Take a photo of a barcode or cover
13rebecca13's reviews
510 reviews
Among the Willows by Jennifer L. Strand
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I was a thriller girlie first and foremost before discovering my love of romances (cowboy romance in particular!). I have read my fair share of cowboy romances and sometimes they can either feel a bit samey or just miss the mark. Among The Willows is like a breath of fresh air. As I was reading I had that feeling of "I will read anything this author writes. I am now obsessed".
Romy is a teacher who has recently been laid off and has also discovered that her boyfriend has been cheating on her for the last four months. As if things weren't bad enough, she receives a call from her sister Hazel who is in a penitentiary after allegedly shooting and killing her boyfriend. Romy then returns to her hometown, somewhere she hasn't stepped foot in in the last twelve years.
Jude Larsen is a big shot MMA fighter who used to work at the ranch in Romy's hometown. He also hasn't been back in twelve years, since the morning after he and Romy finally spent the night together at the age of eighteen, then she ghosted him.
This book is just everything. You have small town romance, second chances, a male main character who has been pining for the last twelve years but also that thriller/crime element that I love with regards to Romy's sister.
It is a spicy read, and those scenes are incredible, but the plot is so full that you don't want to put it down. Perfection.
Romy is a teacher who has recently been laid off and has also discovered that her boyfriend has been cheating on her for the last four months. As if things weren't bad enough, she receives a call from her sister Hazel who is in a penitentiary after allegedly shooting and killing her boyfriend. Romy then returns to her hometown, somewhere she hasn't stepped foot in in the last twelve years.
Jude Larsen is a big shot MMA fighter who used to work at the ranch in Romy's hometown. He also hasn't been back in twelve years, since the morning after he and Romy finally spent the night together at the age of eighteen, then she ghosted him.
This book is just everything. You have small town romance, second chances, a male main character who has been pining for the last twelve years but also that thriller/crime element that I love with regards to Romy's sister.
It is a spicy read, and those scenes are incredible, but the plot is so full that you don't want to put it down. Perfection.
The Care Package by Leigh Suznovich
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I read The Parcel (the first in the Special Delivery duet) last year and absolutely loved Taran and Lyra so I was excited for Taran's best friend Carlo's book as he seemed interesting in the glimpse of him that we got in The Parcel.
Carlo works for FedEx and over the last year has develop a bit of a crush on Tania who came to work at the same company. She has however, always rebutted his advances as she refuses to mix work and play.
Tania has had to overcome a lot of hurdles in her life. Her parents passed away in a car accident and growing up in the foster system meant that she had to put barriers up and protect her peace. Her own family member is Celeste, her foster sister who is currently wrongly incarcerated.
Following an incident at her apartment where her adorable kitties flooded the place, she finds herself with nowhere to live. Carlo has a guest room so it feels like the perfect solution. He won't see her be homeless and vows to put his feelings aside.
What I love about this book is firstly, the character growth. Carlo and Tania both discover their passions and what they want to achieve in life through each others support. Secondly, the focus on fighting men who abuse their power against women, and finally, both of our main characters families orginate from Spain and El Salvador. Because of this, you really get this sense of family from Carlo's side and although Tania lost her parents young, her going back to Spain to discover where her family grew up is beautiful.
These really give Carlo and Tania this huge, rich background.
A beautiful follow up to The Parcel!
Carlo works for FedEx and over the last year has develop a bit of a crush on Tania who came to work at the same company. She has however, always rebutted his advances as she refuses to mix work and play.
Tania has had to overcome a lot of hurdles in her life. Her parents passed away in a car accident and growing up in the foster system meant that she had to put barriers up and protect her peace. Her own family member is Celeste, her foster sister who is currently wrongly incarcerated.
Following an incident at her apartment where her adorable kitties flooded the place, she finds herself with nowhere to live. Carlo has a guest room so it feels like the perfect solution. He won't see her be homeless and vows to put his feelings aside.
What I love about this book is firstly, the character growth. Carlo and Tania both discover their passions and what they want to achieve in life through each others support. Secondly, the focus on fighting men who abuse their power against women, and finally, both of our main characters families orginate from Spain and El Salvador. Because of this, you really get this sense of family from Carlo's side and although Tania lost her parents young, her going back to Spain to discover where her family grew up is beautiful.
These really give Carlo and Tania this huge, rich background.
A beautiful follow up to The Parcel!
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is one of those books I wanted to read before it came out then saw mixed reviews so I put it off. I decided to listen on audio and I found that I really enjoyed it and can see why it is being developed for the screen.
Greta is a forty-five year old woman who has taken on a new role as a transcriber for a sex therapist called Om. She knows Om's clients by their initials only but living in a small area of Hudson, she soon recognises some of their voices. Greta meets one client, Flavia, who she affectionately refers to as Big Swiss. Big Swiss is married to Luke and was previously a victim of an attack, with the attacker due to be released from prison soon.
Big Swiss and Greta meet at a dog park accidentally. Big Swiss is unaware of who Greta is but Greta recognises her voice straight away and, over a short time, the two embark on an affair.
I love books like this with messed up women. It is very character-focused with serious topics such as trauma, with Big Swiss's character but also childhood trauma that Greta has carried from her mother's suicide. At the same time though, it is funny. All of the characters seem like caricatures and although I'd say that nothing climactic really happens, it is interesting to follow along with their lives at this time.
I will definitely be checking out the adaptation as I'm sure it will translate very well.
Greta is a forty-five year old woman who has taken on a new role as a transcriber for a sex therapist called Om. She knows Om's clients by their initials only but living in a small area of Hudson, she soon recognises some of their voices. Greta meets one client, Flavia, who she affectionately refers to as Big Swiss. Big Swiss is married to Luke and was previously a victim of an attack, with the attacker due to be released from prison soon.
Big Swiss and Greta meet at a dog park accidentally. Big Swiss is unaware of who Greta is but Greta recognises her voice straight away and, over a short time, the two embark on an affair.
I love books like this with messed up women. It is very character-focused with serious topics such as trauma, with Big Swiss's character but also childhood trauma that Greta has carried from her mother's suicide. At the same time though, it is funny. All of the characters seem like caricatures and although I'd say that nothing climactic really happens, it is interesting to follow along with their lives at this time.
I will definitely be checking out the adaptation as I'm sure it will translate very well.
I Make My Own Fun by Hannah Beer
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh I absolutely LOVED this. Literally right from the beginning, I thought "this is going to be fun". It is very much a "rich people doing questionable things" type of book.
Marina is an English movie star in her late twenties. She has been acting for years and had amassed a huge amount of fans. Think "A-lister" with a high profile relationship (more PR than actual relationship) and she is used to getting anything she wants.
Following an event, she meets bartender Anna and the two spend the night together. Marina becomes obsessed with Anna but does so from afar, truly believing that something more will happen between them.
I love characters like Marina. She is not nice, has a huge ego, speaks horrendously towards her assistant Jules but I thought she was brilliant and her behaviour had me laughing at some parts - I'm not sure what that says about me?!
There are a few mixed media aspects in this book too like news articles and snippets of fan threads about Marina. I, for my sins, love celebrity gossip and theories and this made her character seem so real.
The obsession Marina has towards Anna kept me hooked because you know they both see what happened between them completely differently. I couldn't wait for the culmination of events and it was better than I thought it was going to be.
Marina is an English movie star in her late twenties. She has been acting for years and had amassed a huge amount of fans. Think "A-lister" with a high profile relationship (more PR than actual relationship) and she is used to getting anything she wants.
Following an event, she meets bartender Anna and the two spend the night together. Marina becomes obsessed with Anna but does so from afar, truly believing that something more will happen between them.
I love characters like Marina. She is not nice, has a huge ego, speaks horrendously towards her assistant Jules but I thought she was brilliant and her behaviour had me laughing at some parts - I'm not sure what that says about me?!
There are a few mixed media aspects in this book too like news articles and snippets of fan threads about Marina. I, for my sins, love celebrity gossip and theories and this made her character seem so real.
The obsession Marina has towards Anna kept me hooked because you know they both see what happened between them completely differently. I couldn't wait for the culmination of events and it was better than I thought it was going to be.
May All Your Skies Be Blue by Fíona Scarlett
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I absolutely adored Boys Don't Cry so I knew Fíona Scarlett's next book was going to hit just as hard...and it did.
Shauna, Dean, Pam and Mark are a group of teens from Dublin in the 90s/early 2000s. The story is told in dual timelines; during this time when they were teens and from Shauna's point of view in present day. The present day takes place over one full day while she works in her mother's salon.
Scarlett has a really special way of writing. It is so easy to read, sets the scene with the Irish dialect, unmistakable Irish humour and bringing nostalgia onto the page, as well as that first love feeling between Shauna and Dean.
There are some tough topics covered also such as Shauna's mother's dementia and Dean's alcoholic parents and they are tackled in a very true to life way. I really felt for Shauna the entire way through this book. I got to point where I knew how it was going to end and had to stop reading because I didn't want to hurt myself. Oh but boy, did I cry!
Absolutely stunning.
Shauna, Dean, Pam and Mark are a group of teens from Dublin in the 90s/early 2000s. The story is told in dual timelines; during this time when they were teens and from Shauna's point of view in present day. The present day takes place over one full day while she works in her mother's salon.
Scarlett has a really special way of writing. It is so easy to read, sets the scene with the Irish dialect, unmistakable Irish humour and bringing nostalgia onto the page, as well as that first love feeling between Shauna and Dean.
There are some tough topics covered also such as Shauna's mother's dementia and Dean's alcoholic parents and they are tackled in a very true to life way. I really felt for Shauna the entire way through this book. I got to point where I knew how it was going to end and had to stop reading because I didn't want to hurt myself. Oh but boy, did I cry!
Absolutely stunning.
Slap Shot by Chelsea Curto
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Oh, Hudson, Madeline and Lucy - my heart!
When I read the first book in the DC Stars series, Face Off, it was my first time reading a Chelsea Curto book. I instantly fell in love with Maverick and Emmy but with Curto's writing style too. So much so that I went back to read her Love Through A Lens series where, again, I fell in love with all of the characters. Her characters have a bit of a crossover throughout the books so I felt excited for the next one, Power Play and then obviously for Slap Shot.
Slap Shot follows Hudson Hayes and Madeline Galloway. Hudson is a DC Stars player looking for a personal chef who he can trust. Madeline is a chef in Las Vegas whose restaurant is being bought over and is therefore out of a job. We met Madeline briefly in a previous book where she took her daughter Lucy to a Stars game (even though she is not a fan of the sport herself!).
Madeline ends up relocating with her daughter and working for Hudson. This is a slow burn but so beautifully done. Madeline's daughter is Deaf and she has lost trust following her husband leaving them for this reason. Hudson has been in a state of sadness since the passing of his mother and having Madeline and Lucy in his life brings back his spark.
Curto really has a way of writing that hits your emotions and has you falling for these characters. Not only do I adore the romantic developments between the main characters but I love the friendships too. The girl's group who have each others backs, give advice and have a laugh but the men's friendship is so refreshing and wholesome.
This is a beautiful read and I just want to go back and re-read all of Chelsea Curto's books now while I wait for more DC Stars novels.
When I read the first book in the DC Stars series, Face Off, it was my first time reading a Chelsea Curto book. I instantly fell in love with Maverick and Emmy but with Curto's writing style too. So much so that I went back to read her Love Through A Lens series where, again, I fell in love with all of the characters. Her characters have a bit of a crossover throughout the books so I felt excited for the next one, Power Play and then obviously for Slap Shot.
Slap Shot follows Hudson Hayes and Madeline Galloway. Hudson is a DC Stars player looking for a personal chef who he can trust. Madeline is a chef in Las Vegas whose restaurant is being bought over and is therefore out of a job. We met Madeline briefly in a previous book where she took her daughter Lucy to a Stars game (even though she is not a fan of the sport herself!).
Madeline ends up relocating with her daughter and working for Hudson. This is a slow burn but so beautifully done. Madeline's daughter is Deaf and she has lost trust following her husband leaving them for this reason. Hudson has been in a state of sadness since the passing of his mother and having Madeline and Lucy in his life brings back his spark.
Curto really has a way of writing that hits your emotions and has you falling for these characters. Not only do I adore the romantic developments between the main characters but I love the friendships too. The girl's group who have each others backs, give advice and have a laugh but the men's friendship is so refreshing and wholesome.
This is a beautiful read and I just want to go back and re-read all of Chelsea Curto's books now while I wait for more DC Stars novels.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I am not a romantasy or fantasy reader but I have had FOMO over the ACOTAR series and despite owning the four of the books, I had never read them.
I am a convert. As soon as I saw the map at the beginning I thought, "I will not understand this" but I was instantly taken in by the writing.
Feyre is a nineteen-year-old human who lives with her father and sisters Elain and Nesta. Whilst out hunting in order to earn money for her family, kills a wolf and sells its hide at a market.
Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court of Prythian demands to know who killed Andras, who was in his wolf form, and a High Fae of his court. After owning up to the killing, Tamlin gives Feyre two options; death or she live the remainder of her life in Prythian. As this is a very popular book, I won't go further with the plot but I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner.
This book is very heavy on world building at the beginning and for someone who thought they wouldn't enjoy that, I was hooked. I cannot wait to make my way through the rest of the series.
I am a convert. As soon as I saw the map at the beginning I thought, "I will not understand this" but I was instantly taken in by the writing.
Feyre is a nineteen-year-old human who lives with her father and sisters Elain and Nesta. Whilst out hunting in order to earn money for her family, kills a wolf and sells its hide at a market.
Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court of Prythian demands to know who killed Andras, who was in his wolf form, and a High Fae of his court. After owning up to the killing, Tamlin gives Feyre two options; death or she live the remainder of her life in Prythian. As this is a very popular book, I won't go further with the plot but I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner.
This book is very heavy on world building at the beginning and for someone who thought they wouldn't enjoy that, I was hooked. I cannot wait to make my way through the rest of the series.
The Killing Sense by Sam Blake
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a really interesting thriller that piqued my interest as someone who loves to enter competitions. The Killing Sense follows a red-haired woman (that fact is important!) named Kate Wilde who wins a Facebook competition for a place on a perfume course in Paris, with all expenses paid. However she cannot remember entering it.
Kate has a daughter called Hanna and has a restraining order out on her violent ex-husband. But when she arrives in Paris she gets the feeling that she is being watched. She knows her ex-husband Erik has links to the city. Could it be him, wanting access to his daughter?
The plot of this novel stems from the fact that perfume reacts differently on redheads and alongside Kate's story, body parts have been found in the city. A young girl named Agathe is worried for her friend after her disappearance and asks her uncle who runs a newspaper to look into it. They soon discover a link to a cold case where a redheaded woman's remains had been found.
Agathe's friend had just recently had her hair dyed red. And what about Kate and the fact she thinks she is being watched? Could she be the next victim?
I really enjoyed this thriller and the setting of Paris. I honestly didn't guess where it was going and felt myself wanting to go back a bit and reanalyse certain characters behaviours. It is an interesting premise and not one I've read about before.
Kate has a daughter called Hanna and has a restraining order out on her violent ex-husband. But when she arrives in Paris she gets the feeling that she is being watched. She knows her ex-husband Erik has links to the city. Could it be him, wanting access to his daughter?
The plot of this novel stems from the fact that perfume reacts differently on redheads and alongside Kate's story, body parts have been found in the city. A young girl named Agathe is worried for her friend after her disappearance and asks her uncle who runs a newspaper to look into it. They soon discover a link to a cold case where a redheaded woman's remains had been found.
Agathe's friend had just recently had her hair dyed red. And what about Kate and the fact she thinks she is being watched? Could she be the next victim?
I really enjoyed this thriller and the setting of Paris. I honestly didn't guess where it was going and felt myself wanting to go back a bit and reanalyse certain characters behaviours. It is an interesting premise and not one I've read about before.
The Favourites by Layne Fargo
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Oh wow. The Favourites was one of my most anticipated book releases of 2025 but it totally blew my expectations out of the water and there is no doubt that it's up there as one of my favourite books. I haven't felt this way since I read The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo.
I know nothing about figure skating but feel like I learnt a lot through this novel. The Favourites is told from the point of view of Katarina Shaw, who is recounting her skating career and personal life; from her childhood and meeting Heath Rocha, who would become her skating partner (and much more than that!) up to present day.
There is also a documentary being made about Katarina and Heath so we have snippets of thoughts and opinions from other skaters, judges and coaches who knew the couple at the height of their careers. I absolutely love the depth that this adds to the book and it helps build the suspense of what happened next in their lives.
I was totally enthralled by this world, the relationship between Katarina and Heath (which is not at all plain sailing) and the intensity between them but also the love for figure skating, particularly on Katarina's part, and the drama in the skating world when it gets to competitive level.
I feel like my words cannot do justice for how this book made me feel. I already want to go back and re-read it just in case I've missed something. Just incredible!
I know nothing about figure skating but feel like I learnt a lot through this novel. The Favourites is told from the point of view of Katarina Shaw, who is recounting her skating career and personal life; from her childhood and meeting Heath Rocha, who would become her skating partner (and much more than that!) up to present day.
There is also a documentary being made about Katarina and Heath so we have snippets of thoughts and opinions from other skaters, judges and coaches who knew the couple at the height of their careers. I absolutely love the depth that this adds to the book and it helps build the suspense of what happened next in their lives.
I was totally enthralled by this world, the relationship between Katarina and Heath (which is not at all plain sailing) and the intensity between them but also the love for figure skating, particularly on Katarina's part, and the drama in the skating world when it gets to competitive level.
I feel like my words cannot do justice for how this book made me feel. I already want to go back and re-read it just in case I've missed something. Just incredible!
Chasing The Wild by Elliott Rose
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Layla Birch is an aspiring vet and after finding out that her ex-boyfriend Cash took out loans in her name without paying them back, she sets off to confront him.
The latest address she has for him, she discovers, is his father's ranch; Devil's Peak. What she didn't expect, however, was that the hot cowboy who paid for her gas on the way there after some payment issues was Cash's father himself - Colt Wilder.
When a winter storm hits the town, the location of Devil's Peak means that Layla is stuck there alone with Colt until the roads down to the town are cleared. Layla was due to start a new placement and Colt, feeling sorry for how his son has treated her, offers her a job looking after the animals at the ranch in the meantime. All the while he is trying to fight how he feels about her.
Chasing The Wild is an age gap, forbidden love, forced proximity spicy romance novel and for me, I felt like it was more spice than plot. I did like how the tension built between Colt and Layla but I wished we'd had more about Colt's family background.
The latest address she has for him, she discovers, is his father's ranch; Devil's Peak. What she didn't expect, however, was that the hot cowboy who paid for her gas on the way there after some payment issues was Cash's father himself - Colt Wilder.
When a winter storm hits the town, the location of Devil's Peak means that Layla is stuck there alone with Colt until the roads down to the town are cleared. Layla was due to start a new placement and Colt, feeling sorry for how his son has treated her, offers her a job looking after the animals at the ranch in the meantime. All the while he is trying to fight how he feels about her.
Chasing The Wild is an age gap, forbidden love, forced proximity spicy romance novel and for me, I felt like it was more spice than plot. I did like how the tension built between Colt and Layla but I wished we'd had more about Colt's family background.