Take a photo of a barcode or cover
sarahsbookstack's Reviews (2.6k)
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Olivia becomes guardian of her non-verbal Autistic brother, Lucas. Her life as a high power attorney on track to make partner becomes upended by this and also with Lucas's caregiver Nate.
This book hits me right in the heart as a mother of someone with ASD. I'm so glad that this author gave Lucas a POV because it's often hard to know what someone is thinking but especially if they can't communicate well or at all. He had feelings and emotions just like everyone else but I loved to see how things did affect him from his POV.
There's A LOT of character growth for all 3 of these POVs. They take many different paths to get to their best selves. This was just a beautiful book and aptly titled.
This book hits me right in the heart as a mother of someone with ASD. I'm so glad that this author gave Lucas a POV because it's often hard to know what someone is thinking but especially if they can't communicate well or at all. He had feelings and emotions just like everyone else but I loved to see how things did affect him from his POV.
There's A LOT of character growth for all 3 of these POVs. They take many different paths to get to their best selves. This was just a beautiful book and aptly titled.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
I'm always a bit weary of Bob 2 in a trilogy but this one felt so exciting to me and I think I may have devoured it even faster than book 1.
This picks up immediately after book 1 and the passion and angst are so thick in the air, no one can escape the way Lia and Prince Xander feel about each other. I think they are definitely both stubborn when it comes to admitting things. The banter is just delicious.
I love that Lia's sisters from the temple get to attend to her in the palace. I love how two of them become close to two of Xander's guards. But it's also bittersweet because of the vows they have pledged themselves to.
I feel that in the next book, Lia and her sisters are going to be figuring out some hard truths to their pledges that may not have been totally for their protection. The ending has some shocks that are going to be utterly hard to forget.
This picks up immediately after book 1 and the passion and angst are so thick in the air, no one can escape the way Lia and Prince Xander feel about each other. I think they are definitely both stubborn when it comes to admitting things. The banter is just delicious.
I love that Lia's sisters from the temple get to attend to her in the palace. I love how two of them become close to two of Xander's guards. But it's also bittersweet because of the vows they have pledged themselves to.
I feel that in the next book, Lia and her sisters are going to be figuring out some hard truths to their pledges that may not have been totally for their protection. The ending has some shocks that are going to be utterly hard to forget.
medium-paced
This was probably the weirdest hockey romance I've ever read. I'm not sure that I liked at all the reason Val and Darla were with this hockey team. To study them and compare them (why they felt this way stems from right childhoods?) to caveman? Just weird. It was weird that they kind of "Clark Kent" ed the women with how they dressed them.
I think my most favorite thing here was the relationship that Darla and Val formed with Brock's niece Kinsley. They just were great to help her out of the funk that her deadbeat dad put her into.
One thing I really didn't like was the scientific talk Val spewed during...um activities. It was just icky and bizarre.
I think my most favorite thing here was the relationship that Darla and Val formed with Brock's niece Kinsley. They just were great to help her out of the funk that her deadbeat dad put her into.
One thing I really didn't like was the scientific talk Val spewed during...um activities. It was just icky and bizarre.
adventurous
slow-paced
Zani is an artifact hunter and when she's finally found an amulet/bloodstone, it goes missing. Might not be a big deal except it disappears right before a night that could awaken its curse. Plus now her Aunt wants to bind her to the Muddpuddle archives which is not a grand idea considering her job.
Will, a Porter, wants to help her find out why it disappeared even if it means porting to the past... which happens with consequences.
There were a lot of magical creatures here. Merfolk and Sirens, vampires, shifters, etc. There's also a side story of a film star, Ondeluna, who disappeared while doing USO shows in the '40s. I really liked her story being interwoven in and how it connects to Zani and Will's adventure.
Will, a Porter, wants to help her find out why it disappeared even if it means porting to the past... which happens with consequences.
There were a lot of magical creatures here. Merfolk and Sirens, vampires, shifters, etc. There's also a side story of a film star, Ondeluna, who disappeared while doing USO shows in the '40s. I really liked her story being interwoven in and how it connects to Zani and Will's adventure.
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
I loved the author interview in the back to learn more about why this book was written.
This was a very smooth ride. Though it jumps back and forth in timelines, I thought it flowed well and was just pleasant. That's not to say that the material is all smooth sailing, I felt so bad for AJ as he grew up. The relationship/ending with his mother was heartbreaking. I can see how that might scar a person.
Hazel, I felt was just a big dreamer and her life had its tragedies that maybe forced her hand (as she may have seen it) into what she does. Her sister and brother in law were so good to step up and take care of AJ the best they could. They gave him a loving home to be in.
This was a very smooth ride. Though it jumps back and forth in timelines, I thought it flowed well and was just pleasant. That's not to say that the material is all smooth sailing, I felt so bad for AJ as he grew up. The relationship/ending with his mother was heartbreaking. I can see how that might scar a person.
Hazel, I felt was just a big dreamer and her life had its tragedies that maybe forced her hand (as she may have seen it) into what she does. Her sister and brother in law were so good to step up and take care of AJ the best they could. They gave him a loving home to be in.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
From the get go of Bea running in to tell off her friend's divorce attorney, Nathan, to them having to work together at Bea's law school (where she works at a TA while studying for the bar) this was just fun.
I like how chaotic Bea is in her life. I swear, why do all the romcoms I read lately have an MC whose mom keeps getting married and divorced? Bea goes through this with her mom and I can kind of see how love can scare a person who sees this happen in her life.
Nathan is not really an a-hole like Bea constantly calls him (though it eventually becomes funny, like it's her term of endearment). He's just a lawyer doing the best for his client. Not his fault that his client has flaws. I love the little and big ways that Nate helps Bea professionally and even unprofessionally 🤣
I like how chaotic Bea is in her life. I swear, why do all the romcoms I read lately have an MC whose mom keeps getting married and divorced? Bea goes through this with her mom and I can kind of see how love can scare a person who sees this happen in her life.
Nathan is not really an a-hole like Bea constantly calls him (though it eventually becomes funny, like it's her term of endearment). He's just a lawyer doing the best for his client. Not his fault that his client has flaws. I love the little and big ways that Nate helps Bea professionally and even unprofessionally 🤣
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Oh how this book warmed my heart. Winnie and the other ladies were amazing characters (and this only from the past since she's not here for the present parts) and I can't even explain all she did because you have to read it for yourself. I just love the idea/execution of their call to action of "pay it forward" mantra in such a meaningful way.
Bailey Rae has such a good heart too. I loved that she grew in her understanding of what Winnie wanted for her in her life throughout the story. She had the knack for carrying on Winnie's legacy in the same spirit. This book was just a warm hug of Southern hospitality and goodness.
Bailey Rae has such a good heart too. I loved that she grew in her understanding of what Winnie wanted for her in her life throughout the story. She had the knack for carrying on Winnie's legacy in the same spirit. This book was just a warm hug of Southern hospitality and goodness.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
This was a fun stay to what stories be a great series. Magic blends through to reality and wardens can tear that open but there aren't many left. Raelyn and Ellisand royalty and best friends who like to sneak out of the castle together. But then Ellisand is kidnapped and Rae is on the run for her life (she is a warden who doesn't know it yet) with Laris, a soldier who she doesn't trust but will have to rely on.
I absolutely love that there is almost non-stop action for Rae and Laris. From their encounters with magical beings to bandits to betrayals, it was just super fun.
The ending with the things that had been integrated into Ellisand's head and how she turned at the end.... oh I just can't wait for more!
I absolutely love that there is almost non-stop action for Rae and Laris. From their encounters with magical beings to bandits to betrayals, it was just super fun.
The ending with the things that had been integrated into Ellisand's head and how she turned at the end.... oh I just can't wait for more!
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
As I've never really heard much of Mansfield Park, I looked up a little snippet so I could kind of get the gist of this book and it was enough to satisfy me and still really enjoy this retelling.
Since reading the first book in this series, I have been fascinated by Kate and I really enjoyed getting to know her story more. I liked what she was able to find out about her past. I really like her friendship (and more) with Edmund.
Though Henry pursues her very hard, I never felt right about that and even when it's a bit cruel... I'm glad she never really entertained the possibility of them.
I love that Melody gets to be part of this book in a big way too. I honestly don't like the person she is in Chicago and didn't like her going back for the reason she did. She just belongs in Merriweather! My heart still breaks a bit for her but I just know she'll eventually get her happy ending!
Since reading the first book in this series, I have been fascinated by Kate and I really enjoyed getting to know her story more. I liked what she was able to find out about her past. I really like her friendship (and more) with Edmund.
Though Henry pursues her very hard, I never felt right about that and even when it's a bit cruel... I'm glad she never really entertained the possibility of them.
I love that Melody gets to be part of this book in a big way too. I honestly don't like the person she is in Chicago and didn't like her going back for the reason she did. She just belongs in Merriweather! My heart still breaks a bit for her but I just know she'll eventually get her happy ending!
mysterious
medium-paced
Well, this was page turning just to see how it would all turn out. It was easy to understand what was going down but also there were pieces of the puzzle that had to slowly slot into place.
When Ash's father dies and her mother a year later starts to date Nick...I was glad to see that Ash was almost immediately suspicious of him. I admired her tenacity to have the want to figure Nick out and protect her vulnerable mother. The added parts of Ash's past were kind of a 🤯 moment and I got a bit scared at the end but it turned out ok and I know I smiled at the end.
When Ash's father dies and her mother a year later starts to date Nick...I was glad to see that Ash was almost immediately suspicious of him. I admired her tenacity to have the want to figure Nick out and protect her vulnerable mother. The added parts of Ash's past were kind of a 🤯 moment and I got a bit scared at the end but it turned out ok and I know I smiled at the end.