Book Review | Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Pages: 384

Goodreads Rating: 4.27 / 5 stars

My Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: May 3rd 2022

Publisher: Berkley Romance

 

Synopsis:

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One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming….

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves. 

Unexpected Hiatus, Reading Slump, Life Taking Over

Long time no see everyone! ❤

I hope everyone is doing well and it’s been months since I last posted book reviews, wrap-ups etc. I truly miss you guys. These past 4 months have been tough outside the book community and I have been out of the loop. Anyways, I have been on a reading slump since. I have a short attention span and mostly feeling tired because of work. I was really busy that I abandoned my blog. Reading felt like a chore and it overwhelmed me. I apologize for letting the publishers down for not reviewing the books on time. I have to take an unexpected break due to health reason.

I guess this is a long overdue monthly wrap-up from April until July.

Book Review | Nightfall by Penelope Douglas

Pages: 621

Goodreads Rating: 4.24 / 5 stars

My Rating: ★★

Genre: New Adult Dark Romance

Publication Date: July 24th 2020

Publisher: Penelope Douglas LLC

Synopsis:

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From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas comes the thrilling, final installment in the Devil’s Night series…

What happens when it’s five against one and nowhere to run?

EMORY

They call it Blackchurch. A secluded mansion in a remote, undisclosed location where the wealthy and powerful send their misbehaving sons to cool off away from prying eyes.

Will Grayson has always been an animal, though. Reckless, wild, and someone who was never bound by a single rule other than to do exactly what he wanted. There was no way his grandfather was going risk him humiliating the family again.

Not that the last time was entirely his fault. He might’ve enjoyed backing me into corners in high school when no one was looking, so they wouldn’t catch on that Mr. Popular actually wanted a piece of that quiet, little nerd he loved to torture so much, but…

He could also be warm. And fierce in keeping me safe.

The truth is… He has a right to hate me.

It’s all my fault. Everything.

Devils Night. The videos. The arrests.

I’m to blame for all of it.

And I regret nothing.

WILL

I never minded being locked up. I learned a long time ago that being treated like an animal gives you permission to act like one. No one has ever looked at me any other way.

Their only mistake is believing anything I do is an accident. I can sit in this house with no Internet, television, liquor, or girls, but I’ll come out of here with something far more frightening to my enemies.

A plan.

And a new pack of wolves.

I just didn’t expect one of my enemies to come to me.

I don’t know who smuggled her in or if they meant to leave her here, but I can smell her hiding in the house. She’s here.

And as the security detail leaves the supplies, the gates close, and the door to my gilded cage opens, giving me free reign of the house and grounds for another unsupervised month, I remember with a smile…

Blackchurch houses five prisoners. I’m only one of her problems.

*Nightfall is a full-length, romantic suspense suitable for readers 18+. It’s necessary to read the prior installments in the series before starting this story.

ARC Review | Royally Remembered by Emma Chase

Pages: 118

Goodreads Rating: 4.59 / 5 stars

My Rating:  ★★★★

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: April 12th 2022

Publisher: Self published

Synopsis:

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The lives of the Wessco royal family have always been extraordinary. Abounding in power and wealth, and marked by moments of soul-searing passion, exquisite love, and tragic loss.

In this collection of short stories, set during the time period of the Royally books and beyond, we explore the moments that helped shape these characters into the irresistible heroes and heroines readers have come to know and cherish.
We meet Prince Nicholas and Henry’s parents, Prince Thomas and Lady Calista; we see the struggle to balance family relationships with the demands of the monarchy; and we continue the story of Queen Lenora and Prince Edward, whose deep, abiding love lasts beyond a lifetime.

Royally Remembered is not a standalone–it is a companion novella meant to be read after Royally Screwed, Royally Matched, Royally Endowed, and Royally Yours.

Monthly Wrap Up | January 2022

Happy New Year everyone! Let’s start this 2022 with a bang. I am pleased with the books I finished for a total of 12 books. I maximized the audiobooks I downloaded on Scribd and once in a while, it’s nice to read / listen on books outside of romance genre.

Audiobook Review | Look the Part by Jewel E. Ann

Pages: 380

Goodreads Rating: 4.23 / 5 stars

My Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: January 29th 2018

Publisher: self published

Synopsis:

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Flint Hopkins finds the perfect tenant to rent the space above his Minneapolis-based law office.

All the t’s are crossed and i’s dotted on Ellen’s application. Her references are good. And she’s easy on the eyes.

Until …

Flint discovers Ellen Rodgers, Board-Certified Music Therapist, plays music. Bongos, guitars, singing—not Beethoven administered through noise-cancelling headphones.

The cut-throat attorney serves up an eviction notice to the bubbly, constantly humming redhead who’s too sexy for her own good. But luck is on Ellen’s side when Flint’s autistic son, Harrison, takes an instant liking to her. A single dad can’t compete with guitars—and rats. Yes, she has pet rats.

This woman …

She’s annoyingly happy with a constant need to touch him—adjust his tie, button his shirt, invade his space, and mess with his mind.

Still …

She must go.

Their lust-hate relationship escalates into something beautiful and tragic. This sexy, romantic-comedy explores the things we want, the things we need, and the impossible decisions parents and children make to survive.

ARC Review | The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Pages: 339

Goodreads Rating: 4.07 / 5 stars

My Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Genre: Adult Contemporary Fiction

Publication Date: August 31st 2021

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Synopsis:

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A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this new New York Times bestselling romance by Helen Hoang.

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She’s going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex—he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she herself has just started to understand. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

ARC Review: | Like A Love Song by Gabriela Martins

Pages: 304

Goodreads Rating: 3.75/ 5 stars

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: August 3rd 2021

Publisher: Underlined / Delacorte

Synopsis:

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This debut paperback original romance follows a Latina teen pop star whose image takes a dive after a messy public breakup, until she’s set up with a swoon-worthy fake boyfriend.

Fake boyfriend. Real heartbreak?

Natalie is living her dream: topping the charts and setting records as a Brazilian pop star…until she’s dumped spectacularly on live television. Not only is it humiliating—it could end her career.

Her PR team’s desperate plan? A gorgeous yet oh-so-fake boyfriend. Nati reluctantly agrees, but William is not what she expected. She was hoping for a fierce bad boy—not a soft-hearted British indie film star. While she fights her way back to the top with a sweet and surprisingly swoon-worthy boy on her arm, she starts to fall for William—and realizes that maybe she’s the biggest fake of them all. Can she reclaim her voice and her heart?

ARC Review | Saint by Sierra Simone

Pages: 415

Goodreads Rating: 4.35 / 5 stars

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: September 7th 2021

Publisher: Self published

Synopsis:

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I can’t have Elijah Iverson.

I can’t have him because he’s my older brother’s best friend. I can’t have him because I broke his heart five years ago; because he’s now engaged to someone else—someone kind and dependable who deserves his whiskey eyes, his soft mouth, his fierce intellect.

I can’t have Elijah because I’ve chosen God instead.

The Bell brothers, though . . . well, we don’t exactly have the greatest track record with vows. But I’m determined to do this monk thing right—to pledge myself to a cloistered life and spend the rest of my years in chastity and prayer. But now Elijah’s here. He’s here and he’s coming with me on my European monastery road trip, and between the whispered confessions and the stolen kisses and the moments bent over an ancient altar, my vows are feeling flimsier by the day.

And vows or not, I know in my heart that it would take more than a good and holy monk to resist Elijah Iverson right now. It would take a saint.

And we all know that I’m no saint.

This is the third full-length M/M standalone in the Priest Collection, featuring Father Bell’s brother, Aiden Bell. You do not have to read Priest or Sinner to read Saint.

Not-So Favorite Books of 2021

I always love sharing my unpopular opinion on the books I read and sometimes I feel like I’m petty ranting them. No offense to anyone if your favorite is included here. They just flopped to me okay? It’ll be my final post this year and I’m revealing you my not-so favorite books.