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ariannaisbooked's reviews
423 reviews
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I absolutely loved The Lost Apothecary when I read it in 2021 and it was one of my favorite books that year. I've been so excited for this book since the very first time that I saw Sarah Penner post about it online.
The London Séance Society is full of mystery & intrigue surrounding the afterlife. It's about the modes of communication we use to communicate with loved ones after their passing & how people throughout time have manipulated people & their senses into believing in fake practices that mirror the real deal.
Whether or not you believe in this kind of communication, I think you'll really enjoy this book! It starts off on the heels of grief & follows Lenna through her own process of dealing with the grief. The book takes so many twists & turns that had me on the edge of my seat almost the entire time I was reading!
If you loved The Lost Apothecary for the overall theme of female empowerment, you will find that in this one as well. I was very excited to find references to LGBTQ+ characters throughout the book & their involvements in the plot. I certainly wasn't expecting it because the book takes place in the 1800's but I think the inclusion was done very well!
I absolutely LOVED this book, as I knew that I would. It's early in the year, but this is already a contender for one of my favorite books of 2023!
Thank you to NetGalley, Legend Press, and Sarah Penner for allowing me to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The London Séance Society is full of mystery & intrigue surrounding the afterlife. It's about the modes of communication we use to communicate with loved ones after their passing & how people throughout time have manipulated people & their senses into believing in fake practices that mirror the real deal.
Whether or not you believe in this kind of communication, I think you'll really enjoy this book! It starts off on the heels of grief & follows Lenna through her own process of dealing with the grief. The book takes so many twists & turns that had me on the edge of my seat almost the entire time I was reading!
If you loved The Lost Apothecary for the overall theme of female empowerment, you will find that in this one as well. I was very excited to find references to LGBTQ+ characters throughout the book & their involvements in the plot. I certainly wasn't expecting it because the book takes place in the 1800's but I think the inclusion was done very well!
I absolutely LOVED this book, as I knew that I would. It's early in the year, but this is already a contender for one of my favorite books of 2023!
Thank you to NetGalley, Legend Press, and Sarah Penner for allowing me to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Show Me the Way by A.L. Jackson
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the easiest 5 star ratings I've ever had to give!
Rynna left town at 18 and never looked back, until her grandmother passed away and she inherited the house & the diner. Then she meets Rex, the hunky single dad that lives across the street with his daughter, Frankie. She's immediately infatuated with him & adores his daughter. But what happens when their histories are revealed?
AL Jackson has such a knack for writing a sweet & swoony, steamy romance mixed with the perfect amount of suspense! And the way she writes single parents & their children is unlike any other! My favorite thing about this book is that the main conflict of the story isn't a third act breakup. It's an external factor that's absolutely gut wrenching. Don't worry, you won't be left on a cliffhanger though!
Rex, Rynna, and Frankie are all so loveable & I was rooting from them from the second they met!
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Zachary Webber and Andi Arndt. These are two of my favorite audiobook narrators ever & they did such a fabulous job with Show Me the Way!
Rynna left town at 18 and never looked back, until her grandmother passed away and she inherited the house & the diner. Then she meets Rex, the hunky single dad that lives across the street with his daughter, Frankie. She's immediately infatuated with him & adores his daughter. But what happens when their histories are revealed?
AL Jackson has such a knack for writing a sweet & swoony, steamy romance mixed with the perfect amount of suspense! And the way she writes single parents & their children is unlike any other! My favorite thing about this book is that the main conflict of the story isn't a third act breakup. It's an external factor that's absolutely gut wrenching. Don't worry, you won't be left on a cliffhanger though!
Rex, Rynna, and Frankie are all so loveable & I was rooting from them from the second they met!
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Zachary Webber and Andi Arndt. These are two of my favorite audiobook narrators ever & they did such a fabulous job with Show Me the Way!
Sacrifice by Adriana Locke
emotional
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Adriana Locke has written the most beautiful yet painful story in Sacrifice!
Julia lost her husband in a tragic accident and now she's raising their daughter by herself. She's barely making ends meet but struggles with accepting help from anyone, but especially from her husband's brother, Crew. He's the most irresponsible person she knows but she has no other choice but to lean on him when yet another tragedy strikes. Crew is determined to step up and atone for his old sins. But when it comes down to it, he might have to sacrifice absolutely everything.
I absolutely loved this story, especially learning about all of the history with Julia, Gage, and Crew! It's a very emotionally charged read for so many reasons and for that, I would not recommend reading or listening to the audiobook in public. You will cry at least once.
I listened to the audiobook and it was absolutely incredible! It was narrated by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell, who are two of my favorite audiobook narrators out there. It was also done in dual narration, which makes the book even more all-consuming than your typical narrations.
I know it's early, but I think this is going to be one of my favorite audiobooks of the entire year!
Thank you so much to Adriana Locke for sending me a review copy of the audiobook! This has in no way influenced by reaction to the book or my review.
Julia lost her husband in a tragic accident and now she's raising their daughter by herself. She's barely making ends meet but struggles with accepting help from anyone, but especially from her husband's brother, Crew. He's the most irresponsible person she knows but she has no other choice but to lean on him when yet another tragedy strikes. Crew is determined to step up and atone for his old sins. But when it comes down to it, he might have to sacrifice absolutely everything.
I absolutely loved this story, especially learning about all of the history with Julia, Gage, and Crew! It's a very emotionally charged read for so many reasons and for that, I would not recommend reading or listening to the audiobook in public. You will cry at least once.
I listened to the audiobook and it was absolutely incredible! It was narrated by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell, who are two of my favorite audiobook narrators out there. It was also done in dual narration, which makes the book even more all-consuming than your typical narrations.
I know it's early, but I think this is going to be one of my favorite audiobooks of the entire year!
Thank you so much to Adriana Locke for sending me a review copy of the audiobook! This has in no way influenced by reaction to the book or my review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Grief
The main character (and her daughter) grieve the loss of their husband (and father) multiple times on page, including visiting his grave.
The daughter experiences a battle with neuroblastoma and the main characters explicitly describe a lot of the process, including processing their own emotions about it on page.
Too Wrong to Be Right by Melonie Johnson
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a romcom that will have you giggling from the first pages!
Too Wrong to Be Right follows Kat, a florist, who's encountered her fair share of dating fails. The most recent one includes a (now) ex-boyfriend who ran off to Canada for a reality dating show & left his pet hedgehog, JoJo, with Kat. She swears off dating until she can find a man who checks all her "Mr. Right boxes." That is, until she has a meet cute (read: meet-disaster) while dropping off flower arrangements at a funeral home. She quite literally falls into Mick's arms when he saves her from accidentally falling into a casket while placing the flower arrangements. They have immediate chemistry but she's determined to keep Mick in the friend-zone & avoid following her past mistakes. But can they only be friends? Or are they destined for more?
Overall, I really enjoyed the characters & the shenanigans they got into throughout the book! This was the first book I've ever read by Melonie Johnson & I'll be checking out more of her work! I was giggling from the very beginning and even burst out laughing at a few of the scenes. Even though it's a romcom, there are still quite a few serious scenes where Kat and Mick both work through their feelings, including past heartaches.
I do wish there had been a bit more groveling at the end, but everything is forgiven quickly in true romcom fashion. The book is written in third person, which I know is a turn-off for many readers. But once I got into the story, I didn't even realize it was written that way. I also tend to read steamy romances and this one definitely does not fall into that category. There is a single scene that ends as quickly as it started. It really had the potential but the author just didn't go there, which is totally fine! No matter what, I still really enjoyed this story & the characters! I'd love for the author to continue writing books about this group of found family so we can see all of them get their happily ever afters!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Melonie Johnson for letting me read an early copy of Too Wrong to Be Right!
Too Wrong to Be Right follows Kat, a florist, who's encountered her fair share of dating fails. The most recent one includes a (now) ex-boyfriend who ran off to Canada for a reality dating show & left his pet hedgehog, JoJo, with Kat. She swears off dating until she can find a man who checks all her "Mr. Right boxes." That is, until she has a meet cute (read: meet-disaster) while dropping off flower arrangements at a funeral home. She quite literally falls into Mick's arms when he saves her from accidentally falling into a casket while placing the flower arrangements. They have immediate chemistry but she's determined to keep Mick in the friend-zone & avoid following her past mistakes. But can they only be friends? Or are they destined for more?
Overall, I really enjoyed the characters & the shenanigans they got into throughout the book! This was the first book I've ever read by Melonie Johnson & I'll be checking out more of her work! I was giggling from the very beginning and even burst out laughing at a few of the scenes. Even though it's a romcom, there are still quite a few serious scenes where Kat and Mick both work through their feelings, including past heartaches.
I do wish there had been a bit more groveling at the end, but everything is forgiven quickly in true romcom fashion. The book is written in third person, which I know is a turn-off for many readers. But once I got into the story, I didn't even realize it was written that way. I also tend to read steamy romances and this one definitely does not fall into that category. There is a single scene that ends as quickly as it started. It really had the potential but the author just didn't go there, which is totally fine! No matter what, I still really enjoyed this story & the characters! I'd love for the author to continue writing books about this group of found family so we can see all of them get their happily ever afters!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Melonie Johnson for letting me read an early copy of Too Wrong to Be Right!
Doing It Right by Harloe Rae
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
One of the sweetest single parent romances you'll read!
You should know that Harloe Rae writes impeccable single parent romances & this one was everything I could have hoped for! Presley constantly referred to Mason as single mom catnip & she's 100% correct. I don't even have a child & Mason had me swooning on almost every page! Every single interaction he had with Archie was the absolute purest & sweetest thing ever!
Presley & Mason have been in love with each other since their early teenage years. They only separated so that Mason could go to college & eventually play professional football. But when his career ends due to injury & he finds out that Presley's still single, everything changes. He comes home & immediately works to get Presley back & win over her son, Archie.
I must admit this is probably one of my favorite first love, second chance books I've ever read! Every time I think it couldn't get sweeter or steamier, it did.
You should know that Harloe Rae writes impeccable single parent romances & this one was everything I could have hoped for! Presley constantly referred to Mason as single mom catnip & she's 100% correct. I don't even have a child & Mason had me swooning on almost every page! Every single interaction he had with Archie was the absolute purest & sweetest thing ever!
Presley & Mason have been in love with each other since their early teenage years. They only separated so that Mason could go to college & eventually play professional football. But when his career ends due to injury & he finds out that Presley's still single, everything changes. He comes home & immediately works to get Presley back & win over her son, Archie.
I must admit this is probably one of my favorite first love, second chance books I've ever read! Every time I think it couldn't get sweeter or steamier, it did.
Offside with #55 by Piper Rayne
funny
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
4.0
Another good installment in Piper Rayne's Hockey Hotties series!
I really enjoyed the banter / tension between Jana and Kane. It made for a very fun read, especially while listening to the audiobook! And the players retreat that they went to? Absolutely hilarious! This is such a fun group and I'm so sad to see the series come to an end. I've really enjoyed reading about the Florida Fury & all the shenanigans these players and their significant others have gotten into.
This is perfect if you like:
- hockey romance
- team owner x coach "forbidden romance"
- FWB turned more
I really enjoyed the banter / tension between Jana and Kane. It made for a very fun read, especially while listening to the audiobook! And the players retreat that they went to? Absolutely hilarious! This is such a fun group and I'm so sad to see the series come to an end. I've really enjoyed reading about the Florida Fury & all the shenanigans these players and their significant others have gotten into.
This is perfect if you like:
- hockey romance
- team owner x coach "forbidden romance"
- FWB turned more
Wild at Heart by K.A. Tucker
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I honestly can't believe I'm only giving this one a 3 star rating. I loved the first book so much that I thought I'd enjoy this one just as much.
In all honesty, it feels like absolutely nothing happened in the entirety of Wild at Heart. Calla's insecurities with Marie felt like more of the major conflict of the book than the actual major conflict. I did enjoy parts of the book (like Zeke's fainting spells) but it just never really picked up and got interesting like I thought it would.
At this point, I don't plan on reading the rest of the series.
In all honesty, it feels like absolutely nothing happened in the entirety of Wild at Heart. Calla's insecurities with Marie felt like more of the major conflict of the book than the actual major conflict. I did enjoy parts of the book (like Zeke's fainting spells) but it just never really picked up and got interesting like I thought it would.
At this point, I don't plan on reading the rest of the series.
The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was such an interesting re-imagination of Peter Pan!
Something was taken from Peter Pan and there's only one way to get it back: the Darling family. Peter kidnaps the Darling women as they turn 18 in an attempt to find what he's missing. The Darlings are always returned from Neverland but they're certifiably insane. Except Winnie. She's found a home in Neverland & she's determined not to lose herself to whatever made her mom insane.
I knew people talked about this as a "why choose" but feel like it fell a little bit flat for me. It's not the spiciest book I've ever read but it's still pretty good. It's very fast paced and you really only get to see Winnie embracing her sexuality with each guy separately. There was a scene where others watched, but that's as close as you get to what I consider as the bread & butter of "why choose" romances (aka group activities).
Overall, I did really enjoy the story! It's interesting to see how Tinkerbell and Hook fit into the storyline as well. The world building & magic is also very easy to understand / get into if you're not used to reading a lot of fantasy books. I'm definitely intrigued and will be continuing the series!
The Never King is perfect if you like:
- dark fairytale re-imaginations
- enemies to lovers
- hate spice
- why choose
Something was taken from Peter Pan and there's only one way to get it back: the Darling family. Peter kidnaps the Darling women as they turn 18 in an attempt to find what he's missing. The Darlings are always returned from Neverland but they're certifiably insane. Except Winnie. She's found a home in Neverland & she's determined not to lose herself to whatever made her mom insane.
I knew people talked about this as a "why choose" but feel like it fell a little bit flat for me. It's not the spiciest book I've ever read but it's still pretty good. It's very fast paced and you really only get to see Winnie embracing her sexuality with each guy separately. There was a scene where others watched, but that's as close as you get to what I consider as the bread & butter of "why choose" romances (aka group activities).
Overall, I did really enjoy the story! It's interesting to see how Tinkerbell and Hook fit into the storyline as well. The world building & magic is also very easy to understand / get into if you're not used to reading a lot of fantasy books. I'm definitely intrigued and will be continuing the series!
The Never King is perfect if you like:
- dark fairytale re-imaginations
- enemies to lovers
- hate spice
- why choose
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
This book doesn't contain domestic abuse in the typical sense but it was the closest identifier I could find. In this book, the main character's mother went to Neverland and they drove her mad. She's not in the right state of mind and takes Winnie to see many people who use unconventional protection methods which include doing things that leave physical scars on Winnie. In the book, Winnie is self-aware enough to know that this is not normal and not how most mothers show love to their children.
Home Sweet Mess by Allison Ashley
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
This one took me awhile to read because it was my "work book" so I was mostly reading it in my downtime at work. But that doesn't mean I enjoyed it any less!
I absolutely love Allison Ashley's writing! It can feel a bit strange at first because it's written in 3rd person which isn't overly popular in the romance genre. But it's a nice breath of fresh air in my opinion! Once I got into the story, it didn't really register that it was in 3rd person.
Jeni is steadfast in her determination to stay single and avoid tying herself down to anyone ever again. But Logan grew up in the foster care system and despite his many hookups, just wants to settle down with "the one." He wants to take Jeni at any capacity that she'll have him but he also wants to fight for a true relationship that he's never had.
Both characters have some major baggage that they have to work through in order to compromise and get themselves ready for a relationship with the other person. I could really see myself in Jeni & her determination to live her best single life because of past relationship trauma.
Even though this is a brother's best friend romance, it's not as <i>forbidden</i> as it usually is. Logan uses that knowledge to make sure he takes extra care and caution with the scenario. It's never really brought up as something that they should absolutely not be doing, which made this book all that much sweeter!
Home Sweet Mess is perfect if you like:
- brother's best friend
- characters are BIG sports people
- social media marketer x social worker
- he falls first & falls harder
I absolutely love Allison Ashley's writing! It can feel a bit strange at first because it's written in 3rd person which isn't overly popular in the romance genre. But it's a nice breath of fresh air in my opinion! Once I got into the story, it didn't really register that it was in 3rd person.
Jeni is steadfast in her determination to stay single and avoid tying herself down to anyone ever again. But Logan grew up in the foster care system and despite his many hookups, just wants to settle down with "the one." He wants to take Jeni at any capacity that she'll have him but he also wants to fight for a true relationship that he's never had.
Both characters have some major baggage that they have to work through in order to compromise and get themselves ready for a relationship with the other person. I could really see myself in Jeni & her determination to live her best single life because of past relationship trauma.
Even though this is a brother's best friend romance, it's not as <i>forbidden</i> as it usually is. Logan uses that knowledge to make sure he takes extra care and caution with the scenario. It's never really brought up as something that they should absolutely not be doing, which made this book all that much sweeter!
Home Sweet Mess is perfect if you like:
- brother's best friend
- characters are BIG sports people
- social media marketer x social worker
- he falls first & falls harder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Terminal illness
Jeni's brother is diagnosed with cancer in the book and she attends doctor's visits / chemo treatments with him. The details aren't really focused on the cancer itself, but it ties in heavily with his book, Perfect Distraction.
Jeni was previously in a toxic relationship and she also struggles with infertility. Logan grew up in foster care and deals with abandonment issues throughout the book. Both characters have to work through these issues in order to resolve the main conflict of the book.
The Target by Lena Hendrix
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
OH EM GEE. THIS BOOK.
This is my first Lena Hendrix book and wow - just wow. It was hot and steamy from nearly the beginning. This is an age-gap romance (11 years) between a US Marshal and a key witness in a major federal case.
Scott is one of the agents that was tasked with protecting Gemma when she arrived at Redemption Ranch. They formed a special bond over many hours playing gin rummy together as he helped piece her back together. But then they got too close & he left without saying goodbye. Four years later and they're calling Gemma to testify & finally put the last of the men behind bars for good.
There's a sweet & spicy cross-country roadtrip from small town Montana to Chicago. Every decision that Scott makes along the way is for Gemma. Including relinquishing his power and submitting to her.
LET ME TELL YOU: Scott's hotness factor increased exponentially when I realized that he submits to her.
But don't let the steam & spice of the first half of the book get to you. This is an emotional rollercoaster of a book! The last 25% had me in tears for so many reasons - good and not so good.
This book is perfect if you like:
- age gap
- brother's best friend
- forced proximity
- forbidden romance
- traveling / cross-country road trip
Thank you so much to Lena Hendrix and Wildfire Marketing for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is my first Lena Hendrix book and wow - just wow. It was hot and steamy from nearly the beginning. This is an age-gap romance (11 years) between a US Marshal and a key witness in a major federal case.
Scott is one of the agents that was tasked with protecting Gemma when she arrived at Redemption Ranch. They formed a special bond over many hours playing gin rummy together as he helped piece her back together. But then they got too close & he left without saying goodbye. Four years later and they're calling Gemma to testify & finally put the last of the men behind bars for good.
There's a sweet & spicy cross-country roadtrip from small town Montana to Chicago. Every decision that Scott makes along the way is for Gemma. Including relinquishing his power and submitting to her.
LET ME TELL YOU: Scott's hotness factor increased exponentially when I realized that he submits to her.
But don't let the steam & spice of the first half of the book get to you. This is an emotional rollercoaster of a book! The last 25% had me in tears for so many reasons - good and not so good.
This book is perfect if you like:
- age gap
- brother's best friend
- forced proximity
- forbidden romance
- traveling / cross-country road trip
Thank you so much to Lena Hendrix and Wildfire Marketing for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review!