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spectacles_and_books's Reviews (137)
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
I thoroughly enjoyed my second trip back to Willow Ridge. This time we follow bar owning, motorbike riding, I'll keep them at a distance because I'm afraid to lose them Duke as he struggles with his feelings for his best friend's little sister. Cherry is back for the summer doing her best to check off her bucket list, proving to her family, but more importantly herself, that's she's capable of living a full life despite her health concerns.
Cherry and Duke's dynamic was electric balanced with tenderness. There was excellent representation of not only dealing with loss, but also Cherry's endometriosis and epilepsy. I also loved seeing Wyatt and Rory, along with the other side characters in the series.
❤️ Brother's best friend
❤️ MMC who has dealt with loss
❤️ FMC with endometriosis and epilepsy
📝 Bucket list
🏍️ Motorbike riding
🤠 Cowboys
🌶️ Yes
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an eARC of this title
Cherry and Duke's dynamic was electric balanced with tenderness. There was excellent representation of not only dealing with loss, but also Cherry's endometriosis and epilepsy. I also loved seeing Wyatt and Rory, along with the other side characters in the series.
❤️ Brother's best friend
❤️ MMC who has dealt with loss
❤️ FMC with endometriosis and epilepsy
📝 Bucket list
🏍️ Motorbike riding
🤠 Cowboys
🌶️ Yes
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an eARC of this title
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Cancer
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
This is my first Romance X Mystery read. It would describe it as classic small town Romance with a Criminal Minds twist. I'd certainly read the next book in the series. There was a big cast of side characters who were introduced in this story, which sometimes took focus off the main couple. However, it's understandable given that this is the set up for a whole series.
As always, give me an audiobook with Zachary Webber and I'm sold!
As always, give me an audiobook with Zachary Webber and I'm sold!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Death, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A solid end to the Rain Wild Chronicles. It has all the elements you could hope for and expect. Now back to my man Fitz!
I loved thatHest got what was coming for him , I just wish that Alise and Cedric could have witnessed it . I also would have loved more of Chassim.
I loved that
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
"You don't have to work about falling in love with me, Prudence. No one ever has."
"Doubtful," she says, too quickly for my heart not to take notice.
If there is perfection to be had in a Romance novel, this is it. Absolutely everything about this story had me enthralled. Firstly, Milo. To see this guarded man, who is working through his own heartbreaking journey, find solace in being wanted and needed was just so beautiful. And Prue, what a lesson in learning to trust oneself and fight for what you want. They were absolutely perfect together!
Apart from the insane chemistry that these characters had together, Hannah Bonam-Young also delivered on the relationships Milo and Prue had with their families. Prue with her Father and their journey carrying for Prue's mother with Dementia was so beautifully explored. And for Milo, seeing his relationship with his siblings, Nadia and Nik, brought me to actual tears. Their conversations in this book were as good as therapy for me.
From the first book I ever read by Hannah Bonam-Young, I knew that she was a very special writer. "People Watching" cemented her as one of my all time favorites.
Thank you to Bedford Square Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to ARC read this title.
"Doubtful," she says, too quickly for my heart not to take notice.
If there is perfection to be had in a Romance novel, this is it. Absolutely everything about this story had me enthralled. Firstly, Milo. To see this guarded man, who is working through his own heartbreaking journey, find solace in being wanted and needed was just so beautiful. And Prue, what a lesson in learning to trust oneself and fight for what you want. They were absolutely perfect together!
Apart from the insane chemistry that these characters had together, Hannah Bonam-Young also delivered on the relationships Milo and Prue had with their families. Prue with her Father and their journey carrying for Prue's mother with Dementia was so beautifully explored. And for Milo, seeing his relationship with his siblings, Nadia and Nik, brought me to actual tears. Their conversations in this book were as good as therapy for me.
From the first book I ever read by Hannah Bonam-Young, I knew that she was a very special writer. "People Watching" cemented her as one of my all time favorites.
Thank you to Bedford Square Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to ARC read this title.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Dementia
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Cancer
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm a bit heartbroken to be honest. I think I'm going to retire from reading Ashley Posten 😢
I absolutely adored The Seven Year Switch and The Dead Romantics. But after A Novel Love Story and now this, I just feel like the magic from her first books just isn't there for me anymore.
I knew that this was going to be meh when I upped the audio speed to 2x at about 60% through to push through it. There were some sweet moments in this, but overall it feel like there was so much having plot wise and yet also nothing. I had an idea of how the telepathy magical realism would work, but I couldn't get past trying to figure out the "rules" of when they could and couldn't hear each other.
I absolutely adored The Seven Year Switch and The Dead Romantics. But after A Novel Love Story and now this, I just feel like the magic from her first books just isn't there for me anymore.
I knew that this was going to be meh when I upped the audio speed to 2x at about 60% through to push through it. There were some sweet moments in this, but overall it feel like there was so much having plot wise and yet also nothing. I had an idea of how the telepathy magical realism would work, but I couldn't get past trying to figure out the "rules" of when they could and couldn't hear each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Three quarters of the way through the Rain Wilds Chronicles. I see the vision, I enjoyed, but I'm only one more book away from getting back to my man Fitz!
Highlights -Seeing Malta again. Seeing Hest suffer
Intriguing -The Duke of Chalced being a villain
Confusing -What happened to my guy Selden? I needed more of him.
Highlights -
Intriguing -
Confusing -
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
"He said I'd meet a girl one day and she'd read me like a book, including the chapters that came before her"
As always, Tessa Bailey delivers a fun ride of a Rom-Com. The latest installment of her Big Shots series follows Skylar, a D1 softball pitcher and hockey star, Robbie.
It was so much fun seeing Robbie as a reformed rake. There's just something so enjoyable about a man taken off guard by the right woman. Skylar's struggles with living up to her family's expectations and making her own way as an athlete, made her relationship with Robbie shine when he was there to validate and support her.
There was plenty of humour and antics, but also the signature sizzle you'd expect from a Tessa Bailey story. I had a great time!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🥎 She's a softball pitcher
🏒 He's a hockey player
❤️ Reformed rake
🏆 The both want to win!
🌶️ Yes
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for the eARC of "Pitcher Perfect"
As always, Tessa Bailey delivers a fun ride of a Rom-Com. The latest installment of her Big Shots series follows Skylar, a D1 softball pitcher and hockey star, Robbie.
It was so much fun seeing Robbie as a reformed rake. There's just something so enjoyable about a man taken off guard by the right woman. Skylar's struggles with living up to her family's expectations and making her own way as an athlete, made her relationship with Robbie shine when he was there to validate and support her.
There was plenty of humour and antics, but also the signature sizzle you'd expect from a Tessa Bailey story. I had a great time!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🥎 She's a softball pitcher
🏒 He's a hockey player
❤️ Reformed rake
🏆 The both want to win!
🌶️ Yes
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for the eARC of "Pitcher Perfect"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
"He treats you well?”
“Mom, he walked into hell and dragged me back out."
Infinity stars to you Cara Bastone for writing the most beautiful story about grief and the great loves of our lives. It's been a while since a story has truly moved me as much as this. Alex Finke is an absolute revelation. What a talented narrator to bring Lenny (and all the characters) to life in the way that she did.
I will truly never not be thinking about this book. Wishing everyone who needs one their very own Miles.
“Mom, he walked into hell and dragged me back out."
Infinity stars to you Cara Bastone for writing the most beautiful story about grief and the great loves of our lives. It's been a while since a story has truly moved me as much as this. Alex Finke is an absolute revelation. What a talented narrator to bring Lenny (and all the characters) to life in the way that she did.
I will truly never not be thinking about this book. Wishing everyone who needs one their very own Miles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
"Hoax and Kisses" delivers all the romance and swoon of the best kind of Hallmark movie. Big city gal meets small town guy perfection!
It was just lovely to go back to Pine Falls. I loved "Unbearably Yours", so getting to revisit this world and it's characters was just a joy.
Zoey heads to Pine Falls set with the task of succeeding where her father failed, to secure land for a new hotel venture in the picturesque town. She initially makes an awful first impression on local florist, Matt. However, sparks fly and they share a night of passion. After discovering why she's in town, Matt writes her off. After all, he's had his heart broken by a city gal before.
Elodie Colliard is one of those writers who just gets the balance between swoon, character development and authentic representation right. I loved the chemistry between Zoey and Matt and also the way in which their relationship grew throughout the novel. The relationship that Matt shared with his Autistic sister, Daphne, was so tenderly and honestly written. These are the types of characters that will stay with you after you've finished reading.
🏙️ City gal FMC
💐 Small town florist MMC
❤️ One night stand to fake dating
🩷 He cares for his sister
🌶️ Yes
Thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing Co-op for the opportunity to read this title.
It was just lovely to go back to Pine Falls. I loved "Unbearably Yours", so getting to revisit this world and it's characters was just a joy.
Zoey heads to Pine Falls set with the task of succeeding where her father failed, to secure land for a new hotel venture in the picturesque town. She initially makes an awful first impression on local florist, Matt. However, sparks fly and they share a night of passion. After discovering why she's in town, Matt writes her off. After all, he's had his heart broken by a city gal before.
Elodie Colliard is one of those writers who just gets the balance between swoon, character development and authentic representation right. I loved the chemistry between Zoey and Matt and also the way in which their relationship grew throughout the novel. The relationship that Matt shared with his Autistic sister, Daphne, was so tenderly and honestly written. These are the types of characters that will stay with you after you've finished reading.
🏙️ City gal FMC
💐 Small town florist MMC
❤️ One night stand to fake dating
🩷 He cares for his sister
🌶️ Yes
Thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing Co-op for the opportunity to read this title.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Ableism
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
A great way to round off The Nest series. So glad to see Tweedie get his happy ending.
But what did J.D. stand for? What is Tedi's real name? Is it actually Tedi? I hate that I still want to know. Plus, Tweedie should have gotten another tattoo!