immortal Truths by R. Raeta
  • [ALC] Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White (Song of the Last Kingdom #2) by Amelie Wen Zhao
  • Technically Yours by Denise Williams
  • [ARC] The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
  • This Cursed Light (The Last Finestra #2) by Emily Thiede
  • [Reread] House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Falling for Your Brother’s Best Friend (Love Cliches #3.5) by Emma St. Clair
  • Censorshipped (Getting Shipped! #4) by Savannah Scott
  • [ARC] Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Erin Hahn
  • [ALC/ARC] The Lily of Ludgate Hill (The Belles of London #3) by Mimi Matthews
  • [ALC] Courting War (Vicious Gods #1) by Hazel St. Lewis
  • Long Live (The Elementals of Iona #1) by V.B. Lacey
  • The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham
  • [ARC] The Golden Goal (More Than a Game #1) by Annah Conwell
  • Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy #1) by Lauren Roberts
  • [ARC] An Heir of Frost (A Trial of Sorcerers #4) by Elise Kova
  • [ARC] Bride by Ali Hazelwood
  • A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
  • [ALC] Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 4 by Beth Brower
  • [ARC] The Catch (The Influencer #3) by Amy Lea
  • The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
  • The Book That Wouldn’t Burn (The Library Trilogy #1) by Mark Lawrence
  • This Cruel Dawn (The Curse of the Blessed #3) by Renee Dugan
  • Fate Calls the Elf Queen (The Elf Queen #3) by J.M. Kearl
  • A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat
  • In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Reputation (Halifax Hellions #1) by Alexandra Vasti
  • [Reread] Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1) by Rebecca Ross
  • Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment #2) by Rebecca Ross

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Book Review: The Holiday Stand-In by Kortney Keisel

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Rating: ★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 371 pages
Author: Kortney Keisel
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s everything I’ve ever wanted. Too bad he’s my boyfriend’s twin brother.

When my boyfriend says he’s too busy working—again—to spend the holidays with me and my family, I’m sure Christmas is ruined.

Not only will I be alone, but my family is convinced he doesn’t love me.

So when his identical twin comes to town, I realize a swap could be the perfect way to reassure my family and give me a date for the holiday season.

But our fake-out quickly goes from the solution to THE PROBLEM.

Because falling for your boyfriend’s twin brother is never a good thing.

And when my real boyfriend finally has time for me, things get confusing.

I’ll need a Christmas miracle to get out of this twin-brother mess.

◆The Holiday Stand-In is a closed-door romantic comedy that brings all the sizzle, tension, and chemistry without explicit scenes or language.

RED FLAG.

When I read a book with a love triangle, I give some grace to the fact that the FMC might kiss both love interests at some point during the book, BEFORE any true relationship boundaries have been created.

THIS THOUGH. Already had a committed (9 month long) relationship going before the book even started. Hence where I’m going with this. I became increasingly more frustrated as this book went one and hit that rage read level by the end. Summer was way too forgiving for way too much over and over and over again.

What I did like? All of the holiday traditions. I liked Summer’s family a lot. I did also enjoy Caleb’s personality and general demeanor. I can easily say there’s a few good things in here, but the overall story made me want to throw something.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating, loss of a friend (briefly mentioned)

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