Holy cow, how is it already the end of April?! Time in quarantine is really flying now! I hope all you lovelies are getting through quarantine and isolation in the best way you can. I certainly find it hard to hold on some days, but I’ve taken to trying to create a routine and doing a bit of cleaning every day to get my house in order. It’s really a long time coming, you would understand if you could see my house! Of course, I’m doing some reading as well, just not as much or exactly which books I wanted to.
So without further ado, my whole haul is below. I treated myself a bit to an extra BOTM book and bought two backlist sequels that I’ve had my eye on in order to support a local bookstore. I will likely cut back again next month and resume my ban!
SUBSCRIPTION BOXES
Beach Read, Emily Henry – Book of the Month
The Guest List, Lucy Foley – Book of the Month
Ruthless Gods, Emily A. Duncan – Owlcrate Special Edition (thanks fiance!)
THE IVY BOOKSHOP
A Heart So Fierce and Broken, Brigid Kemmerer
These Divided Shores, Sara Raasch
My Owlcrate monthly book box has not arrived yet, thanks COVID, so that will be added in next month’s haul!
Let me know in the comments what books you hauled this month!
In Alisha Rai’s second novel in her Modern Love series, a live-tweet event goes viral for a camera-shy ex-model, shoving her into the spotlight—and into the arms of the bodyguard she’d been pining for.
OMG! Wouldn’t it be adorable if he’s her soulmate???
I don’t see any wedding rings [eyes emoji]
Breaking: #CafeBae and #CuteCafeGirl went to the bathroom AT THE SAME TIME!!!
One minute, Katrina King’s enjoying an innocent conversation with a hot guy at a coffee shop; the next, a stranger has live-tweeted the entire episode with a romantic meet-cute spin and #CafeBae is the new hashtag-du-jour. The problem? Katrina craves a low-profile life, and going viral threatens the peaceful world she’s painstakingly built. Besides, #CafeBae isn’t the man she’s hungry for…
He’s got a [peach emoji] to die for.
With the internet on the hunt for the identity of #CuteCafeGirl, Jas Singh, bodyguard, friend, and possessor of the most beautiful eyebrows Katrina’s ever seen, comes to the rescue and whisks her away to his family’s home. Alone in a remote setting with the object of her affections? It’s a recipe for romance. But after a long dating dry spell, Katrina isn’t sure she can trust her instincts when it comes to love—even if Jas’ every look says he wants to be more than just her bodyguard…
Review
**Thank you to Edelweiss, Avon, and Alisha Raifor a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**
Companion novel to The Right Swipe, Girl Gone Viral follows Katrina King as she struggles with her anxiety disorder and finding herself going viral on the internet for a fake relationship with a man she encountered briefly at a coffee shop. Katrina copes with the unwanted attention, and possible increased attention from people in her past, by heading to Northern California with her super hot bodyguard Jas who she just happens to have been panting over for years now…
I found Girl Gone Viral to be a decent adult rom com. I appreciate the mental health representation with Katrina, and the fact that information is shared about her past but the story isn’t completely focused on her trauma. It allows a different perspective than normal because it focuses on dealing with the mental health triggers in her normal life years later.
I enjoyed the relationship progression of Katrina and Jas. It was interesting to read how they were able to go from employer/employee and long time friends to a romantic relationship. They had some serious issues but could talk about them and come to a solution or conclusion. Sometimes it’s nice to just read about functional relationships instead of two people who don’t know how to talk to each other or sort through normal relationship struggles.
One criticism I have is about the romantic, sex scenes. They were, frankly, unrealistic. I have never come across a book that was this unrealistic with how people have sex. It didn’t stop me from reading it, but I got to the first scene and literally stopped, read it to my fiance, and laughed about how that’s not an average take on how sexual experiences look. I think sex scenes are important to adult romance stories and at times it’s hard to create unique scenes – but this was not the solution.
Overall, I’m glad I was able to read Girl Gone Viral early, courtesy of Edelweiss. I read it all in one sitting, and it was an easy and light read. I hope you will check it out when it releases, especially if you enjoyed The Right Swipe!
When your nemesis also happens to be your fiancé, happily ever after becomes a lot more complicated in this wickedly funny, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy debut.
Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They’re preparing for their lavish wedding that’s three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.
Naomi wants out, but there’s a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.
But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they’re finally being themselves–and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.
Review
Thank you to Edelweiss, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and Sarah Hogle for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**
You Deserve Each Other is a refreshingly new take on romance. Nicholas and Naomi are engaged, but seriously hate each other. Resentment has built silently on both sides for a year and their pride is too strong to be the first to break. But in love, there’s no room for mistrust or selfishness. They need to make a choice, but with a manipulative and conniving future MIL and Naomi’s unstable employment status – no decision is easy.
I’m here for this lovers to enemies to lovers action. Told from Naomi’s POV, the reader gets a firsthand look into how dysfunctional the relationship has gotten. It’s clear Nicholas and Naomi have both given up, but when Naomi realizes Nicholas is just as unhappy, they both snap into being petty and trying to make each other miserable enough to end the engagement. I loved the petty drama and it was LOL funny to see what pranks they would pull next.
Nicholas’ mother was a delightfully evil character. The drama she added to the story line was perfect and helped push Naomi and Nicholas along.
I adored that this book, more than anything, was about Naomi and Nicholas becoming friends again. It’s important for relationships to not just be about the romance, but also enjoying each other’s company and hobbies.
I absolutely adored this book and you should all read this pronto.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: April 7th, 2020
416 pages
5/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
Can a love triangle have only two people in it? Online, it can… but in the real world, it’s more complicated. In this debut novel Marisa Kanter explores what happens when internet friends turn into IRL crushes.
There are a million things that Halle Levitt likes about her online best friend, Nash.
He’s an incredibly talented graphic novelist. He loves books almost as much as she does. And she never has to deal with the awkwardness of seeing him in real life. They can talk about anything…
Except who she really is.
Because online, Halle isn’t Halle—she’s Kels, the enigmatically cool creator of One True Pastry, a YA book blog that pairs epic custom cupcakes with covers and reviews. Kels has everything Halle doesn’t: friends, a growing platform, tons of confidence, and Nash.
That is, until Halle arrives to spend senior year in Gramps’s small town and finds herself face-to-face with real, human, not-behind-a-screen Nash. Nash, who is somehow everywhere she goes—in her classes, at the bakery, even at synagogue.
Nash who has no idea she’s actually Kels.
If Halle tells him who she is, it will ruin the non-awkward magic of their digital friendship. Not telling him though, means it can never be anything more. Because while she starts to fall for Nash as Halle…he’s in love with Kels.
Review
**Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and Marisa Kanter for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**
What I Like About You is an extraordinary YA rom com that all reviewers and bookstagrammers should read. Halle has worked very diligently over the last several years to grow her blog and instagram following where she reviews YA books and pairs them with cupcakes. She created the perfect pseudonym in order to separate herself from her publishing famous grandmother. She wants to earn her followers and acclaim based on her brand and talent, not her grandmother’s influence. She has created her persona, made a bunch of online friends, and is on her way to reaching her goals. But when she moves to a new high school and meets her best online friend, Nash, in person, she can’t bear to tell him who she really is. How will he react to knowing Kels isn’t real?
This is a trope I’ve read often in Young Adult Contemporary novels and I will never tire of it. It never goes well, but I will always be here for reading the fall out. What makes this even better? Halle reads just as much in the genre and knows she is living a book trope but thinks her situation is different! It’s frankly so meta and I adore it. I will never not pick up a book with this trope.
I adore everything about this book and I shout it from the rooftops if necessary so everyone will read it. The characters are fantastic, even the side characters. I love the friendship Halle has with her younger brother Ollie, I think it’s a type of sibling relationship you don’t often see, especially with opposite sexes. He is supportive and they like each other’s hobbies out of respect for each other and a desire to spend time together and it is amazing. I also just love that the author based a book off this community that I love so much.
Read this book. It is wonderfully written and wildly interesting and seriously cute.
Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.
James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.
Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…
Review
**Thank you to Edelweiss, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**
Friends! I was SO STOKED to have the chance to read and review this title early and it did not disappoint! Christina Lauren has done it again with an amazing romance novel that will have you swooning well after you’ve closed the book.
The Honey Don’t List follows Carey, the assistant to Melly Tripp a home design wizard with her husband Rusty, who does the remodeling and renovations. She has worked for them for 10 years and is very devoted to the couple, even though they are not as perfect as social media would have it seem. James McCann is running from a bad experience at his last job, and took this gig with the Tripp’s as an opportunity to be an engineer, but instead got stuck being Rusty’s assistant. He is not happy with this development to say the least. Carey and James must keep their bosses’ marriage together while doing press for their new book and Netflix TV show, which turns out to be harder than anticipated…
As usual Christina Lauren creates a book with many layers, which they are so adept at revealing at the perfect time. Carey and James start off as enemies but soon become teammates on the journey of keeping their bosses’ image intact, as it benefits both of them. During this time, they get closer and their bond gets deeper – they learn each other’s secrets. James helps Carey with the pieces of her life she isn’t ready to face yet. They are so sweet together and I just can’t get over it.
The Tripp’s are crazy town and it makes this book so very entertaining. Their marriage is a complete disaster and I love the irony of them releasing a marriage advice book while theirs is in shambles. I really disliked both of the characters honestly, they both are tragically messed up and even worse together.
I loved everything about this book, and it had all the elements of a perfect adult contemporary romance book. I also love the nod to mental health and work, because work really can have a negative effect on your wellbeing and it’s nice to see that story told in a book. If you love Christina Lauren books, go preorder your copy because it is worth the hype!
Sam Huxton doesn’t do one-night stands, especially not with men she’s just met! But the hot guy at the bar was hard to resist and one night is all they share – no names, no numbers, just some much needed fun…
Until the same guy walks into Sam’s life the next day as her new employee. Sam never mixes business with pleasure and makes it clear an office fling with Ryan is off-limits. But after-hours…one thing can lead to another. Can Sam trust her heart and her business with the new guy?
Review
**Thanks to One More Chapter, Netgalley, and Kathryn Freeman for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**
The New Guy follows Sam, the CEO of a tech company and Ryan, her newest employee – which she didn’t realize when she took him home from the bar the past weekend. Sam must now navigate being the boss of someone she is wildly attracted to, while her company is being threatened and Ryan may be the only person who can save it.
THIS BOOK WAS ADORABLE. I really enjoyed the interactions between Sam and Ryan, and I feel like they both brought so much baggage with them that but were able to work through it together the right way. The character development was great from start to finish, and they helped each other to become better mentally and as people. I flew through this book in just a few hours because the banter and sexual tension between the characters was just captivating!
I do feel like a few plot points weren’t followed through to the end with the same attention that others were given, which caused it to fall just a bit flat. All the ends weren’t tied up, so I feel like I docked a star from The New Guy for this reason. Even if it’s small, I like when all plot points or question marks are closed up or answered. But overall, a cute read and well worth the time.
“They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.”
Title: The Shadows Between Us
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Publication date: February 25th, 2020
326 pages
5/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:
1) Woo the Shadow King. 2) Marry him. 3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.
No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.
But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?
All the time in the world is worth nothing if I don’t get to spend it with you.
tricia levenseller, the shadows between us
Review
So, I love everything Tricia Levenseller writes and will always read her books, but I was even MORE sold when I read the synopsis. Like, this book seemed right up my alley and I WAS RIGHT.
Alessandra is a strong, female character. Is she completely moral and a good person? Ehhhhh, not particularly seeing as she killed someone. BUT. She is unapologetically herself, which is something I respect in a character. If you’re going to make a heartless and morally gray character, then SELL IT TO ME. And ya’ll, Tricia did. Alessandra really only cares about herself (with a few exceptions) and is only looking out for her interests. She wants power and wants to be Queen, without having to bow to a King.
I love Tricia’s characters. Even the side characters had their own arcs and growth throughout the book, which I always find impressive in a standalone. Each character got an “ending” that made sense and mostly in line for what they were looking for. The Shadow King character was dark and mysterious, but I do wish his powers and magic had been explained a touch more thoroughly.
I enjoyed the plot twist. I saw about half of it coming. Like, I knew *who* it would be about but didn’t see the details coming. This is a bonus in books for me. I don’t mind being able to predict what happens, but I love when books throw me for a loop.
Overall, I loved reading The Shadows Between Us and Tricia Levenseller continues to be an auto buy author for me.
“She enjoyed people—she really did—she just needed to take them in homeopathic doses; a little of the poison was the cure.”
Title: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
Author: Abbi Waxman
Publisher: Berkley
Publication date: July 9th, 2019
351 pages
4.5/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.
When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They’re all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She’ll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It’s a disaster! And as if that wasn’t enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn’t he realize what a terrible idea that is?
Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.) 2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee). 3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)
It’s time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn’t convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It’s going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.
Review
Being with you is as good as being alone.
abbi waxman, the bookish life of nina hill
Nina works in a bookstore. She has her routine and her planners, and doesn’t accept the unplanned or unpredictable. She loves her friends and trivia night, but isn’t great with exercise or eating normal meals. Her whole life is turned upside down when her unknown father ends up dead but she is listed in the will. She finds herself with several siblings, nieces/nephews, cousins, grandnieces and nephews, etc. It’s very overwhelming for her. Also, her bookstore can’t pay the rent and she may be falling in love with her trivia rival. Basically her life is crumbling into the unpredictable, and what is a rigid and routine loving girl to do?!
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is delightfully funny and sweet. Abbi Waxman has a way of writing that invokes deep emotion while being laugh out loud funny. Her writing style felt real and genuine, and the personality she gave the characters was second to none. There were times when you got the POV of both within the same character through thoughts they were both having about what was transpiring and it was so well done. I love when romance novels have more than one POV because I also want to read about the man falling in love with the woman.
I love how the story line with her long lost family played out, and how she went through this journey mostly by herself, mostly successfully. Her life flipped around a lot during the story but she was able to learn from the experience and be more open to life than she had been. She also has a remarkable number of friends for someone who says she doesn’t like people. She seems to make friends with everyone she meets.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. Abbi Waxman was able to create a story that was gripping and very funny. Go check it out!
“Sometimes the darkest tragedies bring us the brightest lights”
Title: Meet Cute
Author: Helena Hunting
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: April 9th, 2019
384 pages
5/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
Talk about an embarrassing introduction. On her first day of law school, Kailyn ran—quite literally—into the actor she crushed on as a teenager, ending with him sprawled on top of her. Mortified to discover the Daxton Hughes was also a student in her class, her embarrassment over their meet-cute quickly turned into a friendship she never expected. Of course, she never saw his betrayal coming either…
Now, eight years later, Dax is in her office asking for legal advice. Despite her anger, Kailyn can’t help feeling sorry for the devastated man who just became sole guardian to his thirteen-year-old sister. But when her boss gets wind of Kailyn’s new celebrity client, there’s even more at stake than Dax’s custody issues: if she gets Dax to work at their firm, she’ll be promoted to partner.
The more time Kailyn spends with Dax and his sister, the more she starts to feel like a family, and the more she realizes the chemistry they had all those years ago is as fresh as ever. But will they be able to forgive the mistakes of the past, or will one betrayal lead to another?
Review
I think it’s interesting that you have a thing for the teenage version of me but you’re not all that fond of the real, adult version.
Helena Hunting, Meet Cute
Meet Cute starts off with a, well, meet cute on a college campus. Kailyn runs into Daxton Hughes, the star of her favorite childhood show. She literally runs into him while walking to a law school class. Their exchange is adorable, but not much really comes from it. Fast forward several years, and they are both lawyers but don’t communicate with each other. Kailyn is pissed at Dax – but when his parents die and he becomes the guardian of his 13 year old sister, Kailyn gets involved in handling Emme’s trust.
I thought Meet Cute was deep and heartfelt with some serious themes and intense plot lines. It is not a boiler plate rom com novel, there’s death and legal battles. I liked the marriage of lighthearted and serious and I feel like it was done really well. Kailyn and Dax also have an interesting relationship, and their history together is funny and endearing. However, Emme completely steals the show and I adored her character.
The concept was very good and different, but I couldn’t help being mad at one of the characters (no spoilers). But really, there was a whole situation that was very frustrating (by design) and drove a lot of the drama in the book.
One aspect I really loved was Kailyn’s relationship with Emme. She went above and beyond for that little girl after a tragedy left her without parents, and she did NOT have to. All she had to do legally was make sure Emme’s trust was being handled properly, and she was out buying Emme her first set of period essentials and having the period and sex talk with her. It was amazing how far Kailyn was willing to go to help that little girl.
Basically, if you are a fan of adult contemporary romance, you should check out Meet Cute.
To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life: a quaint house on an island off Seattle’s coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescue. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare.
Several years ago, she was the only survivor of a serial killer — a madman who stalked and abducted young women, strangled them, and left them buried with a red scarf on their bodies. As authorities were closing in on the Red Scarf Killer, he shot and killed Fiona’s cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.
On Orcas Island, Fiona has found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. Yet all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He’s the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon’s house, and he’s at his wit’s end.
To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can’t handle. Simon is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he’s a rugged and intensely private artist, known for creating exquisite furniture. Simon never wanted a puppy, and he most definitely doesn’t want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to the laws of attraction.
As Fiona embarks on training Jaws and as Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona’s life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands.
Review
Properly trained, a man can be a dog’s best friend.
Nora Roberts, The Search
I read The Search for the first time many years ago, while on vacation. I had run out of books to read so I stole one of my mom’s and it was a GREAT DECISION. I loved The Search and when recently at the library I had the urge to seek it out and read again, and it was also a great decision.
Fiona is a dog trainer living on an island off the coast of Washington, trying to escape her past. She trains Search and Rescue dogs, and is quite good at it. You wouldn’t know by looking at her that years ago she was the target of a serial killer, and was the only woman to escape. Now, her past is trying to find her again as a copycat is taunting her with reminders that she is the one that got away. In comes Simon, a man new to the island and new to puppy ownership. Jaws needs some training, and Fiona is the right woman for the job. But is she also the right woman for Simon?
Again, I loved this book. It’s long without seeming long, and it is gripping from start to finish. It is not a stereotypical romance where that is the sole plot and theme of the book, instead the romance is equally weighted with the serial killer and dog training plot lines. This made for a diverse and interesting read that wasn’t focused too closely on her finding a man.
I adore serial killer books, it’s like a guilty pleasure for me. It’s one plot that I will forever love to read. I especially preferred this book because it is in no way a mystery or a thriller. That genre tends to scare me more, which doesn’t lead to an enjoyable reading experience (though I am trying to branch out in that direction). Instead, The Search involves thrilling scenes without being classified as a thriller.
I do also love the romance between Fiona and Simon. It’s not quite hate to love, but more like dislike to love. They don’t exactly get along at first, and they have differences that really grate on each others nerves, but none of that matters in the face of the huge attraction they have for each other. It’s really a no nonsense love affair, without nearly as much dramatics as others. Their differences are actually quite enjoyable and adorable to read, because it’s all small things – not large issues.
Lastly, the dogs. I will ALWAYS be here for books with dogs, especially where they do amazing things like find lost children and hikers. There are so many GOOD DOGGOS in this book and it warms my heart. Basically this book has everything that I love while also being supremely well written. I mean, it’s Nora Roberts. She doesn’t have scads of published books because her writing sucks.
Anyway, thank you for joining me on this rant about The Search. Even if you’re not a huge Adult Romance or Nora Roberts fan, I do still think this book would be worth it to read. I don’t prefer Nora Roberts books as a rule, which is why I feel I can say this.
Baltimore Bibliophile 