• Link to X
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Pinterest
  • Link to Instagram
The Bookish Libra
  • Home
  • Review Archive
    • Reviews by Author
    • Reviews by Genre
  • Review Policy
    • Review Policy
    • Review Ratings System
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

Review: REBEL SPY by Veronica Rossi

Review: THE LAST TRAIN TO KEY WEST by Chanel Cleeton

Review: THE PRISONER’S WIFE by Maggie Brookes

Review: CODE NAME HÉLÈNE by Ariel Lawhon

Review: BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN by Diane Chamberlain

Review: THE CHELSEA GIRLS by Fiona Davis

Review: CILKA’S JOURNEY by Heather Morris

Review: BRINGING DOWN THE DUKE by Evie Dunmore

Review: THE LADY ROGUE by Jenn Bennett

Review: ALL THE FLOWERS IN PARIS by Sarah Jio

Page 2 of 6‹1234›»

Follow Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Goodreads

About Me

me

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?

BOOKSTAGRAM

📚 AUGUST HOPEFULS 📚 Hey book friends! I hope your 📚 AUGUST HOPEFULS 📚 Hey book friends! I hope your month is off to a good start and that you’ve already had some great reads. This was meant to be a messy Monday post, which is why my August hopefuls are just thrown in a pile. i forgot to post it yesterday though, so consider today Messy Tuesday. 😅 There are several in my hopefuls list that were gifted, so I’ve tagged those publishers. Thanks so much to all of them for their generosity! ♥ Books Featured: The Matchmaker’s Cottage by Kat Sloane Embrace by Bal Khabra (Already read and reviewed) Silver Sweet by Krista and Becca Ritchie (Already read and reviewed) In What World by Bridget Morrissey Mutual Discord by Liana de La Rosa Summer Coven by Kat Hillis and Rosiee Thor Demons and Diplomacy by Megan Frampton I Kissed Her First by Betty Cayouette Sawyer by Jessica Peterson Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig (26 in 2026 challenge read) Next to You by Hannah Bonam-Young (26 in 2026 challenge read) ❓QOTD - What are some of your August hopefuls? Do we share any?
Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyP Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley 🏒 Review - EMBRACE 🏒 Author - Bal Khabra Pub Date - 8/4//26 I’m sad this is the end of the Off the Ice hockey romance series, but Bal Khabra really outdid herself with this installment! Kian is one of Dalton University’s star hockey players. He has a reputation for partying hard, and he also has his eye on the NHL. But first, he wants to graduate & the only thing standing between him and that diploma is an advanced stats class. Kian joins a study group led by Scarlett, one of the brightest students at the university, and immediately seeks her out to tutor him privately. In addition to thinking Scarlett is the perfect person to help him, Kian also finds her very attractive. What he doesn’t realize is that she is his coach’s step daughter and therefore off limits. i fell for Scarlett and Kian from their very first study session. The tension, the friendly banter that turns flirty, and the superb chemistry between them was irresistible and had me rooting for this forbidden romance so hard! In the past, Scarlett has slept with her fair share of guys and even though she no longer does that, guys still proposition and sl*t shame her. I loved that even though he didn’t believe she really needed to rehab her reputation, Kiam still offered to help her do that because it’s what she wanted. I also loved how protective he was of her. A protective MMC always makes me melt! I also liked that this story had some emotional depth to it, as both Scarlett and Kian are carrying around some pretty heavy emotional burdens - Scarlett because her real dad is in prison, and Kian because his father is dead and his mom has Alzheimer’s Diseasse. I loved how Scarlett and Kian’s relationship evolves so that they both become sources of comfort and support for one another. The story also has that element of suspense waiting to see what happened when Kian’s coach realizes his star player is dating his step daughter. Talk about a page turner! And don’t even get me started on the picture perfect epilogue that had me shedding happy tears. So good! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 ❓QOTD - Are any new releases on your radar this week?
Thanks to @read_bloom #partner and @librofm #partn Thanks to @read_bloom #partner and @librofm #partner for the gifted review copies! 🎸Review - SILVER SWEET 🎸 Author - Krista and Becca Ritchie Pub Date - 8/4/2026 Silver Sweet is the second book in the Cobalt Empire series but works as a standalone. It’s a spicy M/M rock star romance that follows Tom Cobalt, the fifth-born in the wealthy Cobalt family. Tom is a punk rock singer who dreams of making it big and has demanding standards when it comes to his band’s music. So demanding in fact, that every member of his band quits right in the middle of an album. Tom will be dropped from his label if he can’t find someone he can actually work well enough with to collaborate on an album. Enter Phoenix St. Pierce, a talented drummer with a bad attitude, who has also managed to break up his band. When he and Tom meet, it’s instant dislike, but they’re willing to give it a try and see what happens. At first neither wants to compromise at all, but once they accept that there must be some give and take for this arrangement to work, their working and personal relationships start to evolve. When I first picked this book up, I was a little nervous because it’s over 600 pages long. That said, I became so invested in Tom and Phoenix that those 600+ pages just flew by. Their chemistry is so intense, and they’re both so surprisingly romantic. When they see in each other what they have been longing for in a partner for so long, it’s truly magical. Tom and Phoenix are each battling inner demons, but they are so supportive and accepting of one another. I loved watching the two of them write music and perform together, and I truly melted at how protective Phoenix was of Tom, even willing to stand his ground against Tom’s over-protective older brothers. Speaking of the Cobalt family, I loved how close knit and protective the Cobalt siblings are and I immediately wanted to know more about them. The audiobook features Alex Kydd, Tim Paige,& Brooke Bloomingdale, who do a great job bringing these characters to life and capturing their emotions as well as the rock vibes. The audiobook elevated my overall experience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ �
📚 JULY WRAP-UP 📚 Hey book friends! I hope your Au 📚 JULY WRAP-UP 📚 Hey book friends! I hope your August is off to a great start. Was July a good reading month for you? Thanks to half day Fridays at work all summer, I was able to read 25 books in July so it was a pretty great reading month. My photo features all of the physical copies I read, but I also read a few e-arcs and listened to several audiobooks as well. I’m a little behind on reviews so expect to see a few of these books reviewed this week. ❓QOTD: How was your reading month? What were some of your favorite July reads? What book did you start August with? AOTD - I started off my August reading with Silver Sweet by Krista and Becca Ritchie and Embrace by Bal Khabra. ❤️ 5 STARS ❤️ Score by Kennedy Ryan Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon James by Percival Everett (26 in 2026 challenge read) Just for the Plot by Meghan Quinn Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles 🧡 4.5 STARS 🧡 In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt (Review to come soon) The Final Score by Lana Ferguson Not That Kind of Proposal by Victoria Lavine Maggie and Arthur’s Magic Moment by Leslie Rene Where I Should’ve Been by Max Monroe Falling Into You by Jill Shalvis Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel 💛 4 STARS 💛 The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen (Review to come soon) Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly Tethered Love by Ann Einerson Wild Goose Chase by Sarah Adler The Ever King by LJ Andrews Formula Zero by Meredith Lanzen Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead 💚 3.5 STARS 💚 She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica 💙 3 STARS 💙 NONE 💜1 or 2 STARS 💜 NONE DNF Tenderness by Rowan Beaird (Beautiful writing but just wasn’t for me)
📚 What’s coming up on my Netgalley TBR? 📚 Happy F 📚 What’s coming up on my Netgalley TBR? 📚 Happy Friday, book friends! I’m always sharing my physical TBR but I rarely talk about what I have on my Netgalley TBR, so today I’m sharing some upcoming Netgalley e-arcs that I’m very excited about. These are mostly August and September releases but there are a couple of October ones as well. Thanks so much to the tagged publishers for approving these for me! 🩷 Embrace by Bal Khabra Let’s Kiss and Tell by Joss Richard Mutual Discord by Liana de La Rosa Blue Jean Summer by Maggie Gates Love Felt Like This by Julie Olivia If Not You by Ellen O’Clover In What World by Bridget Morrissey Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison Well Versed by Jen DeLuca Take a Chance, Sash Sinclair by Ashley Herring Blake Keeping Score by Brittany Kelley Falling for Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey Love You to Death by Jenna Levine Demons and Diplomacy by Megan Frampton Entities to Lovers by Mallory Marlowe Cursed City by Kate Golden Isn’t He Romantic by Adib Khorram ❓QOTD - Do you use Netgalley? Do we have any of the same upcoming reads? Or how is your Netgalley ratio if you’re okay with sharing it? AOTD - Mine is currently at 96%.
Thanks for the free arc @acebookspub and @berkleyr Thanks for the free arc @acebookspub and @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley 🔮 Review - MAGGIE AND ARTHUR’S MAGIC MOMENT 🔮 Author - Leslie Rene Pub Date - 7/28/26 What a delightful debut romantasy! If you’re like me and you enjoy books with an academic setting, and you also enjoy a magical setting, you’re definitely going to want to check out this book. Maggie and Arthur are both professors at the same magical university. Arthur is a broody alchemist with celebrity status, while Maggie is the passionate professor of Linguistics and Incantation Translation. Maggie, whose budget was slashed to accomodate Arthur, is not a fan of his. When an experiment gone wrong releases a ghostly pall and forces the closure of one of the campus buildings, Maggie is forced to share her tiny office with Arthur. Arthur is tasked with devising a spell to get rid of the pall and Maggie offers to help (to get him out of her space) & soon everything changes between them. I was hooked on Maggie and Arthur from the very first scene in the book. They are both attending a magical masquerade ball at the end of the semester and not realizing who they were flirting with, they end up sharing an unforgettable kiss. As much as Maggie seems to actually loathe Arthur, I couldn’t wait for them to realize they had actually kissed each other and had incredible chemistry at the ball. I really enjoy the rivals to lovers and forced proximity tropes and thought both were written so well here. What was also fun is that instead of being a grumpy-sunshine romance, both Arthur and Maggie are grumpy, which made me chuckle. The tension, the banter, and the slow burn of the romance itself was fabulous, but I also just really loved them working together to eliminate the pall. The writing is cozy but also atmospheric & suspenseful, and it was so easy to visualize the runes, the pall itself, the ghouls & banshees roaming around, and the actual haunted forest that is located near the school. Excellent worldbuilding & a truly magical read in every way! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 ❓QOTD - If you could have a magical ability, what would you want? AOTD - Teleporting so I never h
Thanks to @read_bloom #partner and @meghanquinnboo Thanks to @read_bloom #partner and @meghanquinnbooks for the gifted ARC and ALC! ⚾️ REVIEW - JUST FOR THE PLOT ⚾️ Author - Meghan Quinn Pub Date - 7/29/2026 Just for the Plot is the second book in Meghan Quinn’s Bay Area Players series, a spicy sports romance series that is fast becoming one of my favorites from her. This time around we are focused on Bennett, a pro baseball player in San Francisco. He’s focused and disciplined, basically the golden boy of his team. I loved Bennett in the first book and it was so funny to watch all of that discipline and focus go out the window when Bower moves to town. Bower is his older sister’s best friend, and the woman he has been down bad for since he was a teenager. Bower is a woman after my own book loving heart. She currently works as a caregiver, but she is a book obsessed girlie whose dream is to open her own bookstore. When Bower moves into Bennett’s apartment building and the two of them start a spicy bookclub together, I was truly in my happy place and loving every scene where they read together and especially when they shared their spicy bookish confessions. Those scenes were romance gold! Bennett’s detemination to win Bower over and to make her see him as something other than his sister’s little brother made him just such an endearing character. The Gladdy Daddies group chat provided endless moments of hilarity that had me laughing out loud as he goes to them for advice on how to woo Bower. I truly loved eveything about this book! The banter, tension, and the longing as we wait for Bower to finally see Bennett was absolutely perfect and had me cheering them both on so hard. It’s a slow burn, the payoff is so worth the wait and the spice is definitely spicing! The audiobook is duet narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Samantha Brentmoor, two of my favorites, and they were perfection as always, perfectly capturing every emotion and making Quinn’s banter pop. Highly recommend this one for fans of: Best Friend’s Brother He Falls First Reverse Age Gap Slow Burn Banter, Tension, Pining Hilarious Group Chats ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❓QOTD - What book are you hoping for finish before the end of the month?
For this booklover, “just one more chapter” is act For this booklover, “just one more chapter” is actually code for “I’m reading. Go away. I’ll see you when I see you.” If I end up staying up half the night reading, that’s my business. 😅 Anyone else like this? #readerlife #bookishlife #justonemorechapter #bookstagram
Thanks for the free e-arc @berkleyromance #Berkley Thanks for the free e-arc @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley 🪿Review - WILD GOOSE CHASE 🪿 Author - Sarah Adler Pub Date - 7/28/2026 I had such a good time reading this one! I mean, how often do you come across a romance where the characters fall for each other while trying to track down a missing taxidermied goose? Just thinking about it makes me giggle. 😂 I’m also just such a sucker for a grumpy-sunshine romance and this one features Callahan, a grumpy antiques dealer and Annie, the ray of sunshine who has been brought in to help in Callahan’s store while his partner is away. These two butt heads right from the start, but there is also some major chemistry bubbling below the surface between them. I love the banter between them as Annie wants to infuse his shop wtih more personality and he wants no parts of it until Annie discovers the illegal and rare taxidermied goose he is hiding and blackmails him over it. Callahan’s ex found it in her attic and begged him for help in getting rid of it, and he just couldn’t say no. He really wishes he had though when it goes missing and he and Annie have to find it before someone else finds and report it. I love romcom shenanigans and the premise of chasing after this goose definitely provides for lots of shenanigans. I laughed out loud so many times along the way and just loved watching Callahan and Annie grow closer while they’re trying to track down the goose. They’re opposites in so many ways - he’s grumpy and awkward, while she’s cheerful and very social - but they end up making a great team. There’s also a great dual timeline that provides some context for how the rare goose came to be discovered. If you’re in the mood for a charming and unique romcom, definitely check out Wild Goose Chase! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❓QOTD - What’s the last book you read that made you laugh out loud? Or what are you starting off the week reading?
Thanks to @gallerybooks #partner for the gifted e- Thanks to @gallerybooks #partner for the gifted e-arc @simon.audio #partner for the gifted audiobook. ✨REVIEW - MEET ME IN PARIS ✨ Author - Kristin Harmel Pub Date - 7/28/26 Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, but it was a real treat to dive into her latest novel, Meet Me in Paris, and realize it’s contemporary fiction. The synopsis describes it as Love, Actually meets The Notebook and that feels like a pretty accurate comparison. The story follows nine Americans all at different points in their lives who have travelled to Paris. The one thing they all have in common is that they are trying to find their way to some kind of happy ending or at least a path forward for themselves. That’s a lot of characters to keep track of, but their stories all resonate so much that it ends up being very easy to keep everyone straight. Some standouts for me were the mother and daughter who have planned a last minute trip after a terminal cancer diagnosis to make as many happy memories as possible. Then there’s the elderly gentleman who has traveled to reunite with the love of his life who he thought had died decades ago, only to learn that she is alive and in a memory care facility. I thought this story was a beautifully written exploration of grief and loss, but also of love, second chances, and new beginnings. I was thoroughly invested in the characters I’ve already mentioned, but honestly in all nine of the characters’ journeys. Every character is so well developed, and I loved the way the story moved between each of their stories and some of their stories even become entwined in very moving ways. Paris of course is the star of the story and is described so vividly that you’ll feel like you have travelled there with these characters and explored the charms of the city with them. I read this one with my eyes and ears and find the audiobook to be especially captivating. Madeleine Maby narrates & does a wonderful job of making each character feel unique & of capturing the sad yet hopeful tone of the story. Such a beautiful read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 ❓QOTD - Have you ever been to Paris? Or what’s your
📚WHAT I’VE BEEN READING FROM MY PHYSICAL TBR 📚 He 📚WHAT I’VE BEEN READING FROM MY PHYSICAL TBR 📚 Hey book friends! I have continued to work on my 26 in 2026 challenge to whittle down my physical TBR. I’m trying to clear some piles of books off my floor now so I’m coming at you with some quick thoughts on some recent reads. ✨Mr. Nice Spy by Tiana Smith - This was a really fun romance that felt half romcom, half romantic suspense. It features Andee, a fireworks designer, who along with Adam, a cute CIA operative, is kidnapped by her father, an international criminal. As they work to take down her dad, Andee and Adam. Loved the combo of banter and tension and high stakes action and suspense. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✨Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde - The final book in the Windy City series, it’s a sweet and spicy second chance romance featuring childhood friends who are now neighbors. Filled with so much pining and also amazing found family vibes. Great finale for a wonderful series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 ✨Wild Card by Elsie Silver - This is the final book in the Rose Hill series and it features a romance between Gwen, a yoga instructor, and Bash, a firefighter pilot, who happens to be the dad of Gwen’s ex. I thought this was written well and in a way that had me rooting for Gwen and Bash, but also rooting for Bash and his son to find their own path forward. Recommend for fans of age gap, grumpy sunshine, and heartwarming, spicy romances. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✨Sunshine & Spice by Aurora Palit - This was a fun read that features some of my favorite tropes - grumpy/sunshine & fake dating.. As fun as the romance is, what I liked most was the cultural aspect as the FMC gets to learn so much about her own Bengali culture and traditions. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✨Walkoff Wedding by Maren Moore - Final book in the Orleans University series and it’s a great combo of sweet & spicy romance. It features Grant and Addie, online penpals who become friends even though they are opposites in every way. This leads to a marriage of convenience to save Addie from an unwanted marrage arranged by her father. Loved Grant and Addie and it was also great to see characters from the other boo
✨ FIVE STAR FRIDAY ✨ SCORE by Kennedy Ryan Pub D ✨ FIVE STAR FRIDAY ✨ SCORE by Kennedy Ryan Pub Date - 5/19/2026 I have read so many great books this month, but my absolute favorite so far has been Score by Kennedy Ryan. It’s the second book in her Hollywood Renaissance series and it is both a moving second chance romance and a very realistic portrayal of mental illness and how it can impact, not just of the person with the illness, but also their friends and loved ones. Verity Hill is studying screenwriting in college when she meets and loves in love with musician Monk Bellamy. Even though they have only known one another for a short time, their connection is intense and both of them feel like they are each other’s end game. That is, until Verity inexplicably throws it all away and ends up leaving school and leaving Monk behind, heartbroken. Ten years later they are reunited when they are both hired to work on a film together, reopening not only old wounds, but also the renewed possibility of a future together. Verity now knows why she did what she did in college, but does she have the courage to share everything about back then with Monk? Oh my gosh, you guys! The way I just ate this book up! One of my favorite things about how Kennedy Ryan writes is that her characters are so complex, layered, and real. I felt like I knew these characters so well, to the extent that I didn’t just feel like I was reading about them. I felt like I was right there in the room with them, eavesdropping on and witnessing their most vulnerable moments, yelling at Verity to just tell Monk the truth, that the truth has to be better than what he has been thinking for the past decade. I also thought Ryan’s depiction of bipolar disorder was so well done. I felt like it was described accurately and that it was handled with great care. One of the characters from Reel, an actress who ends up working on the film in this book, has Lupus, and I thought Ryan handled that chronic illness with the same respect and care. Filled with outstanding writing, authentically messy characters, and a second chance romance that had my whole heart, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks for the free e-arc @putnambooks #partner 💍 Thanks for the free e-arc @putnambooks #partner 💍 Review - MARRIED WITH BENEFITS 💍 Author - Ellie Palmer Pub Date - 7/21/2026 What a delightful read this was! I loved both main characters and thought the premise of the story was such a fresh take on the marriage of convenience trope. Lainey Davis really wants to leave her small hometown. Unfortunately, every dime she has goes to paying for her expensive prescription migraine medicine. Elliot Hodge has just inherited the land where Lainey house sits. At first he’s annoyed that Lainey, by way of squatter’s rights, owns the house on his property, but when he learns of her migraines and insurance woes, he proposes marriage - he’ll put her on his health insurance which is much better than hers, and in exchange, she’ll let him buy her out. Because most of the property is in need of serious repairs, Elliot and Lainey move in together and then work side-by-side to fix the place up. All of the sudden, what began as fake starts to feel all too real. I adored both Lainey and Elliot. Lainey is an artist and a whirlwind of chaos and disorder, but she also has a strong sense of independence and resourcefulness. She has had to get creative to make ends meet, but she’s making it work. Elliot is her total opposite in most ways and is frankly alarmed by some of the things she does to make ends meet, but at the same time, he can’t help but be charmed by her and impressed with her sense of independence. The dynamic between them was a fun one and I thought they had fantastic chemistry. The book is filled with tension, hilarious banter and endless shenanigans as these two work together and grow closer, but it also has some emotional depth as both characters are on journeys of personal growth. Highly recommend this one for fans of: Opposites Attract Small Town Romance Marriage of Convenience Forced Proximity Quirky Secondary Characters Banter Chronic Illness Rep (Migraines) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❓QOTD - Favorite read so far this month?
🗡️ SERIES FEATURE - THE EVER SEAS 🗡️ Thanks for t 🗡️ SERIES FEATURE - THE EVER SEAS 🗡️ Thanks for the free books @acebookspub @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley I was thrilled to receive these stunning paperback editions of the first three books of the Ever Seas series by L.J Andrews. For those who are interested in these, the first two books are already available in paperback and on August 11, 2026, book 3 will also be available on paperback. All ahead of the October 6, 2026 hardcover release of book 4, The Stolen Crown. I’ve been wanting to read this series for so long, so I dove into the first book as soon as I received it. I’m about halfway through and I’m obsessed! I don’t want to spoil the whole series, so I’ve just included the synopsis of the first book. The Ever King synopsis: They stole his crown, so he stole their daughter… For years Erik, the scarred king of the Ever Kingdom, has thought of nothing but vengeance against the man who killed his father and trapped him beneath the waves, making him a prisoner in his own realm. Until his enemy’s daughter unintentionally breaks the chains on the Ever, and Erik makes her the unwitting pawn in his vicious game of revenge. She’s innocent. He’s vicious. But he will take back what he lost, no matter the price. Unless she steals his heart first. Welcome to the passionate world of the Ever Kingdom where pirates, sirens, and fae collide with Vikings in a dark fantasy romance between a villain and the innocent princess who holds his heart. ❓QOTD - Have you read this series or is it on your TBR? If not, do you prefer standalones or series? Do you have a series that you’re hoping to read this year?
Thanks for the gifted e-arc & ALC @atriabooks #par Thanks for the gifted e-arc & ALC @atriabooks #partner and @simon.audio #partner 💍 Review - NOT THAT KIND OF PROPOSAL 💍 Author - Victoria Lavine Pub Date - 7/21/26 (Physical copy purchased by me) Gracie works as a wedding planner at Larkwood Estate and she also lives in a cottage on the property, courtesy of the kindly owner of the estate. When the owner passes away, she leaves Larkwood to her grandson, Jude, a divorce attorney who has zero interest in keeping the estate, much less carrying on with the wedding planning tradition. After a meet cute that turns contentious as soon as they realize the awkward position they are in, Jude agrees to give Gracie the summer to convince him to change his mind. Even more awkward is that she will be planning her ex’s wedding while doing so. I love a good opposites-attract romance and what could be more opposite than a wedding planner and a divorce attorney! I was rooting for Gracie and Jude from their very first meeting, which actually takes place at Jude’s grandmother’s funeral. They just immediately have this electric chemistry and that connection persists, even when they are at odds over Larkwood, which gives the reader pages and pages of amazing banter to swoon over. I love that Gracie is able to get Jude to actually take part in the wedding planning process, which leads to so many hilarious moments between the two of them. Like Gracie, I was super annoyed at Jude for being so vague about why he didn’t want to keep the property or do weddings there anymore, but I fell hard for him when we finally learn why he’s so determined to do things his way. I don’t want to spoil anything here, but I loved how the author wove this more sensitive topic into this otherwise fun and light-hearted read. I read the e-arc and then re-read on audio and think both formats are fabulous. Marie Smith and Will Kirk narrate the audiobook and were just a joy to listen to, the way they bring Jude and Gracie to life! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 ❓QOTD - Do you like to plan parties and events? AOTD - Anything bigger than a birthday party and I need some help! 😅
Follow on Instagram

Other Places to Follow Me

Follow The Bookish Libra on WordPress.com

Follow

Recent Book Reviews

The Co-op by Perfect Fit by Holding the Reins (Silver Pines Ranch, #1) by Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine CowlesA Very Bad Thing by The Hitchcock Hotel by Under Loch and Key by Lana FergusonHer Knight at the Museum by Bryn DonovanThe Boyfriend by Original Twin by

Giveaways

Stay tuned for my next giveaway!

Professional Reader

Reviews Published50 Book Reviews
Professional Reader80%
 

Currently Reading

Suzanne (The Bookish Libra)'s bookshelf: currently-reading

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz
The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz
by Ellie Midwood
tagged: currently-reading
A Reaper at the Gates
A Reaper at the Gates
by Sabaa Tahir
tagged: currently-reading
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
by Ron Chernow
tagged: currently-reading

goodreads.com

Goodreads Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Suzanne (The Bookish Libra) has read 11 books toward her goal of 175 books.
hide
11 of 175 (6%)
view books

2024 Goal – Read More Books From My Own Shelves

I have read 3 books from my bookshelves so far this year. My goal is to read at least 70.

4 %

Categories

  • Audiobook Review (2)
  • Author Interviews (1)
  • Blog Tours (48)
  • Bookish Tags and Memes (347)
  • Challenges and Readathons (19)
  • Discussion Posts and Lists (46)
  • Giveaways (9)
  • Personal (3)
  • Reviews (624)
  • Uncategorized (2)

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Privacy Policy

View Our Privacy Policy, last updated May 21, 2018.

Categories

  • Audiobook Review
  • Author Interviews
  • Blog Tours
  • Bookish Tags and Memes
  • Challenges and Readathons
  • Discussion Posts and Lists
  • Giveaways
  • Personal
  • Reviews
  • Uncategorized

Archives

SEARCH

Search Search
© 2016-2025 - The Bookish Libra - powered by Enfold WordPress Theme
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies and our privacy policy.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only