kimalah's reviews
1411 reviews

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

Wonderful, just wonderful. The story continues in Faerie with much at stake, with the oddness and danger and fantastical that you expect from the Fae, but viewed through the eyes and writing of Emily and her very grounded and particular ways. There are twists and turns and I was all in all the way. I loved it.

Layers to Peel by Tilly Wallace

emotional mysterious 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

4.0

So I’ll admit that I took a while to warm up to Isabel because wow, major mean girl. However, that is part of her journey, and Tilly Wallace managed to make me care about her and her story. I’ve liked Alick since the first book. I have a fondness for Beauty and the Beast stories, and I add this to the list. The overarching mystery with the vampire spy for the French continued and advanced. Thanks to Marian Hussey for her continuing excellent audiobook narration. Onto book four.

Hard to Get by Laura Moher

emotional 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? Yes

4.0

Hard to Get is the third book in the Big Love from Galway series, centering around Andi, friend of the FMCs of the first two books, and Kevin, new to town MMC. Andi runs the local domestic violence shelter and its associated programs. She comes from a generational history of domestic violence, which has led her to be interested in short liaisons and no entanglements. Kevin was recently dumped by his fiancé former being to “vanilla”. His pain in the aftermath led to his moving from Nebraska to Galway, North Carolina.

Andi and Kevin meet one night at the local bar, hook up, and then Andi goes on her way. They end up connecting in various situations after that night, and begin a platonic friendship. Then they find out their one night stand led to pregnancy.

I will be honest-accidental pregnancy is one of my least-liked plot lines. But I gave this a chance because I like the author’s previous books. It was ok for me. I liked the characters, the shelter plot line was good, the chemistry of the couple was good, and it was nice to see characters from previous books. I appreciate that the pregnancy was noted as happening even with the characters taking responsible precautions, as happens in real life. There was no discussion of options (or the lack there of) other than carrying the pregnancy, which I found a bit disappointing. 

Overall, while this kind of story is a tough go for me, I thought it was handled better than some I’ve read. I plan to continue reading the series. Note that there is frank discussion of domestic violence and abuse for those who may have difficulty reading about these topics.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.

Sven by Mary Warren

emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

Enjoyable hockey romance with a plus size FMC and a surprise single dad MMC. Book banning and targeting of teachers by “parental rights” organizations, abusive parents, and addiction are all subplots, but there is plenty of steam and characters who are gone for each other. The story got a little repetitive at times, but overall it is an enjoyable read. 

One Night Hand Stand by Julia Kent

emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

4.75

One Night (Hand) Stand is what I think of as a grown-up romance. The story starts as a one-night stand with frank and descriptive narration and discussion. It is definitely high heat with humor during and after love scenes throughout the book. Both main characters are hiding something from each other which later has to be confronted and dealt with. There are themes of grief, forgiveness, use and misuse of power, and vulnerability. It kept me interested throughout, only setting down the book when real life had to interrupt. I hope there will be more books within this group, especially for Jared. 

Thank you to the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Kisses to Steal by Tilly Wallace

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.0

Another good book from Tilly Wallace in The Highland Wolves series, this one involving a courtesan whose protector just died and a young lycanthrope who is unable to shift as of yet. The ongoing storyline regarding the French spies and unknown but impending treasonous plots continues to move forward, this time involving a soul eater who is in pursuit of our heroine. This series is much more open door than other series of Wallace’s that I’ve read (not a complaint at all, just something to note.)

Marian Hussey is great again at narration. I’ve already begun number 3 in the series.

While the Duke Was Sleeping by Samara Parish

emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

While the Duke Was Sleeping is a sweet, fun retelling of the movie “While He Was Sleeping.” Adelaide is a very capable FMC who is juggling a lot of balls at all times. Rhett is a well-worn rake returned from the Continent against his will. Shenanigans of various sorts ensue, leading to much pining and yearning. The basis of both the book and the novel is a lie of identity which some may find very uncomfortable, even when it can be justified or at least resolved with amends. Love scenes are on the mild side with only a couple towards the end.

I enjoyed the story a lot (and I am a longtime fan of the movie) and can see future books with Rhett’s siblings.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Secrets to Reveal by Tilly Wallace

adventurous emotional 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

4.0

A fun paranormal historical romance involving Scottish werewolves, French vampiric spies, and a brilliant female cryptologist during the Regency era. Marian Hussey’s narration is wonderful. 

Murder at King's Crossing by Andrea Penrose

emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

An enjoyable mystery that I learned from. But the cast of characters is getting rather unwieldy and loses some focus because of it. Overall, it was diverting and I plan to continue the series.

Never Gamble Your Heart by Lindsay Lovise

emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

Never Gamble Your Heart is a fun historical romance with a governess spy trying to expose a conspiracy by getting a position in the home of the owner of a gambling hell. Subterfuge, attraction, feelings and mystery ensue. It’s light and enjoyable and something I needed for relief in dark times.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.