jenngrandreads's reviews
558 reviews

Heir of Stardust and Secrets by CC Hartly

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious 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

This book was such a RUSH!!! I could NOT put it down, and am DYING to read book 2!!!! Lots of people are likening it to ACOTAR, which I agree with to an extent. (But a LOT of romantasy books have crossover elements!) But while I see that in the story, I loved ACOTAR, so I wasn't sad to see the similarities!!

The FMC, Nyleeria, was totally BA, and I loved her character development. The characters are all really fabulous. There are High Lords, Seasonal Courts, and some good ole slooooooow burn ;)

This book will draw you in from the beginning, and leave you hanging, dying for more at the end! The twist at the end may be predictable, but that didn't mean I wasn't still shouting at the book!

For a debut romantasy, this book is fantastic. There's fae, humans, tough choices, high stakes, action, world-building, romance, and of course some spice ;) It's a GREAT read, and if you are an ACOTAR or Quicksilver fan, I think you'll end up loving it like I did!!

Rating: 4.5/5 rounded up
Spice: 2.5/5 red peppers

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.

Chasing Yesterday by Lynn Ricci

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was such a fun, sweet story! Ricci weaves together a story of heartache, grief, and betrayal, but also friendship, self-discovery, first love, and the cutest of secret admirers. 

When Katelyn/Katie was in high school, she began receiving letters in her locker from a secret admirer. Afraid she wouldn't think the same about him once they met, he kept holding off on meeting in person. She begins writing him back, and through the magic of correspondence, Katie begins to have real feelings for him too. 

Fast forward to present day, when Katie is grieving the death of her husband, and secret admirer. She feels guilty over not being as despondent as a grieving wife should, since for the past few years, their marriage wasn't in a good place. 

She processes all her feelings and memories with a few of her friends who have remained close since high school, and she begins to remember who she was before she got married, and what dreams she used to have. 

I don't want to give away too much, so I'll stop there, but I absolutely adored this book!! There's a big surprising twist to one of the characters, and it's probably not the one you may be thinking of. I loved the close knit friendships she still has and how she relies on them so deeply, since I am still super close friends with some of my friends from high school. There's something special about the friends with whom you walked through the awkward and difficult days of teenager-hood.

If you're looking for a unique, NON cookie-cutter love story, I would highly recommend Lynn Ricci's book. It was one that I truly enjoyed reading, and will remember for a long time! Ready for her to write some more!!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief

If This Was a Movie by Morgan Elizabeth

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I absolutely LOVED Passenger Princess, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on another Evergreen Park book!! And as per usual, Morgan hit it out of the park!! Jules and Nate were some of the sweetest MCs, plus Nate’s daughter, Sophie, ends up unintentionally playing matchmaker to her dad and Jules, who, unbeknownst to her, have met before! Nate decides to be all in and win Jules back, one romantic comedy at a time, and the rest is the perfect HEA!

See You Next Fall by Annabelle McCormack

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

It’s no secret I LOVE Annabelle McCormack books. And this one lived up to my inner hype! Even though I read it *after* its sequel, it was still fun to see how these long-distance friends fell in love and set up book 2, “He Loves Me Knot.” (Which was also a 5/5 star read for me! This was seriously the most perfect fall read!!!

Elle and Quinn were soulmates from the start. From their first spontaneous kiss in a closet to hide from another woman who has her sights on Quinn. They begin an annual week together (as friends...or so they tell themselves!) 3 very strict rules:

1. Sex is off the table.
2. Honesty is paramount.
3. Meet the first week of October, every year.

And I think we all know what's coming...the blurring of lines between friendship and feelings. Not knowing if the other person feels the same. Thinking their friendship is too important to go "there." But could falling in love with your best friend be the best adventure they're both afraid to begin?

Secret Love by Willow Aster

emotional funny 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

This was my first Willow Aster book, but it most DEFINITELY will not be my last. This book was SO cute, with the addition of all the daughters, the single dad element, and the fact that Henley is a SUBSTITUTE TEACHER! I am a substitute teacher, so I especially related to her in that aspect. I loved the way they met, followed up with the next time they met! 

This book was cozy, romantic, and the perfect warm hug of a book for fall!

Sunlight by Devney Perry

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Sunlight follows West’s (our MMC from the first book) younger brother, Jax, and let me tell you. Jax’s story was a RIDE. Right off the bat Jax and Sasha have awesome chemistry and banter. After meeting for the first time, Jax asks Sasha out on a date and she almost agrees until she learns his name, and that he’s her new boss. 

The way Devney Perry weaves together a story gets you invested with the characters emotionally is amazing. I didn’t want this story to end. Even after Sasha’s big secret is revealed, and Jax has the wrong reaction, you still love how authentic they feel. I’m already looking forward to being back at Haven River Ranch for book 3!!!

Mr. Heartbreaker by Piper Rayne

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was my first Piper Rayne book, but it will DEFINITELY not be my last. I think I’ve found a new hockey romance author to add to my faves list!!

Mr. Heartbreaker kicks off with a bang (no pun intended lol) and the fun just doesn’t end. I absolutely ADORED Rowan and Kyleigh and the way they just couldn’t stay away from each other. Their chemistry was sizzling and their banter was bantering! Even when Kyleigh knows the secret she's been hiding from Rowan is going to come out, she keeps waiting because she wants just one more day with him before the truth comes out.

Rowan is the ultimate cinnamon roll on the inside, alpha male hockey tough guy on the outside, and Kyleigh is the butter that melts him! He definitely falls first, and he falls HARD. Kyleigh finds out something heartbreaking at the beginning of the book, and I loved how Rowan turns into her steady anchor without her really even knowing it.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was on POINT. It was narrated with a whole cast, done duet narration style (meaning each narrator spoke for their character even if it was on someone else's POV) and it was phenomenal. And there are some big name narrators in there!! (I see you Teddy Hamilton!!) Listening to it really brought it to life. I need more of The Nest!!!

Divided by Aimee Aumock, Missy Kampa

adventurous inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Divided felt like being transported into a fairytale, and it was a super fun journey!

The story was intriguing enough to keep me captivated, and the characters were really sweet. Ari and Torren made for very cute YA love interests! I would definitely recommend this!

The Fake Wedding Project by Pippa Grant

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I LOVE Pippa Grant books!! And this one was like reading a Romeo and Juliet Hallmark movie set in a town where it’s always Christmas! But instead of dual suicide, there was fake dating and pure perfection. 

For her whole life, Amanda has had to hide her friendship with Lorelai, due to the massive hatred between their families. So when she falls (literally) back into Dane's life, with the confession that she told her family they were engaged, he jumps right in due to his lifelong secret crush on Amanda. 

What ensues is so sweet, the whole premise of the fake engagement being to unite their families and convince them to let go of their generations old rivalry, that no one can seem to remember the origin of.

Was the plot predictable? Of course. But that's why we love romance books like this. It was still so fun to watch Amanda and Dane realize there was more growing between them than friendship, and all the steamy, spicy moments along the journey!

I loved this sweet, swoony, steamy book so very much!!

Sideline Play by Taylor James

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Romance + baseball will always be a win to me. And that has proved true once more with Taylor James’, Sideline Play!! 

Remington and Scarlett are 2 of my new favorite MCs!! Their chemistry, their banter, the way Scarlett opens up to Remi, it’s all just perfection!! And the side characters were SO FUN. It’s all a win for me!!

Tropes: 
- Major League Baseball
- Coach's daughter
- Teammate's sister
- Age gap
- Cinnamon roll MMC
- Forced proximity
- Injured player/athletic training intern

Spice: 3 chili peppers