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    Hi, I am Alicia!

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    Hi, I'm Suzanne. Proofreader by day, book blogger by night, devourer of books 24/7. My reading tastes: Basically you name it, I probably like it. I read a lot of contemporary and historical, both adult and YA, and I've also been enjoying more and more fantasy lately. Hobbies include: buying and hoarding of books, rambling about books to anyone who will listen, and trying to recommend books to my family and friends whether they are readers or not - because seriously, how can you not love to read books?

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    🦋 𝓕𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓪𝔂’𝓼 𝓕𝓪𝓫 🦋 𝓕𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓪𝔂’𝓼 𝓕𝓪𝓫 𝓕𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷 🦋

Welcome aboard! The rules are simple:

😍 ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋɪꜱʜ ᴀᴄᴄᴏᴜɴᴛꜱ ᴏɴʟʏ!
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💛 𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝟮𝟰 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦
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𝘛𝘖𝘎𝘌𝘛𝘏𝘌𝘙 𝘞𝘌 𝘜𝘕𝘐𝘛𝘌
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#togetherweunite #bookloop #bookcommunity #bookfollowtrain #bookfriends #bookishcommunity #bookfollowloop #bookstagramfollowtrain #bookstagramloop #bookbuddies
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    ❄️Review -The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison ❄️. Thanks for the free book @BerkleyRomance. #Berkleypartner #berkleyIG

Set in the Scottish Highlands, the story follows Maya Bashir, who is returning home to live with her parents after losing her job and breaking up with her boyfriend. On her way to her parent’s house, Maya stops off for a few minutes at a bachelorette party she was invited to and it is there where she unexpectedly reconnects with Sam Holland, her high school crush and former coworker at the local ski lodge. 

It’s clear they are attracted to one another, but they are both so awkward around each other that it’s equally clear that something happened to drive them apart.  When the two of them end up working together again as ski instructors, it becomes an opportunity to move past that awkwardness and reconnect.

I really enjoyed watching Sam and Maya reconnect as they teach classes at the ski resort.  There’s plenty of fun banter between them and also several adorable moments as many of their classes center on teaching young children how to ski.  The more I watched Sam and Maya and saw how good they were together, the more invested I became in learning what went wrong between them in the past. 

This story isn’t all rom com antics though because as we learn more about what came between Sam and Maya, Allison explores more serious topics such as toxic relationships and the emotional fallout from them.  I thought she did a wonderful job realistically portraying this kind of relationship and just how much it can mess with a person’s head.

I also really enjoyed Maya’s journey with respect to choosing a career path that makes her happy versus just doing what her loving but very overbearing father wants her to do.  The two of them have some hard conversations throughout the course of the story, and I loved the growth we see in Maya as she has those conversations.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read. I recommend The Ex-Mas Holidays to anyone who enjoys second chance romances as well as friends to lovers. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD:  How was your week? Any fun plans for the weekend? 

#berkleybookstagram #holidayromance #bookstagram #christmasreads
    🍁 THREE FOR THURSDAY- TBR EDITION 🍁 I’ve 🍁 THREE FOR THURSDAY- TBR EDITION 🍁 

I’ve been seeing the Sweater Weather rom com series everywhere on Booksta and couldn’t resist picking up a couple of the books to dive into this fall. A huge thanks to @carinataylorauthor for gifting me a copy of her installment in the series. I can’t wait to read all of these! 

❓QOTD: What’s the last book Bookstagram influenced you to pick up? 

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #bookfeature #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #igreads #bookwormsofinstagram  #readmoreromance #romancebooks 
#sweaterweather #fallromance #romcom #hockeyromance
    ✉️ Pub Week Review - LOVE, HOLLY ✉️ Love, ✉️ Pub Week Review - LOVE, HOLLY ✉️

Love, Holly is the latest book from Emily Stone, and boy does it pack an emotional punch! 

Holly has been estranged from her family ever since a devastating car accident tore their lives apart.  As a way  to feel less lonely, Holly joined a lonely-hearts holiday letter writing group.  Every December she sends an anonymous letter to a stranger who is also alone and she receives one as well.  Because the letters are anonymous, the senders tend to pour their hearts out.

When Holly receives her latest letter, there’s something different about it.  First, the grief in it speaks to her because it is so much like her own. The letter writer, Emma, is also estranged from her loved ones, in particular, her grandson, who she has not seen since he was a little boy.  But second, the letter mentions a place Holly knows all too well because it’s near where her car accident took place. Holly makes it her mission to find Emma and help her reunite with her grandson, not realizing how life changing this will be for her as well.

One of my favorite parts of this story is the bond that forms between Emma and Holly.  Emma becomes the family that Holly has been estranged from and the two of them forge a beautiful friendship.

I also loved that there’s an element of kismet in that through meeting Emma, Holly is also reintroduced to Jack, a man she met the night of her car accident.  Jack had given Holly his number that night but it was lost in the accident.  It turns out that Jack is also the grandson Emma has been estranged from.  The story becomes an emotional roller coaster as these characters deal with long-buried feelings and try to find a path forward. 

Love, Holly is just such a beautiful story.  The writing is gorgeous and the characters are so well-developed and their experiences feel so authentic. 

I alternated between the audiobook and e-book and thought both formats were so well done. I especially enjoyed the narration of Heather Long, who just captured those emotional moments so well. 

Thanks to @penguinrandomhouse & @prhaudio for the gifted copies. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD: Do you believe in fate?
    🏒 PUB DAY FEATURE - THE ICE KISS 🏒 The Ice 🏒 PUB DAY FEATURE - THE ICE KISS 🏒

The Ice Kiss by L. Steele is now live! 

🏒 Synopsis 🏒
He's the new hockey team captain
Also my roommate. And now my fake fiancé...

When I discover my boyfriend is cheating on me, I quit my job, and move to take up a role as the PR manager for a hockey team.
Only problem? There's a mix up.
Now I'm stuck sharing a flat with the grumpy, hockey captain. 

Worse? (or is that better?) There's only one bed!

Even worse? My ex too has moved, as the captain of the rival team, ugh!

When my roomie realizes how much I want revenge he comes up with a plan. He asks me to pose as his fake fiancée on his trip home. In return I get to be seen with him, and show up my ex.

I've sworn off men, there's no way I can fall for him. But what happens when sparks fly?

This is a standalone roommates to lovers, fake relationship, one-bed, hockey romance with a possessive hero, a woman who doesn't hesitate to go toe-to-toe with him, and a champagne guzzling Great Dane who plays matchmaker by mistake. HEA guaranteed. 1-Click NOW

 🏒 Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited 🏒

Amazon Worldwide: https://readerlinks.com/l/3497798 

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3PwihWd

#lsteele #TheIceKiss #hockeyromance #morallygreyhero #SportsRomance #NewAdultRomance #AdultRomance #AlphaHero #Billionaire #BDSM #BossEmployee #BritishHero #ContemporaryRomance #EnemiestoLovers #Athlete #FakeRelationship #GrumpySunshine #ForcedProximity #OneBed #RoommatestoLovers #bookclub #bookish #booklover #booksta #bookstagram #bookworm #readersofig #readersofinstagram #valentineprlm @valentine_pr_

❓QOTD - Random but have you ever had a crush on a professional athlete? If so, who? If not, what are you currently reading?
    🍂 Happy first weekend of FALL! 🍂 I haven’ 🍂 Happy first weekend of FALL! 🍂

I haven’t posted much this weekend between  celebrating my son’s 16th birthday and getting ready for a tropical storm to blow through. I couldn’t let the start of my favorite season pass without a seasonal post though so today I’m sharing some of my favorite book covers that feature fall colors. 

🧡 Books Featured: 🧡

🍂Well Played by @jendelucawrites 
🍁Love Wager by @lynnpainterbooks 
🍂Lucy on the Wild Side by @authorkerryrea 
🍁Just Don’t Fall by @kikimojo 
🍂Love Theoretically by @alihazelwood 
🍁Mixed Signals by @authorbkborison 
🍂Forever, Interrupted by @tjenkinsreid 
🍁The Bride Test by @hhoangwrites 

❓QOTD: What is your favorite season and what do you love about it? 

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #bookfeature #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #igreads #bookwormsofinstagram  #autumn #fallvibes #autumnbookstagram #sweaterweather
    👻 Spooky Season Book Recs 👻 Hey everyone! S 👻 Spooky Season Book Recs 👻

Hey everyone! Since I'm well into my own spooky season TBR, I thought it would be fun to share some favorites in case you're looking for books to add to your own TBR. 

Just a note that I am a big chicken so if you're looking for truly terrifying reads, this is NOT the list for you.  But if you're just looking for some spooky atmosphere vibes, some great paranormal creatures, and maybe a spine tingling thriller or horror-light read, you've come to the right place! 

🧡 ROMANCE 🧡

🧹A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
🧹My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
🧹The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
🧹Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
🧹In Charm's Way by Lana Harper
🧹This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin

💜 ATMOSPHERIC VIBES 💜

🧹Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
🧹The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
🧹Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
🧹The Sun-Down Motel by Simone St. James
🧹Practical Magic series by Alice Hoffman
🧹Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas

🖤 DARKER READS - THRILLERS/HORROR 🖤
 
🔪The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
🔪The Only One Left by Riley Sager
🔪In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
🔪The September House by Carissa Orlando
🔪Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
🔪Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

❓QOTD: Have you read any of these or are you planning to? If not, do you have any specific books you're looking forward to reading this fall?

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #witchyvibes #bookfeatureagram #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #spookyseason #fall #autumn #halloween #spookyseasonbookrecs #paranormal #witchyreads #vampires
    🎄 Review - BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS 🎄 B 🎄 Review - BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS 🎄

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews follows Kerry Tolliver, whose family owns a Christmas Tree farm in western North Carolina. The bulk of their sales, however, come from New York City where they have a tree lot set up in Greenwich Village. Every year Kerry's dad and her brother Murphy would haul trees and a trailer (nicknamed Spammy because it looks like a can of SPAM) to the Big Apple for a month to sell trees.  This year, however, Kerry's dad is in poor health and so Kerry makes the trip with her brother.  Kerry, who is an artist, isn't looking forward to it and has no idea how truly life changing this experience will end up being for her.

I truly loved everything about this story!  Andrews does a magnificent job of capturing the magic of New York at Christmas and I especially loved how she portrays the sense of community that can be found in places like Greenwich Village. Anytime the Tollivers need assistance, be it an extra set of hands to help deliver trees, a hot meal on a cold night or even just a place to shower, they had so many people they could count on and it was heartwarming to see.

My favorite part of the story though was the personal journey for Kerry.  She really comes into her own in New York, using her artistic ability to design wreaths and boost sales, and with the help of an adorable young boy and an eccentric senior citizen, she also blossoms as an artist and finds her "voice" so to speak. This little group also had the most wonderful found family vibes and I adored watching them interact.  This trip also gives Kerry a chance to reacquaint herself with her brother, Murphy and to find love when she least expects it. 

Cozy, heartwarming and magical, Bright Lights, Big Christmas is the perfect book to kick off your holiday reading and fill you with holiday cheer. Out 9/26!

I read the e-book and the audiobook & loved both (thanks for the gifted copies @stmartinspress and @macmillanaudio). Kathleen McInerney does a phenomenal job narrating the audiobook and bringing all of these wonderful characters to life!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD:  What is your favorite holiday and why?
    ⚽️ Pub Day Review - Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsne ⚽️ Pub Day Review - Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner ⚽️

Soccer is my favorite sport, so I couldn't resist reading Meryl Wilsner's latest novel, Cleat Cute.  It's a sapphic rom com featuring two pro soccer teammates, a rookie & a veteran, and it’s everything I hoped it would be and more!

Phoebe Matthews has always wanted to play pro soccer.  Her life is chaotic in many ways but soccer is her happy place.  When she finally gets called up to play for a pro team, Phoebe feels like she is home & immediately fits in as the lively jokester of the team.  Grace Henderson has been the star of the team for ten years. She works hard and isn't overly impressed with Phoebe's class clown-style personality, although she can't deny that Phoebe works just as hard as she plays. She also can't deny that she finds herself drawn to Phoebe every time she sees her...

 I loved the dynamic and the chemistry between Grace and Phoebe as they try to navigate their growing feelings for one another as well as whether or not it would even be appropriate for them to date as teammates.  I also really enjoyed that more in depth topics were covered including the fact that while Phoebe was "out" as queer, Grace had not yet come out publicly. I loved that Phoebe respected Grace's decision and knew that Grace had to decide that for herself.  Another big topic that was covered was undiagnosed ADHD, which it turns out, has been impacting much of Phoebe's life.  It's not all serious though as there is plenty of banter and lots of sexy, steamy moments to balance out those more serious topics.

I also loved all of the soccer talk, although I don't think you need to be a huge soccer fan to enjoy this book. I'd recommend Cleat Cute to anyone who enjoys grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract romances. 

Thanks to @smpromance, @stmartinspress, &  @macmillanaudio for the gifted copies & the super cute soccer socks they sent in my package. I alternated between the formats & enjoyed them all. Dana Varden & Zim Avaltrades did a fabulous job of bringing Grace and Phoebe to life!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD:  Since I'm new to sports romances, give me recs.  That or tell me your favorite read of the month so far.
    💜 Review - THIS SPELLS DISASTER 💜 Tori Anne 💜 Review - THIS SPELLS DISASTER 💜

Tori Anne Martin’s debut This Spells Disaster is a queer witchy romcom that takes place over the course of a spellcasting festival.

Morgan Greenwood is a potion witch who has a crush on badass elemental witch, Rory Sanders, but is too intimidated to approach her. That is, until fate puts Rory in her path one night at a bar. Rory is complaining about the unreasonable expectations her family puts on her and that she is dreading seeing them at the festival. A drunken Morgan volunteers to fake date Rory and act as a buffer between her and her family. Morgan is shocked when Rory takes her up on her offer.

I adored both Morgan and Rory. Morgan is incredibly loyal to those she cares about. Her heart is always in the right place, but she can be a bit chaotic at times. Rory can be standoffish at first, but once you get to know her, she’s a sweetheart. She and Morgan also both have a competitive streak that makes for some hilarious banter. I just loved watching the two of them get to know each other.

My favorite part of fake dating is when feelings start to become real, and the author has added a unique complication to this trope. Morgan crafts a relaxation spell for Rory l, but after Rory starts taking it, she starts behaving romantically toward Morgan. Morgan can’t believe Rory could ever feel that way about her and is soon horrified to realize that her feelings for Rory may have slipped into the potion, turning it into a love potion. Love potions are illegal because they take away a person’s right to give or refuse consent. 

I felt so bad for Morgan since it’s clear she didn’t intend to do it, but at the same time, it made the story even more compelling for me, waiting to see how it would play out, especially once Rory knew the truth. These two are perfect for each other so I was rooting hard for a HEA. 

If you’re a fan of witchy romcoms, adorable characters, and fake dating, This Spells Disaster needs to go on your fall TBR.

Thanks to @BerkleyRomance for the gifted e-arc & @PRHAudio for the ALC. I alternated between both formats and thought they were both wonderful!

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❓QOTD: What are you reading this week?
    ✨Review - Witch of Wild Things ✨ I chose Witc ✨Review - Witch of Wild Things ✨

I chose Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland as my first witchy read of the season, in part because of that gorgeous cover and also because it features elemental magic. It also has a romance that is complicated by secrets, as well as a family dynamic that is complicated by grief.

At the center of this story are the women of the Flores family. Legend has it that years ago a Flores woman offended the old gods, causing all her female descendants to be “cursed” with magical powers. 

Sage Flores is the protagonist and her magical abilities are tied to plants. Sage can identify and communicate with any plant.  Sage’s sister, Teal, has powers that tie her emotions to the weather. Lastly, younger sister Sky’s magic allowed her to communicate with animals.

We meet Sage as she has just been fired and is reluctantly headed back to her hometown. Sage has been estranged from Teal ever since Sky died 8 years earlier.  Teal holds Sage responsible for her death.  What we also learn about Sage in these opening scenes is that Sky is actually haunting her.  Sky is trapped here and wants Sage to make up with Teal, in hopes it will allow her spirit to move on.  Needless to say, things are very complicated for the Flores women. 

Sage is also being haunted by her past, in the form of Tennessee Reyes, the high school crush who broke her heart.  When Sage takes a job hunting for unique plant specimens, sh ends up partnered with Tennessee.  Sage starts to grow close to him again but knows she has to tell him a secret she has kept from him for years.  The author has their relationship unfold through the use of both present day scenes & flashbacks from their high school days.

I really loved everything about this book.  The story grabbed my attention from the opening scenes and I flew through it because I was so invested in Sage’s journey.  She’s a messy and flawed character, but she grows so much. 

I read a free e-arc and listened to an ALC (thanks @berkleyromance & @prhaudio!) and thought both formats were wonderful! 

It was truly an enchanting read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD: Which Flores magical power would you like to have?
    🖤 Review - Vampires of El Norte 🖤 Thanks for 🖤 Review - Vampires of El Norte 🖤 Thanks for the free book @BerkleyRomance. #Berkleypartner #berkleyIG

While Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas is indeed a book that has vampires, it is so much more than just a vampire book. 

Vampires of El Norte is equal parts historical fiction and forbidden romance with a supernatural twist and it is so good! 

Set in 1840s Mexico, the story follows Nena and Nestor. We meet them when they are both 13 years old and the best of friends even though they come from different worlds.  Nena is from a prominent rancho family, while Nestor is the son of a ranch hand, or vaquero. 

It's clear that there is a strong bond between Nena and Nestor even though they shouldn't be together and they often sneak out together in search of adventure.  One night, however, adventure turns to tragedy when a supernatural creature attacks Nena.  Nestor believes Nena is dead and runs away, grief stricken. He stays away for nine years, and when he returns, a grown man and a vaquero himself, he is shocked to find that Nena actually survived the attack and is now training to be a healer.  He really wants to reunite with Nena and find out what happened, but Nena is not interested. For all these years, she has been heartbroken and angry, thinking he just abandoned her.  The two of them clearly have issues they need to work through and that strong bond between them kept me fully invested in following their journey.

Cañas' writing is gorgeous and atmospheric and I loved how she has infused this story with both Mexican history and culture.  I felt like I truly was in Mexico while I was reading, and like I was watching parts of the Mexican-American War play out right before my eyes.  I also loved her clever twist on the vampires as well. Yes, there are terrifying supernatural blood suckers out there attacking people, but the vampire term is also used to describe the Yanks from the north who are trying to steal Mexico's land. 

If you're looking for a truly unique vampire story this spooky season, be sure to pick up Vampires of El Norte.  Out now! 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD:  You're invited to a Halloween party this year. What are you dressing up as?
    🎄Two for Tuesday - Christmas Book Mail 🎄 Tha 🎄Two for Tuesday - Christmas Book Mail 🎄 Thanks for the free books @BerkleyRomance. #Berkleypartner #berkleyIG

Christmas came early for me this year, courtesy of Berkley Romance! 

I'm a huge fan of Kerry Winfrey's books so I'm thrilled she has written a Christmas romance and that it features one of my favorite tropes, fake relationship. 

Zoe Allison is a new-to-me author who I'm very excited to try, especially since her holiday read features another of my favorite tropes, second chance romance. I can't wait to dive into both of these!

❄️ The Ex-Mas Holidays by @zoeallisonauthor 

It’s hard to escape your ex when you’re working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance.
 
❄️ Faking Christmas by @kerrywinfrey 

Laurel Grant is playing house for the holidays--complete with a fake husband and kids--in this delightful, cozy rom-com by Kerry Winfrey.

❓QOTD: Do you have any Christmas book recs? I’m still building my holiday TBR and would love more titles to choose from. 

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