Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: Echoes of You (Lost & Found #2) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 376 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Pagesmith LLC
Release Date: May 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nash Hartley has always been my everything: Protector. Partner in crime. Best friend. The person who was there for me in my darkest hour.

But my heart wanted so much more. So, when I knew for certain Nash didn’t feel the same about me, I tried to move on. What a mistake that turned out to be.

Now, I’m back in our small town, desperate to escape my living nightmare, and the only person I want to see is him.

As secrets are revealed, and Nash finds out what happened to me, he’ll do anything to keep me safe.

But there are those who will do anything to stop him, and this time neither of us may make out alive…

Thank you to Catherine Cowles for an eARC/ALC.

THE MUTUAL PINING.

I thought the pining would destroy me. HOW DID IT NOT. Nash and Maddie were madly in love since children and it shows and I was just happy to be here and watch them realize it. There’s something really great about a childhood friends to lovers trope that brings all of that angst. Shouting at your book WHEN WILL YOU KISS.

This family is my favorite. There’s a lot of terrible people in this book, but the Hartley family is the sweetest and I love the unconditional support that helps brings Maddie back from the brink. I was obsessed with Nash’s protective hero streak and that Maddie was at last able to take some control of her life.

When the suspense ramps up it got even better. While I was expecting some level of it, the second round had me WORRIED. I love that this added an extra dose of me being on edge. I love how fast paced and well crafted each of these books are. Another great read, can’t wait for the next!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: attempted murder, domestic abuse, gun violence, murder, stalking, near death experiences

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Book Review: Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 326 pages
Author: Chloe Liese
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 22nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.

Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge.

Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash their hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all.

To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder, what if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?

I AM ANNOYED.

I was heading towards a decent four star in this one. Not too shabby.

BUT THEN.

I’m stuck on the third act break-up. It was a travesty. The whole book is centered around communication and healing and listening to one another. And then all of that gets completely thrown out the window???? And at 90ish% which just adds fuel to my flames. I am not happy with that at allllllllllll.

I was enjoying the romance between Jamie and Bea. They worked hard to be together even when they acted liked they didn’t want to. It was endearing and they both had opportunities to take care of each other and I adored those sweet moments. The steam was a bit eh. Most shoved in there to call it spicy, so I had to skip more than I expected. Not to mention, I thought the innuendo felt awkward throughout too. I liked the fake dating shenanigans and the intensity between them at least.

This just didn’t have the same vibes from her indie series. I don’t know if that’s a traditional publishing difference or what, it was missing that same air I originally loved. I’m on the fence about continuing the series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open; high explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: ableism, abusive relationship, anxiety

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Book Review: When the Day Comes (Timeless #1) by Gabrielle Meyer

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Christian Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: May 3rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other without any time passing. On her twenty-first birthday, Libby must choose one path and forfeit the other–but how can she possibly decide when she has so much to lose?

EVERYONE WAS RIGHT.

This book made me STRESSED. And I don’t know why I sat on it for so long because it was worth all of the hype I remember seeing for it when it released. This took my avoidance towards time travel romances fly out the door because I loved the way this was written. It was easy to follow and easy to get wrapped up in the entire story.

I loved how there was just the right amount of twists and turns. There was intense moments and times I wanted to throw the book in rage (that good of kind of rage because the writing brings out all the feels). I could not stop listening and had to know what happened next. The romance with Henry was swoony and passionate. Libby was a formidable FMC and I loved her strength with things out of her control and relying on her faith and inner depths to get to the next day.

The ending was beautiful. I was begging the ending to work out as it did the whole book and I loved how it all came together!!

If you couldn’t tell, this is a, READ IT book from me. I can’t wait to read the next one!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian HIstorical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: spousal abuse/rape (not graphically on page, but mentioned), pregnancy and childbirth, mentions of wars (Revolutionary/WW1), loss of life

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Book Review: See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Publisher: Simon Schuster
Release Date: May 17th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Barrett Bloom is hoping college will be a fresh start after a messy high school experience. But when school begins on September 21st, everything goes wrong. She’s humiliated by the know-it-all in her physics class, she botches her interview for the college paper, and at a party that night, she accidentally sets a frat on fire. She panics and flees, and when she realizes her roommate locked her out of their dorm, she falls asleep in the common room.

The next morning, Barrett’s perplexed to find herself back in her dorm room bed, no longer smelling of ashes and crushed dreams. It’s September 21st. Again. And after a confrontation with Miles, the guy from Physics 101, she learns she’s not alone—he’s been trapped for months.

When her attempts to fix her timeline fail, she agrees to work with Miles to find a way out. Soon they’re exploring the mysterious underbelly of the university and going on wild, romantic adventures. As they start falling for each other, they face the universe’s biggest unanswered question yet: what happens to their relationship if they finally make it to tomorrow?

LOVE THE SETTING.

I can’t say groundhog day themed books are something I enjoy, but I do think this one was written really well. Especially as an audiobook I had no trouble wanting to pick this up and keep going (most of the time). That’s the problem with this theme, generally at some point it just starts to feel repetitive.

The relationship between Barrett and Miles was really sweet. I liked how they went from a bit of good banter, to reluctant friends stuck in the same situation, to lovers who had both let their guards down. It was romantic and I enjoyed both characters on their own too.

The plot was good. I think the paced was kept up well and I liked the bit of magical realism attributed to everything. It gave plenty of opportunity for Barrett to right some wrongs AND come work through the horrid things she went through during high school. A lot of momentous moments for her. The college setting was amazing and now I want to read more books in this sub zone because they are incredibly endearing.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: brief open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: Sexual harassment recounted, panic attack, car accident, bullying

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