Tag: Book Review

Book Review: One Small Secret (Gift-Wrapped Romance) by Esther Hatch

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Rating: ★★★
Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 214 pages
Author: Esther Hatch
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ruben Palmer is on every woman’s Christmas wish list. Except mine.

I grew up with him and bested him in practically everything we did together–debate, grades, mini-golf, you name it. So I’ve built an immunity to his boy-next-door charm. Sure, sometimes I might accidentally type his name into my search engine, but his dimples, hotel empire and thirst-trap photos don’t tempt me. I’ve got my sights set on earning my way to the top of the Palmer Hotel empire, and nothing is going to get in my way.

Until my step-sister leaves her secret toddler with me before skipping town for three months. Now suddenly everyone thinks he’s mine, and instead of powering my way to the top, I’m struggling to not get fired. And instead of Ruben staying on the executive floor where he belongs, he’s invading my apartment, breaking dates with starlets, and looking disappointed that I decided to settle down with anyone except him.

But I know Ruben, and Ruben doesn’t settle down. So there’s no way I’m giving him my heart. Not even for Christmas.

WELL.

This wasn’t all bad, truly. I just feel like there was a whole lot going on for 200 pages and I think I got off on the wrong foot with the way the entire plot was set-up. It left me with more questions than answers.

There were a lot of good swoony moments and the kissing scenes were fantastic. I did like the second half more and I adored Ruben the most. He really did roll with the punches and had some of my favorite love confession scenes. I liked all of the holiday content and office place romance. There’s good banter and it’s witty. While things didn’t fully click for me, I look forward to more contemporaries from this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment

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ARC Book Review: Dating and Dragons (Dungeons and Drama #2) by Kristy Boyce

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Kristy Boyce
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: December 31st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of the nationally bestselling Dungeons and Drama comes another gaming romance that’s sure to win you over!

Quinn Norton is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D&D game will be the trick to making friends. The plan sounds even better when she’s invited into a group that includes Logan Weber, the cute and charming guy she met on her first day of class. But this isn’t your average D&D campaign— this group livestreams their games and enforces strict rules: no phones allowed, and no dating other group members.

Quinn is willing to accept the rules, even if it makes Logan off-limits. And she quickly learns that doing so won’t be a problem, since Logan goes from charismatic to insufferable as soon as she agrees to join. As their bickering—and bantering—intensifies inside and outside the game, Quinn can’t help wondering: Is Logan’s infuriating behavior a smokescreen for hidden feelings? Quinn is risking it all, and the twenty-sided dice are rolling!

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and Get Underlined for my gifted copy.

ANOTHER CUTE READ.

These just make me smile. They have that true high school quality (and as an adult I can definitely get frustrated but it feels very true to the characters so it’s fine, just mentioning) and I love that I could actually hand this off to someone in the YA age group without an issue.

The romance is cute and has a little bit of a forbidden vibe to it. There’s some sweet and swoony lines and a whole lot of moments for connection and interaction. But I also really loved that the main theme centered more on found family and finding your people. Those who love and support you. And I am always in love with a supportive and caring family too.

The audiobook was great. I loved the narrator. It’s a fast and light read. Plenty of D&D content if that’s your thing and I’m happy with another book that made me smile.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: O Goalie Night by K.M. Gillis

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Christmas Sports Romance
Length: 333 pages
Author: K.M. Gillis
Publisher: Literary Lupin
Release Date: November 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

‘Tis the season to be tempted.

All Beth Michaels wants for Christmas is a fresh start. A new job in a new city is her chance to finally break free from her overbearing yet well-meaning mother, not to mention her small-town notoriety as NHL superstar Ben Michaels’ little sister. But her dream of independence hits an unexpected snag when a housing mishap leaves her with no choice but to move in with Ben’s best friend and teammate, the broody (and gorgeous) Foster James.

As a top goalie, Foster has always been great at handling high-pressure decisions and sticking to the rules. But there is one rule he finds impossible to follow: don’t fall for your best friend’s sister. After years of being alone, resisting the sweet and funny Beth may be the toughest challenge he has ever faced.

The goal was to keep their relationship under wraps, but plans have a way of becoming tangled during the holidays.

O Goalie Night is a holiday hockey romcom. It’s the first novel in the Ottawa Otters standalone series.

NO COMPLAINTS.

I was dragged in by this cover and title. I COULD NOT RESIST. And the book was a great read too. Just the right book for the right moment. This is a low angst and tension, a little bit of insta-connection and allllll of the Christmas moments you could want. I loved the skating and tree decorating and many moments in between. Foster James is a walking green flag and I love that for Beth.

There’s not a lot to the plot (which is fine!!). It hit all the best notes for me in what I enjoy in a Christmas romance. I like it to feel simple but engaging and please bring all the swoon. I appreciated that the spice didn’t overwhelm the plot (though some of the innuendo did feel a little out of pocket). It’s fast paced and there’s plenty of hockey content to be able to say this is a sports romance too. I enjoyed the whole cast and look forward to continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Christmas Hockey Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 3 open door
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: This Dark Descent (This Dark Descent #1) by Kalyn Josephson

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Kalyn Josephson
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Release Date: September 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Shadows Between Us meets Six of Crows in this spellbinding new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, and pulse-pounding action, where the eldest daughter of a renowned family on the verge of ruin joins forces with a mysterious, rogue enchanter and a handsome, ambitious heir to win a deadly race.

Mikira Rusel’s family has long been famous for breeding enchanted horses, but their prestige is no match for their rising debts. To save her ranch, Mikira has only one option: she must win the Illinir, a treacherous horserace whose riders either finish maimed or murdered. Yet each year, competitors return, tempted by its alluring prize money and unparalleled prestige.

Mikira’s mission soon unites her with Arielle Kadar, an impressive yet illicit enchanter just beginning to come into her true power, and Damien Adair, a dashing young lord in the midst of a fierce succession battle. Both have hidden reasons of their own to help Mikira — as well as their own blood feuds to avenge…

Steeped in Jewish folklore, This Dark Descent is a pulse-pounding new fantasy full of forbidden magic, sizzling romance, and epic stakes. In a world as dangerous as this, will the need for vengeance butcher Mikira’s chances of winning the Illinir … or will another rider’s dagger?

WHOA.

Y’all, this was really dang good. I seem to love magical horse racing competition books and this was no different. I thought the pacing was great and I loved the world building and how the magic system operated and those reveals at the ending had me reeling.

I also loved the characters. Dual POV was awesome (I did struggle a little on the audio because both characters sounded very similar and sometimes I had a hard time remembering who’s POV I was in). And there were even two subtle romances which I am absolutely always here for. I liked how the relationships between this found family weren’t always linear and that things are complicated. I like seeing the ups and downs as everyone is holding a few cards to their chests full of secrets I can’t wait to see unveiled.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, near death experiences, murder

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