ashleyreads88's reviews
620 reviews

Hopeless: Special Edition by Elsie Silver

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Hopeless gave me Romeo and Juliet vibes but it worked.  I loved how Bailey didn't want to be associated with her brothers and how Beau didn't treat her the way everyone else in town treated her just because of her last name. 

It was great when Beau admitted that the arrangement between him and Bailey wasn't fake and how protective he was of her. I loved how Beau's siblings and their significant others accepted Bailey and made her feel welcome and part of the family despite her last name.  I loved how the story ended and how Beau and Bailey got their own house away from the ranch.

 

Heartless by Elsie Silver

funny lighthearted fast-paced

I loved this book, it was a fun read.  Luke is such an adorable character with quick wit, great one-liners, and comebacks.  I loved Cade and Willa as characters and how their relationship developed.  I loved Willa's relationship with Luke and how she taught him about thought bubbles.

I loved how this book ended and Willa and Cade got their happily ever after.

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

I was so happy that Antsy found her way to Miss Eleanor's because Miss Eleanor makes everyone feel welcome.  I also loved how the other students welcomed Antsy into their friend circle.  Antsy making her way back to the store felt like a full-circle moment and I love that she decided to stay.  I also appreciated how she held Vaneta accountable for her actions and lies.

 Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is a beautifully written book of adventure and friendship.  The world-building is masterfully created and the character development is great.  I loved the story and how it ended.  I hope there are more books in the series to get more of the characters' stories.

Flawless by Elsie Silver

The banter in this book between Rhett, Summer, and the other characters was everything.  Rhett's nephew Luke had some great lines too.  I loved how Rhett and Summer had a difficult time trying to keep things professional.  The chemistry between them was undeniable and it was great when they finally got together. The way that Rhett cared for Summer in his way was wicked sweet. Summer's relationship with her dad was special, and it was great how it was one of the main points in the story, I also loved seeing the complex relationship with her step-mother and step-sister. 

The ending was great how Summer and Rhett get their happily ever after.

A False Start (Special Edition) by Elsie Silver

I loved Nadia's growth in this book and seeing more of Stefan and Mira.  There was so much tension between Nadia and Griffin you could cut it with a knife.  I loved it when they both gave in and

how Griff waited for Nadia when she went to veterinarian school, how he sent her little notes to let her know that he was thinking of her, it was wicked sweet.

  A False Start wasn't without its ups and downs but it couldn't have had a better ending than it did.

The Front Runner (Special Edition) by Elsie Silver

fast-paced

The Front Runner was a fun book to read.  I honestly felt that Stefan grew in this book.  I loved the tension between him and Mira and how he stood up for her to her family.  How Stefan was with Loki was a different side of him, and I feel that The Front Runner allowed readers to see the real Stefan.  I loved Stefan's relationship with his sister Nadia, and then how his relationship with Hank grew after he found out the truth in a plot-twist drop

(that Hank is his biological father).

I loved the ending and how everything was tied together.

Off to the Races (Special Edition) by Elsie Silver

The banter between Billie and Vaughn was wicked entertaining, there were times when they both got serious and it was the perfect balance.  Billie is a certified badass and has no problem putting rich men in their place.  I loved Hank and

how he reminded Billie that he was the one who pretty much raised her

, their father/daughter relationship was great.  I loved Billie and Vaughn's relationship too, and his grand gesture to show Billie that he was choosing her was wicked sweet.  I loved seeing the ups and downs of their relationship as a couple and on the business side.  I thought the ending was perfect and I loved this book.

A Photo Finish (Special Edition) by Elsie Silver

I loved this book and almost all the characters.  I loved how the story was formatted with Violet and Cole's past correspondences intertwined and when Violet found the messages after she logged off the app.  Cole was very protective of Violet and it was sweet.  I loved the tension between Violet and Cole and the little bit of awkwardness after Violet told Billie and Vaughn about what happened between her and Cole.  It was great when Cole finally admitted his feelings to Violet, and his grand gesture was swoon-worthy.  I thought the ending was great and I loved how everything came full circle.

The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense

I love The Nutcracker, and I loved this retelling/reimagining.  The Kingdom of Sweets is dark, there are plot twists, deception, debauchery, magic, and a little bit of history sprinkled in.  I loved the characters and the complex relationship between Clara and Natasha, and Natahsa's complicated relationship with her parents.  I felt sympathy for Natasha and related to her in the sense that she was in a way on the outside looking in.  The Kingdom of Sweets was at times heartbreaking.  I loved the ending, even though it wasn't the happiest, it was perfect for the story.  The Kingdom of Sweets is a great read for the holiday season.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

I've already read this in print and loved it, it's great on audio as well.