Rumor Has It by Jill ShalvisMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
View all my reviews
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Review: Playing House
Playing House by Ruby LangMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Fay is out looking at apartments and some random dude keeps hitting on her. When she sees Oliver, she jumps at the chance to make him her pretend boyfriend so the asshole backs off. What follows is continued coupledom as they tour available properties for purchase.
Fay and Oliver know each other. I wouldn't call them friends per say, but more acquaintances who know many of the same people/run in the same circles. They have an interest, but the timing was never right. Both are urban planners- not a job seen in romancelandia. Reading about urban planning was interesting. What complicates things is Oliver's application for a position at Fay's company and his difficulty in telling her. I thought Fay was the stronger character. Oliver read as much younger than 36 (I think that was his stated age), IMO. Overall, a nice friends to lovers.
View all my reviews
Friday, December 11, 2020
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Review: Scandalous Ever After
Scandalous Ever After by Theresa RomainMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Kate was widowed after her not-so-awesome husband fell off a horse and was kicked in the head accidentally. He also left her with debt and she is in danger of losing property to pay it off. She is reunited with Evan, one of her husband's close friends who become one her hers as well. He and Con (Kate's dead husband) had argued the day he died and she hasn't seen him in about 2 years.
I enjoyed the previous book and the prequel. This one was a letdown. This one was dry and hard to get into. Both Kate and Evan are difficult to connect with. This does get better about 1/2 through.
Evan has been in love with Kate for about 13 years and it took him forever to confess it. Same with Kate, it took her some time to realize she loved him too.
It's been awhile since I read the previous book and there was a blackmail plot in that one involving someone by the name Anne Jones (a former mistress of William Chandler). I don't remember the exact details anymore, but the same character factors into a plot-line in this one. There is also the revelation that Con may have been murdered and the smuggling of "ancient" artifacts. I think the mystery of the smuggling/murder could have been played up more. It got more interesting with this info. But, this is resolved very easily (a little too easily IMO). And after all that, Anne still gets away. So, maybe she will appear in Jonah's book too?
View all my reviews
Monday, November 16, 2020
Review: The Ruin of a Rake
The Ruin of a Rake by Cat SebastianMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Julian and Courtenay both meet in the previous book. As a favor to his sister, Julian takes Courtenay under his wing to help repair his reputation. It appears there is a book out that is scandalous and people attribute to Lord Courtenay.
Things happen and people aren't quite what they appear. This was a satisfying read.
View all my reviews
Review: Dearest Rogue
Dearest Rogue by Elizabeth HoytMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is Phoebe and James' (Captain Trevillion) story. Phoebe is Hero's (book 2) and Maximus's (book 6) sister. Phoebe has been gradually losing her sight since about the age of 12 and is now completely blind. As a result of both her disability and her brother's status, Maximus enlists a bodyguard to keep her safe. Enter James, who sustained a career ending injury after his horse (Cowslip) was shot from underneath him.
Someone is trying to kidnap Phoebe. Things happen and James takes her home; his own backstory is revealed. I do like Phoebe and James, but I was more intrigued by Eve and Val (Duke of Montgomery). I wondered about them and what their relationship was and am interested in their backstory. Luckily, Eve's story is next with Val's to follow.
(view spoiler)
View all my reviews
Review: Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti
Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey CatesMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5*
This takes place about 6 mo after the first book. Katie is settled in and is learning about the Craft. The bakery is doing well, and they had to hire another person to help- Cookie one of the coven members. The mystery starts right away with the discovery of a dead body while Katie is out on a picnic with Declan. Katie still has 2 guys (Declan and Steve) that are interested in her (and they hate each other).
Decent mystery. The love triangle appears to be resolved in this one (based on something Katie says at the end of this one). Steve's dad is an asshole. There is a new detective aware of the paranormal (Taite). We will see where Katie ends up next.
View all my reviews
Friday, November 13, 2020
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Monday, November 2, 2020
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Review: A Familiar Tail
A Familiar Tail by Delia JamesMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Anna (Annabelle Amelia Blessingsound Britton- say that 5 times as fast as you can!) is an artist who is in town for a break and to visit her BFF who runs a local restaurant. While in town she comes across a gray cat who adopts her. Alistair (the cat) leads her to things/places/conclusions she would not have gone on her own. Turns out, Anna is a born witch who had no idea of her family history.
This had a bit of a slow start. Once I got into it, this was good. It had likable characters, self-discovery, and decent mystery. I was curious about Anna's history and why she had no idea about it. The explanation made sense once she was able to talk to her Grandma (she was named after her).
View all my reviews
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Saturday, October 17, 2020
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Monday, October 5, 2020
Saturday, October 3, 2020
Friday, October 2, 2020
Monday, September 28, 2020
Review: Tails, You Lose
Tails, You Lose by Carol J. PerryMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5* rounded up
This picks up right where the first left off. Lee has volunteered as an instructor in at the Tabby (Tabitha Trumbull Academy of the Arts). She's dating a detective (Pete) and living with her aunt (Ibby/Isobel). I didn't quite like this one as much as the first. I think it's because Lee didn't use her ability that much and for a good part of the book ignored it/wanted it to do away. Her relationship with Pete is very rated G. Her friend River had more of a presence in this one. Overall, decent mystery.
Read for Romance-opoly Autumn square- moon track
View all my reviews
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Review: Night of the Tiger
Night of the Tiger by N.J. WaltersMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was nice in that it dealt with a goddess that was older then the Olympians, the Lady of the Beasts. When the Olympians rose to defeat her, she cursed/saved her 7 warriors to remain as statues in the form of their animals. Each will have a chance to be saved by their mate/person/lover.
Roric was the white tiger. It appears that 3 of his fellow warriors were freed before him (the serpent (Mordecai), the Phoenix (same name), the Jaguar (Stavros). Their fate is unsure (mostly- we know what happened to Mordecai and were told what happened to the other 2).
Aimee has been having dreams for years. Recently the dreams are more realistic and worse. Aimee has also had tragedy. Her parents were killed by a drunk driver and Aimee had severe, life changing injuries. Aimee is a reclus and illustrates comic books/graphic novels for a living.
Aimee and Roric's attraction was instant and very insta-love. Lots of sexytimes. I think the instant attraction/love factor both worked (they only had 24 hours) and didn't (this for the same reason). Aimee had a lot of backstory, Roric not so much. Even though this is supposed to be stand alone, the others are still carousal animals/fate unknown/Hades helper and the Lady is still trapped in the Underworld. I'm not sure at this point if I would read more in the series.
Read for Romance-opoly fall square sun track
View all my reviews
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Friday, September 18, 2020
Review: Tsunami Blue
Tsunami Blue by Gayle Ann WilliamsMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
In 2023 the world is destroyed by tsunami's breaking all the continents into a series of islands. The tsunamis are extremely violent, strong, and unpredictable. Kathryn, AKA Tsunami Blue, can predict them (the ocean talks to her). Runners (pirates) are after her for her ability. She lives in hiding (or so she thinks). One day, she rescues a stranger (Gabriel) on her beach.
I was disappointed in this one. I didn't "get" the romance- how can you be with someone and not trust them? Blue calling Gabriel "tough guy" all the time too- this was just annoying. I thought Gabriel could have shared much sooner too. This just wasn't for me.
I read this for Romance-opoly The Vault sun track
View all my reviews
Review: No Good Duke Goes Unpunished
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLeanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
William, AKA Temple, was a Marquess and the heir to a Dukedom when he was accused of murder. This opens with the event. His father is getting married to bride #4. His future step-mother to be (Mara) is also younger than him. Mara drugs him and miscalculates; thinking only to "ruin" herself and make her marriageable, he instead is accused of murder and ostracized. William has no memory of that night. Fast forward, he becomes one of the founders of the Fallen Angel, an exclusive gaming hall.
I really didn't like what Mara did. I didn't like the circumstances of her re-introduction to Temple/William. The problem was there were strings attached to her coming forward. I didn't understand her loyalty to her asshole brother (although one could agree she was protecting her orphanage). I still found Mara to be a sympathetic character and when it was all said and done, I did like her. I do wish she had acted earlier. I thought William/Temple was an awesome character.
View all my reviews
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Review: Heartstopper: Volume Three
Heartstopper: Volume Three by Alice Oseman My rating: 4 of 5 stars Charlie and Nick are out to their families a...
-
Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives by Sami Sage My rating: 4 o...
-
There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins My rating: 3 of 5 stars View al...
-
3 stars Ava is getting married. Lacey, Ava's best friend and maid of honor, is tasked with decorating Ava's family cottage. This c...
