Auld Lang Sync

Review:

This was short and sweet. A second chance romance; Charlotte and Jacob were friend with benefits in college. Jacob loved her and never told her. When Kevin came into the picture, Charlotte fell head over heals for him and they got married. 
The second chance happens a little over a year since Kevin's death (car accident). Charlotte has guilt over her relationship with Kevin- there were some revelation made about him and their marriage. Kevin was not a good person. I did sympathize with Charlotte, but would have liked her to be more assertive. 
Jacob finally owns his feelings. I did think the ending was a bit abrupt.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1825008/auld-lang-sync

2019 Reading Assignment Challenge-Spring Semester

Reading Assignment Challenge- 2019

 

AuthorLuv Intermediate Class: 2 books per month (10) same author- Elizabeth Hoyt

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Genre Advanced Class:  3 books per month (30) same genre 

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Mix-It-Up Advanced Class:  3 books per month (30) from set list

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Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1824541/2019-reading-assignment-challenge-spring-semester

#Starstruck

Review:

It's been some time since I've picked up a NA that I liked. This sounded interesting. Would this be the one?! I've read the author before and liked it. Well, the track record continues......
Meet Zoe. She's in her last year of college, rooming with her BFF of 10 years, when she tweets a famous actor.....and gets a response. Well, that's cool! Chase happens to be that actor. Zoe and Lexi (her BFF) have been fans of his since they met 10 years ago. That starts a dialogue and meeting. 
Things happen. 
What I liked:
-At first I really hated (and also put the book down) how I felt her women's and gender studies class was portrayed negatively. "...in a room composed of rapid, men-hating freshman. Freshwomen. Who would probably make women's studies their major. Our section was small, and I often felt bad for the three guys in the class who never, ever spoke. They probably feared for their lives." Yes, as a feminist, I hate men. Whatever. But then, after the Thing That Happened with Zoe and Chase, the class really supported her. "they were all on my side, even the guys, and it made me feel understood and heard in a way that healed another piece of my heart."
-Chase. I thought he was pretty good. I liked how he handled the conversation about Zoe's decision to wait until marriage for sex. I thought he was respectful and supportive of her decision. 
What I hated:
-Zoe. Her lies. She lies to her BFF (her only real friend we are told more than once). Her mom/family. Over and over. Her insecurities.
-Lexi. Shallow.
And the ?:
Zoe and Chase's relationship. I kinda understand, but then I kinda don't understand what was so unique about Zoe that Chase overcome his fear/dislike of marriage.
Not for me, but someone might like this clean (new adult) romance. 

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1824531/starstruck

Notorious Pleasures

Review:

Lady Hero was introduced in book 1. She was an interesting character. Maybe a little judgmental, but kind. Griffin, the younger brother, but also the financial manager of his brother's funds. Hero is engaged to Griffin's older brother Thomas (the Marquis of Mandeville). 
Hero and Griffin's first meeting was...interesting....and I have to admit if it had happened after they had already met, I might not have kept reading and thrown the book across the room. But it did work, this being their introduction, and then finding out the identities. Hero is very proper and was engaged to a very proper man. I didn't like Thomas when first met on the page and he never became someone of character IMO. 

[spoiler]

His treatment of Lavinia for one. Secondly he fucking hit Hero! 

[/spoiler]

Hero's brother, Maximus, was one I didn't have an opinion on, but after his actions regarding Thomas- after he knew what he did to Hero; I decided I didn't like him.
Griffin's character was interesting. It made for an interesting dynamic with how he made his family's fortune and his brother's actions against that "industry." The epidemic of cheap gin was an issue. His was a character maybe I shouldn't have liked, but I did. 
Hero and Griffin really worked for me. I really liked this book and found it hard to put down. I also got to read more about Silence (and she's next!), Winter, and the Home. 
I wonder if the Ladies Syndicate for the Benefit of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children will be a "player" in future books? Margaret might become a donor.
Character guide- will have spoilers

[spoiler]

WI #1: 
Temperance and Lazarus's story. Temperance has 2 sisters, 3 brothers. Oldest is Verity, Concord (runs the brewery), Asa (no one knows what he does), Winter (runs the foundling home, teaches, possibly in the "Ghost of St Giles"), Silence (married to William- his ship is lost at sea in book 2. He had his cargo stolen (all of it) in book 1. Silence, thinking to help, going to Charming Mickey (the person who stole the goods) to get them back. It works, but Silence had to spend the night with him. Nothing happened, but she had to make it look like it did. No one, not her family, believes her that nothing happened).
St John is Lazarus's friend, his wife (I assume), Clara is sick
NP #2:
Griffin (Lord Reading) and Lady Hero Batten's story.
Hero's family: Brother Maximus Batten- Duke of Wakefield (active in parliament and HATES gin)
Phoebe- 17 and is slowly going blind. Was told she wouldn't be having a Season. Please say she gets a story! Parents were murdered in St Giles.
Griffin's: Thomas, Marquis of Mandeville in love with an older, un-titled woman (Lavinia) and is an asshole about it. Sisters Caro (married) and Margaret. Mother (I don't remember if she was given a Name or not- but she is loving and supportive).

[/spoiler]

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1824280/notorious-pleasures

Do You Believe in Santa?

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this one. Mandy saw Santa when she was a kid and it's a story she tells when asked. Mandy had a sweet innocence around her that I don't think would have worked on any other character. I thought Jake was a good fit for her and wasn't too judgmental.
I would have liked more at the end; I thought it was a bit too abrupt. It left me wanting just a little bit more. 
Also of note, for anyone looking for a sweet (and clean- there is no sex or even the presumption of sex- no sleep overs, separate rooms when visiting family) holiday romance, this might be a good fit. I know not everyone likes smex in their books. This has none. Kissing only.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1823376/do-you-believe-in-santa

Psychic's Beast

Review:

I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings ('cause that's one of my favorite fairy tales). This one? Nothing special. You've got Lucifer Beastly (I mean Lux), Arabella (the doormat), Beastly Estates. I mean really? Instead of enjoyment, I had too many LOL and eye-roll moments. Waste of time, don't bother.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1822340/psychic-s-beast

A Countess for Christmas

Review:

This was a short and sweet story that took place over Christmas. I didn't quite believe in Liam and Cecilia's romance; they didn't spend all that much time together. However, the characters were likable enough.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1822232/a-countess-for-christmas

Rise of the Dragon

Review:

This picks up where book 4 left off. We learn who the "Oddsmakers" are, Lev's fate, and what happened to Anne's uncle. There was a lot happening in this one. All-in-all, a satisfying conclusion. I thought everything was wrapped up nicely.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1822230/rise-of-the-dragon

Midnight Magic

Review:

I have mixed emotions about this one, mainly because of Cassie (Cassionetta). On one hand I sympathize with her, because I could see how easy it would be to fall for a guy when one has some self-esteem issues and that person only shows a certain side. On the other hand, I wanted her to buck up and take action, even when it meant asking for help and admitting her mistake. She does, but I found her hard to like. I also would have liked Jeremy to declare his feelings sooner than he did.
And this:

[spoiler]Cassie coming into magic at the end irritated me. I thought it was more interesting when she was "normal." And it's now just perfectly fine for her and Jeremy to be together!

[/spoiler]

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1821810/midnight-magic

Gentlemen Prefer Voodoo

Review:

Amie is a voodoo practitioner who also owns a voodoo shop. Her mom loved the wrong guys and Amie is adamant she isn't going to make the same mistakes. She breaks down and casts a spell for her to find her "one true love." That spell awakens Dante, who it turns out worked some magic of his own to be able to come back and find his "one true love." 
This was short and sweet. Amie takes some convincing. I thought this worked well as a stand alone.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1821766/gentlemen-prefer-voodoo