Tag: Book Review

Book Review: The Blooms That Broke Us by Ashley Dill

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 466 pages
Author: Ashley Dill
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 30th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Seven Blooms. Three hearts. A second chance.

Jack Barkley has never been jealous of Jules, his twin sister, until she has something he doesn’t—a family. After his failed marriage and a trail of dead-end relationships, he’s given up hope that there could be anyone else for him.

Miranda Howard has spent the last four years with Chris, an abusive and narcissistic boyfriend. Taking care of her son Kacey has been her only priority, and Chris’ home was supposed to be a temporary landing spot in a time of crisis. But finally escaping his clutches leaves her penniless, stranded, and fresh out of options.

When Jack’s father dies, Jack and Miranda find themselves face to face in an attorney’s office, banking on an inheritance that’s locked down until they meet stipulations. Despite their sour history, they strike a deal to help each other. Miranda doesn’t like the proposed arrangement, but it sure beats the homeless shelter she was counting on to keep her and Kacey off the streets.

Can they piece together the past? Or are they still as broken as the shattered vase that ended their marriage years ago?

CONSUMING.

Y’all. I sat down at 45% one night to read for the evening…proceeded to devour this book. The way that second half totally consumed me (I was enjoying the first half a lot too!). This has allllll the angst. I loved the broken marriage trope when it’s done well and this one was hard. A hard read with many shattered pieces that found a way to be glue back into something new, something stronger.

I loved how both parties, Jack and Miranda had things to work one. Of course there’s some blame moments, but also along the journey the separately acknowledged their own personal issues and things to work on. The moments of communication, laying it all out there, heart on the line, had me feeling all of the emotions.

Beautiful book. I loved how everything came together. I will definitely be reading Ashley Dill’s next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low-moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple miscarriages, divorce, domestic abuse, loss of a loved one

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Book Review: Battling the Bluestocking (The Donovans #3) by Martha Keyes

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 308 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: February 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Great minds do NOT always think alike.
Phineas Donovan is possessed of a sharp intellect. Fresh from Cambridge, he obtains a generous live-in position as tutor for the son of the wealthy Lord Bettencourt. If he can prove his value, he has hopes of being given the patronage of his employer, allowing him to take up a position as vicar. There, he can pursue his intellectual endeavors in peace and relative financial comfort.

In her humble but informed opinion, Lady Sarah Danneville is possessed of an even sharper intellect. If anyone should be tutoring her younger brother, it is she, not the reserved, bespectacled gentleman her father has employed to do the job. He is not fit to instruct a Danneville of Bettencourt Court.

But as Sarah works to undermine him, Mr. Donovan shows more pluck than she expects, not to mention harboring a secret hobby that would be laughable if it weren’t so dreadfully unsophisticated. If she can use this secret against him, she can finally persuade her father she is more than bait to lure a prosperous match.

Now, if only she can avoid being drawn into the unsophistication—and Mr. Donovan’s eyes—herself.

THIS WAS CHARMING!

I have really enjoyed the Donovan series. Each book feels completely different yet the crossing over of siblings and family is the perfect dynamic that gives you all the good emotions of coming back to a favorite series.

The banter between Sarah and Phineas was stellar. I loved the chemistry and just a dash of enemies to lovers as Phineas had unknowingly encroached on Sarah’s space. I thought it was a little slow out of the gate but as the story progressed I was increasingly attached to this relationship. It was sweet and I loved the character growth of both characters separately and how they came together in the end. And I also just really love when side characters you expect to be mean (like the Duke at the end) aren’t! It’s something satisfying to me to see things work at as they did.

I liked the plot a lot too. Sarah’s little brother was a charming addition who brought out a lot of good moments between Phineas and Sarah unwittingly (and some wittingly). It’s a quick regency romance that will bring a smile to your face. I highly recommend this series!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Radiance of the Moon by Ashley Worrell

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Christian Romance
Length: 360 pages
Author: Ashley Worrell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 27th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The year is 1383, and the Wolf of Badenoch has conducted a terroristic campaign across the highlands to increase his wealth and land holdings. Now he’s turned his sights from Scotland to the Kingdom of the Isles. Seeking to keep the Wolf’s superior fighting forces out of his island nation, the King of the Isles turns to Chieftain Hector MacLean for help. A survivor of the Hundred Years’ War, Hector’s reputation precedes him. Brutal, clever, perhaps the greatest warrior Scotland or the Isles has ever produced—as if the man has a gift for killing. But after changing his life, Hector has no interest in returning to his old ways. As an alternative to war, he agrees to forge a marriage alliance with one of the Wolf’s allies, hoping to gain their fidelity and protect his family and clan. After surviving a brutal first marriage, young Irish widow Cara O’Ballevan arrives in Lochbuie Clan Territory, her sole prayer to make a peaceful home with the MacLeans, but the clan is wary of her as an outsider. After praying for help, she happens upon a kind man beneath a bright moon, unaware that he is the chieftain and soon to be betrothed to another. Over a series of meetings, Hector and Cara help one another, encourage one another, and begin to come to terms with a past they’re both trying to leave behind. When Cara faces a threat during a clan dispute, Hector discovers that the deadly combatant he used to be isn’t gone, but lurking just beneath the surface. This time, the lethal warrior within him takes up watch over Cara. As her gentle spirit roots deep into his heart, Hector knows she can never become his wife. A future with her could only lead to war and disgrace. Yet he cannot stop himself from falling in love with the one God entrusted to him – the woman he isn’t supposed to marry.

Thank you to the author a free copy of the audiobook!

BLOWN AWAY.

Audiobook notes: This is the only negative thing I have to say. The audio wasn’t great. I ended up reading more of the book on my kindle because of the narration. When the narrator would read the general story line, it was fine. But anytime voices were used it was hard to understand and didn’t fit the characters well either. For someone who can listen to very dense fantasies at 3x with no problems, I had to slow this one wayyyy down to understand what was being said.

BUT NOW ALL OF THE HAPPY THINGS BECAUSE I LOVED THIS BOOK.

This was a lot more heavily Christian fiction than I generally go for, so while this is one I’m usually not drawn too, I thought it everything was beautifully crafted. I think with the setting and time period the faith aspects were woven in well and showcased beautiful moments of connection and love.

I adored the hard fought relationship between Hector and Cara. It often felt like one step forward, two steps back, but then those moments of clarity and understanding would come and I loved how the communication lines began to open. I was a smitten puddle over many moments. I loved the conflict and just the right level of action. The heat and passion of true love and the strength of friendships.

A fabulous book. I am blown away this was a debut and I hope we get more books from this author soon!

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian Historical Fiction Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: spousal abuse (physical), loss of loved one, childbirth, mentions of child abuse, attempted assault, being stoned

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Book Review: The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Kristina Forest
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this heart-fluttering romance by Kristina Forest, a shy bookworm enlists her charming neighbor to help her score a date, not knowing he’s the obscure author she’s been corresponding with.

Shy, bookish, and admittedly awkward, Lily Greene has always felt inadequate compared to the rest of her accomplished family, who strive for Black excellence. She dreams of becoming an editor of children’s books but has been frustratingly stuck in the nonfiction division for years without a promotion in sight. Lily finds escapism in her correspondences with her favorite fantasy author, and what begins as two lonely people connecting over e-mail turns into a tentative friendship and possibly something else Lily won’t let herself entertain–until he ghosts her.

Months later, still crushed but determined to take charge of her life, Lily seeks a date to her sister’s wedding. And the perfect person to help her is Nick Brown, her charming, attractive new neighbor, whom she feels drawn to for unexplainable reasons. Little does she know that Nick is an author–her favorite fantasy author.

Nick, who has his reasons for using a pen name and for pushing people away, soon realizes that the beautiful, quiet woman from down the hall is the same Lily he fell in love with over e-mail months ago. Unwilling to complicate things even more between them, he agrees to set her up with someone else, though this simple favor between two neighbors is anything but–not when he can’t get her off his mind.

MEH.

This got off to a slow start for me. I usually love epistolary romances but these emails went on a bit long for me and the abrupt ending made my head tilt. When Lily and Nick run into each other again I was hoping to vibe off of their chemistry, and I’m not sure that I ever did.

There’s some cute scenes and it’s a good slow burn. I liked Nick helping Lily find a date and the fun things they went and did together to. Yet Nick, CONTINUALLY kept pushing Lily away and I got CONTINUALLY frustrated that it kept happening for the sake of stretching out the plot.

I did like the meddling sisters and their books are something I’m somewhat interested in giving a go (I’m hopeful we get those stories too!). I loved that Lily worked in publishing and enjoyed seeing her pursuits there and finding the niche she could settle in long term.

Kind of meh for me, but I do see that it could be a hit for others.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Lanugage: some strong
  • Romance: a couple open door; moderate explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating (side character), alcoholism mentioned, car accident mentioned

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