Book Review: The Kiss (London Prep #3) by Jillian Dodd

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Length: 518 pages
Author: Jillian Dodd
Publisher: Swoonworthy Books
Release Date: September 17th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s the last week of my exchange in London, and my flight leaves on Saturday.

Harry wants our relationship to progress, but his family life is falling apart. And shocking news from his parents might send him over the edge.
Noah is becoming more reckless with both his words and his actions. Between longing glances, sweet conversations and heated moments, I don’t know where we stand.
And Mohammad tells me that I have some important decisions to make.

The countdown is on, and only two things are certain.
I’m going to have to leave the three boys I’ve grown to love.
And by the end of the week, I’m not sure if any of them will ever forgive me.

It’s a good thing my time at Kensington is almost up.

COSMIC.

That’s literally the only word I can use to describe this book.

Here I am, book three. Still heavily invested y’all. I can’t wait to get my hands on book four. I NEED THE FINALE.

I did struggle with Mallory this time. She came off so oblivious and wishy-washy about every little thing. For the way the other characters described her, I did not feel the same. Mallory was a bit blinded by it all and it really led to obnoxious drama. I did love her relationship with Mohammed. They are such cute friends! And I like that there was more of his background in this story.

But WOW. Did that ending leave me gasping or what? This is a continuation type series where every book essentially is a cliffhanger because the next one picks up immediately where the previous left off. I am flabbergasted as to how this goes and I kind of hope it continues back in New York! Bringing the boys over there would be a hoot.

As usual, a lot happened and I found the pages flying by. I love escaping into these books and enjoying the magnetism of this love triangle saga. MY TEAM BETTER COME OUT ON TOP.

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult contemporary romance
  • Language: some strong throughout
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs; a few mild detailed love scenes
  • Violence: physical

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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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