Book Review: The Camelot Betrayal by Kiersten White

This was definitely better than the first one. I’m glad I continued with the series. And now I’m very eager to read the next book. Can we please get a release date?

I still have a lot of questions which is kind of frustrating. But I also feel like I got more information and can form more concrete theories about some of the many mysteries.

Branigen is still spicy and probably my favorite character. I also really love Lancelot, too. I never know who to trust which can be stressful, but I like that Ms. White keeps me on my toes. I keep getting attached to characters, but am scared to get too attached.

Can we talk about the romance? Is there supposed to be one? Is there an endgame for Guinevere? I don’t want to go into spoilers, but I kind of want her with two people. Or even alone. I love a good romance, but I can easily see her making some ultimate sacrifices.

Overall, I have no idea where this is going. Yes, I have some theories, but they could be completely wrong. No matter what, I’m on board for this ride.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: Beard Science by Penny Reid

I was excited to read Cletus’ romance, because I fell in love with him during the last two books. And this definitely delivered.

I came in as a Cletus fan. It was nice to get in his head and understand how he thinks. He doesn’t think like a lot of people, but he still feels very real. And I absolutely fell in love with Jennifer. Her parents basically force her to be a different person and don’t respect her. Sometimes it was hard to read about it. But she is still a positive person which is admirable. Jen also goes on an amazing journey of self-discovery.

Then, there’s the romance. I guess you could call it slow burn-definitely not a lot of sexytimes. I thought the packing and development was great. Jen and Cletus become friends then lovers. I think it has to be slower, because of the non-romance journey Jen has to go on.

This is definitely my favorite in the series. It could easily become a five-star read upon a re-read. I’m not even sure why I can’t give it 5 stars right now. My gut just says 4 stars. I’m enjoying my time with the Winston brothers.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: Headstrong Like Us by Krista and Becca Ritchie

I love Kirsta and Becca, but this felt so unnecessary. Now, I like a good fan service book, but it shouldn’t be required reading in a series. I had a feeling this would be fan service because the Marrow shippers are strong, but it was still unnecessary.

To be clear, I don’t hate Farrow and Moffy. I just don’t get the hype. They have banter, but it always feels forced to me. And Moffy’s self-sacrificing victim complex is kind of annoying-especially after 4 books. I like Farrow’s friendships especially with Donnelly, but they weren’t as prevalent as they’ve been in the past.

Overall this dragged and really didn’t add anything to the characters or series. It revisited a lot of the same drama/issues. Can we stop having Grandmother Calloway be a bad guy? It’s getting tired.

Also, since I’m being super-negative can we talk about the audiobook narrators? I know people love them, but I...do not. Specifically their voices for all the female characters are so grating.

Walrus did briefly show up which was nice. I am really excited to read the next one. I’m a little apprehensive because I’m afraid it will be gay-for-you which I hate. Fingers crossed that it isn’t. 

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

I freaking loved this! And I definitely wasn’t expecting that. I just wanted to give Penelope Douglas another chance.

I’m not even sure I can really explain why it worked for me. The audio book contributed I think. I plan on buying a physical copy and the audio for future reads.

The angst was probably a huge part of my enjoyment. I am not always on board for angsty stories, but when they work-they work. Ms. Douglas paced it really well. Sometimes the angst is so high that I feel like I’m getting figurative blue balls, This didn’t have that.

I liked both Ryen and Misha. He was more your standard New Adult romance hero, but he was pretty well done. My heart really hurts for him. Ryen was a little different, but not in a “not like other girls” way. She’s very fake and does tons of unlikable things, but it works. Ms. Douglas did a really good job of showing why Ryen acts the way she does. It felt very real and raw.

I really liked the romance. There’s a friends-to-lovers element, but it’s also enemies-to-lovers. There’s a big chunk where Misha knows Ryen, but not the other way around. It’s got a lying by omission element. I’m typically not a huge fan, but it worked pretty well for me here. The pacing, again, was great. It sounds kind of raunchy, but she would build the tension, release, build, release, etc. for maximum enjoyment. I was a little weirded out by reading explicit sex scenes with high schoolers. THey’re both 18 and no shade to Ms. Douglas, but it was still odd for me. That’s definitely just a personal thing.

Then, there’s the friendships. Some of them are toxic (and are supposed to be). Others are actually really positive. It wasn’t a huge part of the story, but I appreciated it. 

This was just such a happy surprise of a book. I will definitely keep trying Penelope Douglas after this.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: Epic Fail by Claire Lazebnik

This was a perfectly good book. I continue to question if YA contemporary just doesn’t work for me anymore. It definitely news like a why in 2011. That’s not a criticism-just an observation.

Elise was kind of annoying, but not too bad. I think the issue is that the characters aren’t particularly developed. They do and say things but I don’t know why. It comes across as being convenient for plot instead of natural/organic.

This is also a Pride & Prejudice retelling which is actually why I read it. I would say it was a decent retelling. Ms. Lazebnik did a good job of setting this story in a high school setting. I was especially curious about how the Wickham storyline would play out. She probably could’ve gone further with that,but I don’t think that happened a lot in YA ten years ago. Elise’s mom was probably the most frustrating. She was annoying (like Mrs. Bennett), but it’s never explained why. At least I know why Mrs. Bennett behaved the way she did. I feel like she was done dirty in this one.

I would still recommend it. It would probably work really well for people who like teen movies on Disney channel, but with some drug/alcohol references.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: The Gentleman and the Thief by Sarah Eden

What to say?
This was a nice and clean romance. Although I hesitate to call it a romance. So much of this was about the mystery type element. I would’ve preferred more to the romance. That has nothing to do with the lack of sexual elements. I just never felt the attraction and why Hollis and Ana grew to love each other. I liked them as people, but they also felt a little underdeveloped. 

Part of this was two Penny Dreadfuls. I’m kind of ambivalent about books within books. Initially, I was annoyed by them, but I grew to really like them. I don’t know if they were accurate representations of actual Penny Dreadfuls, but they were good to me. 

Thanks for reading!
Holly 

Book Review: All I Want for Christmas by Wendy Loggia

This was cute and fun. It read exactly like a Hallmark Christmas movie. I think that was the intention and it delivered. It was a fast read that gave you those warm holiday feelings.

The characters aren’t particularly deep, but in that tv movie way. And it was kind of predictable, but I didn’t really mind. It had some holiday magic which I appreciate in my cHristmas stories.

I would definitely recommend this if you like made-for-tv movies. It’s an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

October Wrap-Up (2020)

October is another month that flew by. That’s probably because I had so much to do, so there wasn’t a lot of down time. I also was dealing with the ending of Audible Escape. I tried to prioritize a bunch of audio books, but there’s still only so much time. I’ll miss AE, but I’m happy about some of the new favorites I’ve found.

Below are the books I read in October along with my ratings and thoughts.

Book Review: One More Round by Alice Clayton

I’ve been wanting to re-read the Cocktail books and now I really want to! I loved being with Simon and Caroline again. And Clive. His epilogue was beautiful and almost made me cry for some reason. I’ve always loved him, but I think the fact that I have my own now makes me more connected.

This does deal with miscarriages and other childbirth/fertility struggles. I’m glad Ms. Clayton explored these topics. They are important and real. And it doesn’t upset me to read about it, but I know it can trigger some.

So much of this is fan service. But I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with a fan service novel/novella. I hope they’ll release it as a paperback at some point so I can add it to my physical collection.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella

I’ve gotten back into Sophie Kinsella this year so getting to read a new release was great. Now, this was more like a 3.5, but I don’t do half-stars. And while I had some issues in the middle the ending was a great redemption.

Ava was a lot like Becky from the Shopaholic series. She was flighty and oblivious. I can be a little scatter-brained so I usually don’t care, but Ava kind of got on my nerves. She did grow and learn some self-control which was nice, but took a long time to get there.

Matt was interesting. Ms. Kinsella did a good job of showing his personality. Even though this was from Ava’s perspective, I completely understand his behaviors.

The romance was a little lacking. I didn’t hate them together or anything, but I did really see the chemistry. Ultimately, I am happy for them, but I think I would’ve been just as happy with them not as a couple in the end.

I did like the side characters and friendships. Both Ava and Matt had good, if unconventional or odd, friends. I especially liked when their two groups come together-those were funny moments.

This was one of my least favorite Sophie Kinsella books. I still enjoyed it and recommend it.
Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: Grin and Beard It by Penny Reid

These books are fun. It’s probably helpful that I like a good southern/Appalachia story. The accents, the vibes; I just love it all.

Sienna was a great heroine. She was funny, confident, and a little over-the-top. I like characters like that-especially if they own it. Jethro was great, too. He had a rough life, but owns his bad choices.

They had great chemistry. Generally, I liked how they interact with each other. It’s good and caring banter. They also realistically addressed their lifestyle differences/expectations because of her job. I don’t typically like famous people stories, but this one worked.

But just like the first book, I felt like something was missing. I can’t really explain it. I think the story just goes along at the same tension level and ends-not much climax or resolution. After two books, I think this is just how Penny Reid writes. That’s fine, but it isn’t my favorite to read.

I saw that sequel bait and need Cletus’ book because I love him. I think his story is next which makes me happy.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

This was a great follow-up to A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I think I liked it more. But they felt so different so it seems odd to compare them. And I can’t wait for the next one!!!

I already liked Grey going in, but I loved getting to know him better. He has gone through so much, maintains a strength of character. I particularly like the mental health components. I hope that continues to be discussed in the next one (for many reasons). He and Rhen have both gone through very traumatic experiences. This will definitely have an impact on them.

Then, there’s Lia Mara. I loved her. She is such a spectacular heroine. She is the type of strong female character I like reading about. She can physically defend herself, but her strength is one of intelligence and emotion. I need her and Harper to be friends.

There were more side characters in this one or previous characters were more deeply explored. Tycho is a precious bean who I want to protect with everything I have. I also hate getting attached to side characters, because I feel like I’m just being set up for a death.

I know some people had an issue with Rhen in this one. I completely understand why. He isn't a nice guy. But he’s also dealing with PTSD while trying to lead and protect a country. I’m very happy with the happy choices Brigid Kemmerer made with Rhen’s character. It was probably the harder choice, but in the end, it will pay off. I think and hope. 

I did have one issue. It’s actually something I had with the first book, too. The POVs aren’t particularly distinct. There’s a consistent voice no matter whose POV we’re in. If it was written in 3rd person I would be less bothered by it.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: The Code for Love and Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor

Does YA not work for me anymore? I hope not, because that would make me sad. 

This is an Emma retelling. As someone who has read multiple Emma retellings this year, let me say that it is hard to do a good one. I’m starting to think Austen herself could only write this story and make it work.

Mostly, this was boring. I think it would have been better off without a love story for the main character. I have no idea why she ended up with someone other than it was expected. It was definitely a change in her character, which is good, but it wasn’t well explained. I get why he wants to be with her but not the other way around.

I did like the friendships, but I wish they could’ve been explored more. It felt very surface-level. I was kind of rooting for a Jane/Emma relationship if there was going to be one, but I think that’s just because their friendship was probably the most meaningful one. 

I don’t have much to say. This was pretty forgettable, but it wasn’t a horrible book and I wouldn’t tell someone not to read it.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean

Perhaps I was too optimistic about this one. It was still good but definitely my least favorite in the series.

First, I do think MacLean did a good job of redeeming Ewan. It wasn’t an instant change/penance. I actually would’ve liked more Ewan pov scenes. 

Grace is a strong character who has accomplished so much. But I never fully connected with her. She was closed off to a lot of people in her life. This is completely understandable, but she also came off as closed off from the reader. She also talked around things which I found annoying.

I don’t have a big issue with the actual romance, but the pacing was a little off. Grace and Ewan had the same conversation over and over again. Maybe if there was additional conflicts it would’ve been better. There was one that could’ve been explored, but it was glossed over.

I did like the ending. I don’t want to go into spoilers, but I Liked the choices the characters made. I have some questions about the logistics, but overall I was happy.

I would still really like a novella or book for Nik and Nora (I think that’s her name).

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: Playing for Keeps by Kendall Ryan

I don’t know why I’m drawn to write a review for this one, but I am. It’ll probably be pretty short.

This was almost surprisingly average. It was a very standard contemporary romance. It was easy to read/listen to. There is a brother’s best friend element. That’s one of my least favorite tropes. Although the brother-I think his name was Owen-wasn’t quite overbearing as some have been. So, that was a nice surprise. 

I would’ve preferred more hockey. The fact that the hero (I don’t even remember names) is a hockey player almost doesn’t matter in the story. I would just prefer more hockey elements. I’m used to hockey books like Sarina Bowen’s.

I don’t hate this book. And there isn’t anything that stands out as bad, but it was spectacularly bland and average.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: The Lost Love Song by Minnie Darke

This is one of the most difficult ratings I've had to come up with-at least in a long time. Objectively, this is beautifully written. For the right reader this book will be an all-time favorite. But I'm not a big fan of flowery and symbolic writing. I can appreciate it, but would prefer to not read it. Also, I keep seeing this classified as a romance and it isn't. There are definitely people falling in love and maybe spoiler: a HEA. But the story isn't centered around any of those romances so it's not a romance novel. 

I did enjoy this, but it was also a little heavy for me. I cried multiple times which I totally expected, but it still hit me every time. I just tend to lean more toward lighter books. That is all personal preference.

This is structured in a different way. It isn't particularly complex, but it kind of jumps around between different sets of characters as they are impacted by a love song travelling around the world. This, like the writing, is something I appreciate from an artistic perspective, but isn't my favorite thing. It prevents me from completely connecting with each of the characters. Maybe you aren't supposed to connect with them, but I want to! 

The story does primarily focus on Arie as he recovers from the death of his long-term girlfriend. He is grieving and moving on (for lack of a better term). That was where a lot of the emotion came in for me. His grief/pain was raw and heartbreaking. It felt so real and I loved how he handled different situations. He had a relationship with his girlfriend's mom that really got to me. And there is a romance involved in this, which I liked, but wasn't as developed as much as I would've wanted. But that also comes down to expectations. If you don't look at it as a romance novel that might be more satisfying. 

I may have given this 3 stars-which is a perfectly good rating, but I can definitely see how this would be a new favorite and 5 star read for certain readers. 

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: Well Played by Jen DeLuca

Well Met was one of my favorite reads of 2019, so I was very excited for this. It did not disappoint. I do like Well Met a little more, but I was very happy for this. And I need the next book ASAP.

Stacy was a great heroine. She’s fun, likable, and a good friend. She is plus-size with some insecurities, but it doesn’t define her which I loved. I just connected to her so strongly.

The romance was very cute. It had a lot of textual communication-emails and texts. The lord knows I’m a sucker for that. And it didn’t progress the way I expected which was a happy surprise. The ending was a tad rushed/abrupt.

I love the whole Ren Fair life. I could’ve used a little more in this one, but I still like the vibes.

And seriously the sequel bait was so strong. I need the next one!!!

Thanks for reading!
Holly 

Book Review: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

I’ve been struggling to write reviews lately. And this book isn’t really motivating me. I did enjoy this, but it wasn’t my favorite Christina Lauren book. And it’s a lower four stars. If I still did half stars it would probably be a 3.5. 

This read a lot like a Hallmark movie. That is not an insult-I love a Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movie. It warms your heart, but isn’t particularly deep.

Maelyn was a likable enough character, but she was also a little one-dimensional. The romance felt the same way. I was along for the ride, but never fully connected with it. Maybe if Andrew had a POV? I’m also not a big fan of long-time crush stories.

The relationship I really liked was her relationship with Benny. He’s a family friend and kind of a wise uncle figure. It was probably the most developed relationship.

Maelyn also has to deal with the changing traditions. This part definitely hit me in the feels. My family is going through that stage where it might be time to make changes. This is natural, but also difficult. A lot of the time books (and movies) just glamorize traditions-especially holiday ones. I appreciated the honest look at real life.

I will continue to read Christina Lauren books-this one was just a little disappointing.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This will probably be less a review and more a random collection of thoughts. Is that different from my normal reviews? No, but I still feel weird about it.

I enjoyed this. It was still a JLA book: steamy, bickering love interests, and douchey, but likeable guys. I did think it was a bit long. Maybe if there was more information revealed that would be less of an issue. 

It was very romance heavy-not a surprise. But it was also repetitive. While I liked the overall progress of the romance, I could’ve done without the same argument ten times. How many times can you threaten to stab someone before it's just ridiculous.

Then there’s Kieran. I freaking love him. He can also be a little repetitive, but I choose to overlook it with him. Armentrout is generally good at creating endearing side characters. Because of my irrational love for Kieran, I do fear for his life. Authors love to kill those characters.

This world is interesting, but I need more. Based on how this progressed, I’m hopeful there will be more revealed and more politics in the next book.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

September Wrap-Up (2020)

September flew by. Probably, because I was back in the office at work for the whole month. Plus, dance started up again. This also means I have less time and energy to read. I’m still happy with the number and quality of the books I read this month. Audio books pulled a lot of weight this month. I’m also motivated to listen to as many audio books as I can because of the announcement that Audible Escape will be gone as of November 1, 2020. This is a devastating blow!

Here are the books I read and some thoughts on them.