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booknerd_lifestyle's reviews
57 reviews
The Naughty or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
***Thank you NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I am a big fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope but I wonder if this really should be marked as a romance. Yes there's a little bit but most of it is her pretending to be his fiancรฉe because he needs her to. There weren't many sparks and the actual romance in the book was very minimal.
I adored the Santa Clause myth and how it was worked into this story. I'm a sucker for a good Clause romance. Kate Callaghan puts a very original spin on Santa and I thought she did a great job! I loved the secret village and the twists on Santa. My heart broke a little for the Klaus family as they mourned the loss of Santa himself.
I think I would have liked a little bit of background at the beginning ... I was pretty far into the book before I even figured out they were in Ireland. And the toy company is such a big deal to Lyla but I didn't really feel like I knew anything about it or what happened before the Christmas party.
This is a cute holiday story, though you won't find a gushy romance inside. But if you're looking for a new twist on the North Pole, this is it!
I am a big fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope but I wonder if this really should be marked as a romance. Yes there's a little bit but most of it is her pretending to be his fiancรฉe because he needs her to. There weren't many sparks and the actual romance in the book was very minimal.
I adored the Santa Clause myth and how it was worked into this story. I'm a sucker for a good Clause romance. Kate Callaghan puts a very original spin on Santa and I thought she did a great job! I loved the secret village and the twists on Santa. My heart broke a little for the Klaus family as they mourned the loss of Santa himself.
I think I would have liked a little bit of background at the beginning ... I was pretty far into the book before I even figured out they were in Ireland. And the toy company is such a big deal to Lyla but I didn't really feel like I knew anything about it or what happened before the Christmas party.
This is a cute holiday story, though you won't find a gushy romance inside. But if you're looking for a new twist on the North Pole, this is it!
The Wicked Truth by Melissa Foster
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Disclaimer: This book is HOT! Spicy, sexy hot. I wouldn't recommend reading it in public. โฃ
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๐๐๐ผ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟโฃ
๐ The Wicked family. Seriously, they're all amazing!โฃ
๐ The Dark Knights - this is a brotherhood of motorcycle riders who protect each other and everyone else, treat women right, and they're just plain kick-ass.โฃ
๐ Junie and Rosie again! They're so stinking cute! And Tank and Leah's baby!! โฃ
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๐๐๐ผ๐ (๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐) ๐๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ ๐๐โฃ
๐ก Blaine. โฃ
โฃ
โฃ
I loved Mads and Tobias so so SOOOO much! After the last two Wicked books, I needed another dose of this family and Madigan was perfect for that! She is one INSANE #girlboss and a talented musician, as well. โฃ
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And then there's Tobias. I have a thing for a seriously broody hero. Tobias just got out of prison and doesn't plan to get involved with Madigan Wicked. But the attraction is hot and intense. We all know how that works out. But oh my gosh, my heart broke for Tobias and everything he's been through. โฃ
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I was amazed again at Melissa's ability to make me ugly cry at any point in the book. With Tank and Leah's story, it was right away in the beginning (IYKYK), and with Mads and Tobias, it was the middle. โฃ
โฃ
โฃ
๐๐๐ผ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟโฃ
๐ The Wicked family. Seriously, they're all amazing!โฃ
๐ The Dark Knights - this is a brotherhood of motorcycle riders who protect each other and everyone else, treat women right, and they're just plain kick-ass.โฃ
๐ Junie and Rosie again! They're so stinking cute! And Tank and Leah's baby!! โฃ
โฃ
๐๐๐ผ๐ (๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐) ๐๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ ๐๐โฃ
๐ก Blaine. โฃ
โฃ
โฃ
I loved Mads and Tobias so so SOOOO much! After the last two Wicked books, I needed another dose of this family and Madigan was perfect for that! She is one INSANE #girlboss and a talented musician, as well. โฃ
โฃ
And then there's Tobias. I have a thing for a seriously broody hero. Tobias just got out of prison and doesn't plan to get involved with Madigan Wicked. But the attraction is hot and intense. We all know how that works out. But oh my gosh, my heart broke for Tobias and everything he's been through. โฃ
โฃ
I was amazed again at Melissa's ability to make me ugly cry at any point in the book. With Tank and Leah's story, it was right away in the beginning (IYKYK), and with Mads and Tobias, it was the middle. โฃ
The Sheikh's Christmas Maid by Leslie North
medium-paced
4.0
Leslie North is one of my favorite Sheikh romance authors. While this holiday fling wasn't my favorite, I definitely enjoyed it.
Poppy and Samir's meet-cute was priceless - her lying in the snow and yelling at the delivery boy (who turns out to be the Sheikh) to help her with the trash. After that, she realizes her mistake and tries to stay hands-off with the Sheikh, who is in hiding following a death threat.
While this didn't have the usual Sheikh romance vibes because they're tucked away in a cabin instead of a palace, it was an enjoyable romance. If you're looking for a snowed-in romance, definitely pick this one up.
What irked me about it: Melka and his involvement. Also, how abrupt the build-up to their declarations of love were.
What I enjoyed: the spicy scenes. As always, Leslie North does not disappoint.
Poppy and Samir's meet-cute was priceless - her lying in the snow and yelling at the delivery boy (who turns out to be the Sheikh) to help her with the trash. After that, she realizes her mistake and tries to stay hands-off with the Sheikh, who is in hiding following a death threat.
While this didn't have the usual Sheikh romance vibes because they're tucked away in a cabin instead of a palace, it was an enjoyable romance. If you're looking for a snowed-in romance, definitely pick this one up.
What irked me about it: Melka and his involvement. Also, how abrupt the build-up to their declarations of love were.
What I enjoyed: the spicy scenes. As always, Leslie North does not disappoint.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
emotional
funny
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? No
5.0
This is one of those books that I passed up so many times for no reason at all. I just didn't feel like picking it up.
Oh my gosh, I had no idea what I was missing!
I adored Luka and Stella. LOVELIGHT FARMS gave me everything I could have wanted from it - a best friends-to-lovers romance, perfect human (and furry) side-characters, and a freaking Christmas tree farm as a setting!
The fact that Luka and Stella have been best friends for a decade makes their interactions so much more natural. The way they interact in front of Evelyn (the social media influencer) and the flirtatious dance they've been doing throughout their friendship - it was beautiful. What starts out as fake-dating for Evelyn turns out to be this relationship that's been a decade in the making. And I loved every minute of it!
While I'm glad that this book was told from Stella's perspective, I definitely enjoyed the insight into Luka that we get from the bonus chapter and the epilogue. And I'm looking forward to reading more about Beckett and Evelyn. I loved the surprise of them and everything surrounding Evelyn's social media contest.
Oh my gosh, I had no idea what I was missing!
I adored Luka and Stella. LOVELIGHT FARMS gave me everything I could have wanted from it - a best friends-to-lovers romance, perfect human (and furry) side-characters, and a freaking Christmas tree farm as a setting!
The fact that Luka and Stella have been best friends for a decade makes their interactions so much more natural. The way they interact in front of Evelyn (the social media influencer) and the flirtatious dance they've been doing throughout their friendship - it was beautiful. What starts out as fake-dating for Evelyn turns out to be this relationship that's been a decade in the making. And I loved every minute of it!
While I'm glad that this book was told from Stella's perspective, I definitely enjoyed the insight into Luka that we get from the bonus chapter and the epilogue. And I'm looking forward to reading more about Beckett and Evelyn. I loved the surprise of them and everything surrounding Evelyn's social media contest.
Jingle Wars by Veronica Eden, R. Holmes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Oh my gosh, the premise for this book was super cute! You have Freya who comes from California to Hollyridge to run this massive 5-star hotel for her a-hole father. She's super into Christmas movies and has holiday spirit to spare. โฃ
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Then there's Finn. He's less thrilled about Christmas and is stressed with trying to save his grandparents' inn ... ironically enough, right next door to Freya's hotel. โฃ
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When both enter in a holiday competition with a hefty prize attached, the Jingle Wars begin. And sparks fly. And fly. And fly. โฃ
โฃ
I loved how, even though Finn tries to hate Freya because of who she is, there is no denying the attraction. This isn't one of those books where the characters clearly hate each other and then don't. The attraction is there right from the start and it's only a matter of time before they give into it. โฃ
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If you're looking for a Hallmark-y holiday rom-com, this is it! I can't wait to read the second book in January!!โฃ
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Then there's Finn. He's less thrilled about Christmas and is stressed with trying to save his grandparents' inn ... ironically enough, right next door to Freya's hotel. โฃ
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When both enter in a holiday competition with a hefty prize attached, the Jingle Wars begin. And sparks fly. And fly. And fly. โฃ
โฃ
I loved how, even though Finn tries to hate Freya because of who she is, there is no denying the attraction. This isn't one of those books where the characters clearly hate each other and then don't. The attraction is there right from the start and it's only a matter of time before they give into it. โฃ
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If you're looking for a Hallmark-y holiday rom-com, this is it! I can't wait to read the second book in January!!โฃ
Maggie Sparks and the Truth Dragons by Steve Smallman, Esther Hernando
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
**I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed within are entirely my own.
So I picked this book up as a review on NetGalley and it's adorable! Definitely something I could see my 6-year-old reading in the very near future.
Maggie gets in trouble when her not-so-nice cousin tells a lie. Nobody believes Maggie when she tells the truth so she decides she's going to start fibbing. Oh, and she's a witch, did I mention that?
As Maggie starts telling more and more fibs, they spiral out of control and it takes her grandpa's help to set things straight. Maggie almost loses her best friend over it!
I loved this book. The pacing, the illustrations, and the story line. I'm looking forward to sharing this entire series with my daughter and seeing her reactions to Maggie.
So I picked this book up as a review on NetGalley and it's adorable! Definitely something I could see my 6-year-old reading in the very near future.
Maggie gets in trouble when her not-so-nice cousin tells a lie. Nobody believes Maggie when she tells the truth so she decides she's going to start fibbing. Oh, and she's a witch, did I mention that?
As Maggie starts telling more and more fibs, they spiral out of control and it takes her grandpa's help to set things straight. Maggie almost loses her best friend over it!
I loved this book. The pacing, the illustrations, and the story line. I'm looking forward to sharing this entire series with my daughter and seeing her reactions to Maggie.
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a cute and cozy holiday read, mixed in with a bit of a Groundhog Day vibe. The only reason it was a 4 instead of 5 star read for me is because I had trouble getting into it. Once I got past the beginning, it hooked my attention.
Mae is stuck in a job she hates, with a cruddy love-life, and she's back at home living with her mom. Not to mention she has this INSANELY huge crush on Andrew, a very close family friend. Each year, her family and her parents' friends and their family get together at a cabin for Christmas. And each year, Mae nurses a huge crush on Andrew.
But this year is different and, as they're leaving the cabin, Mae and her family are in a car accident. Then bam! She wakes up back on the plane, heading to the cabin. This happens a few more times before Mae finally decides to do what she wants, the consequences be damned.
So she tells Andrew how she feels.
This was a cute romance. Definitely a slow-burn one and I think that's why I struggled with the beginning. Once Mae tells Andrew how she feels, I really enjoyed it.
If you're looking for a fun holiday book club read, this is it!
Mae is stuck in a job she hates, with a cruddy love-life, and she's back at home living with her mom. Not to mention she has this INSANELY huge crush on Andrew, a very close family friend. Each year, her family and her parents' friends and their family get together at a cabin for Christmas. And each year, Mae nurses a huge crush on Andrew.
But this year is different and, as they're leaving the cabin, Mae and her family are in a car accident. Then bam! She wakes up back on the plane, heading to the cabin. This happens a few more times before Mae finally decides to do what she wants, the consequences be damned.
So she tells Andrew how she feels.
This was a cute romance. Definitely a slow-burn one and I think that's why I struggled with the beginning. Once Mae tells Andrew how she feels, I really enjoyed it.
If you're looking for a fun holiday book club read, this is it!
A Little Bit Wicked by Melissa Foster
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? No
5.0
Justin and Chloe pulled me from a serious reading slump. But I didn't expect anything less.
5 stars without an ugly cry ... a first for me.
โฃ
Usually, to warrant 5 stars, I have to ugly cry. And there were moments in this one where I ALMOST did. Moments that pulled at my heartstrings and made me want to reach through the pages and hug them both.โฃ
โฃ
But no ugly cry. โฃ
โฃ
This book is sweet and romantic and even a little bit suspenseful. For a book to be truly amazing, there has to be conflict. And I was on the edge of my seat, praying everything would work out for Justin and Chloe. โฃ
โฃ
๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ฎ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ!โฃ
โฃ
This is one of the reasons I always reach for a Melissa Foster book. The interconnected characters. I actually forgot how much I loved Violet and Emery until I picked up A LITTLE BIT WICKED. And of course, who could forget ๐ณ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐!โฃ
โฃ
It was also fun to see Tank as he was pre-Leah. And Gunner pre-Sid. (these aren't spoilers because each book has it's own HEA so you KNOW it's going to happen). โฃ
5 stars without an ugly cry ... a first for me.
โฃ
Usually, to warrant 5 stars, I have to ugly cry. And there were moments in this one where I ALMOST did. Moments that pulled at my heartstrings and made me want to reach through the pages and hug them both.โฃ
โฃ
But no ugly cry. โฃ
โฃ
This book is sweet and romantic and even a little bit suspenseful. For a book to be truly amazing, there has to be conflict. And I was on the edge of my seat, praying everything would work out for Justin and Chloe. โฃ
โฃ
๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ฎ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ!โฃ
โฃ
This is one of the reasons I always reach for a Melissa Foster book. The interconnected characters. I actually forgot how much I loved Violet and Emery until I picked up A LITTLE BIT WICKED. And of course, who could forget ๐ณ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐!โฃ
โฃ
It was also fun to see Tank as he was pre-Leah. And Gunner pre-Sid. (these aren't spoilers because each book has it's own HEA so you KNOW it's going to happen). โฃ
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
One of the things I loved best about PART OF YOUR WORLD was the supporting cast of animal characters. In YOURS TRULY, Briana takes a spontaneous trip to Wakan to visit her best friend Alexis and her new husband Daniel. While she's there, we get a brief appearance by the town's mascot, a large pig named Kevin Bacon!
The best part about YOURS TRULY was Jacob. He's an ER doctor who suffers from social anxiety and he's honestly one of the best protagonists I've read about in a long time. This book starts out with Briana knocking into Jacob and breaking his phone. Because of his anxiety, the confrontation between the two of them doesn't go the greatest. In order to properly apologize to Briana for calling her out while she's panicking over her brother in the ER, Jacob writes her a letter.
The back and forth between Briana and Jacob in their letters was so sweet. I've always enjoyed books where you get a little glimpse into the characters by their texting or emails. But letters were more romantic and thoughtful. I loved the way they wrote to each other, where they left them, and how the entire world seemed to revolve around these letters for a short time.
While I loved the banter and build-up to Briana and Jacob's relationship, the miscommunication trope is always a hard one for me. I understood why Jacob assumed that Briana was only pretending to be attracted to him when everyone else was around. Between anxiety and him donating a kidney to her brother ... it could be hard to tell what's real and what's not.
Many times throughout YOURS TRULY, I felt bad for Briana because her ex-husband really did a number on her. She's sworn off falling in love and getting married because all men are like him. They're all going to break her heart and she's not willing to let that happen. But as she and Jacob get closer (even under the disguise of pretending for his family), my heart broke for her because she didn't want to let herself fall in love with him.
While this book has plenty of serious moments, the banter between Jacob and Briana - how unfiltered and random it was - had me laughing out loud plenty of times. No, not just quiet titters or laughing in my head ... full-blown cackling and laughing so hard I started hiccupping. Abby Jimenez is the master of hilariously original dialogue and I never knew what was going to come out of either of these characters' mouths.
The best part about YOURS TRULY was Jacob. He's an ER doctor who suffers from social anxiety and he's honestly one of the best protagonists I've read about in a long time. This book starts out with Briana knocking into Jacob and breaking his phone. Because of his anxiety, the confrontation between the two of them doesn't go the greatest. In order to properly apologize to Briana for calling her out while she's panicking over her brother in the ER, Jacob writes her a letter.
The back and forth between Briana and Jacob in their letters was so sweet. I've always enjoyed books where you get a little glimpse into the characters by their texting or emails. But letters were more romantic and thoughtful. I loved the way they wrote to each other, where they left them, and how the entire world seemed to revolve around these letters for a short time.
While I loved the banter and build-up to Briana and Jacob's relationship, the miscommunication trope is always a hard one for me. I understood why Jacob assumed that Briana was only pretending to be attracted to him when everyone else was around. Between anxiety and him donating a kidney to her brother ... it could be hard to tell what's real and what's not.
Many times throughout YOURS TRULY, I felt bad for Briana because her ex-husband really did a number on her. She's sworn off falling in love and getting married because all men are like him. They're all going to break her heart and she's not willing to let that happen. But as she and Jacob get closer (even under the disguise of pretending for his family), my heart broke for her because she didn't want to let herself fall in love with him.
While this book has plenty of serious moments, the banter between Jacob and Briana - how unfiltered and random it was - had me laughing out loud plenty of times. No, not just quiet titters or laughing in my head ... full-blown cackling and laughing so hard I started hiccupping. Abby Jimenez is the master of hilariously original dialogue and I never knew what was going to come out of either of these characters' mouths.
Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I have always had a soft spot for books where the matchmaker needs to find a match. This is a sweet opposites attract, enemies-to-lovers story that will warm your heart.
Olivia has just taken over her grandmother's matchmaking company, Lunar Love. She finds out that Bennett (the sexy guy she bumped into at the bakery and had instant chemistry with) is creating an app - ZodiaCupid - to rival her company. There's a bet to see who can get the other person to fall in love first and, as they're both trying to set each other up on the perfect date, sparks start flying.
I think my favorite character in this book was Po Po - Olivia's Chinese grandmother. She's sweet, supportive, and reminded me a lot of my own Nana. Throughout the book, it's obvious that she only wants Olivia to find love and be happy.
I was surprised that I learned quite a bit about Chinese culture and the Zodiac through Olivia and Bennett. Both being mixed-race, they're learning as the story progresses and it was fun to be along for that ride. My heart went out to Bennett as he started talking about his mother and losing her.
As with many rom-coms, I loved the banter between Olivia and Bennett! You can tell right from the start that they're made for each other, even though Olivia is set in her belief that they're incompatible because of the Zodiac. They get to know each other throughout the book and their interactions felt so easy and natural.
Lunar Love is definitely a slow-burn but I enjoyed the journey these two characters went on. This was such a refreshingly original story and has placed Lauren Kung Jessen firmly on my auto-buy list.
Olivia has just taken over her grandmother's matchmaking company, Lunar Love. She finds out that Bennett (the sexy guy she bumped into at the bakery and had instant chemistry with) is creating an app - ZodiaCupid - to rival her company. There's a bet to see who can get the other person to fall in love first and, as they're both trying to set each other up on the perfect date, sparks start flying.
I think my favorite character in this book was Po Po - Olivia's Chinese grandmother. She's sweet, supportive, and reminded me a lot of my own Nana. Throughout the book, it's obvious that she only wants Olivia to find love and be happy.
I was surprised that I learned quite a bit about Chinese culture and the Zodiac through Olivia and Bennett. Both being mixed-race, they're learning as the story progresses and it was fun to be along for that ride. My heart went out to Bennett as he started talking about his mother and losing her.
As with many rom-coms, I loved the banter between Olivia and Bennett! You can tell right from the start that they're made for each other, even though Olivia is set in her belief that they're incompatible because of the Zodiac. They get to know each other throughout the book and their interactions felt so easy and natural.
Lunar Love is definitely a slow-burn but I enjoyed the journey these two characters went on. This was such a refreshingly original story and has placed Lauren Kung Jessen firmly on my auto-buy list.