Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Recent Reads I Have Not Reviewed on the Blog
/41 Comments/by Suzanne
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!
This week’s TTT topic is actually supposed to be Favorite “Aww” Moments In Books (Share those sweet/cute moments in books that give you warm fuzzies). I am unfortunately the kind of person who, when reading a topic like this, promptly forgets every moment, aww or not, from every book I’ve ever read. So of course, I completely blanked out and ended up going rogue this week. I’m way behind on reviews since I took some time off from blogging the last couple of weeks to be with my mom because she was having surgery. I really need to get caught up so I’m using this week’s TTT to share my thoughts on ten recent reads that I haven’t talked about here yet. These were meant to be mini reviews but I got a little carried away on a few of them. Oops!
10 Recent Reads I Haven’t Reviewed On My Blog
1. PARIS DAILLENCOURT IS ABOUT TO CRUMBLE by Alexis Hall
I normally love Alexis Hall’s writing and was an especially big fan of Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, the first book in the Winner Bakes All series, but I have to admit that I struggled with Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble. The reality TV baking contest was just as entertaining as in the first book. I loved the behind the scenes moments as we get to watch the show come together and hear the baker’s thoughts on their creations, etc., and I was a huge fan of the hilariously snarky banter between the show’s cohosts and the producers. I also thought the mental health representation was so well done. Paris, the title character, has an undiagnosed anxiety disorder that is clearly impacting many aspects of his life. Hall does a wonderful job of realistically showing those impacts as well as Paris’ journey to finally seeking the help he needs. What actually didn’t work very well for me, unfortunately, was Paris himself and his romantic interest, Tariq, another contestant on the show. It’s probably just a me thing, but I found Paris to be quite obnoxious, constantly alternating between blurting out offensive elitist comments and then incessantly apologizing for his very existence. It was kind of cute and quirky at first, but then it got old fast. Then, there was Tariq, who felt the need to point out to Paris every time he said something offensive, which as I said, is pretty often. At first I felt bad for Tariq because being with Paris just seemed so exhausting but then that got old too and I was just sitting here like “OMG, it’s not your job to police every stupid thing Paris says. And why do you offended so easily?” For me, these irritating traits just overshadowed what was otherwise nice chemistry between them and I ultimately found myself indifferent as to whether or not they got a HEA. 3 STARS
2. THE REWIND by Allison Winn Scotch
If you enjoy a good second chance romance or enemies to lovers romance, you’re going to want to check out The Rewind by Allison Winn Scotch. I loved this one! It follows two exes, Frankie and Ezra, who have basically avoided each other for the last ten years after their nasty breakup. They are forced to see each other again, and to return to their old college campus, when two of their best friends announce they’re getting married there and ask Frankie and Ezra to be in their wedding party. Frankie hates Ezra so much that she almost tells the bride no, but finally agrees, only to awkwardly bump into Ezra almost as soon as the gets into town. The entire wedding party engages in some pre-wedding shenanigans at some of their favorite campus haunts, and flash forward a few hours later, and Frankie and Ezra wake up nearly naked, both wearing wedding bands, in a bed in Ezra’s old dorm room, and both with absolutely no memory of what happened to lead to this awkward situation. The story wonderfully unfolds in a dual timeline, where one timeline takes us back 10 years to see young Ezra and Frankie as they are college students in love, while the other timeline focuses on present-day as Ezra and Frankie try to retrace the events of the previous night, sparks flying between them the entire time. I really loved the mix of angsty drama and humorous moments, as well as the mystery element of trying to find out what happened. The Rewind is one of those great reads that has a little something for everyone. 4 STARS
3. THE STAND-UP GROOMSMAN by Jackie Lau
I really enjoyed being back in the Donut Fall in Love world. This time the story focuses on Lindsay’s best friend Vivian Liao, and Ryan’s best friend, Melvin Lee. Like Ryan, Melvin is a celebrity – an actor and stand up comedian, while Vivian works in finance. Vivian is a fan of Melvin’s comedy until they meet one night and he insults her, basically calling her a corporate finance drone and a sell-out. Vivian vows never to speak to him again, but that plan goes off the rails when Lindsay and Ryan set a wedding date and both Vivian and Melvin are asked to be in the wedding party.
I loved the characters in this story. They were definitely the highlight for me, especially the deep dive into Melvin’s character. On the surface, particularly because of his stand up comedy persona, he comes across as loud, brash and sometimes rude. But once you peel off that outer layer, he’s actually a really sensitive guy who is going through a lot. Vivian is also a character that I loved getting to know. She’s dealing with a very complicated family history and dynamic. She has put up a lot of walls to protect herself and all she has worked for, and so to Mel and to a lot of other people, she comes across as a bit of an “ice princess.” I loved getting a more in-depth look at what made Vivian the way she is and getting to see that so much of what comes across as icy and aloof is really just shyness and vulnerability.
It was a lot of fun watching Vivian and Melvin move through the awkward stages of enemies to friends to more than friends as they decide to call a truce so as not to ruin Ryan and Lindsay’s special day. The more they interact, the more it’s clear how good they are for each other and I was definitely rooting for a happily ever after for them. The only drawback for me was that I felt the pacing was a little show at times, particularly when Melvin is on stage doing his comedy routines. That part dragged a bit for me and since the romance was also slow burn, I found myself occasionally wanting to just skip ahead and get to the good stuff. Still a very enjoyable read overall and one I recommend to anyone who’s a fan of the opposites attract trope and of slow burn romances. 3 STARS
4. THE THINGS WE LEAVE UNFINISHED by Rebecca Yarros
This was my first time reading something from Rebecca Yarros and man, did she blow me away with this beautifully crafted dual timeline story. The present day follows Georgia Stanton, who has returned to the town where she was raised by her great-grandmother, famous romance novelist Scarlett Stanton. While there, Georgia encounters her mother, whom she is estranged from, and she is shocked to hear that her mother has been trying to broker a deal to have someone complete Scarlett’s last unfinished manuscript. Georgia’s mother clearly has dollar signs in her eyes and has already contracted another famous author, Noah Harrison, to do the job. Georgia and Noah immediately butt heads, although there’s major chemistry there simmering beneath the surface, and the present day timeline follows the evolution of their relationship as Noah sets out the write this book in a way that honors Scarlett’s memory. The second timeline, which is set in England in 1940, follows the subject matter from Scarlett’s manuscript, which actually turns out to be about Scarlett herself and Jameson, the handsome American fighter pilot who was the love of her life. It details the trials and tribulations of being in love with someone in the middle of a warzone, where tragedy can strike at any moment. Every aspect of this story was beautifully told and I was all in for the couples in both timelines. I also loved the unexpected twist at the end that, for me, just took this book to a whole new level. 5 STARS
5. THE GUNCLE by Steven Rowley
I don’t have too much to say about this one except that it’s one you really have to experience yourself to appreciate what a special, heartwarming, feel good gem of a book it is. It far exceeded my expectations. There’s lots of humor in this book too, but my heart just melted watching Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, as the kids call him), learn how to parent and care for his niece and nephew after tragedy strikes and leaves them orphaned. Patrick has a lot to learn and there are many ups and downs, but his love for these kids shines through every step of the way. 5 STARS
6. THE NEAR WITCH by V.E. Schwab
I’ve been working my way through V.E. Schwab’s backlist and finally devoured this witchy read Halloween week. Although it’s not my favorite from Schwab, it was still a solid read and definitely a good one for spooky season. I loved the unique premise, that it felt like it was equal parts fairytale, horror story, and even a bit of romance. The Near Witch is also just such an atmospheric and creepy read. It includes an intense hunt for children who have suddenly and mysteriously started disappearing from their beds, haunting tales of witches and curses, and even a nameless boy who seems to appear and disappear like smoke. 4 STARS
7. HUSBAND MATERIAL by Alexis Hall
Alexis Hall makes my list twice this week and I had slightly better luck with Husband Material. It was fun being back in this world and seeing how the relationship between Luc and Oliver has evolved. I was a little torn on this one because I went in expecting the endless laughs like we got in the first book in the series, but this one, while there’s definitely still some humor, takes a much more dramatic and emotional turn overall. At first I was a little put off by it just because I came in looking for the laughs, but by the end, I ended up really enjoying and appreciating the realistic portrayals of the ups and downs of a relationship. 3.5 STARS
8. BREATHLESS by Amy McCulloch
Wow, this one was a roller coaster ride! It follows journalist Cecily Wong, who is on an expedition to climb Manaslu, the eighth highest peak in the world. She’s attempting it because if she makes it to the summit, Charles McVeigh, a world famous mountaineer, has agreed to let her interview him. He typically never grants interviews so Cecily is determined to make the most of this opportunity. She’s in way over her head though as she doesn’t have the experience to make such a dangerous climb. Following Cecily as she attempts this is exhilarating and suspenseful in its own right, but add into the mix that her fellow climbers suddenly start dying off one by one in freak accidents that are starting to seem more and more suspicious the higher they climb. Are these truly accidents or is there a killer among them? If you’re in the mood for a twisty, atmospheric thriller that will leave you breathless (see what I did there, haha!), you’ll definitely want to check this one out! 4 STARS
9. THE LOST HUSBAND by Katherine Center
Katherine Center is another author whose backlist I’ve slowly been working my way through and The Lost Husband is another absolutely lovely read from her. It’s a heartwarming, poignant story about the challenges of moving on after the loss of a loved one. It follows Libby Moran, whose husband suddenly and unexpectedly died, leaving her alone to raise her precocious young daughter. When we meet Libby, she is living with her overbearing and overly critical mother and is looking for an escape. That escape comes in the form of a letter from her quirky Aunt Jean who invites Libby and her daughter to come live on her goat farm. Libby accepts, and thus begins a life changing adventure for her as she starts to find her path forward after loss. I adored everything about this book – the characters, the farm/small town setting, the handsome loner who may just be the one to open Libby’s heart to love again, and the story’s overall message. There’s even a Netflix adaptation of this one and I can’t wait to watch it! 4.5 STARS
10. THE HACIENDA by Isabel Canas
Set right after the Mexican War of Independence, The Hacienda is described as Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca. The story follows Beatriz, whose father is executed in the aftermath of the war. When Don Rodolfo Solórzano proposes to Beatriz, she chooses to ignore the rumors surrounding his first wife’s demise, desperate to seize the security his country estate offers. Rodolfo’s home unfortunately is not the sanctuary she was hoping for, and when he heads back to the capital to work, visions and voices invade Beatriz’s sleep. Rodolfo’s sister, Juana, scoffs at Beatriz’s fears, but Beatriz knows two things for certain: Something is wrong with the hacienda. And no one there will help her. Desperate for help, Beatriz turns to a young priest, Padre Andrés. No ordinary priest, Andrés will have to rely on his skills as a witch to battle the presence haunting the hacienda and protect Beatriz for whom he feels a powerful, forbidden attraction. But even he might not be enough to battle the darkness. It took me a few chapters to really get into this story, but once it grabbed me, I couldn’t put it down. It’s gripping and suspenseful, with a creepy Gothic vibe. The perfect read for spooky season! 4 STARS
* * * * * *
Question: Have you read any of these?
Reviews: KISS HER ONCE FOR ME & A VERY MERRY BROMANCE
/22 Comments/by Suzanne
Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I worked through most of mine, which was a bummer, but at the same time, we’re only two weeks away from our last big deadline of the year so the end is in sight! Anyway, today I’m back to share my thoughts on two more holiday romances that have just hit bookshelves this month.
Kiss Her Once for Me Goodreads
Author: Alison Cochrun
Publication Date: November 1, 2022
Publisher: Atria Books
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I was looking for a fun holiday rom-com and when I read the synopsis for Alison Cochrun’s new novel, Kiss Her Once for Me, I immediately knew it was exactly what I was looking for. The story follows Ellie Oliver, a young woman who, a year ago, was on top of the world. She had just moved to Portland, Oregon for her dream job and on Christmas Eve, she has the most magical meet-cute in a bookstore with a woman named Jack. Ellie is convinced she’s in love, but things abruptly change the next morning, and Ellie and Jack part ways.
Things start to spiral and by the following Christmas, Ellie has lost her dream job and, desperate to make ends meet, is now working as a barista at a local coffee shop, hating her mean boss and just trying to get through each day. When Andrew, the landlord of the coffee shop, proposes a wild plan – pose as his wife for a year in order to help him secure his recent inheritance in exchange for 10% of the inheritance — Ellie thinks he’s crazy but is just desperate enough to go along with it. Imagine Ellie’s shock when Andrew takes her to spend the holidays with his family and introduces her to his sister, Jack. Yep, the same Jack from the magical meet-cute the previous year. And guess what? Those sparks are still there!
I’m such a sucker for a good second chance romance and for a great fake dating story, so this book felt tailor made for me. All the characters are so well drawn, complex and have these messy and very relatable issues that they’re dealing with. I adored Ellie, Andrew, and Jack and found myself rooting for all three of them to somehow end up with happy endings. I also loved that even though there were three parties involved, it wasn’t really a love triangle. This story was more about Ellie having to make the hard choice between sticking it out in a fake relationship with Andrew for some much needed financial security, or following her heart’s desire and trying to make things work with Jack.
I also very much enjoyed the balance between hilarious and cute moments such as Jack trying to teach a terrified Ellie how to ski and other more intense moments such as when Ellie has to contend with her horrible, unsupportive mother and again when Ellie and Jack have to have some serious discussions about what happened between them a year ago.
All in all, I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun and festive holiday romance that also has a side of drama to spice things up a bit. 4 STARS
A Very Merry Bromance (Bromance Book Club, #5) Goodreads
Author: Lyssa Kay Adams
Publication Date: November 1, 2022
Publisher: Berkley
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
The guys from the Bromance Book Club are back to add some holiday cheer to your romance reading in Lyssa Kay Adam’s latest installment of this fun series, A Very Merry Bromance!
I honestly don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of this series. It always delivers so much heart and humor, and I adore every character. The book club guys are of course the heart and soul of the series. They are in love with love and not only do they want to secure happily ever after for themselves, but they make it their mission to help their friends find love too. And this holiday season, they have their sights set on their pal, Colton.
Colton is a country music star and a hottie who could have women lined up to date him if he was interested. Colton, however, is only interested in one woman, an immigration attorney named Gretchen he thought he had a connection with but who ghosted him. With the help of his book club buddies, Colton is hoping he can convince Gretchen that they are perfect for each other.
This was such a fun read for me! It was exciting to finally have Colton in the spotlight. I also loved that he’s a Christmas loving ray of sunshine and that one of his obstacles with Gretchen, in addition to figuring out why she pushes him away, is finding out why she dislikes the holidays. I was a little lukewarm on Gretchen at first because she just seemed so stiff about everything but once we get her backstory and see what’s driving her, I fell in love with her and wanted to kick some people’s butts on her behalf.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m just going to say if you’re in the mood for a grumpy-sunshine (or should I say Grinchy-sunshine) romance that is filled with book club bros and their shenanigans, as well as Lyssa Kay Adams’ signature wit and humor, you can’t go wrong with A Very Merry Bromance! 4.5 STARS
Thriller Thursday Reviews: The Cabin in the Woods & The Hollows
/18 Comments/by Sharon
It’s Thursday so that must mean another edition of Sharon’s Thriller Thursday. This week I am reviewing Sarah Alderson’s newest release, The Cabin in the Woods and Mark Edwards’ not so new release, The Hollows. Both of these books are set in the woods but that is where any similarities end. I loved how both settings were similar, yet the books were so different. They were both great reads.
The Cabin in the Woods GoodreadsAuthor: Sarah Alderson
Publication Date: October 18, 2022
Publisher: Avon
When I read the synopsis for Sarah Alderson’s The Cabin in the Woods, I thought it was going to be a super creepy read, but instead it was more of a domestic thriller. And I am okay with that because this book had me glued to the pages and rooting for the protagonist the whole time.
When we first meet the protagonist, Rose, she is hiding in an isolated rundown cabin in the woods. We do not know who or what she is running from, but from the very first moment I could tell she was a strong character with a lot of fight in her.
There is not a lot I can really say about who or what Rose is running from, because it is best to go into this book blind.
The story is told from Rose’s POV in alternating timelines. In the present timeline, Rose is working hard to stay hidden and alive. Thanks to her grandfather’s teaching Rose has the knowledge and skills to rough it in a cabin that has no electricity or heat. She also knows how to stay alert for any intruders. I really liked this timeline as we get to see right off the bat how strong Rose is. We also get little snippets on what is going on. I also liked the atmosphere it was set in. It is the winter and I could just feel how cold it was for Rose with only a fireplace to keep warm. Alderson does a great job of vividly creating the cabin and surrounding woods so that I could actually picture what I was reading.
The second timeline starts when Rose was a child and continues up until the present and we learn what happened to make Rose run and hide. I had so much sympathy for Rose as we learned of her backstory and what happened to make her hide in the woods. She had a hard life growing up. Rose’s mother died of an overdose and her father is also addicted to drugs, so it was Rose who took care of her younger sister, Daisy. My heart broke for Rose reading about all she went through. I shed a few tears along the way and I was rooting for her 100% to come out of this safe.
I was all over the place with ideas on what I thought was going on and most of them were wrong. I really liked how Alderson kept me guessing throughout this book. She also did a great job of increasing the tension as the book neared the end. I was on the edge of my seat hoping that Rose was going to be okay.
If you are looking for a domestic thriller with a strong protagonist that you will be cheering on, then I recommend The Cabin in the Woods. 4 stars
The Hollows Goodreads
Author: Mark Edwards
Publication Date: July 8, 2021
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Mark Edwards’ The Hollows was released in July 2021 and I have had it on my kindle forever. I have had hit and misses with Mark Edwards’ books so I kept putting off reading it, but finally decided to give it a go and I am so glad I did. This was one creepy book and would make an awesome horror movie.
Tom is a struggling journalist who is desperate to reconnect with his fourteen year old daughter, Frankie. Tom decides to take Frankie on a vacation to Hollow Falls, a cabin resort in the deep woods of Penance, Maine. With no internet or cell service, Tom figures this would be a great opportunity for him and Frankie to spend quality time together. Unbeknownst to Tom though, Hollow Falls has a dark history. Twenty years ago two people were murdered there and while the police know who the murderer was, he was never caught. The resort was closed down and now has just been reopened. I know recipe for disaster, right?
I liked all the characters in this book. Tom is trying to walk that fine line between father and friend with Frankie. And Frankie is your typical teenager, “No cell service or internet? How am I going to survive?” There is also David and Connie, true crime podcasters, who are at Hollow Falls (along with their followers) for the twentieth anniversary of the murders. They were a bit of a quirky couple and added to Tom’s unease as they fill him in on the resort’s history.
My favorite part of this book was the creepy atmosphere. The deep woods setting and the strange and weird people that lived in Penance gave this a Friday the 13th vibe. Plus there are the sounds of wind chimes that can be heard but no one knows where they are coming from and strangers are lurking in the woods wearing goat, crow, and fox masks. Add all that together and I was getting goosebumps while I was reading.
As the book progresses, more and more strange things start to happen. A dead rabbit was found in front of David and Connie’s cabin, Frankie gets threatening messages on her phone, and her expensive water bottle goes missing, as does the blood pressure medication of another camper. Is the original killer back or is someone else trying to get the resort closed again? Tom and Frankie need to decide if they should leave or stay and try to solve the mystery of Hollow Falls. But staying could costs them their lives.
By the end of this book I was on the edge of my seat and yelling at Tom to get the hell out of there. LOL!
I loved everything about this book. From the creepy dark setting to all the characters, Edwards’ does a great job of creating a mystery that kept me turning the pages and wishing that The Hollows was made into a movie. 4 stars