Who doesn’t love a Christmas comedy in the middle of summer (and a heat wave to boot)?
Billie is planning a quiet Christmas in her newly renovated housWho doesn’t love a Christmas comedy in the middle of summer (and a heat wave to boot)?
Billie is planning a quiet Christmas in her newly renovated house. However as more and more unexpected visitors start crowding her space, she is desperate for a way out. So she signs up for a series of dating events in her town.
There she meets Rocco, who she tries to friend zone for absolutely no good reason. Luckily not much success there, cause c’mon, you don’t friend zone a hot dude you met on an event for singles!
What I really loved about this story was the witty writing and a lot of good comedy. The dating events were a perfect basis for awkward moments and situational humor and it was brilliantly executed. I was laughing out loud and that’s what I need from my books.
The love story is sweet, so no spice. Still nice, but the “com” part of “rom-com” is what steals the show.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review....more
This is a simple, light and cute love story. Maybe it will not give you ALL the feels but definitely SOME.
Justine recently broke up with her boyfriendThis is a simple, light and cute love story. Maybe it will not give you ALL the feels but definitely SOME.
Justine recently broke up with her boyfriend and had to move out of her apartment. Luckily her favorite aunt is going on a trip to Europe and Justine can stay at her place for a few months. The apartment complex is cozy with a bit of a Friends vibe. There’s a grumpy super, an introverted nerd and a cop raising two teenage nephews. And there’s Xavier - a hottie from 2C.
Xavier is perfect; handsome, polite and smart. He is currently on sabbatical from his therapist job and has a lot of time on his hands which he is very much willing to spend with his new neighbor.
Justine and Xavier hit it off almost immediately but they were both in denial, which was a little annoying. First they were insisting on staying in the friend zone despite obvious attraction on both sides. I get it, they were recovering from bad breakups, but it felt forced that they both held off. Then they got closer and closer, finally started sleeping together but still insisted on being a “fake” couple. I didn’t get it, I half expected them to get married and have babies and still claim it wasn’t for real.
Another thing; Justine’s aunt had an advice column and Xavier helped her to run it. It’s an amazing idea with so much comedy potential! I was so disappointed that this topic was completely brushed aside.
However my biggest issue with this book was the writing style. Most of the time it felt detached and emotionless which bothered me especially when a moment cried for more life. There’s a scene when all tenants have a water balloons fight. I love the idea!! This scene should have been vibrant, full of color, noise and laughter. Unfortunately it was described in such dispassionate manner that it felt flat.
I got used to the writing at some point so the second part of the book worked better. Especially since the story was captivating enough and there was plenty of good spice which is what every romance reader needs.
What I also appreciated was how the mental health topic was handled. Xavier needed a break from his job and it was presented as the most normal thing in the world. No judgment whatsoever, so big kudos for it.
To sum up I had some issues with this book but I enjoyed it nonetheless!
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review....more
What do you do with a book that you devoured almost holding your breath? I know, you give it five stars. But what if the mmc deserves a smack on the hWhat do you do with a book that you devoured almost holding your breath? I know, you give it five stars. But what if the mmc deserves a smack on the head or even a kick in the nuts? ...more
The premise was intriguing and I hadn’t read any fantasy about angels before so I was curious. On top of that a grumpy angel sounded like fun. But I’mThe premise was intriguing and I hadn’t read any fantasy about angels before so I was curious. On top of that a grumpy angel sounded like fun. But I’m not sure this book was for me.
We follow Maisy, a waitress and an artist as she finds out, that she just received a peculiar inheritance. An uncle she never knew she had, had left her a large, antique-style key without a word of explanation. She has no idea what does the key open and what to do with it. Conveniently a locksmith who would love to have it approaches her. So Maisy gives the key away…
As it turns out the locksmith is a demon and the key opens the Hell’s worst prison’s gates. So to avoid Hell literally breaking loose she needs to get the key back stat and assume her role as its Keeper.
The task seems impossible but she has a grumpy and devastatingly handsome half angel at her side. His job is to support her mission and keep her safe.
I had a lot of trouble following what was going on between these two. In one moment they annoy each other to no end only to start kissing five minutes later. Wha- what? Did I miss something? Why are you kissing her dude? (And more importantly, why is she kissing you back?!)
But then after the kiss they just go about their business as if nothing happened. Until they unexpectedly kiss again and AGAIN don’t acknowledge it at all. I need my lovers to talk and bond, work through their relationship. Unfortunately there was none of that here.
On top of that Rhys was such a rude, haughty know-it-all I really could not connect with him.
”Habit had him opening his mouth to yell. To snap that the shitstorm that had been unleashed was entirely her fault.” I’m sorry, I can’t love a hero who has such habits…
He improved a little as the story progressed but the damage was done.
Maisy was a little better than Rhys, but for a human she was just too good to be true. It was probably the point, as the Keeper should be good and worthy, but I didn’t find it credible.
What I did like about this story was that despite being based on Christian beliefs it mentioned beings from other cultures and religions too. I would have loved for the author to explore that part more; it would have enriched the story and made it more inclusive. It was also a badass move to imply that some angels were gay. Not sure the Pope would approve, but I surely do!
2.5 stars round up to 3
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own....more
This was as charming as its cover and as realistic as a fairy tale. And since we all need a good fairy tale from time to time (and don’t pretend you dThis was as charming as its cover and as realistic as a fairy tale. And since we all need a good fairy tale from time to time (and don’t pretend you don’t, cause I know you do too!) I adored it!
Kayleigh recently went through a bad breakup and as a result had to move back in with her mom. She is desperate to get back on her own feet, but she can’t find a job so she quickly adds beekeeping to her CV despite having absolutely no clue about it.
Miraculously she lands a job as a beekeeper at a large, beautiful and mysterious manor house. And just like Rapunzel doesn’t get vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis from being locked up her whole life, Kayleigh doesn’t get in trouble for lying on her CV and the following job interview.
At first she sucks at beekeeping (shocker) but it’s a fairy tale so it all works out. And it does thanks to a gorgeous man hiding in the house who is very eager to help her and conveniently has all the time in the world to do so. What he needs in return is for Kayleigh to help him solve a certain mystery that the house may be holding.
Both Kayleigh and Carey had been hurt in the past and are very cautious about opening up. However as they embark on a journey of exploring the picturesque estate and discovering its story it is simply impossible not to let the romantic vibes take over…
I know (pop)culture references are not for everyone, but I love them. Especially if they speak to me and they so did in this book; it’s so easy to relate to a heroine who loves the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice or makes fun of Janice from Friends.
It is a contemporary but the Jane Austen spirit is so overwhelmingly present that it feels more like placed somewhere in a timeless dimension. Brilliantly done, especially since the characters are very much in on the joke.
This book is a perfect summer comfort read; light, bright and funny with a delicious love story. It’s a sweet romance, so no spice, but hey, there wasn’t any in Pride and Prejudice either and we love it anyway!
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review....more
Do you know that feeling when you can’t put down a book to the point that you forget to eat and sleep? This is a book that does that to you.
Jules is yDo you know that feeling when you can’t put down a book to the point that you forget to eat and sleep? This is a book that does that to you.
Jules is young and successful. She loves bright colors, pierogi and socializing. Together with her best friend she runs a travel startup that has been recently invited to use subsidized office space for a year.
Tom is a CEO of a startup they have to share the office space with. He is extremely motivated and hardworking but not exactly an expert on human interactions nor on making great first impressions.
Jules hates guys like Tom and their tech bro culture but she quickly realizes that first impressions are not always to be trusted. As they get to know each other Jules finds herself thinking about Tom more than she would care to admit.
However there is this one thing about Jules that Tom doesn’t know. She has a very rare liver disease and her only hope is a transplant.
I absolutely loved Jules and her drive to not let the disease define her. She was such a badass! And I loved Tom. OMG how I loved Tom!!! Let me just tell you, he takes the whole book boyfriend concept to the next level.
This is not a book about a disease but about people. It’s about the worst and the best in humanity and how you should not judge anyone because you never have the full story. It’s about love, friendship and hope and “going on when you can’t go on”. I rooted for both Jules and Tom, laughed and maybe cried a little too, but only happy tears.
Five well deserved stars!
I would kill for a plate of pierogi right now though.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Laura Bradbury for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I really wanted to enjoy this; I love all things magic living amongst oblivious humans.
It started off very well. The prologue was intriguing and so wI really wanted to enjoy this; I love all things magic living amongst oblivious humans.
It started off very well. The prologue was intriguing and so was the introduction of the main characters but then it went downhill.
I could not feel any chemistry between Livi and Riley. Their backstory was not enough to warrant a deep connection and the main story didn’t help. It all happened in the course of a few days during which they haven’t even spend much time together but were mostly just fantasizing about each other instead. For their connection and chemistry to be credible I’d like to see more getting to know each other and bonding. I’m sure there would be a lot to unpack after 15 years apart.
The plot twists were scarce and not used to their full potential. I would have appreciated more tension buildup and maybe some suspense. I would have loved to see and feel how the events impact the characters.
The pacing felt off, and most of the time it was more fact dumping than getting on with the story or getting to know the characters. I missed the point of including a sexist incident or random sentences in (grammatically incorrect) German. Unfortunately the banter didn’t work for me either, the jokes felt forced and were just not funny. It also took me a while to understand how the murder subplot fit in the story as it felt detached and wasn’t even that mysterious, (only gory). I enjoyed the last 10-15% though; it finally got exciting as it all came together at the end.
What I also liked was the descriptive language; most of the time I could easily imagine the scene which I find important especially when reading fantasy.
All in all I think both the author and the story have potential but this book would need a lot of editing before I would recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review....more
This book feels like like an extended version of the Dove Real Beauty ad; it’s full of positive vibes and feel-good, heartwarming humor.
Perci is in hThis book feels like like an extended version of the Dove Real Beauty ad; it’s full of positive vibes and feel-good, heartwarming humor.
Perci is in her late twenties but not really a grownup grownup yet; she works at her dad’s company and allows her mom to pick out her clothes, meals and boyfriends. However, after a series of rather unfortunate events triggered by her pathetic, mom-approved boyfriend breaking up with her (on the radio!!!), she decides to stop trying to please everyone around her and start living her own life.
Her journey of self-discovery is full of mishaps and awkward moments that had me laughing out loud more than once. Perci could be Bridget Jones’s younger sister; struggling with her weight and overbearing mother, all while being incredibly funny. Ultimately she also lives up to Bridget's theory, that the best way to find a boyfriend is to feel whole without one ...more
Ok guys this book is absolutely and utterly delicious. No kidding, this is The Love Hypothesis level magic. The writing is funny and brilliant and theOk guys this book is absolutely and utterly delicious. No kidding, this is The Love Hypothesis level magic. The writing is funny and brilliant and the story…
Harper has one focus in life: to become an oral surgeon. She’s been working hard towards this goal and is not willing to allow any distractions that could prevent her from achieving it. What’s also important, Harper suffers from anxiety and panic attacks and feelings are not only distracting, they are out of her control and out of her comfort zone.
But as a smoking hot first year student Dan storms into her life with his overwhelming charm and cute dimples, she can’t exactly stop herself from feeling…
Dan has his own demons to fight, but he is always there for Harper in a way that made me swoon and melt into a puddle. His only flaw is that he thinks, that Tobey Maguire is a better Spider-Man than Tom Holland. He is otherwise an absolutely perfect cinnamon roll.
This story was so moving and beautiful! It’s a slow burn, but it was really burning from the moment they met. I loved their chemistry; all these covert glances and light touches ...more
It was a well written piece of smut with a hint of a plot. I would have maybe appreciated more character development, but I get it, it’s a novella, noIt was a well written piece of smut with a hint of a plot. I would have maybe appreciated more character development, but I get it, it’s a novella, no time to beat around the bush, straight to business!
So!
A piece of advice for all slow burn lovers - don’t waste your time, you’ll hate it.
However if you believe that a small talk with a stranger on a plane could actually include a life altering orgasm, (because why not and nobody’s judging here) this is your book!
This booklet is not only about NetGalley, it’s also full of useful tips about creating your social media presence, which will help you to get approvedThis booklet is not only about NetGalley, it’s also full of useful tips about creating your social media presence, which will help you to get approved for arcs.
Read if you want to know: - how to use NetGalley to your advantage - how to write book reviews - how to navigate bookish social media - how to promote your reviews - and more!
The toolkit itself is a very short read but there are plenty of useful links included.
I’m sorry, I know you guys all loved this series, but I’m having a severe case of “it’s not you, it’s me” here. I was not sure about the firDnf at 53%
I’m sorry, I know you guys all loved this series, but I’m having a severe case of “it’s not you, it’s me” here. I was not sure about the first book but I was hoping the second would work better so I kept on reading.
The beginning was ok, Killian was intriguing enough, but then Warwick just had to again show up out of the blue and annoy me. I cannot get myself to like Warwick, he is a pretentious prick and he treats Brexley like shit. I don’t understand why she sees him everywhere and I just find it weird, even for a fantasy book. I have absolutely no clue what his deal is, but frankly I don’t care enough to continue.
All in all reading this felt like watching a movie with the sound off. I was intrigued at first and tried to follow but at some point I had too many questions to be able to enjoy the story.
The “relationship” for lack of a better word, between Brexley and Warwick is extremely toxic. I would root for ANY of the other guys who pine after her tbh (and what’s so special about her btw that they all do??). But he is supposed to be the love interest, right?!
I understand that this story has a certain appeal and there were parts of it that I did enjoy, but it was not enough to commit to four more books....more
It’s not that I hated it, but maybe even I got tired of the repetitiveness. I mean to be fair I did expecI hate to say it but I didn’t love this book…
It’s not that I hated it, but maybe even I got tired of the repetitiveness. I mean to be fair I did expect a big guy to fall (first) for a small girl and fuck her without a condom. It’s just that unfortunately this time the big guy was a little bland and I didn’t fall for him and the small girl was dumb af, especially for a brilliant scientist.
Maybe Twilight fans will appreciate the Twilight references and the fact that Elsie reads people (almost like Edward) but Jack is the only person she can’t read (almost like Bella), but I’m not a Twilight fan.
On top of that Elsie’s entire career can be a trigger and don’t even get me started on Jack’s childhood. However that’s probably a me problem.
This is no I’ve-been-secretly-in-love-with-you-for-ages BS, folks. This is REAL enemies to lovers.
The only human thing about Dianna is that she loves This is no I’ve-been-secretly-in-love-with-you-for-ages BS, folks. This is REAL enemies to lovers.
The only human thing about Dianna is that she loves her sister to the moon and back. To the point that if keeping her alive comes at a price of being a tyrant’s mistress and his killing machine, so be it. She still has a human heart though, albeit not much used, and sometimes between cleaning brain matter from her favorite shoes and tossing people into lava pits, Dianna allows herself to dream of love…
I loved Dianna. She was a bitch but I loved her. I wish I had the guts to talk to big guys like that.
After spending some pretty gruesome time with Dianna and her crew we meet Liam. Liam’s hobbies include brooding and hanging up on his friends. He gives a bit of an emo vibe, but he’s a good boy at heart and meeting him was refreshing and pleasant after the atrocities of the kingdom of Kaden.
As much as I was happy to meet Liam, Liam was not happy to meet me or anyone for that matter (see aforementioned emo vibe). He also did not want to end up in this weird place where large metal boxes on circular appendages clutter the landscape (I’m gonna totally use that description next time I call a workshop btw - can I schedule a service for my metal box with circular appendages for Tuesday?). But shit happens and if you’re a god you have to clean it up. And Liam happens to be a god.
Our lovebirds’ first encounters are not very romantic; he tortures her until she passes out, she comes up with cruel ways to end him - that sort of thing. Luckily they give up on that and - long story short - team up to save the world.
During their fascinating journey they get to know and trust each other and overcome centuries old prejudices.
While I’m generally more of a love at first sight kind of person, the slow burn here was done perfectly. These two really needed time to find each other. It was beautiful how both of them opened up, evolved and allowed themselves to feel.
I didn’t love everything about this story but I have to admit that even the parts I didn’t like made sense. (On top of that I really should not fuss about zombies since I am one myself after sacrificing three nights worth of sleep for this book.)
The last thing; I sort of knew there would be a cliffhanger but AAAARGHHH!!!!!...more
Check out the story of another Savoie sister, who falls for a werewolf! That’s because all werewolves are hotA mix of insta-love and slow burn anyone?
Check out the story of another Savoie sister, who falls for a werewolf! That’s because all werewolves are hot. And always pushing into people’s space. (…) If you ever meet a close-talker, they’re probably a werewolf.. Just so you know, ladies.
We witness Violet’s and Nico’s first hot meeting (like ...more
This was hilarious! Can’t wait to read the next book!
Rhys and Vivi had once spent a summer together. It was a summer full of love and amazing sex butThis was hilarious! Can’t wait to read the next book!
Rhys and Vivi had once spent a summer together. It was a summer full of love and amazing sex but Vivi is a moron so they parted ways after three months of bliss.
Since broken-hearted Vivi accidentally cursed Rhys afterwards and by doing that opened a Pandora’s box (she really should have just kept him instead imao) they now reunite to fix the mess.
Vivi is a person very much dedicated to her own unhappiness. It’s clear from the beginning that she never got over Rhys and yet she kept pushing him away. It was exasperating.
Rhys on the other hand… Gosh this guy and his wit!!! I felt like highlighting almost everything he said. He was like a class clown. But a sophisticated one - with a bit of an aristocratic touch.
Have you brought me out here to murder me?” he called. “Because that probably would solve your problems, but I have to say, I object on both moral and personal grounds.
The reason why this book is not getting five stars from me is Vivi and all her (unfortunately often successful) efforts to not be with Rhys. C’mon girl, you’re lucky it’s a book, cause irl that guy would have moved on ten times over!...more
This is a second book about the Savoie sisters and it’s as good as the first one. I love a world where getting bitten by a vampire is not deadly but aThis is a second book about the Savoie sisters and it’s as good as the first one. I love a world where getting bitten by a vampire is not deadly but actually a lot like sex. Isn’t it just brilliant? Poor Edward Cullen’s life would have been so much easier had he been written by Juliette Cross… sigh…
But back to our story.
Devraj is a man of many talents. Next to being one of the most powerful vampires on the planet he is an insanely hot Bollywood star. And do I have to mention a sex god? Yeah, that too. While working on a case he falls head over heels for a shy, reclusive witch with a golden heart - Isadora Savoie.
I loved them! Devraj - omg that guy! A powerful warrior and a devoted partner in one hot vampire? You kidding me? That’s just ...more
I picked it up because I needed more magic after reading Go hex yourself (which you should totally check out, if you haven’t yet btw), and it sooooo dI picked it up because I needed more magic after reading Go hex yourself (which you should totally check out, if you haven’t yet btw), and it sooooo delivered!!
I loved the murder mystery! That was so much fun to read. The chemistry was great, although I didn’t like that Myles was such a prick. I mean ok, I geI loved the murder mystery! That was so much fun to read. The chemistry was great, although I didn’t like that Myles was such a prick. I mean ok, I get it, he’s a bad boy, but… I don’t knoooow, maybe I’m just not that much into bad boys? ...more
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