Book Review: A Newport Christmess (Christmas Escape #4) by Jess Heileman

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 344 pages
Author: Jess Heileman
Publisher: Vagabond Publishing
Release Date: November 9th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Love can be downright messy.
This last year has been a total disaster, but my failed six-month marriage takes the cake. While my ex is out having the time of his life, my coping mechanisms consist of an unhealthy obsession with true-crime podcasts and trying to revive my floundering social media account.

So, when I get an offer from one of social media’s darlings—Nikki Aker—to make gingerbread centerpieces for her Christmas wedding, I can’t refuse. Not only because the job pays well (my maxed-out credit card will attest to how much I need this money), but it’s a last-ditch effort to increase my following before I’m forced to get “a real job.”

There’s only one small problem I didn’t account for: Nikki’s a self-proclaimed matchmaker, and apparently, I’m her next target. My only hope to escape unscathed is to conspire with Nikki’s grumpy—albeit gorgeous—brother, Landon, who seems equally determined to get through this wedding with his single status fully intact.

All we need to do is convince Nikki we’re developing feelings for each other. What can possibly go wrong?

*This is a sweet/clean romance

PRETTY GOOD.

I liked this one y’all! Unfortunately not as much as I hoped but we’ll get into that.

All of the Christmas/holiday vibes were here. Adored the setting and plot set-up. The gingerbread houses were a fun touch and I wish I could see those in person!!

Landon was a dreamboat. I absolutely couldn’t get enough of him. He was clearly smitten from the get-go and really pulled out all of the stops in genuine ways to show Quinn that love after divorce is still possible. I loved a lot of the conversations and sentiments expressed between them and it pulled at my heartstrings at the tough things both main characters had to work through.

I did struggle with Quinn’s character. For most of the book I was cool with the mindset and difficulties. It worked with the plot and made sense for everything else. BUT, the character growth hardly showed up and that wasn’t until 90% through the book. I wanted to see a bit more of it overall and watch Quinn learn for herself how much she’s worth and how much she deserves.

There’s a lot of great moments here and I truly did have a good time reading it. Even with my one main issue I’d still recommend because a lot of people I know loved this one!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: both main characters are divorced, emotionally manipulative parents

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ARC Book Review: To Spark a Match (The Matchmakers #2) by Jen Turano

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Historical Mystery / Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jen Turano
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: November 14th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After five unsuccessful Seasons on the marriage mart, Miss Adelaide Duveen has resigned herself to the notion that she’s destined to remain a spinster forever–a rather dismal prospect, but one that will allow her to concentrate on her darling cats and books. However, when she inadvertently stumbles upon Mr. Gideon Abbott engaged in a clandestine activity during a dinner party, Adelaide finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue that resembles the plots in the spy novels she devours.

Former intelligence agent Gideon Abbott feels responsible for Adelaide after society threatens to banish her because of the distraction she caused to save his case. Hoping to return the favor, he turns to a good friend–and one of high society’s leaders–to take Adelaide in hand and turn her fashionable.

When danger surrounds them and Adelaide finds herself a target of the criminals in Gideon’s case, the spark of love between them threatens to be quenched for good–along with their lives.

Thank you to Bethany House for the eARC.

LONG-WINDED.

I enjoyed book one and was excited to read book two. It ended up only being alright though.

I liked both main characters, Adelaide and Gideon. There was a lot of charming banter and a big time slow burn. I loved the Adelaide owned who she was and learned what place in society she was fine with holding. There’s even a ball scene where Gideon is oh so swoony and I fully support having a ball scene in every book.

For the writing style, I struggled. I felt like everything seemed long winded. The dialogue, descriptions, about every paragraph was thick. With all of the cozy mystery vibes I wish things had been a little more paired down.

The mystery aspects were fun. A charming book store and hidden journals. A bit of blackmail and whodunnit moments. I loved that Adelaide kept showing up and helping in unconventional ways.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Mystery / Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief gun violence

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Book Review: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary + Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jenna Evans Welch
Publisher: Simon Schuster
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato comes a poignant and romantic novel about two teens trying to find their place in the world after being unceremoniously dragged to Salem, Massachusetts, for the summer.

LOOOOOOVED.

Well this was magnificent and everything I could hope for when I picked it up. I’ve been looking forward to this book since it was announced and it’s an easy must read from me.

I loved the plot surrounding Willow, dealing with the fallout of her parent’s divorce, and Mason, dealing with the foster care system and wanting to know where his Mom is located. Both of these teens flat out needed some LOVE. And by golly, they found that and more. As someone who had to deal with her own parent’s divorce I felt really seen by many of the things Willow mentioned and talked about.

There is a very subtle romance between Willow and Mason that is just the sweetest. Why not at the forefront of the book (don’t think this is a romance please!), it gave both characters another layer to their stories and I adored it all the more. I loved how unassuming and caring they were to one another. Allowing the chance to be seen and heard and just to have someone on their side. My heart was an absolute puddle.

Misty eyes found their way to me with some of those ending conversations with parents and guardians. It was incredible and beautiful and pulled at every heart string I have. I loved this book and all it presented. READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: divorce, a parent with a substance abuse

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ALC Book Review: Vengeance of the Pirate Queen (Daughter of the Pirate Queen #3) by Tricia Levenseller

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy + Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Release Date: November 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Mummy in Vengeance of the Pirate Queen, a beautifully designed standalone YA fantasy romance, set in the world of Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King.

You can’t be afraid of the dark when you’re the monster lurking in the shadows.

As an assassin working for the pirate queen, eighteen-year-old Sorinda is surprised when Alosa’s next task for her is not to kill a new target, but to captain a handpicked crew on a rescue mission. Unfortunately, her sailing master is twenty-year-old Kearan. He may be the best helmsman the pirate queen has, but Sorinda finds him a real pain in the arse. Sadly, there are few places on a ship to hide from an attentive man.

As the crew of the Vengeance faces dangerous waters and deadly sea creatures, they accidentally awaken the King of the Undersea, a being who can control the dead. Their rescue mission quickly turns into a fight to save the world, but first, Sorinda must save herself from becoming an undead queen.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ALC.

LOVED.

I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve read a Tricia Levenseller book and this reminded me of why she’s one of my favorite young adult authors. I absolutely loved this story.

I loved seeing the growth in Sorinda as she had to break out of standing in the background to being the captain of a ship. Her ups and downs were inspiring and I liked seeing the inner battle Sorinda showcased as the plot progressed. Those ending action scenes were incredible and really brought the story full circle.

The sub-plot romance worked perfectly too. Some enemies to lovers vibes with Kearan. While also confessing the darkest parts of their souls as both learned to be open. There’s some good swoon and passion too.

I liked the plot, the high seas adventure, getting to see a little bit of Alosa again, the themes and everything in between.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, near death experiences, physical/magical altercations, blood/gore depiction

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