Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: The Perfect Putt (More Than a Game #2) by Annah Conwell

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 250 pages
Author: Annah Conwell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Golf is for rich, pretentious jerks who need something to do while they gossip.

That’s always been my opinion. So when my best friend lands me an interview with Miles Day–the youngest golfer to ever win the Masters–I almost say no.

But the six-figure salary attached to the position is too good to pass up.

Miles gives me the job as his assistant, with one caveat–don’t fall in love with him. Easy. So easy that I laugh in his face when he so much as suggests the possibility.

Except… the more time I spend with Miles, the harder it is to resist his charming smile and glittering green eyes.

Catching feelings for him isn’t an option though, because I have goals to reach, and he has an aversion to commitment. Falling in love would be a mistake, one neither of us are willing to make.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy!

DO I LIKE GOLF NOW?

I am not a golf fan, but maybe I’ll try it out now after reading this romance. I loved this one y’all! If you’re looking for a short and fast sweet romance, I would recommend Annah Conwell’s books.

I enjoyed the way the boss x assistant romance was handled. There was a lot of good angst and tension and the heated glances and little touches left me in a puddle. I connected a lot with both characters. I loved that Ellie was the natural grump who loved and loved deeply. I loved that Miles was passionate and dedicated and finally had the epiphany he needed about breaking his own cycle (been there Miles, I see you!!). While a lighter read, this is still filled with that depth I crave. And gosh dang, do I love a heated argument that turns into a feverish kiss.

Shaw and Fitz were my fav too. I’m all for men helping men realize they are acting like idiots. Having Shaw and Fitz dedicate time to helping MIles see past his own insecurities and mental blocks showed off the best kind of friendships. I loved how they cared for each other.

Fantastic banter, swoony kisses, and a quick read that has the best kind of summer vibes.

Overall audience notes:

  • Golf Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Content Warnings: mentions of divorce

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ARC Book Review: The God and the Gumiho (Fate’s Thread #1) by Sophie Kim

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Sophie Kim
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: June 4th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this sly and dazzling contemporary fantasy, the most notorious nine-tailed fox in Korea pairs up with a trickster god–turned–detective to track down a wrathful demon . . . before it can destroy the mortal world.

Kim Hani has retired from a life of devouring souls. She is, simply put, too full. Once known as the infamous Scarlet Fox, she now spends her days working in a coffee shop and annoying a particularly irritating, if unfairly handsome, trickster god as often as she can.

That god is Seokga the Fallen. Exiled from the heavenly kingdom of Okhwang, he now begrudgingly resides in the mortal realm, working toward his redemption and suffering through his interactions with the particularly infuriating, if sneakily charming, gumiho barista at his favorite café.

But when a powerful demon escapes from the underworld and threatens to end all of humanity, Okhwang’s emperor offers Seokga an enticing bargain: Kill this rogue creature, as well as the legendary and elusive Scarlet Fox, and he will be reinstated as a god. Hani, however, has no intention of being caught. Seokga might be a trickster god, but she has a trick of her own that he’ll never see coming: teaming up. As Seokga’s assistant, Hani will undermine and sabotage his investigation right under his overly pointy nose. Sure, she’ll help him kill the demon, but she certainly won’t allow him to uncover her secret identity while they’re at it.

As the bickering partners track their case down a path of mayhem and violence, the god and the gumiho find themselves inescapably drawn to each other. But will the unlikely couple stand together to prevent the apocalypse, or will they let their secrets tear them—and the world—apart?

Thank you to Del Rey for the gifted ARC.

I TRIED.

I have tried reading this author twice and I just don’t think we’re a match. I wanted to love this one, I was very intrigued by the summary, and ultimately a lot fell flat.

I don’t think I realized this was much more urban fantasy that I generally like. There’s coffee shops and police departments, real life cities, etc. That can be all well and fine, but my initial understanding was that this was much more fantasy and I had a hard time getting into this setting.

The “banter” between Seokga and Hani was more childish that that sweet spot of an enemies to lovers dynamic. I kept rolling my eyes and waiting for the story to move along rather than soaking up the page time they had together. It was missing that romantic vibe.

For the plot, I found it fairly predictable. All of the parts of this book were there, and the execution was not.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate-high
  • Romance: 1-2 open door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: The Secret Service of Tea and Treason (Dangerous Damsels #3) by India Holton

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: India Holton
Publisher: Berkley Books
Release Date: April 18th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two rival spies must brave pirates, witches, and fake matrimony to save the Queen.

Known as Agent A, Alice is the top operative within the Agency of Undercover Note Takers, a secret government intelligence group that is fortunately better at espionage than at naming itself. From managing deceptive witches to bored aristocratic ladies, nothing is beyond Alice’s capabilities. She has a steely composure and a plan always up her sleeve (alongside a dagger and an embroidered handkerchief). So when rumors of an assassination plot begin to circulate, she’s immediately assigned to the case.

But she’s not working alone. Daniel Bixby, otherwise known as Agent B and Alice’s greatest rival, is given the most challenging undercover assignment of his life— pretending to be Alice’s husband. Together they will assume the identity of a married couple, infiltrate a pirate house party, and foil their unpatriotic plans.

Determined to remain consummate professionals, Alice and Daniel must ignore the growing attraction between them, especially since acting on it might prove more dangerous than their target.

NEW FAV.

I think this is my new favorite of the series! It was a lot of fun and I looooved that it had the fake marriage because we’re undercover agents trope.

I really felt the romance and chemistry between the main couple. It’s a delicious slow burn that you can feel. And I especially loved having dual POV, it rounded out the story all the more. The plot is full of the same antics that we’ve seen before. It made me laugh a good amount. I like that these books don’t take themselves too seriously. It makes for that lighter romantic read I’m craving.

Fantastic audiobook as usual. Lovely fantasy + historical vibes that is my favorite combination. These are a joy to read!! I love how light hearted they are and they are so dang quirky. It works perfectly in the world Holton has created.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Historical Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3-4 vague open door
  • Violence: moderate

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ARC Book Review: Seven Summer Weekends by Jane L. Rosen

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fiction + Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Jane L. Rosen
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 4th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A woman inherits a beach house, along with a series of weekend guests, while butting heads with the irritable (and irritatingly handsome) man next door, in this sparkling new escape from Jane L. Rosen.
 
When a Zoom disaster upends Addison Irwin’s decade-long career at a posh Manhattan advertising agency, things look bleak for the thirty-something mid-western transplant. But an unexpected inheritance from an aunt she barely remembers—a property on Fire Island, complete with guest house and artist’s studio—changes everything.
 
While debating whether to stay or sell, Addison learns that she’s also inherited her aunt’s list of eclectic guests, tying her to the island for seven summer weekends. Eager to convince Addison to keep the house rather than let a new buyer build a monstrosity in its place, the neighbors welcome her to their laid-back community. Well, all except the moody guy next door, who seems intent on glowering his way through life.
 
Steadfast in her path since college, Addison is determined not to let this detour on Fire Island throw her off track. But soon, between the revolving door of weekend visitors and the up-and-down relationship with her neighbor (and his adorable dog), she finds herself in unfamiliar territory. Should she try to pick up where she left off—or embrace entirely new possibilities?

Thank you to Berkley #BerkleyPartner and PRHAudio #PRHPartner for the gifted book and audiobook respectively.

WELL.

Audiobook notes: I loved the audiobook. I had no complaints and thought the narrator did a great job. Even if the book wasn’t my favorite, I’d recommend this format if you want try it!

I was pulled in by the gorgeous water color cover. This is definitely FICTION with a SIDE of romance. I wish I had my expectations a little bit more figured out before diving in.

There were some good themes though. I liked Addison getting a break from work that she didn’t know she needed and enjoying a slower pace in life. I loved the beach house setting and the quirky factor of a new someone showing up every weekend as Addison reconnected with her deceased Aunt.

I did like some of the romantic aspects. There was good banter and a nice slow burn. Something wasn’t clicking in the second half though and I wish there would have been a bit more development.

And the whole reason there was this big fight in Addison’s family felt more frustrating than anything. I was expecting something more grand and once I finally knew what happened it lacked the needed drama.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fiction + Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4+ brief open door

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