Tag: audiobook

Book Review: Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Heather McBreen
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 28th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After a case of mistaken identity and an almost one-night stand, two stranded wedding guests have to find their way to their final destination together, in this riotously fun debut romance.

Ada’s little sister is getting married. Which should be a happy thought, right? But the once close sisters have been in a year long fight, the wedding is all the way in Ireland, and Ada is so broke that she just barely managed to get a ticket on a budget airline. And as if things couldn’t get worse, said airline just cancelled her connection. Which means Ada is stuck in London with no way to make it to the wedding.

Surely she’s hit rock bottom?

So, there’s no reason for her not to spill her heart out about the over-the-top wedding, her sister’s worryingly quick engagement, and the womanizing best man she’s dreading meeting to a handsome also-stranded stranger at the bar. Until she realizes the stranger is headed to the same wedding. Oh, and he’s the infamous best man.

Now, Jack and Ada must put their simmering attraction behind them to make it to Belfast before they miss the nuptials. But between flat tires, missed trains, and suspect hostels, Jack and Ada start to question whether their feelings are worth going the distance, or just a distracting detour along the way.

THE BANTER.

The way I was obsessed with every single dynamic between Jack and Ada. I know some of the humor won’t work for others and honestly I’m surprised at how well it worked for me. It’s innuendo without being heavy on the phrasing I don’t like and more of cheeky sass with some heat. I was enthralled and laughing out loud.

I loved the traveling chaos (though it brings me so much anxiety). All of these moments allowed for connection and proximity that made the shorter timeline make sense. It felt like they spent way more time than they actually did together and I love when the writing accomplishes feats like this.

Ada’s constant recounting of her history with her ex was the only small thing. I just thought that it went on a little long and I was tired of hearing about him. I’m grateful she had the self growth necessary to finally move on and pursue her own goals.

The third act truly made sense and I could get behind the need for separation based off of their histories. I loved the space and improvement it allowed for both Jack and Ada. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: multiple open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: divorce, emotionally abusive relationship (off page), death of a parent mentioned

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Book Review: Beautifully Broken Control (Sutter Lake #4) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 330 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Release Date: February 18th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A woman trying to rebuild her life.

Kennedy is doing all she can to escape, to prove that she’s not the monster her father was. A simple life of peace and service is all she needs.

A man haunted by a past he can’t forget.

Cain has buried his demons under layers of control and success. The only thing he needs is his company and his solitude. Certainly not a woman with captivating green eyes filled with ghosts so similar to his own.

He’s a reminder of the life she’s left behind. And she’s a threat to his tightly guarded control. As sparks fly between them, they discover that what they might need most is each other.

But with pasts like theirs…you never know when darkness might descend.

HIGHLY ENJOYABLE.

What I love about being caught up on CC’s latest two series is diving into her back list and realizing THEY ARE ALL HITS. She does not miss. From the beginning. I needed something fast and heated and romantic and this delivered on all fronts. I love a man who has a protective mindset and a woman determined to find balance and joy in her life.

I loved the suspense aspects of this one and I was surprised by the reveal!! I had my eyes on one person and another showed up and I was like WAIT WHAT. My favorite every dang time.

This is swoony, filled with all the best pieces of a found family, and a bit of drama that will have you listening to it in one day like me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic suspense
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: mentions of suicide, kidnapping, weapons violence

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Book Review: A Forbidden Fate (The Forbidden Fate #1) by Kaven Hirning

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 414 pages
Author: Kaven Hirning
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A centuries long war, an enchanted wood, and a curse.
Idalia leaves her castle to marry the new king of the Deep, certain that this union will be the final step in saving her kingdom. She must travel through the Florian Wood, a mysterious place shrouded in legend and myth. Things go awry when the Princess is captured by a band of thieves, and they soon discover that the stories of the Wood weren’t just stories afterall. To make matters worse, she is stranded in this nightmare with her rival; A shameless bandit who likes to talk and drink too much. Despite the dangers of the Wood, there is a threat far graver to the both of them–each other. Apart from their warring lands, they have also been cursed by the gods. They can never touch, or they will die and their entire kingdoms with them. Join Idalia and a group of misfits on this harrowing journey. One full of sorrow, terror, forbidden love … and plenty of drinks.

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

I’LL READ BOOK TWO.

This book went on and off my TBR for a long time and when I saw an audio copy I snagged it and here we are. I thought the concept was good and I liked that they couldn’t touch each other. It added a level of tension that built in a nice slow burn over the book.

I didn’t have any big issues with pacing (which could be due to audiobook speed that kept things moving). It’s a travel plot with many diversions throughout a haunted wood. Some of the side quests seemed forced, but in the end it worked out well.

I loved the romantic aspects and getting those necessary flashback chapters to understand the character dynamics and how everything began when the curse tore them apart. The found family was SO GOOD. I loooved the banter and the respect and care that went into every relationship. I’m curious what will happen next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Unromance by Erin Connor

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Erin Connor
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: January 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sawyer Greene knows romance. She’s a bestselling author of the genre—or she was, until her college girlfriend left her with nothing but writer’s block and bitterness. So when Sawyer gets stuck in an elevator with a handsome stranger, she sees it for what it is: not a meet-cute but a chance encounter with a charming man whom she will sleep with exactly once and go on her way. Easy enough…until she runs into him again at a Christmas market straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie. 

EH.

I was drawn in by this beautiful cover and left with a meh feeling about this romance y’all. I mostly think it was trying too hard to be sexy. Some of the comments and innuendo didn’t land for me and didn’t seem necessary to the story other than to be able to call this a spicy book. Same goes for the spice too, I didn’t know this was a one night stand book and got off on a bad foot with this one.

The middle though was good, I thought the romance had some sweet moments and I loved that they were going on all of these dates together. I could see some growth and was interesting in the general trajectory of the plot.

But lo and behold, the third act made me cranky enough to comment on it. I just struggle with these y’all. If these things don’t bother you, I’d say give it a go. While not for me, I can see the appeal.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3+ open door; innuendo throughout

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