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charleys_bookshelf's Reviews (252)
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
Voyeur Cafe is an enemies-to-lovers romance that still has me in a chokehold, even after finishing it a couple of weeks ago. Voyeur Cafe by Jasmine Grace is a spicy rom-com about Allie and Lucas! Allie owns Turbine Cafe, a cute local coffee shop with a wall of windows, whereas Lucas runs a motorcycle mechanic shop!
Jasmine Grace did a fantastic job writing the banter and phenazines between these two characters. I loved reading their text exchanges! The romance was such a slow burn that by the time he actually took her out, even she was pissed that he kept introducing her as "his friend."
I loved that there was no third-act break-up, the health communication in this book was hot, and the spicy scenes were incredibly written. Overall, this book was heartwarming, and I loved every second of reading it. I will definitely be rereading it!
*ARC Review
Jasmine Grace did a fantastic job writing the banter and phenazines between these two characters. I loved reading their text exchanges! The romance was such a slow burn that by the time he actually took her out, even she was pissed that he kept introducing her as "his friend."
I loved that there was no third-act break-up, the health communication in this book was hot, and the spicy scenes were incredibly written. Overall, this book was heartwarming, and I loved every second of reading it. I will definitely be rereading it!
*ARC Review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Too Far by Abby Millsaps is the third and final book in the Boys of Lake Chapel series. You need to read books one and two to understand what is happening in this book. Please read the trigger warning before starting this series.
I thoroughly read this series and was excited to get my hands on the third book. This college sports romance kept me guessing how this found family would have their happily ever after. I was left a little disappointed with the ending after all of the action and twists. It just did not hit the way I wanted. However, Abby Millsaps did an excellent job writing an exciting series and wrapping up all the stories and issues that have arisen throughout the first two novels. I loved the relationships in this book. Kylian is absolutely my favorite, and the spice is so hot!
I would definitely recommend picking up this series if you like Found Family, College Sports Romance, Chronic Illness Rep, Mental Health Rep, and Why Choose Relationships!
*ARC Review
I thoroughly read this series and was excited to get my hands on the third book. This college sports romance kept me guessing how this found family would have their happily ever after. I was left a little disappointed with the ending after all of the action and twists. It just did not hit the way I wanted. However, Abby Millsaps did an excellent job writing an exciting series and wrapping up all the stories and issues that have arisen throughout the first two novels. I loved the relationships in this book. Kylian is absolutely my favorite, and the spice is so hot!
I would definitely recommend picking up this series if you like Found Family, College Sports Romance, Chronic Illness Rep, Mental Health Rep, and Why Choose Relationships!
*ARC Review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers is a cute, sapphic wintery small-town romcom! This book is giving all of the hallmark vibes.
This sapphic romance had all the hallmark classic features, with Liz coming home to her small town after being laid off. She runs into her high school crush, Cori, who runs the local Artisan gift shop. Liz struggles to figure out her next moves when she gets a big surprise and drags Cori into a fake relationship!
Fake dating is my favorite trope! I love the messiness, and how both parties are already into each other, so it turns into a battle. I don't want this to be fake, but I can't get too attached because it is supposed to be fake! I loved the instant chemistry between Liz and Cori. Beers such a sweet, heartfelt relationship between these two characters that even when things got crazy, they still supported each other. Georgia Beers did a great job creating a holiday romance that still had some twists and turns. While the story started a little slow, once it got going, I was engaged and excited to see what was coming next. It had an air of individuality, even in a used
Overall, this book was heartfelt and felt like a warm hug. It is one that you can cuddle up on the couch with a warm mug of coffee and read till your heart is content. I had a great time reading this sapphic romance and would highly recommend picking up Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers.
This sapphic romance had all the hallmark classic features, with Liz coming home to her small town after being laid off. She runs into her high school crush, Cori, who runs the local Artisan gift shop. Liz struggles to figure out her next moves when she gets a big surprise and drags Cori into a fake relationship!
Fake dating is my favorite trope! I love the messiness, and how both parties are already into each other, so it turns into a battle. I don't want this to be fake, but I can't get too attached because it is supposed to be fake! I loved the instant chemistry between Liz and Cori. Beers such a sweet, heartfelt relationship between these two characters that even when things got crazy, they still supported each other. Georgia Beers did a great job creating a holiday romance that still had some twists and turns. While the story started a little slow, once it got going, I was engaged and excited to see what was coming next. It had an air of individuality, even in a used
Overall, this book was heartfelt and felt like a warm hug. It is one that you can cuddle up on the couch with a warm mug of coffee and read till your heart is content. I had a great time reading this sapphic romance and would highly recommend picking up Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Why did it take so long for me to pick up the book?
Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne is a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and I absolutely loved it! It hit all of the warm and fuzzy feelings that Pride and Prejudice do for me, but in a modern setting!
This book is an opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers romance. The story revolves around the two main characters, Dorsey and Liza, who have a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Their chemistry is instant, but their stubbornness adds to the tension and the romantic build-up. I particularly enjoyed the witty and snarky dialogue between the two characters, which made the book a fun and enjoyable read.
The dual POV of the book was also a great feature, making it easy to understand the perspectives of both the main characters. I also tandem-read this book while listening to the audio; the narrators did a fantastic job and made you feel like you were a part of the story. I highly recommend Pride and Protest to anyone looking for a heartwarming and entertaining novel.
Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne is a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and I absolutely loved it! It hit all of the warm and fuzzy feelings that Pride and Prejudice do for me, but in a modern setting!
This book is an opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers romance. The story revolves around the two main characters, Dorsey and Liza, who have a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Their chemistry is instant, but their stubbornness adds to the tension and the romantic build-up. I particularly enjoyed the witty and snarky dialogue between the two characters, which made the book a fun and enjoyable read.
The dual POV of the book was also a great feature, making it easy to understand the perspectives of both the main characters. I also tandem-read this book while listening to the audio; the narrators did a fantastic job and made you feel like you were a part of the story. I highly recommend Pride and Protest to anyone looking for a heartwarming and entertaining novel.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp is the second book of A Horse Rescue Mystery, but it can be as a standalone; however, there are spoilers for what happened in book one.
This murder mystery follows Mallory, who runs a horse rescue in their small town and has a propensity for getting involved in murder cases. This murder mystery was a cozy story that gave me the "Murder She Wrote" vibes I was looking for! Mallory is brought to catch a runaway horse and finds a dead body in the process. Mallory sensed that there was more to the story than beings poking around the murder for clues and found herself smacked down in the middle.
I enjoyed Amber Camp's storytelling abilities, which worked on previous issues efficiently without feeling like I missed too much information. I loved the setting, the nosy guard donkey, and the characters. However, Mallory, the horse rescue's main character and owner, got on my nerves. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend picking up Trotting into Trouble for yourself!
*I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This murder mystery follows Mallory, who runs a horse rescue in their small town and has a propensity for getting involved in murder cases. This murder mystery was a cozy story that gave me the "Murder She Wrote" vibes I was looking for! Mallory is brought to catch a runaway horse and finds a dead body in the process. Mallory sensed that there was more to the story than beings poking around the murder for clues and found herself smacked down in the middle.
I enjoyed Amber Camp's storytelling abilities, which worked on previous issues efficiently without feeling like I missed too much information. I loved the setting, the nosy guard donkey, and the characters. However, Mallory, the horse rescue's main character and owner, got on my nerves. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend picking up Trotting into Trouble for yourself!
*I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Ghost of Hexes Past by Lou Wilham is the second book in the Witches of Moondale series.
I have had book one on my TBR, and I am so glad I finally picked up these books. The Ghost of Hexes Past continues on the story from the first book, The Hex Next Door. I would not recommend reading this as a standalone, as there is a great deal of world-building and character development in book 1.
This book has all of the found family warm and fuzzy feelings, as Rus has never felt safe and at home anywhere, even as she tried her hardest to push everyone away. I loved how this second book wrapped everything up. The power and magic in this book were brilliant, and Wilham did a fantastic job creating a cozy witchy read, but with power, Necromancy, and possession! I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and world-building, and I am ready to pick up more books by Lou Wilham.
This book checked many paranormal fantasy reads, and I recommend picking up this series for yourself!
*ARC Review: I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have had book one on my TBR, and I am so glad I finally picked up these books. The Ghost of Hexes Past continues on the story from the first book, The Hex Next Door. I would not recommend reading this as a standalone, as there is a great deal of world-building and character development in book 1.
This book has all of the found family warm and fuzzy feelings, as Rus has never felt safe and at home anywhere, even as she tried her hardest to push everyone away. I loved how this second book wrapped everything up. The power and magic in this book were brilliant, and Wilham did a fantastic job creating a cozy witchy read, but with power, Necromancy, and possession! I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and world-building, and I am ready to pick up more books by Lou Wilham.
This book checked many paranormal fantasy reads, and I recommend picking up this series for yourself!
*ARC Review: I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Hex Next Door by Lou Wilham is the first book in the Witches of Moondale series. This book is full of magic and power and has a queer romance between Azure and Rus at the center as well as a mystery of who is after Rus's daughter for her magical abilities.
I have recently been obsessed with the paranormal/ witch books, and this one checked all of the boxes I have been wanting. I enjoyed how the magic of this world was and its present at all moments, how Azure and Rus work through their decade's worth of history and hurt between them. Everything about these two is complicated, but now that Rus has returned, she plans to try to start a new coven. Can she and Azure pick up where they left off? This book ends with a happy-for-now ending, and I dove head-first into the second book.
The world-building magic systems within Moondale and Irondale were terrific, and I loved the different variations of magic used. Rus has always felt like an outcast, even before the use of Necromancy. I loved watching her interact with her new family and fit back into Moondale with the people who always wanted to be there for her and her releasing that.
I recommend picking up this book if you like queer paranormal romance, small towns, and magic!
I have recently been obsessed with the paranormal/ witch books, and this one checked all of the boxes I have been wanting. I enjoyed how the magic of this world was and its present at all moments, how Azure and Rus work through their decade's worth of history and hurt between them. Everything about these two is complicated, but now that Rus has returned, she plans to try to start a new coven. Can she and Azure pick up where they left off? This book ends with a happy-for-now ending, and I dove head-first into the second book.
The world-building magic systems within Moondale and Irondale were terrific, and I loved the different variations of magic used. Rus has always felt like an outcast, even before the use of Necromancy. I loved watching her interact with her new family and fit back into Moondale with the people who always wanted to be there for her and her releasing that.
I recommend picking up this book if you like queer paranormal romance, small towns, and magic!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cakes for the Grump by Sookh Kaur is a slow-burn, fake engagement romcom! Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes in the romance world; there is something about the banter and watching them struggling with pretending to be in love while trying to pretend they aren't in love, and this book hit just the spot!
The main characters, Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamic, were fun, flirty, and exciting to read. I loved their banter and mock disdain for one another from the beginning. Sookh Kaur did a great job writing characters so that you become invested in their individual success and the success of their relationship.
Cakes for the Grump has been one of my favorite faking dating romcoms this year, and I highly recommend picking it up for a read!
*ARC Review: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main characters, Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamic, were fun, flirty, and exciting to read. I loved their banter and mock disdain for one another from the beginning. Sookh Kaur did a great job writing characters so that you become invested in their individual success and the success of their relationship.
Cakes for the Grump has been one of my favorite faking dating romcoms this year, and I highly recommend picking it up for a read!
*ARC Review: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin is an enemies-to-lovers romance, and I loved every minute of it. This second-chance romance captured my heart best, and I was sad when it ended!
I am a sucker for good banter and the back-and-forth between the main characters; being mean is a love language! Collins Carter and Nate Adams used to be best friends, and after ten years of being apart, they are trusted back into each other's path when Collins is forced to move back home after a crazy backup. I love the revenge setting, which is foreplay for Collins and Nate's relationship!
This is my second novel by Alexa Martin, and I enjoy her writing style and the stories she creates with passion, humor, and a chance to find love! Also, the inception of her writing a romcom in a romcom is brilliant!
I recommend this cute rom-com to anyone looking for a cute read that will have you laughing, crying, and begging for these two characters to make it work!
*ARC Review
I am a sucker for good banter and the back-and-forth between the main characters; being mean is a love language! Collins Carter and Nate Adams used to be best friends, and after ten years of being apart, they are trusted back into each other's path when Collins is forced to move back home after a crazy backup. I love the revenge setting, which is foreplay for Collins and Nate's relationship!
This is my second novel by Alexa Martin, and I enjoy her writing style and the stories she creates with passion, humor, and a chance to find love! Also, the inception of her writing a romcom in a romcom is brilliant!
I recommend this cute rom-com to anyone looking for a cute read that will have you laughing, crying, and begging for these two characters to make it work!
*ARC Review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mixing up Mayhem by Heather Nix is a fun, cozy fantasy romcom!
I loved every second of this book! I love cozy fantasy books and have loved Heather Nix’s stories since her debut novel! I love their writing and stories! Mixing up Mayhem is so different from her previous books, but it was so good!
This cozy fantasy stars Jackie, a full-time Pastry chef who goes through a rough breakup and throws herself into her work on a new and creative dessert! In doing so, with some help from herbs and a drop of blood, she opens a portal to hell and outcomes Vexx! Vexx is a demon princess with a fascination for the world on the surface! As things heat up between Jackie and Vexx, neither is ready for it to end!
I read this book in two days and was obsessed with this book! It was sweet and had these two women finding love for themselves and each other and finding a place in the world!
If you love paranormal cozy books, this a must-read!
I loved every second of this book! I love cozy fantasy books and have loved Heather Nix’s stories since her debut novel! I love their writing and stories! Mixing up Mayhem is so different from her previous books, but it was so good!
This cozy fantasy stars Jackie, a full-time Pastry chef who goes through a rough breakup and throws herself into her work on a new and creative dessert! In doing so, with some help from herbs and a drop of blood, she opens a portal to hell and outcomes Vexx! Vexx is a demon princess with a fascination for the world on the surface! As things heat up between Jackie and Vexx, neither is ready for it to end!
I read this book in two days and was obsessed with this book! It was sweet and had these two women finding love for themselves and each other and finding a place in the world!
If you love paranormal cozy books, this a must-read!