vanislandcircus's reviews
887 reviews

War by Brittanée Nicole

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    🌶️🌶️🌶️

I will start by stating that this was my first book by Brittanée  Nicole, and it certainly won’t be my last!

The complexity of her characters was phenomenal. Tyler Warren, aka Daddy War, swayed me to the fictional boyfriend side. While I have read many books about single fathers, this was one of the first in which a young single man sought to adopt not only one but three children! War loves hard, and this is seen in every scene with the kids and eventually with Ava. 

Her character, Ava, broke my heart on so many levels. Her story, filled with grief, resilience, kindness, and growth, was beautifully written. 

This story wrote the gambit of emotions, from screaming at the miscommunication to tears of heartache and laugh-out-loud moments, War’s French Canadian mouth, to the spicy scenes; those were spicy! 

This book has it all, and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR ASAP!

Thank you to Love Notes Pr and Brittanée  Nicole for an eARC of this book. I am off to read the rest of the Boston Bolts series and, let’s be honest, all of your books!

Chase Lovett Wants Me by Helena Hunting

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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? N/A

5.0

Where to even start? When I requested this book, all I knew was it was Helena Hunting; it was hockey, and it would be hot! 

Colour me surprised when I realized the Toronto Terror verse had just been expanded, and I am so in.

Chase and Cammie couldn’t be more opposites attract, and I loved that Cammie was a card-toting LOTR fanfic writer. She was beyond adorable. Quick sidebar: who wrote fanfic and now wants to read her fanfic? /raises hand

While Chase had some clueless moments, they led to some cute moments and character growth, which, considering that this is a short novel compared to other books by Helena, it was so well written. 

My geeky fanfic writing heart absolutely loved this story, and I cannot wait to see how the Tilton U characters grow and intertwine with Toronto Terror characters. This is a verse made in spicy hockey heaven, and I am here for it all!

Thank you to Pen Pals Pr and Helena Hunting for an eARC of this book.

Not Another Christmas Rom Com by A.J. Pine

4.5

Play the Last Card by Olivia Fenwick

challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Play the Last Card is Olivia Fenwick’s debut novel, and it was an emotional roller coaster!

While I did struggle a couple of times with Ivy and her finality of blame on football as a whole, I know that grief and anxiety can be different for every person, and this was how Ivy was living both those feelings. I think that Olivia did a terrific job of navigating emotions that can be all-consuming and that the struggle and acceptance to move on was well written throughout the course of the story.

I appreciate the care with which the MMC, Scott, approached all of Ivy’s insecurities and constantly reassured and was there for her on so many levels. I also loved that Ivy’s best friend, Katie, would call her out on some of her points. We all need a Katie in our lives to point out when we are being irriational, but can’t see it, without hearing it.

Pops was a show stealer in all his scenes, and we all need a Pop in our lives.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and can’t wait to see what Olivia writes next.

Thanks to @bookishbubbly.pr and @oliviafenwickauthor for an eARC of this book. 

Honkers Under the Holly by Amy Award

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted fast-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? N/A

5.0

This prequel novella set in the Kingman verse is everything I have always wanted and didn’t know I needed.

Once again, Amy has written a strong FMC with incredible body positivity, confidence and an MMC that loves everything about her and all the Kingmans and their antics!

I loved that we were introduced to some of these characters’ beginnings in such a heartwarming and hilarious way!

Out of all the books in the Kingman series, all the animals portrayed have been hilarious and loveable, yes, even the anaconda. However, Sir Honksalot stole the show, and I am now desperate for my own goose!

Honkers under the Holly is a must-read for this holiday season!

Thank you to @lovenotes.pr for an ARC of this book and @amyawardbooks.

The Christmas List by Maren Moore

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Welcome back to Strawberry Hollow. Wow, what a welcome! This is the third book in the series. You do not have to read the others to enjoy this one, but I promise you will want to! 

 

The Christmas List is the perfect combination of a Hallmark movie, curled up with a cozy blanket, hot chocolate, and all the spice! 

 

There were so many of my favourite tropes in this story that you couldn’t help but root for Wyatt and Josie from the start. 

 

Throw in a Christmas-obsessed FMC, a hot single Dad, a second-chance romance, and a Christmas competition, and you have perfection!

Check your list once, twice, and make sure you have Maren Moore’s The Christmas List checked off. 

 

Thank you to Valentine PR and Maren Moore for this fantastic opportunity to be an ARC reviewer.

O Goalie Night by K.M. Gillis

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Thank you, Threads, for bringing this adorable Canadian author into my algorithms!

Still in my all-things Hockey Romance Era and rolling into the holidays, this was the perfect book to pick up! 

Beth and Foster were ridiculously adorable, wholly relatable and “O” so hot!

This book has it all: hockey, the deliciousness of beaver tails, snow storms in Ottawa, the list just goes on and on. 

I recommend reading this one!

Wanted: A Roommate Who Isn't Evil by Jennifer Kropf

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

The Romance Line by Lauren Blakely

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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

Into the Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0