Favorite Line: Austen Affair

Recently, I finished The Austen Affair and it was charming, funny, and sweet. I loved the nods to Jane Austen's work.

Here's my favorite line of the book:

 

Review: Never Planned on You

 

Ali Rubin has changed careers several times. Right now, she's back living at home while working as an event planner. When a high-profile wedding comes to the firm, she's able to assist. If she does a good job, her boss will promote her.  Ali's very excited about the job, until she realizes that she knows the groom.

They had a one-night stand in England during college and they have matching tattoos. Ali's always wondered what happened to Graham. He returned to the states to help his grandmother's hotel. 

There is still chemistry between Ali and Graham. Could it ruin everything they've built?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed. I felt badly for Ali and how her family made her feel. I also had a hard time rooting for Ali and Graham because of the circumstances. I really wanted more of Graham's grandmother; she was a great character. I love how Ali's job turned out.

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your romance collection. 

If you like:

Review: Taylor Swift Style

 

Sarah Chapelle has a blog all about Taylor and her fashion choices. This book goes through all the eras. I loved learning more about her fashion choices when she was first starting out. Even though I am an OG Swiftie, I didn't pay much attention to her fashion. I mean I knew she wore sundresses and country boots, but I liked learning the reasons behind the fashion.

I love how her style changed throughout the eras and that she created significant looks for each time period. It's really impressive. I'm not a huge fashion person but I loved pouring over this book. 

* This makes a great gift for Swifties

On Your Radar: 53 (Built to Last)

 

Title: Built to Last

Author: Erin Hahn

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: October 22, 2022

I love this cover! It's stinking cute.

Why It Should be On Your Radar:

* Second Chance Romance

*Friendships

* Hollywood Secrets

* DIY

* Home Renovation Show

* Banter

* Family

* Proving Yourself

I didn't want this book to end and I'm so happy there are companion novels on the way.!!!!

Mood Board:

* Read through Netgalley

Review: One Last Stop

 

August moves to New York City for school - and to find herself. She struggles to fit in. She finds an apartment with roommates and moves in. Little does she know how important this apartment and these roommates will become. 

One day on the subway, August meets Jane. Jane is mysterious and tough and gorgeous. And August has a crush. She keeps seeing Jane on the subway. Soon they start talking. August starts to notice something strange about Jane.

She's always on the subway and Jane isn't from this time - she's from the past.

Now August is trying to discover as much information about Jane as possible. Could August be the key to saving her?

My Thoughts: I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue - so I knew this was going to be on my reading list. And I really enjoyed this book (not as much as the previous book). I really liked the characters -especially the secondary characters. There were times when I wanted to wrap them all in hugs. There were also times I wanted to smack August.  I liked the pancake house and the time spent there. I really liked learning about Jane's past and unraveling what happened to her. A very intriguing read that kept me thinking long after I finished the book. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance collection

Review: Make Up Break Up

 

Annika believe in the fairy tale romance, which is why her app is all about second chances. She's won a few prestigious awards but her app isn't out yet and her funding has dried up. She needs to win the EPIC pitch in order to survive. 

But her nemesis Hudson Craft moves into the building. His app makes breaking up with someone easy and less personal. 

Annika can't believe the same guy who created the app is the same guy she spent a week in Vegas with. Part of her still adores him, but the other part can't wrap her brain around the guy who created the app in the first place. He's her direct competition, but there's still chemistry sparking between the two of them.

It's a very bad idea...

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this second chance romance. I loved the friendship between Annika and June. I loved the banter and pranks between Hudson and Annika. I really liked the technology aspect - especially the parts where Annika and June inspired other girls who are interested in STEAM. I admire how Annika wanted to create her success on her own terms - through hard work and determination. This was a really fun entertaining read.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My library

Library recommendation: Highly Recommended for your adult romance collection

Fun Fact: Lily Menon writes YA under Sandhya Menon (The Dimpleverse books)

On Your Radar: Red, White, and Royal Blue (24)

Title: Red, White, and Royal Blue

Author:  Casey McQuiston

Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: May 4, 2019

Why it Should be on Your Radar:

* Prince

* First Son

* Female President

* Politics

* Witty Banter

* Gay Romance

* Sisters

* Issues with Fame

* Hate to Love romance

* Text Messages

* Heavy Topics

* Secret Relationship

BELIEVE the Hype on this book - it's that good!

Review: Pumpkin

 This raccoon had a traumatic experience as a baby. She fell out of a tree and broke her leg. Her parents abandoned her.  A family took her in to help her. They were a foster family, until the raccoon was better. But Pumpkin fell in love with their dogs and they loved her. Now, she lives with them and believes she's just another dog.

The book consists of telling her story, pictures with the dogs, and funny stories. A sweet, funny, fantastic coffee table book that's meant to be shared. It's great for libraries.

Review: How to Be Brave

Georgia's still grieving from the loss of her mother, but she's determined to make her last year in high school one to remember. Before she mother died, Georgia made her promise to write a letter to remember her  voice by. Her mother tells her to live life fearlessly, to think of her, and to be brave.

Georgia decides to do just that.

With the help of her best friend, she makes a list of all the things she wants to accomplish. It's not exactly a bucket list - but she knows that life isn't forever.

Life doesn't go according to plan. Can Georgia be brave enough?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I love the idea of living fearlessly. I love the idea of creating a list of things you want to accomplish - I have one of those. 

I loved the moments of art and drawing and how it connected Georgia to her mother. 

My heart ached for her relationship with her father, how it was strained and almost nonexistent. 

Georgia made some choices that I didn't agree with, but she experienced life. 

I really liked Georgia's strength. Life didn't go her way all the time, but she tried to live up to her mother's last wishes.

Cover Thoughts: I like the notebook drawings but the cover shows a normal sized girl who is supposed to be larger.
Source: ARC sent for review

Final Thoughts: A smashing debut that deals with losing yourself in grief, friend drama, and finding the strength to pull yourself back in your life. 

Adult Review: Dream Lake

* Book 3 in the Friday Harbor series*

Zoe's been hurt in the past by a long list of people, including her father but most recently her ex-husband. She's not looking for romance, she's simply happy and content with her life.


But romance comes in the form of grumpy Alex Nolan. He had a horrific childhood and an even worse marriage. He doesn't believe that he should be happy. He drank to numb his pain, but is just realize the depths of his drinking issues. As he tries to dry out, a ghost enters his life.


The ghost won't or can't leave him alone. The ghost can't remember much about his former life expect in bits and pieces. He knows that he's tied to Alex and might be responsible for helping him.
 
Can the three of them find peace and happiness together in Friday Harbor?

My Thoughts: I love the Friday Harbor series - romance with a little bit of magic all wrapped up in a good story. I love reading about the Nolan brothers. I love the dreamy atmosphere, I want to live in Friday Harbor. I love how protective Alex feels of Zoe. I like how he warns her off him, but can't stop hanging out with her. I really enjoyed the moments between Zoe and her grandmother. I reminded me of the moments between myself and my grandmother. I bet she would have liked this book too and I wish she was still alive so we could talk about it together over a cup of hot chocolate. Friday Harbor books feel like you're enveloped in your grandmother's love and drinking the best hot chocolate, it's rich, sweet, and charming.

Cover Thoughts: Gorgeous, but it isn't how I imagined Zoe
Source: My Library

Adult Review: Rainshadow Road

Lucy believes her relationship with her fiance Kevin is on track. It's not. He confesses that he's breaking off their engagement, he loves someone else, and then asks her to move out because her sister will be moving in.

Lucy is devastated. She and Alice have never had a great relationship, but she can't help but feeling betrayed. She moves in with her two friends while she looks for a place to live. Her life gets worse when she's in an accident while riding a bike.

She can't stay on her own with a broken leg. Her two friends (that ones that didn't stay with Kevin after their breakup) have crazy work lives and their inn isn't friendly to someone on crutches. Instead they ask a mutual friend Sam to take care of her.

Sam wouldn't mind getting to know Lucy better. However, taking care of her isn't what he had in mind. Still, it's not too long until he wishes things between them were different - that he was different.


My Thoughts: I love Friday Harbor. It's a sweet magical place. It sounds like the perfect place to live. I simply devoured this book and can't wait to read more about the characters.  I liked Zoe and Justine. I hated Alice and Kevin. I loved the brothers and their relationship. I adored Holly: she was sweet, sassy, and manipulative.  Sam was sweet and perfect. I loved reading about Lucy and her work. I found it fascinating. Rainshadow Road was amusing, dreamy, and above all romantic.


Cover Thoughts: Dreamy - it captures the book completely.


Source: my Library

Up Next:   Dream Lake out in August! Isn't the cover dreamy????

A look at Rainshadow Road

I can't tell you how excited I am for this book. I simple LOVED Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor - which has the same setting as this new trilogy.

Here's the author chatting about her new series:



I'm excited for the bits about glass artistry. That's always interested me. I'm excited for the magic, the stories about the brothers, and those colorful characters!

Rainshadow Road comes out at the very end of February and I can't wait for it!!!