This was a solid 3.5 for me and I decided to round up. This is pretty much what you could expect or want from a romance - some good ol' self discoveryThis was a solid 3.5 for me and I decided to round up. This is pretty much what you could expect or want from a romance - some good ol' self discovery paired with sexy stranger turning into lots of fun encounters. Some parts of this book were truly lovely and some were heavy on the eye-rolling. In particular her insistence to compare everything to her ex and how terrible their sex life was - it was okay at first but turned out to be very cringe-y. In general I didn't like Mia very much but I was able to skim over most of her inner thoughts so it worked out all right....more
An overall engaging book! It took me a little bit to get into it (likely because I haven't read #1 and #2) but once I sat down with enough time to reaAn overall engaging book! It took me a little bit to get into it (likely because I haven't read #1 and #2) but once I sat down with enough time to really read it, it went quickly. Perhaps a bit too much action, I didn't quite follow all the evil hijinks, but the romance between the two characters was sweet, sexy, and, best of all, it actually made sense! ...more
I'm kind of surprised by the lower ratings here - I felt this was a really solid read! It was super engaging, I had a hard time putting it down. GreatI'm kind of surprised by the lower ratings here - I felt this was a really solid read! It was super engaging, I had a hard time putting it down. Great pacing and the main characters were believable and cute. I appreciated the various ways in which they had their conflicts. It's not going to blow you out of the water but it's a solid romance read to take you away for the day....more
Seriously, so adorable. I aDORE these two main characters. Chloe is smart, cunning, and such a great example of someone who cThis was deeeeeeLIGHTful!
Seriously, so adorable. I aDORE these two main characters. Chloe is smart, cunning, and such a great example of someone who can be proud of herself and yet still have insecurities. I found her to be so well balanced. And Lawrence! I love how perfect he is without being unbelievable. His flaws are more misperceptions - and he's adorable. It's not often to have a strong male character who also sews and GIGGLES. It's magnificent.
And of course the family dynamic, the quirkiness - I cannot wait to learn the stories of the rest of these Wynchesters....more
Man - I'm bummed this one turned out to be at 3 star read! It starts off so strong! I initially love the dynamics of 3.5 - rounded down unfortunately.
Man - I'm bummed this one turned out to be at 3 star read! It starts off so strong! I initially love the dynamics of Reena, Nadim, the family, the contest - all of it is really fun and interesting and silly.
And then... it just kind of stalls. I'm not sure I can pinpoint the issue really but it's like the conflict never quite hit the peak. Reena's "avoidance" trait actually just kills all the momentum and angst. They fight without really fighting. The conflict is basically behind closed doors (as is the SMEXY time, laaame but fine, it's a choice). So, about halfway through we just kind of lose it. Even the cooking contest doesn't have energy because it's just some recorded videos - we don't get any of the shiny drama that I expected from this kind of contest plotline.
All in all, I loved this for this diversity, I think it did such a great job at getting us dynamic characters with interesting pasts. But the storyline fizzled after that initial spark....more
It's a delight. This book will go down like a perfectly balanced pumpkin spice frappuccino. The only thing thWhy, yes, I did crush this book in a day.
It's a delight. This book will go down like a perfectly balanced pumpkin spice frappuccino. The only thing that would have made this better would have been a dual perspective - I would have LOVED to see in Adam's head.
A bit of suspension of belief and a few eye rolls when it came to miscommunication, but overall the dynamics were perfect and lovely. A great romance read to lose yourself in....more
First off - is there a better catch phrase than WWAMWMD? (What Would A Mediocre White Man Do?) I'm liteDelightful! This book is positively delightful.
First off - is there a better catch phrase than WWAMWMD? (What Would A Mediocre White Man Do?) I'm literally living my life this way from here on out. I expect those bracelets to be made and sold on Solomon's website.
Back to the review: I love romance novels in general but what really sells me on a romance novel is when the trope works - like really, really works. And The Ex Talk nails it. This spins the "fake relationship" on it's head by creating a "fake break-up" (like, omg, so cute) and it totally makes sense why these two characters did why they did, why they had to make the choices about the relationship they did - it's gold.
And it's funny! A true rom com! The transcripts of their radio show had me guffawing. Gah, I ate this UP you guys.
My only complain is that (view spoiler)[Kent did not get nearly enough comeuppance. I SO wanted them to roast the hell out of him on the radio. They needed to explain more how they were basically blackmailed into lying for this show - do it or lose you job! - but they took the high road so FINE. But still, I would have loved to see more egg on Kent's face (hide spoiler)].
Anyway -this is lovely and one I'll come back to for sure....more
I really enjoyed this story! Emilia is a great protagonist and Ruben a great match for her. The story was fun with a great setting. I really enjoyed tI really enjoyed this story! Emilia is a great protagonist and Ruben a great match for her. The story was fun with a great setting. I really enjoyed their banter and inside jokes, the way they fell in love felt really natural. There were perhaps a few too many characters and almost a little too much plot (dragged a bit and was a little hard to follow) but I really enjoyed it all in the end. A great read!...more
I enjoyed so much of this! Great dynamic, I really liked the unique way the characters interacted. At first I wasn't sure how much I 'believed' the waI enjoyed so much of this! Great dynamic, I really liked the unique way the characters interacted. At first I wasn't sure how much I 'believed' the way the main female character acted - she is on the spectrum and I wasn't entirely convinced by how quickly she was able to adjust to the main protagonist. But after seeing the author has based this character off her own experiences, it helped me understand the variety that is out there.
All in all - a great story. The end dragged a little for me which is why it brought it down to a 4 star but I thoroughly enjoyed the read....more
This book made me laugh SO HARD. Like - wheezing, squeaking laughter. Startling other people in my home kind of laughter. Wiping away tears from my eyThis book made me laugh SO HARD. Like - wheezing, squeaking laughter. Startling other people in my home kind of laughter. Wiping away tears from my eyes laughter.
If I could just get a book of the guy characters in this book bantering and literally nothing else, I would be so happy.
Anyway - it's a lovely book with beautiful messages, great characters, with nice spicy bits. Another great addition to a wonderful series....more
Sorry, ya'll, but honestly 2 stars is generous here.
Look - I know the standards are lower for romance novels such as these. But I still only flex so fSorry, ya'll, but honestly 2 stars is generous here.
Look - I know the standards are lower for romance novels such as these. But I still only flex so far. If the writing is crud, I expect the sex to be good. If the sex is bad, I expect the characters to be endearing, etc, etc.
This one however - just, no. The characters didn't even remotely represent what they are - supposedly the main heroine was very prim and proper but that was not even remotely the case in her actions. And the male protagonist... honestly, I have no idea what his personality is. The premise of the story was adorable, the actual story was just not.
There are many, many better stories out there. Skip this one.
I bought this book at a wonderful little book store called The Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles as one of the "blind date books"...more
Ugh. I swear, Meyer can do no wrong in my eyes. Well, there is one part of this book that I wish didn't happen but I won't say anything else because tUgh. I swear, Meyer can do no wrong in my eyes. Well, there is one part of this book that I wish didn't happen but I won't say anything else because that would be a dirty, rotten SPOILER.
Anyway, I don't have a lot of context to go off when it comes to the story of Alice in Wonderland. Maybe that helped because I was absorbed in this from the start and truly had no idea where it was going. The characters are effortless and the love interest is top notch. I devoured this book.
I power read this book and, normally, with a power read, it means the book was soaring. Not so today. I really, really wanted to love this book (afterI power read this book and, normally, with a power read, it means the book was soaring. Not so today. I really, really wanted to love this book (after all, I've Got Your Number is one of my favorite books out there) but it just didn't happen. I tried. I read it with gusto. I laughed aloud at parts. I wanted the love to flow, and it just couldn't happen.
Thinking back, there was just no one I felt I could root for. I like a good flawed characters but these ones were just too much. Fliss and Lottie, two sisters, did nothing by lie to each other (and truly, everyone) all the time. It became so frustrating - you got to the point as a reader where you just wanted all the action to stop and for some conversations to happen. It just seemed all too illogical. And - this is going to sound horrible - but the addition of Fliss's child, Noah, was terrible. It just made her look like a horrible parent. Instead of being a comic relief, the child was obnoxious and made Fliss out to be completely incompetent at life. Without her son, I think I could have liked her. Don't get me started with Lottie - she's dumber than a box of rocks and I couldn't identify with her at all.
Next, there is not one, not two, but three potential love interests in the book and - honestly - they all kind of suck. Each one is wrapped up in his own issues and, even though these issues chance and evolve, they never seem to truly mesh up to the right parts at the end. Lorcan gets the closest, but even he doesn't make it there. It all just kind of... ends. I don't get the sense that any of them will truly be happier because of it.
I'm disappointed by the book. I had some pretty high hopes. Parts are certainly cute and I did laugh aloud; the idea of the wait staff keeping the lovers at bay was hysterical. As this is my second Kinsella I won't let it stop me from trying some of her other works, but it's still painful. For me, it just missed the mark.
What do we women look for in a good historical romance? If I had to make a list, I'd probably say I want a book with 1) steamy moments, 2) cute dialogWhat do we women look for in a good historical romance? If I had to make a list, I'd probably say I want a book with 1) steamy moments, 2) cute dialogue, and 3) good writing. The rest, to be honest, is icing on the cake. If the plot is unique and makes sense, all the better. If it gives me other feels besides hubba hubba, I'm okay with that too. But really, when it comes right down to it, you don't need too much to please me.
How To Wed an Earl easily makes my three qualifications above. Lei hands me steam in ample doses - it's good too. The connection between Penelope and Lucas is cute, if a bit stretched (I really love the fact that Penelope isn't an "ideal" body image, which is why I cringe as Lucas's insatiable lust over it. I need a little more reasoning behind it.) And, aside from the prologue, the writing is quite good. Top that off with some other goodies like a decent plot, some legitimate surprises (I won't spoil anything here) and cute side characters and it was a book I easily read in a night.
If you plan on reading How To Wed an Earl, and I suggest you do if you're looking for something quick and fun, do me a favor and skim, if not skip, the prologue. I found it confusing and painful compared to the rest of the book. Don't let those first couple of pages be your judge of Lei. She's got a good thing coming!
No, really, this book is very much like the other two. Luis is basically just his two brothers mashed together - and Nikki is jElkeles is at it again!
No, really, this book is very much like the other two. Luis is basically just his two brothers mashed together - and Nikki is just kind of all over the place. But, let's face it. We aren't reading this kind of book because we are looking for the most awe-inspiring characters with the best, most original plot line. We're reading it because we want to see what Baby Fuentes is going to do - and what girl he's going to fall in love with. The book comes with all of that, so, really, what's there to complain about?\
My favorite part about this book is that Alex and Carlos aren't forgotten. Elkeles does a really great job at making this a final story in the trilogy - we get to see just enough of the rest of the crew to remind us of their story without losing the sense of Luis and Nikki. Luis and Nikki didn't make me giggle like the other two did, but I enjoyed their interactions all the same.
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