readintowonderland's reviews
427 reviews

Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

4.5

This was such a great time to read as I've come to expect with my love of the first book. I love the way it uses comedy to make dark concepts not too heavy to get through. I cannot wait for the conclusion of this series! My only real complaint with this one was that I found Lark's narrator's laugh incredibly grating, especially with how often she laughs. It definitely affected my enjoyment and brought my review down a quarter star. 

This book contains a lot of open-door spice, which is part of the plot. If that is not your thing, I do not recommend this series. 

If you are a dark romance fan, or looking to try it, I highly recommend this series! Just be sure to check the trigger warnings first. It will be worth the laughs!

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

3.75

It got very hard to follow at the end when the pacing suddenly became a breakneck speed. The concept was much better than the execution. I'd love to see a different take on this style of story.

Scout Elf In Love by Wynter Ryan

1.25

This one was marginally better than the first one but genuinely not by much. At least Ginger didn't ruin Santa. I found myself cringing a lot from the repetitiveness and unappealing cheesiness. I love a cheesy romance but this is not it. 

I also truly cannot get past the fact that this book sexualized a baby monitor. Instead of worrying about the baby, it was used for much less wholesome purposes. 

I truly do not understand how such an incredibly short and simple story can create so many plot holes. With the world she created, the rules are not at all consistent and instantly eliminate all of the stakes she built up to propel the plot. If Santa knows everything, none of the FMCs in this series should've been punished to meet their "snowmates" in the first place. If you are going to make a rule the catalyst for your plot, you can't just delete the rule to make a happy ending. 

I received this book as an arc from the author. My review is honest and voluntary.

Hexed by Emily McIntire

4.5

I liked this one pretty well but the pacing definitely felt off in some parts.

A proper review is coming when I process my thoughts

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

4.0

The audiobook is honestly not the way I would recommend consuming this story. In this form, it was merely okay. I think the beautiful and thought-provoking writing would come across more in a print or ebook experience. I could see reading this book again physically in a few years and finding quotes worth annotating. The audiobook just kinda ruined the magic for me.

A proper review is coming when I process my thoughts

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

4.5

While I enjoyed my reading experience with this one, I did find it quite difficult to pay attention to. I do not really get the magic other people seem to with her writing style but it was a fun time for the most part.

A proper review is coming when I process my thoughts

If You're Reading This by Kiersten Modglin

3.25

This was really hard to follow not gonna lie. It felt like so much but so little was happening the entire time. 

It was really weird that all of the men were so addicted to her. Only one of them has a history with her, the other two are oddly obsessive but at least she reciprocated I guess. 

I do not really recommend this one. It was the least thrilling thriller ever as the stakes are only with the deceased really. The title is better than the content of the book

Swingers by Marnie Vinge

3.75

 I wish the tension was much more consistent throughout the story. The ending was rather predictable but still thrilling to an extent. I wanted something more to come from the storyline with the detective. it just kinda, stopped.

All I Want for Christmas is My Brother's Best Friend by Wynter Ryan

4.25

I am happy to report that this book is back to the quality I've come to expect from Wynter. It was a cute and fun romance story. The Christmas elements of the story truly took a back seat to the wedding planning plot which was refreshing amongst many holiday puns common in short holiday romances.

It was such a cute rom-com vibe. I loved seeing Sutton and Ryan together. They had the excellent backstory and banter I adore. At times it was a bit overly cheesy for my tastes which was the only thing bringing my star rating down. 

This book does contain a spicy scene but it is skippable

I received this book as an arc from the author. My review is honest and voluntary.

Love in the Scottish Christmas Village by Beatrice Bradshaw

4.75

If you are looking for a nice short holiday story that isn't so aggressively Christmas, this is the book for you. It was a wonderful time to read with the perfect blend of wholesome and steamy moments. I found it to be incredibly heartwarming from cover to cover. It was the perfect ay to wrap up this series in a full circle moment. 

The banter in this one was so good! Beatrice truly never disappoints with the quips between her characters. The lighthearted teasing will always be my favorite. 

Can I take a moment to share my appreciation for the giant Christmas tree scene? It was purely hilarious and perfectly done. It genuinely made me pause reading just to laugh. 

One of my favorite aspects of this book is how the MCs actually communicate with each other. They act like mature adults and take the time to communicate about how they are feeling and share any concerns they have. Healthy relationships like Trish and Jack's need to be in books more often. 

I also want to take a moment to applaud Beatrice for including LGBTQ+ side characters once again. This natural inclusion is exactly what I hope for as a queer person reading a MF romance. 

This book does contain spicy scenes that contribute to the plot. If that is not your thing, I do not recommend this series. 

Overall, I highly recommend this one for people that don't like too much holiday madness but still want to feel seasonal. It was a really sweet time that was perfectly crafted for a good time. 

I received this book as an arc from the author. My review is honest and voluntary.