Category Archives: Book Reviews

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Historical Romance Review: To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins

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To Catch a Raven
By Beverly Jenkins
šŸŽ§ Narrated by: Kim StauntonĀ 
Women Who Dare, Book 3Ā 
Book 36 of 2024

*series info*

Women Who Dare is a standalone series. If you are like me and have the compulsive need to read books in order even if it doesnā€™t matter, this time it REALLY doesnā€™t matter. However, the Le Veq family comes into play, especially in book 1, so you could start with that series. Iā€™m doing the opposite and reading that series next because they seem AMAZING, and are also featured a little in this book. 

*book review* 

To Catch a Raven stars Raven Moreaux, who comes from a family of grifters, and Braxton Steel, who has never broken a rule much less a law in his life. But Braxā€™s father has a less law abiding past – he was once heavily involved with Ravenā€™s familyā€™s ā€œbusiness.ā€ When the past comes knocking at their familiesā€™ doors, Raven and Brax have to go undercover – as husband and wife – to steal back the Declaration of Independence from a former Confederate official.

I historically have not been a huge fan of heist novel situations, I canā€™t keep all the plotting straight and then when they finally actually go get the thing I often feel like I canā€™t keep up with all of the moving parts. But unlike a traditional heist, we spend at least 50% of the book with Raven and Brax hanging out in the house looking for the Declaration of Independence while also falling in love, so I really enjoyed it! The whole subplot surrounding the woman they worked for and her husband was wild. 

For an opposites attract, forced proximity situation, I always like that tension that builds before they finally get togetherā€¦but I didnā€™t feel like that tension really existed before they got together. But Brax seemed to fall hard and fast, and thatā€™s always fun too. Who needs a slow burn anyway? 

I also love the second chance romance between Raven and Braxā€™s parents that was in the background. So cute! 

Overall, I recommend the whole series if you like strong, independent women and men who fall head over heels for them! 

šŸŽ§ Kim Stauntonā€™s narration really grew on me by this book, and I feel like she perfectly crafted the voices for Raven, Brax, and the rest of the cast. I would definitely listen to more audiobooks narrated by her! 

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Paranormal Romance Review: Heartsong

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you to Tor Books for the review copy!

Heartsong
By TJ Klune
šŸŽ§ Narrated by: Kirt Graves
Series: Green Creek, Book 3Ā 
Book 35 of 2024

The thing about the Green Creek series is that by this point you just feel like you are another member of the pack. So the beginning really confused me when Robbie was off with not the pack?? I thought it was about before he came to Green Creek, but that wasnā€™t the case.

The way Klune crafts the community feel of his stories – ugh. I feel like I could happily read about them watching paint try because the banter would be top-tier and someone would probably forgive themselves for something and it would be all beautiful and healing. (Iā€™m not fixing that run on sentence, itā€™s for the vibes.) 

My only complaint is that I like watching people fall in love with each other for the first time, and thatā€™s not what we got in this book. It was still a beautiful and satisfying story, but because of Robbieā€™s situation *I* also sometimes felt like I was missing part of the story. 

Overall – LOVED – canā€™t wait for Brothersong!!

šŸŽ§ Kirt Graves is the voice of Green Creek for me. If someone ever tried to make a graphic audio, I couldnā€™t listen to it unless the narrators sounded exactly like the voices Kirt creates. I think he makes Kluneā€™s writing really come alive for me – some of the repetition I could never have made feel as strongly as Graves made me feel in his narration. 

[book synopsis]

Heartsong is the third book in the Green Creek series, the beloved fantasy romance sensation by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, about love, loyalty, betrayal, and family.

ā€œComplex and startling… Green Creek is the perfect setting.ā€ ā€• Charlaine Harris

The Bennett family has a They’re not just a family, they’re a pack. Heartsong is Robbie Fontaine’s story.

All Robbie Fontaine ever wanted was a place to belong. After the death of his mother, he bounces around from pack to pack, forming temporary bonds to keep from turning feral. Itā€™s enoughā€•until he receives a summons from the wolf stronghold in Caswell, Maine. Life as the trusted second to Michelle Hughesā€•the Alpha of allā€•and the cherished friend of a gentle old witch teaches Robbie what it means to be pack, to have a home. But when a mission from Michelle sends Robbie into the field, he finds himself questioning where he belongs and everything heā€™s been told.

Whispers of traitorous wolves and wild magic aboundā€•but who are the traitors and who the betrayed? More than anything, Robbie hungers for answers, because one of those alleged traitors is Kelly Bennettā€•the wolf who may be his mate.

The truth has a way of coming out. And when it does, everything will shatter.

The Green Creek Series is for adult readers.

Now available from Tor Books.

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Debut Review: Never Blow a Kiss

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you Forever Publishing for my review copy!Ā 

Never Blow a Kiss
By Lindsay Lovise
Series: Secret Society of Governess Spies, Book 1Ā 
Book 34 of 2024

This book was PERFECTION. 

Emily Leverton is a governess with a murky background. She grew up impoverished, but managed to trick her way into the ā€˜ton as a governess for a wealthy family. She is quickly recruited by a mystery woman known to her as ā€œThe Doveā€ to be part of a group of governesses that also spy on the ā€˜ton. 

To be honest – the title and premise seemed a little far-fetched and cheesy. To me, the meet cute where Emily blows a kiss to her love interest was the only cheesy moment. The rest was a wild ride. 

I read a lot of historical romance, so it was really fun to have the added mystery element. I have read a few books lately that tried to blend historical romance and mystery, and one element always overwhelmed the other. Either the romance was there, but the mystery was lost, or the mystery was there but the romance fell flat. Never Blow a Kiss felt very much like the best of both worlds to me. 

I loved that both of the lovers were aware of the mystery and were working in different ways at times and together at other times to solve the case. 

Fans of short chapters rejoice! I loved having 4-8 page chapters, it made the book fly by for me – especially since I usually donā€™t enjoy reading with my eyes, I really need a book that holds my attention. 

I canā€™t believe I have to wait over a year for the next book. Itā€™s not even on goodreads yet but I need it now!! Iā€™m excited that itā€™s following a new character instead of trying to make the romance play out over multiple books. We saw just enough of the next FMC to really pique my interest! 

QotD: Itā€™s Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend?

I am staying in and hopefully getting some reading done. Thinking about trying to do a 24 hour readathon over the course of the weekend? 

[book synopsis]

The utterly charming Emily Leverton has a dark past and is determined to leave it behind in her respectable new role as a governess. But when she is recruited by a secret network of governesses who spy on the ton, it may just be a way to redeem the dark secrets of her past.

Straddling the worlds of the ton and the working class, as an ex-solider turned railroad magnate, Zach hunts killers for the Metropolitan Police by day and dutifully attends balls at night. In neither world has he met a woman with the brazenness to mock him. So when a saucy governess blows him a kiss he is determined to catch her, never expecting that when he does he will find an intelligent, quirky woman hiding more than her true name. As Zach peels back the layers of Emilyā€™s lies, he falls for the street-wise woman who handles a dagger like a pro and kisses like a mistress. But when his affair with Emily intertwines with his hunt for a killer, he discovers Emily is hiding an explosive secretā€”one that could destroy them both.

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Romance Review: This Could Be Us

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you Forever Publishing for the review copy!

This Could Be Us
By Kennedy Ryan
Series: Skyland Book 2
Book 33 of 2024

Where Before I Let Go was all about rebuilding joy after grief, This Could Be Us is about learning to trust yourself after betrayal. 

We knew from book 1 (which I highly recommend that you read) that Soledadā€™s marriage was rocky, but her husband turned out to be SO much worse than I thought! 

This Could Be Us shows so many different depictions of love: romantic, familial, friendship, and self love, and all of them were done so beautifully. I cried a lot of happy tears, which was especially nice because Ryanā€™s last book made me ugly cry several times. I think This Could Be Us could best be described as empowering. 

Judah is a top tier book boyfriend. Heā€™s an exceptional father and co-parent to his ex wife and shows so much empathy towards Soledad at every stage of her journey. 

Something that stood out to me was Soledadā€™s journey as an influencer. I loved Ryanā€™s depiction of the hard work of being a mother and homemaker, and how that could translate to being an influencer. I always love depictions of influencing as hard work and positive depictions of social media! 

I hope you love This Could Be Us as much as I did!

[book synopsis]

Soledad Barnes has her life all planned out. Because, of course, she does. She plans everything. She designs everything. She fixes everything. Sheā€™s a domestic goddess who’s never met a party she couldn’t host or a charge she couldn’t lead. The one with all the answers and the perfect vinaigrette for that summer salad. But none of her varied talents can save her when catastrophe strikes, and the life she built with the man who was supposed to be her forever, goes poof in a cloud of betrayal and disillusion.

But there is no time to pout or sulk, or even grieve the life she lost. She’s too busy keeping a roof over her daughters’ heads and food on the table. And in the process of saving them all, Soledad rediscovers herself. From the ashes of a life burned to the ground, something bold and new can rise.

But then an unlikely man enters the pictureā€”the forbidden one, the one she shouldn’t want but can’t seem to resist. She’s lost it all before and refuses to repeat her mistakes. Can she trust him? Can she trust herself?

After all she’s lost . . .and found . . .can she be brave enough to make room for what could be?

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Romance Review: Ever After Always

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Ever After Always
By Chloe Liese
šŸŽ§ Narrated by: Nelson Hobbs, CJ BloomĀ 
Series: Bergman Brothers, Book 3
Book 32 of 2024

**series info**

The Bergmans are a close knit family, so you will see a lot of the previous couples and allude to their story, so I think they are best read in order. Book 1 was a 4 star for me because it had a couple of slow spots, but book 2 is one of my favorite books that Iā€™ve ever read, so they are worth your time!

**book review**

I thought this was a beautiful romance about a marriage in crisis. It utilized therapy well, and really showed how two people could love each other and still not understand how to show love to each other as time went on. 

Aidenā€™s anxiety representation I thought was well done, and Liese showed the way an anxious brain can catastrophize situations. I donā€™t remember depictions of panic attacks, if thatā€™s something youā€™re sensitive too!

šŸŽ§ Duo Nelson Hobbs and CJ Bloom continue to do fantastic work narrating the Bergman brothers. The books are well suited to audio format, with very natural sounding dialogue and descriptions. 

[book synopsis]

The TikTok sensation, now with new exclusive content!

A marriage-in-crisis rekindles its passion in this second chance romance about going the distance to make love last.

Freya Bergman has spent a dozen years loving Aiden and never thought theyā€™d find their marriage on the rocks. Heā€™s her partner and best friend, the person she knows she can count on most. Until one day Freya realizes the man she married is nowhere to be found. Now Aiden is quiet and withdrawn, and as the months wear on, the growing distance between them becomes too much to bear.

Aiden would spend a dozen lifetimes making his wife happy. But the one thing that will make her happiest is the one thing heā€™s not sure he can give a baby. With the pressure of providing and planning for a family, his anxiety is at an all-time high. Theyā€™re drifting apart and he doesnā€™t know how to change the tide.  

As if weathering marriage counseling wasnā€™t enough, Freya and Aiden are thrown together for a Bergman family island getaway. Will this trip help them finally work through their trouble in paradise, or be the final wave that tows them under?

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Romance Review: Fangirl Down

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you to Avon and Libro Fm for my review copies! 

Fangirl Down
By Tessa Bailey
šŸŽ§ Narrated by: Callie DaltonĀ 
Book 29 of 2024

Do you like when an authorsā€™ books have some similarities, or do you prefer them to feel very different?

I think this was my 10th Tessa Bailey book, and I find that I either find her books absolutely hysterical, adore the characters, and cannot put the book down, or I find it completely cringey and have a hard time finishing it. I honestly think it has to do more with the mood that Iā€™m in when I read it than it has to do with Tessaā€™s writing being wildly different depending on the book. I think I was especially harsh in my reaction to Fangirl Down since I had just read Always Only You which is not extremely similar but it is a sports romance where the FMC has a chronic illness. If you remember, I absolutely adored Always Only You and think itā€™s one of my new favorite books, so I probably should have given that book and this one a little more space.  

šŸŽ§ Either Wellsā€™ dialogue does not translate well to audiobook narration, or the narrator made some choices that made his dialogue really cringey. Read this one with your eyes!

What I did like about this one was how devoted Wells was to Josephine and how protective he was of her in the beginning. I could have used a little more character development for him – he seemed to change from a depressed alcoholic to a model husband and father through the power of Josephineā€™s sunshiney personality. 

I liked that Tessa included some chronic illness representation with Josephine having Type 1 Diabetes. I think that the book showed how difficult T1 can be without making it seem like a plot device or a character flaw.Ā 

[ book synopsis ]

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey launches a super sexy sports romance series with a rom-com about a bad boy professional athlete who falls for his biggest fan…

Wells Whitaker was once golfā€™s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his ā€œpromisingā€ career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. He curses, she cheers. He scowls, she smiles. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life.

Josephine Doyle believed in the gorgeous, grumpy golfer, even when he didnā€™t believe in himself. Yet after he throws in the towel, she begins to wonder if her faith was misplaced. Then a determined Wells shows up at her door with a wild proposal: be his new caddy, help him turn his game around, and split the prize money. And considering Josephineā€™s professional and personal life is in shambles, she could really use the cashā€¦

As they travel together, spending days on the green and nights in neighboring hotel rooms, sparks fly. Before long, theyā€™re inseparable, Wells starts winning again, and Josephine is surprised to find a sweet, thoughtful guy underneath his gruff, growly exterior. This hot man wants to brush her hair, feed her snacks, and take bubble baths together? Is this real life? But Wells is technically her boss and an athlete falling for his fangirl would be ridiculousā€¦ right?

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Historical Romance Review: The Highlander Who Protected Me

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The Highlander Who Protected Me
By Vanessa KellyĀ 
šŸŽ§ Narrated by: Ruth Urquhart
Clan Kendrick, Book 1Ā 
Book 28 of 2024

āœØ On Kindle Unlimited āœØ

Last fall, I received an ARC of the final book in the Clan Kendrick series, and I loved it so much that I knew I wanted to go back and read the whole series from the beginning asap!

I have never met more stubborn people in fiction, and I absolutely loved them. All of Clan Kendrick is so much fun, and yā€™all know how I love to watch a giant family fall in love. Vanessa Kelly’s books give high drama and intrigue that I’ve been looking for ever since I watched the first season of Bridgerton!

My only complaint is that I didnā€™t do the research to realize that some of the main side characters in this one were featured in a book published before this one! I felt like I was coming in in the middle of a story, and while it was all explained well, I wanted to know ALL the juicy details the way you only can when you start at the beginning. So, I guess Iā€™m going all the way back to read Vanessa Kellyā€™s books in publication order. 

šŸŽ§ The audiobook was great, Ruth Urquhart does a fantastic job bringing all of the characters to life. For Spotify subscribers, this is one of the books available with your subscription! 

Thank you @stephsbooktalk for getting me this for my birthday! 

[book synopsis]

Lady Ainsley Matthews, heiress and darling of the ton, was expected to make a magnificent match. Instead she’s hiding on a remote Scottish estate, terrified that her vicious former fiancĆ© will use her pregnancy to force her into marriage. One man can help her–Royal Kendrick, son of a distinguished Highland clan. Though a mistake drove them apart long ago, Royal is the only person Ainsley trusts to protect her baby–even if that means agreeing to never see either of them again . . . Scarred in body and soul by war, Royal suddenly has a purpose–caring for an innocent babe and thereby helping the woman he can’t stop loving. But when Ainsley ultimately returns to Scotland, determined to be a real mother to her child in spite of the risk, there’s only one solution: marriage. And only one likely outcome: surrendering to the desire that’s simmered between them for so long, no matter how dangerous it may be . . . Contains mature themes.

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Historical Romance Review: Wild Rain

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Wild Rain
By Beverly Jenkins
šŸŽ§ Narrated by: Kim Staunton
Women Who Dare, Book 2Ā 
Book 27 of 2024

*Series Info*

Women Who Dare is a series of standalone romances – but if you want to start at the beginning, here’s my review for Rebel, the first book in the series.

*Book Review*

Ok you all know Iā€™m a sucker for a romance with a hyper independent woman who doesnā€™t have to give up any of her autonomy to be with her man, right? (Or partner of any gender, really.) 

Spring Lee is a bit of a loner when we meet her. She has a lot of walls up because of her past, but when she finds Garrett injured during a Wyoming snowstorm, she shows her inner softness by caring for him. Garrett is a little boring in comparison, but I can forgive a boring man if heā€™s devoted to his partner! 

Beverly Jenkins doesnā€™t shy away from dark backstories, and you may want to look up content warnings. 

[book synopsis]

The second novel in USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkinsā€™ compelling new Women Who Dare series follows a female rancher in Wyoming after the Civil War.

A reporter has come to Wyoming to do a story on doctors for his Black newspaper back east. He thinks Colton Lee will be an interesting subjectā€¦until he meets Coltonā€™s sister, Spring. She runs her own ranch, wears denim pants instead of dresses, and is the most fascinating woman heā€™s ever met.

But Spring, who has overcome a raucous and scandalous past, isnā€™t looking for, nor does she want, love. As their attraction grows, will their differences come between them or unite them for an everlasting love?

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PNR Review: Deja Brew

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Deja Brew
By B. Perkins and Aimee Vance
Deadlights Cove, Book 2Ā 
Book 26 of 2024

āœØ On Kindle Unlimited āœØ

Do you ever wish you could read a book with a diverse cast that feels like youā€™re hanging out in Stars Hollowā€¦but with more magic? If so, you absolutely need to pick up the Deadlights Cove books!

First, I would highly recommend reading these in order. Thereā€™s a mystery plot line that has a full arc across the five books, so while you CAN read them out of order, youā€™ll get the full experience if you read them in order! (And I equally loved Book 1 – Smoke Show – and I think you will too!)Ā 

Childhood best friends to strangers to lovers is one of my all time favorite tropes. The tension between Nimue and Kit was šŸ”„šŸ”„šŸ”„.

I wish I could go hangout in Deadlights Cove with all of these characters, but since they are fictional I will have to do the next best thing and continue to read the series! 

[ book synopsis ]

Nimue Fitzpatrick never really meant to leave Deadlights Cove, but after sheā€™d impulsively kissed her best friend, Kit Sayana, it suddenly became easier to take freelance photography jobs out of town. Just what she needed to forget the mess and the amber eyes she couldnā€™t bear to face anymore in the Cove. Now, after four years away, it might be time to admit that sheā€™s been avoiding him.

The last four years havenā€™t been the easiest for Kit as the pressure to assume his responsibilities as future Alpha for the Arrowwood skulk takes over his life. Needing space, he moved out of his family home and into the apartment above his tea shop, Immortali-Tea. Despite the closeness among the members of his skulk, there is one thing he hasnā€™t shared with anyone, even his closest friends: ever since he kissed Nimue all those years ago, heā€™s known sheā€™s his mate. The problem is that an interspecies mate bond is impossible, so it can never be.

When Nimue returns home for her cousin Blazeā€™s Halloween party, everything changes. No matter how the two childhood friends try to avoid their feelings for each other, fate has other plans. With magic turning on the shifters, the town is set into a panic that requires everyone to work together ā€” especially Kit and Nimue.

Can they recover their prior friendship enough to come together and solve the next mystery, before it has lasting effects on the shifters in town?

Follow Kit and Nimueā€™s story, along with the quirky band of local misfits, through the Deadlights Cove series, in book two, Deja Brew.

While each book follows a different couple, the Deadlights Cove series is best read in order. Catch up and find out what Petra and Blaze discover in book one, Smoke Show, first.

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Fantasy Review: Blood & Steel

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Blood & Steel
By Helen Scheuerer
šŸŽ§ Narrated by: Mollie Stark and Sebastian GroveĀ 
The Legends of Thezmarr, Book 1
Book 25 of 2024

Thank you to all of my friends who recommended this one, especially Dom & Marie-Lyne! 

āœØ On Kindle Unlimited āœØ

I absolutely could not put this book down. Plotting wise, it reminded me why I grew up loving fantasy books. Scheuerer manages to build a unique world without dumping a bunch of info on you. The world and conflicts all are introduced while the plot is moving and characters are getting to know each other. 

You all know I love a bada$$ FMC, and Althea is absolutely a warrior among FMCs. 

And of course, the romance is šŸ”„šŸ”„šŸ”„. I canā€™t wait to continue with this series! 

šŸŽ§ Fantastic narration. I usually need to read a couple of chapters with a print version to get myself really immersed in a new fantasy world, but I felt that this was clear enough that I could just listen to the audiobook without any trouble!