Tag: audiobook

Book Review: The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Fiction / Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Rachel Linden
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 2nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An uplifting novel about a heartbroken young pie maker who is granted a magical second chance to live the life she didn’t choose. . . . from the bestselling author of The Enlightenment of Bees.

Lolly Blanchard’s life only seems to give her lemons. Ten years ago, after her mother’s tragic death, she broke up with her first love and abandoned her dream of opening a restaurant in order to keep her family’s struggling Seattle diner afloat and care for her younger sister and grieving father. Now, a decade later, she dutifully whips up the diner’s famous lemon meringue pies each morning while still pining for all she’s lost.

As Lolly’s thirty-third birthday approaches, her quirky great-aunt gives her a mysterious gift–three lemon drops, each of which allows her to live a single day in a life that might have been hers. What if her mom hadn’t passed away? What if she had opened her own restaurant in England? What if she hadn’t broken up with the only man she’s ever loved? Surprising and empowering, each experience helps Lolly let go of her regrets and realize the key to transforming her life lies not in redoing her past but in having the courage to embrace her present.

MY HEART.

I’ve been reading a lot of heavier contemporaries lately and they are squeezing my heart for all its worth. This wasn’t initially on my radar and I’m glad I gave it a go because DANG Y’ALL. IT’S SO GOOD.

I loved the magical realism concept. It worked well within the story and allowed for those much needed glimpses into Lolly’s life and history. Each memory sent me into a puddle of emotions and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I loved the exploration of grief, finding your path, choosing love and the hard decisions that can stand in your way.

I did get minorly frustrated with a small aspect (hence the 1/2 star deduction) otherwise. I really have no notes. I usually struggle with books that lean towards fiction over romance and that was absolutely not the case here. I wanted both Lolly’s story and her romantic life to have that happy and satisfying conclusion (which does happen!!). It was beautiful. Highly recommend the audiobook too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Fiction / Romance
  • Language: light
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental death (car accident), stroke

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ALC Book Review: Emergency Contact by Lauren Layne and Anthony LeDonne

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 250 pages
Author: Lauren Layne & Anthony LeDonne
Publisher: Blackstone
Release Date: October 24th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne–and her real life husband and high school sweetheart, Anthony LeDonne–comes a new holiday romcom that is sure to warm even the coldest heart.

Katherine, an ambitious NYC attorney, gets diagnosed with a concussion and must be monitored for 48 hours to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Unfortunately, she forgot to update her emergency contact so the person they call is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be left alone, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with Tom for the holidays. But thanks to a blizzard, what should have been a quick plane ride turns into an antagonistic overnight misadventure that stirs up old feelings even as Tom prepares to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.

A delightful meet-cute between The Proposal and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Emergency Contact is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.

OH SO WITTY.

The nods to Planes, Trains and Automobiles was absolutely at the forefront of this book and had my chuckling throughout. Not one thing going right in the midst of a divorced couple forced to hang out for the holidays is a romance combination I have never read and completely devoured. I love how unique this felt in the genre and it gave a sense of hope of reconciliation (in the right situations).

Reverse grump x sunshine was the most prominent factor and I liked the flipped script. Both Katherine and Tom had to come to terms with how their marriage declined and what were the truly important aspects of their lives. I feel like all of the traveling chaos allowed them to come together and realize what they both had been missing.

It’s a short book, filled with just enough holiday antics to call it a holiday romance and one I will definitely be recommending this year.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: divorce, car accident, loss of a parent (recounted)

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Book Review: Into the Drowning Deep (Rolling in the Deep #1) by Mira Grant

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Thriller / Horror
Length: 440 pages
Author: Mira Grant
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: November 14th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.

Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. But the secrets of the deep come with a price.

THIS WAS SO GOOD.

What’s a genre I never read? HORROR. But this book came highly recommended and I was told it’s a must because MERMAIDS and y’all, it delivered.

I loved that there was so many points of view. The people above the ocean and the creatures below the ocean. There were many different angles and types of thoughts on this ship and I loved that this showed every nuanced side of the story. It made everything feel real and authentic to how things would probably be going down in this situation.

This was definitely giving me Jurassic Park (a favorite of mine) + murderous mermaids and I was easily convinced that I needed to read it. I loved the morality discussions and how much gray area was being brought about as research needed to be accomplished.

Things were intense, spooky and I could not stop listening. I do think my enjoyment level was increased because of the audiobook. The narrator did a FANTASTIC job of giving every character their own style and it brought the book that much more alive in my mind. Highly recommend that route if you’re interested.

I don’t want to say much more because it’s filled with twists and sinister turns that are best brought out by reading it on your own. Just know, this is an easy recommendation for me to give.

Overall audience notes:

  • Horror / Thriller
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: quick fade to black / closed-door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: high contents of gore and blood, multiple deaths, gun violence, poisonings, etc.

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ALC Book Review: Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Catherine Walsh
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the village pariah, the she-devil who left local golden boy Isaac at the altar four years ago and ran away to the big city. She could really do without the drama. Particularly as he’s engaged again, and she’s just been dumped for the fourth time this year.

Christian’s fed up of being on his own every Christmas. He doesn’t mind being alone , but he hates his family’s sad eyes and soft tones as they sit around coupled up. Because he’s actually, totally, fine.

So when Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season. They’re going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever .

Rules are drawn up, a contract is signed on a wine-stained napkin. They will sit through each other’s family gatherings and be outrageously in love until freed from their annual obligations. After all, it’s only for a few weeks.

But with everyone home for the holidays, two big families to deal with alongside old friends, old flames and old feelings, things are bound to get messy. And when a snowed-in cabin and a little Christmas magic are added to the mix, anything could happen…

A swoon worthy and utterly gorgeous romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud and fall completely in love. Fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella and Abby Jimenez won’t be able to put this down!

Thank you Bookouture Audio for the ALC.

GREAT FOR THE SEASON.

I binged this one in a day and had a good time reading it. It took me a little to get into (which may be my own issue with reading one too many fake dating tropes), but once I started to feel the connection between Christian and Megan I was involved.

There were plenty of cute forced proximity moments and once again I adore the setting. I was feeling all of the winter and holiday vibes and was easily swept away. I liked the build between Christian and Megan and that it was dual POV!! I think we definitely needed both sides to the story to really understand all of the feelings. I thought the families were wonderful and I always love seeing those aspects. There’s some good growth and I just genuinely enjoyed this!

I do think the spice felt a little off to me. As if there was more than necessary? I didn’t love the forced vibe, but if you’re looking for a spicier holiday romance, this is Walsh’s spiciest book to date.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3-4 open door

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