mjladow's reviews
20 reviews

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.0

June is Pride Month! Love is in the air, and we should celebrate it. My family celebrates pride 365 days a year, so during June I read romances that celebrate diverse love. In the past, we've read books that celebrate men finding their forever matches, but this year, we deliberately chose a lesbian romance.
Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey immediately captured our attention when it began like the movie, You've Got Mail. Rosie Taft is a successful bookstore owner. She has an online crush with Brie, a secretive and secluded author, and she loves their texts on X (formerly Twitter).

Jane Breslin, works for her family's real estate company. She sends Rosie a letter informing her that the bookstore's lease is up December 31 and will not be renewed.

Complications further arise when they meet and are instantly attracted to one another. Add in that Jane is actually Brie, and you've got a wild ride of a story.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot which was twisty enough to keep me entertained. I routed for Rosie and Jane as they muddled through their conflicts. Lacey's writing flowed easily, and I loved Read Between the Lines from page one to the end.

Any Duke in a Storm by Amalie Howard

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adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing 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

5.0

The cover of Any Duke in a Storm by Amalie Howard is my absolute favorite, and the novel is A+, too!

Any Duke in a Storm is a romance at sea. Lady Lisbeth Medford, Countess of Waterford is on a mission. Undercover as Bonnie Bess, a fearsome, blood-thirsty pirate, Lisbeth has a feeling that Raphael Saint is more than he seems. And he is, as the nephew of Charles Dubois, The Prince as he is called in the smuggling world, Raphael wants nothing more than to destroy the man for killing his father. But, Lisbeth also wants to capture Dubois and the rest of his smuggling ring. Close confines on the ship keep the sparks flying between the two as they navigate the steamy waters of to their happy ever after.

We loved a lot about this novel:

1. Narina, the swearing, pirate-loving eleven-year-old girl, who stows away and ends up part of the crew. Her curses were by far one of the most hysterical parts of the novel.
2. The Syren and her crew. Lisbeth's crew is more than half women. Her quartermaster is Estelle, her former lover, and now an outspoken friend. The ship is a character in this novel, and we loved her.
3. Raphael Saint. Of all the lead male protagonists in Amalie Howard's novels, this one is the BEST. He's a French duke, a swaggery pirate, and super sexy.
4. Lady Bronwyn makes a return appearance. She's the best. We loved her in The Duke in Question, and she hasn't changed one bit.

Overall, Any Duke in a Storm was a 5 out of 5 Cups of Hot Tea. It's Bridgerton on a boat and in a ballroom.

Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoy

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.75

This book was beautiful. Inspiring, delicious, and funny. It had the best cast of characters I've seen lately. Strong female friendships are my favorite and this book delivers. Plus it has a lot if steamy sex, deliciously described food, and an underdog to route for! Great book.

The Princess Stakes by Amalie Howard

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adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

5.0

In really enjoyed this book. It had all my favorite tropes... sexy sea captain, 2nd chance love, sassy friends, forced proximity, royalty, empowered women, women fighting fir themselves.... I could go on and on.

Circe by Madeline Miller

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative slow-paced

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

5.0

Based on the Oydessey, this book is addictive and a total must read for anyone who likes strong female characters and mythology.

The Rakehell of Roth by Amalie Howard

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense 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

4.5

This book picked up in the second half and raced to the finish like a fire engine. The plot was not always believable, but the characters made up for it. Team Iz/Isobele 100 percent!

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced