Good Time Girl is Heather Gay’s follow up to her first book, Bad Mormon. I haven’t read that book yet so I can’t say how they compare. Heather is a cast member on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. In the first season, her castmate Lisa Barlow told some of the other women that she heard Heather was known as a “good-time girl” at BYU. At the time, Heather was pissed but she reclaimed the label for her book.
Good Time Girl is a collection of times that Heather was a good time girl, which is usually ironic. She thought at the time she was being wild because of her strict Mormon upbringing but what she did was not that bad. Or in some cases it was really embarrassing. I had major secondhand embarrassment when she tried to hit on her college professor.
The last section of the book is about the fourth season of RHOSL and Monica. If you’ve watched the show, you know who I’m talking about. If you haven’t, you’re probably not going to read this book anyway! Heather goes through a way more thorough.
timeline of Monica’s craziness than what was shown on TV. Monica is basically a sociopath who stalked Jen for years, to the point of installing secret security cameras in Jen’s house to spy on her. She was obsessed with getting cast on RHOSL.
The book as a whole is good, but it is a MUST for fans of RHOSL, simply for the section on what happened with Monica. You will not be disappointed!
Good Time Girl is a collection of times that Heather was a good time girl, which is usually ironic. She thought at the time she was being wild because of her strict Mormon upbringing but what she did was not that bad. Or in some cases it was really embarrassing. I had major secondhand embarrassment when she tried to hit on her college professor.
The last section of the book is about the fourth season of RHOSL and Monica. If you’ve watched the show, you know who I’m talking about. If you haven’t, you’re probably not going to read this book anyway! Heather goes through a way more thorough.
timeline of Monica’s craziness than what was shown on TV. Monica is basically a sociopath who stalked Jen for years, to the point of installing secret security cameras in Jen’s house to spy on her. She was obsessed with getting cast on RHOSL.
The book as a whole is good, but it is a MUST for fans of RHOSL, simply for the section on what happened with Monica. You will not be disappointed!
Beth, a teenager who lives in a small country town, is taking a walk when Gabriel sees her and tells her to get off his land. Even though Gabriel, a rich boy home from college, is extremely rude to Beth at that first meeting, they soon start up a passionate love affair. They try to keep it going after Gabriel goes back to college but eventually Gabriel breaks Beth’s heart.
Fast forward to present day, which in Broken Country is the late 1960s, and Beth, her husband Frank and her brother in-law Jimmy are tending sheep when a dog runs up and starts killing the lambs. Jimmy shoots and kills the dog to save anymore sheep from being slaughtered. The dog belongs to Gabriel, who is back in town after several years away. This shot starts a series of events that no one could have imagined.
I loved Broken Country even though I didn’t necessarily love Beth all the time. She made some very bad decisions. At the beginning of the book, I thought I knew where the story was going but I was totally surprised and completely wrong. I don’t want to say anymore and risk spoiling it. Broken Country kept me up until 3am because once I got to a certain point, I couldn’t tear myself away from it.
Highly recommended.
Fast forward to present day, which in Broken Country is the late 1960s, and Beth, her husband Frank and her brother in-law Jimmy are tending sheep when a dog runs up and starts killing the lambs. Jimmy shoots and kills the dog to save anymore sheep from being slaughtered. The dog belongs to Gabriel, who is back in town after several years away. This shot starts a series of events that no one could have imagined.
I loved Broken Country even though I didn’t necessarily love Beth all the time. She made some very bad decisions. At the beginning of the book, I thought I knew where the story was going but I was totally surprised and completely wrong. I don’t want to say anymore and risk spoiling it. Broken Country kept me up until 3am because once I got to a certain point, I couldn’t tear myself away from it.
Highly recommended.
And They Had a Great Fall is the story of two people who are going through the motions in life—until they finally look inside themselves to figure out what it takes to find a happily ever after.
Jack and Kat hooked up during the pandemic when they were the part of the same pod. Kat lives next door to Jake’s parents and he came home to shelter in place with them. Jack is a famous 25 year-old movie star and Kat is a high-powered corporate executive and a single mom in her thirties. More than a year after they last spoke, Jack calls Kat from Copenhagen, where he is shooting on location. Things are not going well with the movie and he wants Kat to come there and help him cope with the pressure. She happens to have work for her corporation she could attend to while she’s there, so she joins him. She also needs help, although she doesn’t realize it. She’s still grieving the loss of her husband, who died of cancer five years ago when their daughter was a baby.
Jake and Kat rekindle their affair once Kat arrives in Copenhagen, but Kat insists that they keep their relationship a secret. She fears that if she and Jake go public, the leadership at her company will see her as a frivolous woman for dating a movie star. She’s also worried about her daughter’s safety if she’s in the public eye. Is it possible to keep things a secret and what will they do if they can’t?
And They Had a Great Fall deals with some serious issues in an authentic way. I liked that it wasn’t show more afraid to deviate a bit from the traditional romance formula in order to tackle those issues. This book would be a great beach read this summer. show less
Jack and Kat hooked up during the pandemic when they were the part of the same pod. Kat lives next door to Jake’s parents and he came home to shelter in place with them. Jack is a famous 25 year-old movie star and Kat is a high-powered corporate executive and a single mom in her thirties. More than a year after they last spoke, Jack calls Kat from Copenhagen, where he is shooting on location. Things are not going well with the movie and he wants Kat to come there and help him cope with the pressure. She happens to have work for her corporation she could attend to while she’s there, so she joins him. She also needs help, although she doesn’t realize it. She’s still grieving the loss of her husband, who died of cancer five years ago when their daughter was a baby.
Jake and Kat rekindle their affair once Kat arrives in Copenhagen, but Kat insists that they keep their relationship a secret. She fears that if she and Jake go public, the leadership at her company will see her as a frivolous woman for dating a movie star. She’s also worried about her daughter’s safety if she’s in the public eye. Is it possible to keep things a secret and what will they do if they can’t?
And They Had a Great Fall deals with some serious issues in an authentic way. I liked that it wasn’t show more afraid to deviate a bit from the traditional romance formula in order to tackle those issues. This book would be a great beach read this summer. show less
The Sable Cloak is an autobiographical novel based closely on the author’s family history. It follows two upper-middle class Black families. Jordan Sable runs a well-known funeral home in St. Louis. Jordan is also a powerful political boss, controlling the Black vote in St. Louis. The Franklin family are landowners in South Carolina. The also a successful store called Madame Sarah’s Emporium.
When Jordan comes to South Carolina looking for a safe haven to escape his enemies, he meets and marries, Sarah, the youngest of the Franklin daughters. When they move back to St. Louis, Jordan is even more powerful with his wife by his side. When a horrible tragedy happens, the families must join together to find a solution.
I enjoyed The Sable Cloak. It’s not often that I come across historical fiction centering around upper middle class Black people and their community. One of the characters goes off to college at Northwestern and faces discrimination of the kind she never has before because the Black community she grew up kept her insulated. She had hardly ever even been around white people. The author spends quite a bit of time on the background of the two families and what their communities were like before the tragic event happened, which I appreciated.
Grant has a memoir that was published in 2008 called At the Elbows of My Elders that I’d like to read. She writes in the author’s note that The Sable Cloak was born from that book. Unfortunately, she passed away before show more the publication of The Sable Cloak.
Recommended. show less
When Jordan comes to South Carolina looking for a safe haven to escape his enemies, he meets and marries, Sarah, the youngest of the Franklin daughters. When they move back to St. Louis, Jordan is even more powerful with his wife by his side. When a horrible tragedy happens, the families must join together to find a solution.
I enjoyed The Sable Cloak. It’s not often that I come across historical fiction centering around upper middle class Black people and their community. One of the characters goes off to college at Northwestern and faces discrimination of the kind she never has before because the Black community she grew up kept her insulated. She had hardly ever even been around white people. The author spends quite a bit of time on the background of the two families and what their communities were like before the tragic event happened, which I appreciated.
Grant has a memoir that was published in 2008 called At the Elbows of My Elders that I’d like to read. She writes in the author’s note that The Sable Cloak was born from that book. Unfortunately, she passed away before show more the publication of The Sable Cloak.
Recommended. show less
I think most everyone knows generally what The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about even if they haven’t read it. Huck runs away to get away from his abusive, alcoholic father. He encounters Jim, a slave who escapes when he overhears his owner talking about possibly selling him. They team up and have many adventures trying to get to freedom. I wanted to read Huck Finn first before I read James by Percival Everett, which is a retelling of the story from Jim’s side.
I can’t decide if this book is racist or not. From what I read about the book after I finished it, I’m not the only one. As the book goes on, Huck starts to rethink the morality of slavery, but he doesn’t go as far to outright condemn it. Jim is portrayed as not very smart and the way Twain writes his speech is almost incomprehensible. That’s one of the reasons I switched to the audio book – I couldn’t understand most of Jim’s dialogue. I have a hard time believing slaves really spoke that way but of course, I didn’t live way back then. I can see that Huck’s views on slavery were probably progressive for that time period, but they aren’t by today’s standards.
I’m glad I read Huck Finn because I think it enhanced my experience reading James. (Review to come soon.) I would recommend reading it if you plan to read James, although it’s not strictly necessary. If you plan on reading it, I highly recommend the audiobook version that’s narrated by Elijah Woods.
I can’t decide if this book is racist or not. From what I read about the book after I finished it, I’m not the only one. As the book goes on, Huck starts to rethink the morality of slavery, but he doesn’t go as far to outright condemn it. Jim is portrayed as not very smart and the way Twain writes his speech is almost incomprehensible. That’s one of the reasons I switched to the audio book – I couldn’t understand most of Jim’s dialogue. I have a hard time believing slaves really spoke that way but of course, I didn’t live way back then. I can see that Huck’s views on slavery were probably progressive for that time period, but they aren’t by today’s standards.
I’m glad I read Huck Finn because I think it enhanced my experience reading James. (Review to come soon.) I would recommend reading it if you plan to read James, although it’s not strictly necessary. If you plan on reading it, I highly recommend the audiobook version that’s narrated by Elijah Woods.
I think most everyone is familiar with Tom Selleck’s work. He’s most known for playing Magnum on Magnum PI. His memoir starts with a brief overview of his early years. He played basketball for USC, which I didn’t know. Then he was in a couple of Westerns and a lot of failed pilots before he was finally offered Magnum PI, which he calls Magnum because he thinks the PI part is dumb and fought against it being part of the title.
He then goes into agonizing detail about what seemed like every episode of Magnum PI. I slogged through that, eager to get to the part where he discusses playing Monica’s boyfriend on Friends. It never came! There is a little bit about Three Men and a Baby, which he filmed during his time on Magnum and then it jumps ahead to the epilogue, which is about him working on his ranch and briefly mentions Blue Bloods, his current show, which has been on for 14 seasons. Thank God he didn’t go into an episode-by-episode recap of that.
He’s a very private person and there is almost nothing about his personal life in the book, which is okay. I love tell-alls but I’m happy to read about the entertainment industry and how it works. Which is why I wanted know what it was like when he was on Friends!
I would only recommend this book to a die-hard Magnum PI fan. If you’re not, this book is a little tedious and boring. Sorry Tom!
He then goes into agonizing detail about what seemed like every episode of Magnum PI. I slogged through that, eager to get to the part where he discusses playing Monica’s boyfriend on Friends. It never came! There is a little bit about Three Men and a Baby, which he filmed during his time on Magnum and then it jumps ahead to the epilogue, which is about him working on his ranch and briefly mentions Blue Bloods, his current show, which has been on for 14 seasons. Thank God he didn’t go into an episode-by-episode recap of that.
He’s a very private person and there is almost nothing about his personal life in the book, which is okay. I love tell-alls but I’m happy to read about the entertainment industry and how it works. Which is why I wanted know what it was like when he was on Friends!
I would only recommend this book to a die-hard Magnum PI fan. If you’re not, this book is a little tedious and boring. Sorry Tom!
Amber rides her bike home from school everyday but today when she arrives home, her mother sees her and screams. Why? Seven years ago, Amber died in a hit and run accident while riding the very bike she rode home today.
Amber doesn’t know how or why she has returned from the dead and neither does anyone else. In coming back, Amber is able to see how both her life and her death impacted her loved ones. Even people she’s never met are affected. Everyone is grieving her death in their own way. Some are managing better than others.
After Life is about grief, regrets, family and sisterhood. It jumps around in time from the events leading up to Amber’s return, going back as far as when her parents met. The central relationship is Amber and her younger sister Missy. I love books where the story unravels in such a way that seemly unconnected people and events actually do connect, and this is one of those books.
After Life is a YA novel intended for high schoolers, but adults will enjoy it as well. It’s a quick read with good pacing and can easily be read in day. Recommended.
Amber doesn’t know how or why she has returned from the dead and neither does anyone else. In coming back, Amber is able to see how both her life and her death impacted her loved ones. Even people she’s never met are affected. Everyone is grieving her death in their own way. Some are managing better than others.
After Life is about grief, regrets, family and sisterhood. It jumps around in time from the events leading up to Amber’s return, going back as far as when her parents met. The central relationship is Amber and her younger sister Missy. I love books where the story unravels in such a way that seemly unconnected people and events actually do connect, and this is one of those books.
After Life is a YA novel intended for high schoolers, but adults will enjoy it as well. It’s a quick read with good pacing and can easily be read in day. Recommended.
The Weight of Blood is Tiffany D. Jackson’s homage to Stephen King’s Carrie. As such, I thought it was masterfully written. Our main character is Maddy, a biracial girl whose father is forcing her to pass as white. He diligently straightens her hair with a hot comb to keep up the ruse. Maddy is careful to avoid water, because getting her hair wet would expose her. One day, she is outside during PE class and it suddenly starts raining. Her secret is out.
Maddy has always been the weird girl, and this just adds fuel to the fire. Her classmates immediately start bullying her. A video of the bullying goes viral online. Maddy’s classmate Wendy, a popular white girl, convinces her friends to help her organize an integrated prom to make the school look better. Yes, this school, in 2014 has separate prom’s for Black and white students. Wendy convinces her Black football star boyfriend to invite Maddy to the “everyone prom” in an attempt to atone for her part in how Maddy has been treated. Not everyone is happy to have an integrated prom, and this is where the trouble really starts.
I was impressed with how Jackson was able to tell an insightful story about racism, both overt and systemic, while still keeping the fundamental essence of Carrie. Her creativity is amazing. Halfway through reading this book, I learned that it’s a YA novel. I never would have guessed although it is a book that teenagers absolutely should read. It’s highly entertaining while also making show more important points.
Highly, highly recommended. show less
Maddy has always been the weird girl, and this just adds fuel to the fire. Her classmates immediately start bullying her. A video of the bullying goes viral online. Maddy’s classmate Wendy, a popular white girl, convinces her friends to help her organize an integrated prom to make the school look better. Yes, this school, in 2014 has separate prom’s for Black and white students. Wendy convinces her Black football star boyfriend to invite Maddy to the “everyone prom” in an attempt to atone for her part in how Maddy has been treated. Not everyone is happy to have an integrated prom, and this is where the trouble really starts.
I was impressed with how Jackson was able to tell an insightful story about racism, both overt and systemic, while still keeping the fundamental essence of Carrie. Her creativity is amazing. Halfway through reading this book, I learned that it’s a YA novel. I never would have guessed although it is a book that teenagers absolutely should read. It’s highly entertaining while also making show more important points.
Highly, highly recommended. show less
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Jaws. Almost everyone has seen or at least heard of the movie but most of the people I told that I was reading Jaws didn’t know that the movie is an adaptation of the novel.
2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of Jaws. Almost everyone has seen or at least heard of the movie but most of the people I told that I was reading Jaws didn’t know that the movie is an adaptation of the novel.
After reading the book, I watched the movie for the first time. I was surprised at how different the movie is from the book. The premise is the same – a great white shark terrorizes Amity’s beach and kills people. The police chief wants to close the beach, but the town leadership is afraid that will affect Amity’s economy, which is almost entirely based on the summer vacationers, and a group of men go out to sea to try and kill it. Almost none of the details are the same within this premise.
The movie is considered to be the first blockbuster action film and is entirely plot driven. Most characters in the book are developed and have back stories. The police chief’s wife has a detailed subplot in the book and is just a stock concerned wife and mother in the movie. Also, in the book the town leaders had a more complicated motive for wanting the beaches to stay open,
I liked both the book and the movie – but of course thought the book was better! I would consider the movie to be more “inspired by” the book show more rather than based on it. Keep that in mind before you read the book, and you’ll like it. Recommended. show less
2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of Jaws. Almost everyone has seen or at least heard of the movie but most of the people I told that I was reading Jaws didn’t know that the movie is an adaptation of the novel.
After reading the book, I watched the movie for the first time. I was surprised at how different the movie is from the book. The premise is the same – a great white shark terrorizes Amity’s beach and kills people. The police chief wants to close the beach, but the town leadership is afraid that will affect Amity’s economy, which is almost entirely based on the summer vacationers, and a group of men go out to sea to try and kill it. Almost none of the details are the same within this premise.
The movie is considered to be the first blockbuster action film and is entirely plot driven. Most characters in the book are developed and have back stories. The police chief’s wife has a detailed subplot in the book and is just a stock concerned wife and mother in the movie. Also, in the book the town leaders had a more complicated motive for wanting the beaches to stay open,
I liked both the book and the movie – but of course thought the book was better! I would consider the movie to be more “inspired by” the book show more rather than based on it. Keep that in mind before you read the book, and you’ll like it. Recommended. show less
The Wedding Game is a reality TV show where a couple, along with a family member, compete to see who can plan the best DIY wedding. The winner gets a penthouse in NYC.
Luna Rossi is a crafting expert, with her own YouTube channel and everything. She convinces her brother and his future husband to compete in the contest with her by their side.
Alec Baxter is a bitter divorce attorney who’s grown apart from his younger brother Thad. When Thad asks him to compete with him and his fiancé as a way of becoming close again, Alec begrudgingly agrees.
Luna and Alec get off to a rocky start when he mistakes her for a PA on the show and rudely demands she get him coffee. After that, it’s game on. Luna was already competitive and now she takes it to the next level. But…of course they can’t help their growing attraction in spite of their first interaction. Should they tell their families? What if they question their loyalty? It’s a tough decision for both of them.
The premise of The Wedding Game is very similar to How My Neighbor Stole Christmas– an enemies to lovers romance involving a competition. The Wedding Game came first but How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is better. I still liked The Wedding Game but it didn’t have the same sharp, witty banter as How My Neighbor Stole Christmas, which is what I was hoping for. However, The Wedding Game did have some moments that had me laughing out loud. Most of them involved Farrah, Luna’s best friend. I loved her.
Overall, The show more Wedding Game was cute, and I do plan on reading more of the over 70 (!) books Meghan Quinn has written. Recommended. show less
Luna Rossi is a crafting expert, with her own YouTube channel and everything. She convinces her brother and his future husband to compete in the contest with her by their side.
Alec Baxter is a bitter divorce attorney who’s grown apart from his younger brother Thad. When Thad asks him to compete with him and his fiancé as a way of becoming close again, Alec begrudgingly agrees.
Luna and Alec get off to a rocky start when he mistakes her for a PA on the show and rudely demands she get him coffee. After that, it’s game on. Luna was already competitive and now she takes it to the next level. But…of course they can’t help their growing attraction in spite of their first interaction. Should they tell their families? What if they question their loyalty? It’s a tough decision for both of them.
The premise of The Wedding Game is very similar to How My Neighbor Stole Christmas– an enemies to lovers romance involving a competition. The Wedding Game came first but How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is better. I still liked The Wedding Game but it didn’t have the same sharp, witty banter as How My Neighbor Stole Christmas, which is what I was hoping for. However, The Wedding Game did have some moments that had me laughing out loud. Most of them involved Farrah, Luna’s best friend. I loved her.
Overall, The show more Wedding Game was cute, and I do plan on reading more of the over 70 (!) books Meghan Quinn has written. Recommended. show less
Beyond the Gender Binary is a pocket-sized book that seeks to educate people about gender and the fact that gender is not black and white. There are other ways of identifying other than strictly male or female, like non-binary or gender nonconforming. This book speaks generally to the issues all of these people face and the author also recounts some of their personal experiences related to the issue. They clear up a lot misconceptions and lies about people in their community.
Beyond the Gender Binary is the perfect beginners guide to the complex world of gender identity. Highly recommended.
Beyond the Gender Binary is the perfect beginners guide to the complex world of gender identity. Highly recommended.
The Deal of a Lifetime is a short story written by Fredrik Backman. A man who’s always been rich, selfish and a terrible father finds himself in the hospital in a room next to a five-year old girl who has cancer and is wise beyond her years. A mysterious woman visits the man in the hospital and gives him the chance to make the deal of a lifetime.
A Deal of a Lifetime was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It was the perfect little winter story to end 2024.
A Deal of a Lifetime was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It was the perfect little winter story to end 2024.
[Said in my best Stefan from SNL voice] How My Neighbor Stole Christmas has everything: enemies to lovers, fake dating, grumpy sunshine, small town romance and lewd acts involving a candy cane.
As a child, Storee Taylor spent Christmas with her family visiting her Aunt Cindy in Kringletown, the town that celebrates Christmas year-round. She returns after a ten-year absence to take care of her Aunt Cindy as she recovers from a broken hip. When she runs into her childhood crush, Cole Black, in town, things do not go well. He’s upset with Storee for things that happened ten years ago.
When Storee enters the annual Christmas Kringle contest at her aunt’s behest, Cole enters too. He’s on a mission to exact his revenge on Storee by winning the contest. He’s forced suppress his grumpy side and act like he has Christmas spirit.
Part of his plan is to pretend that he’s fallen for Storee. If she rejects him, the town will think she’s cruel for breaking his heart, so she reluctantly agrees to fake date him. But you can guess what ends up happening…
I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this book. The banter between Storee and Cole was top notch. As was the banter between Cole and his best friend Max. I was laughing out loud. I listened to this book but also wanted a print copy because I was so engrossed, I wanted to be able to read it when listening wasn’t feasible – like when my kids are creating chaos and I need to keep an ear out to make sure no one gets hurt. show more But I couldn’t find one – it was sold out everywhere!
The spicy scenes were very spicy. And yes, the rumors are true, a candy cane is involved. How My Neighbor Stole Christmas was a super cute and really funny holiday romance. It’s perfect for the season and should definitely be on your list if you’re a romance lover. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. It’s a duet and has a full cast. Meghann Quinn has an extensive backlist and I’m looking forward to reading more by her. show less
As a child, Storee Taylor spent Christmas with her family visiting her Aunt Cindy in Kringletown, the town that celebrates Christmas year-round. She returns after a ten-year absence to take care of her Aunt Cindy as she recovers from a broken hip. When she runs into her childhood crush, Cole Black, in town, things do not go well. He’s upset with Storee for things that happened ten years ago.
When Storee enters the annual Christmas Kringle contest at her aunt’s behest, Cole enters too. He’s on a mission to exact his revenge on Storee by winning the contest. He’s forced suppress his grumpy side and act like he has Christmas spirit.
Part of his plan is to pretend that he’s fallen for Storee. If she rejects him, the town will think she’s cruel for breaking his heart, so she reluctantly agrees to fake date him. But you can guess what ends up happening…
I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this book. The banter between Storee and Cole was top notch. As was the banter between Cole and his best friend Max. I was laughing out loud. I listened to this book but also wanted a print copy because I was so engrossed, I wanted to be able to read it when listening wasn’t feasible – like when my kids are creating chaos and I need to keep an ear out to make sure no one gets hurt. show more But I couldn’t find one – it was sold out everywhere!
The spicy scenes were very spicy. And yes, the rumors are true, a candy cane is involved. How My Neighbor Stole Christmas was a super cute and really funny holiday romance. It’s perfect for the season and should definitely be on your list if you’re a romance lover. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. It’s a duet and has a full cast. Meghann Quinn has an extensive backlist and I’m looking forward to reading more by her. show less
The Eyes are the Best Part follows Ji-Won, who lives in a small apartment with her mother and sister. Her father recently left her mother, upending the family. Her mother starts dating George, a disgusting white man with an Asian fetish. To give you a hint of what his character is like, he calls Asian people “Orientals”. To Ji-Wan’s horror, her mother lets George move in with them.
The stress of her family situation causes Ji-Won to have graphic nightmares involving eyeballs. Shortly after they begin, she is driven to actually eat human eyeballs. She obviously has to kill people to harvest their eyeballs and thus we are witness to the evolution of a serial killer.
Even though, or maybe because, this book is super gross, I loved it. It’s not just simply a horror novel about cannibalism. It’s a commentary on issues of race, specifically the microaggressions and racism directed toward Asian people. It’s about family and loss and grief. And it has a great twist at the end.
I picked this book up because it was recommended to fans of My Sister is a Serial Killer, and after reading it, I agree with that recommendation. But you should read it even if you haven’t read My Sister is a Serial Killer. And then read that book too!
Highly recommended.
The stress of her family situation causes Ji-Won to have graphic nightmares involving eyeballs. Shortly after they begin, she is driven to actually eat human eyeballs. She obviously has to kill people to harvest their eyeballs and thus we are witness to the evolution of a serial killer.
Even though, or maybe because, this book is super gross, I loved it. It’s not just simply a horror novel about cannibalism. It’s a commentary on issues of race, specifically the microaggressions and racism directed toward Asian people. It’s about family and loss and grief. And it has a great twist at the end.
I picked this book up because it was recommended to fans of My Sister is a Serial Killer, and after reading it, I agree with that recommendation. But you should read it even if you haven’t read My Sister is a Serial Killer. And then read that book too!
Highly recommended.
When Cindy Eastman decided to care for her dying father in her home, she thought he only had a few months to live. He ended up living for four years in her home before he died. Not only was he diabetic and legally blind, but he also had dementia that got worse over time.
True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver is a series of essays that Cindy Eastman wrote at varying points during those four years. She wrote them while she was in the midst of caring for her father because as she says, “I might not be as open and honest about recording them through the lens of loss and grief.” Because of that, this book is likea journal of what she was going through.
Being a full-time caregiver is hard and often thankless, as is clear in Eastman’s essays. It became her full-time job. She was overwhelmed and stressed out a lot of the time and she’s very honest about her thoughts toward her father and being a caregiver in general. I think this book would be great for someone who is a caregiver and is feeling frustrated and alone. The essays are short so it’s perfect for a caregiver, who probably doesn’t have much time to read, to read an essay or two at a time. It’s also good for someone who is friends with a caregiver to gain insight into what their friend is going through.
True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver is a series of essays that Cindy Eastman wrote at varying points during those four years. She wrote them while she was in the midst of caring for her father because as she says, “I might not be as open and honest about recording them through the lens of loss and grief.” Because of that, this book is likea journal of what she was going through.
Being a full-time caregiver is hard and often thankless, as is clear in Eastman’s essays. It became her full-time job. She was overwhelmed and stressed out a lot of the time and she’s very honest about her thoughts toward her father and being a caregiver in general. I think this book would be great for someone who is a caregiver and is feeling frustrated and alone. The essays are short so it’s perfect for a caregiver, who probably doesn’t have much time to read, to read an essay or two at a time. It’s also good for someone who is friends with a caregiver to gain insight into what their friend is going through.
Killers of the Flower Moon is a well-researched account of what happened to the Osage. Unfortunately, we’ll never know for sure the extent of the murders and who was responsible for them. Some of the people were caught and convicted but there were surely more people involved. It’s speculated that hundreds of Osage deaths were murders.
I watched the movie of the same name, which is based on the book, when it first came out. I chose to read the book because liked the movie, but I wanted more of the nitty gritty details of the time. Even though the movie is over three hours long, it doesn’t delve into the specifics of the law, for example, how the government was able to declare fully functioning Native Americans incompetent and take over their finances. The movie expanded on and embellished a lot of what happened for dramatic effect. After you subtract the copious number of notes, the book is less than 300 pages long. There’s not enough material for a three-hour movie!
I recommend Killers of the Flower Moon to everyone who is addicted to true crime documentaries and podcasts. You know who you are!
I watched the movie of the same name, which is based on the book, when it first came out. I chose to read the book because liked the movie, but I wanted more of the nitty gritty details of the time. Even though the movie is over three hours long, it doesn’t delve into the specifics of the law, for example, how the government was able to declare fully functioning Native Americans incompetent and take over their finances. The movie expanded on and embellished a lot of what happened for dramatic effect. After you subtract the copious number of notes, the book is less than 300 pages long. There’s not enough material for a three-hour movie!
I recommend Killers of the Flower Moon to everyone who is addicted to true crime documentaries and podcasts. You know who you are!
Hannah Hall’s husband, Owen, has disappeared. A girl delivers her a note from him that says, simply, “Protect her.” Hannah knows that he’s referring to his teenage daughter Bailey. But protect her from what? Why are U.S. Marshall’s and FBI agents looking for Owen? Hannah and Bailey decide to go on a mission to find out.
I actually read this book twice. The first time was about a year ago. At the time, I didn’t think it lived up to the hype. I read it again recently because there is a limited TV series starring Jennifer Garner streaming on Apple TV+ based on the book and I wanted to refresh my memory before I watched the show. I liked it even less the second time!
I had a really tough time with the premise. A man goes into hiding and leaves his wife a cryptic note when he easily could have a written a full note explaining to her why he had to go?
I’m not sure this actually is a thriller – maybe thriller light? The twist was little and not exactly jaw dropping. I had a hard time feeling invested in the story and what was going on with Owen because the suspense felt manufactured.
Even though I thought the book was meh, I’m still going to watch at least the first episode of the TV series because I’m curious to see how they’ve adapted the book.
I actually read this book twice. The first time was about a year ago. At the time, I didn’t think it lived up to the hype. I read it again recently because there is a limited TV series starring Jennifer Garner streaming on Apple TV+ based on the book and I wanted to refresh my memory before I watched the show. I liked it even less the second time!
I had a really tough time with the premise. A man goes into hiding and leaves his wife a cryptic note when he easily could have a written a full note explaining to her why he had to go?
I’m not sure this actually is a thriller – maybe thriller light? The twist was little and not exactly jaw dropping. I had a hard time feeling invested in the story and what was going on with Owen because the suspense felt manufactured.
Even though I thought the book was meh, I’m still going to watch at least the first episode of the TV series because I’m curious to see how they’ve adapted the book.
None of Eileen’s book club friends can go on their annual book retreat, where they spend the week reading and discussing romance books. Feeling sad and lonely after a bad breakup, Eileen decides to go on the retreat all by herself. On the way, her car breaks down and she finds herself in Eloraton, the town in which her favorite romance series is set. It will take a few days to get it fixed, so the town’s grumpy bookstore owner offers to let her stay in the loft in the store. She quickly makes friends with the townspeople since she knows almost everything about them from reading the books. She’s so comfortable in the town that she doesn’t want to leave and go back to her real life.
A Novel Love Story completely charmed me. While I’m not a huge fantasy fan, I can get on board with magical realism if it’s done right. Ashley Poston got it right in The Seven Year Slip and she’s done it again here. This book is a tribute to romance, not a send up. It’s interesting how self-aware it is. Eileen can recognize the tropes that are playing out right before her eyes. She feels like she knows what’s best for the characters and can’t help meddling in their lives a bit even though the bookstore owner warns her not to.
Eileen does have a bit of a romance herself, but the focus of the book is the journey that both her and the people who live in Eloraton take while she’s there. Eileen has to time to reevaluate her life and try to figure out what would make her happy.
I show more thoroughly enjoyed visiting Eloraton right along with Eileen and thought the story was clever and fun. Highly recommended. show less
A Novel Love Story completely charmed me. While I’m not a huge fantasy fan, I can get on board with magical realism if it’s done right. Ashley Poston got it right in The Seven Year Slip and she’s done it again here. This book is a tribute to romance, not a send up. It’s interesting how self-aware it is. Eileen can recognize the tropes that are playing out right before her eyes. She feels like she knows what’s best for the characters and can’t help meddling in their lives a bit even though the bookstore owner warns her not to.
Eileen does have a bit of a romance herself, but the focus of the book is the journey that both her and the people who live in Eloraton take while she’s there. Eileen has to time to reevaluate her life and try to figure out what would make her happy.
I show more thoroughly enjoyed visiting Eloraton right along with Eileen and thought the story was clever and fun. Highly recommended. show less
Rue works as a biotech engineer at Kline, a food science corporation that has become the target of a hostile takeover attempt. Eli works for the private equity firm trying to take over Kline. When he meets Rue, he feels an instant, intense attraction. Rue feels it too, but she doesn’t want to betray the owner of Kline, who is also a close friend by doing anything with Eli. But they can’t help themselves and end up having a secret, passionate affair.
Not in Love has a different tone from Ali Hazelwood’s other books. She states in a note in the front of the book that Not in Love is less a rom-com and more erotica or dark romance. It is darker – both Eli and Rue come from troubled childhoods and have issues because of that. The spicy scenes are on the dark side, but nothing compared to some of the dark romance that’s out there! Ali Hazelwood knows how to write a love scene. They don’t have any of the cringy language that I’ve seen in some other romance books.
I loved Not in Love. Rue and Eli’s chemistry was palpable. I liked that Rue was a strong woman who knows what she wants and doesn’t have any problems communicating it. Her dry humor was fantastic – she had some great lines. And there was a callback to Check & Mate. It’s fun when authors put Easter eggs in their books.
Ali Hazelwood continues her streak of writing fantastic romance books with Not in Love. She can do no wrong. Highly recommended.
Not in Love has a different tone from Ali Hazelwood’s other books. She states in a note in the front of the book that Not in Love is less a rom-com and more erotica or dark romance. It is darker – both Eli and Rue come from troubled childhoods and have issues because of that. The spicy scenes are on the dark side, but nothing compared to some of the dark romance that’s out there! Ali Hazelwood knows how to write a love scene. They don’t have any of the cringy language that I’ve seen in some other romance books.
I loved Not in Love. Rue and Eli’s chemistry was palpable. I liked that Rue was a strong woman who knows what she wants and doesn’t have any problems communicating it. Her dry humor was fantastic – she had some great lines. And there was a callback to Check & Mate. It’s fun when authors put Easter eggs in their books.
Ali Hazelwood continues her streak of writing fantastic romance books with Not in Love. She can do no wrong. Highly recommended.
The Perfumist of Paris follows Radha, Lakshmi’s younger sister. She lives in Paris with her husband Pierre and works at a perfume company mixing scents. She and Pierre have two little girls. Radha loves her job and sometimes works long hours. Pierre would rather she stay home and focus on their daughters.
*****This review has tiny spoilers for The Henna Artist*****
This book takes place in the 1970s when women were entering the work force en mass for the first time. France was behind America in accepting working women, which is one of the reasons Pierre was so against it.
If you’ve read The Henna Artist, you know that Radha gave birth to a baby boy when she was thirteen and placed him for adoption. One day, that boy, named Nicki, who is now a teenager, shows up at Radha and Pierre’s doorstep. The problem is that Radha never told Pierre about Nikki.
This book started out slowly – the first half was just Pierre and Radha fighting over her career. It got tedious. Things picked up once Nikki showed up at Radha’s house. Radha takes a trip back to India to look for new fragrances and we get to catch up with what Lakshmi and Malik have been up to.
Although not my favorite book of the series, I thought The Perfumist of Paris was a nice conclusion to The Henna Artist Trilogy.
*****This review has tiny spoilers for The Henna Artist*****
This book takes place in the 1970s when women were entering the work force en mass for the first time. France was behind America in accepting working women, which is one of the reasons Pierre was so against it.
If you’ve read The Henna Artist, you know that Radha gave birth to a baby boy when she was thirteen and placed him for adoption. One day, that boy, named Nicki, who is now a teenager, shows up at Radha and Pierre’s doorstep. The problem is that Radha never told Pierre about Nikki.
This book started out slowly – the first half was just Pierre and Radha fighting over her career. It got tedious. Things picked up once Nikki showed up at Radha’s house. Radha takes a trip back to India to look for new fragrances and we get to catch up with what Lakshmi and Malik have been up to.
Although not my favorite book of the series, I thought The Perfumist of Paris was a nice conclusion to The Henna Artist Trilogy.
The Secret Keeper of Jaipur: A novel from the bestselling author of The Henna Artist (The Jaipur Trilogy, 2) by Alka Joshi
***This review might have mild spoilers for The Henna Artist.***
The Secret Keeper of Jaipur takes place about ten years after the end of The Henna Artist. Lakshmi and Dr. J are married and running a medical clinic in Shimla. Malik has graduated from an elite boarding school and is in Jaipur interning at Samir’s construction company. The company has been contracted by the Palace to build a fancy cinema.
Malik has left Nimmi, a humble tribeswoman that he’s started to form a relationship with, behind in Shimla. One of the reasons Lakshmi sent Malik to Jaipur is to get him away from Nimmi – she doesn’t think Nimmi is good enough for him.
The cinema collapses on opening night, injuring, and even killing, some of the people in attendance. Malik doesn’t buy the official explanation for the collapse and decides to investigate himself.
In this book Laksmi is a supporting character but she’s still up in everyone’s business, just like she was in The Henna Artist. The focus is mostly on Malik and Nimmi. It’s more plot driven than The Henna Artist since we already know most of the characters. (Although this could be read as a stand-alone because anything you need to know from the first book to understand what’s going on is explained.)
I thought The Secret Keeper of Jaipur was just as good as The Henna Artist. The mystery of who was behind the cinema collapse was well-plotted. I’m looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, The Perfumist of Paris.
The Secret Keeper of Jaipur takes place about ten years after the end of The Henna Artist. Lakshmi and Dr. J are married and running a medical clinic in Shimla. Malik has graduated from an elite boarding school and is in Jaipur interning at Samir’s construction company. The company has been contracted by the Palace to build a fancy cinema.
Malik has left Nimmi, a humble tribeswoman that he’s started to form a relationship with, behind in Shimla. One of the reasons Lakshmi sent Malik to Jaipur is to get him away from Nimmi – she doesn’t think Nimmi is good enough for him.
The cinema collapses on opening night, injuring, and even killing, some of the people in attendance. Malik doesn’t buy the official explanation for the collapse and decides to investigate himself.
In this book Laksmi is a supporting character but she’s still up in everyone’s business, just like she was in The Henna Artist. The focus is mostly on Malik and Nimmi. It’s more plot driven than The Henna Artist since we already know most of the characters. (Although this could be read as a stand-alone because anything you need to know from the first book to understand what’s going on is explained.)
I thought The Secret Keeper of Jaipur was just as good as The Henna Artist. The mystery of who was behind the cinema collapse was well-plotted. I’m looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, The Perfumist of Paris.
Growing up, Iris’s mother made the best gelato using a recipe she got years ago from Santo, a man that she had a brief fling with. The recipe is a family secret so secret that only two family members are allowed to know it at the same time. Santo should not have given Vivien the recipe.
Iris happens to stumble upon Santo’s gelato shop while out walking but they are closed because they’ve lost the gelato recipe. Iris is torn – should she give them the recipe and risk making the family mad at Santo for giving the recipe to her mom? Iris is a chef so she decides she will offer to help Santo’s nephew Gio experiment with different ingredient combinations, knowing she will eventually lead him to the right recipe. And you know what ends up happening with them working so closely to together…
Frankly, I thought this book was boring. The writing itself wasn’t bad but it was very slow paced. I didn’t think there was good chemistry between Iris and Gio. They spent a lot of time making gelato. Like a lot. And I didn’t understand what the big deal was with Iris just telling Gio’s family that she had the recipe. I think they would have preferred that over being closed for weeks while they tried to figure out the recipe. I probably would have DNFed this book if it wasn’t one of my Book of the Month books. I paid good money for it, so I was determined to make it through!
Iris happens to stumble upon Santo’s gelato shop while out walking but they are closed because they’ve lost the gelato recipe. Iris is torn – should she give them the recipe and risk making the family mad at Santo for giving the recipe to her mom? Iris is a chef so she decides she will offer to help Santo’s nephew Gio experiment with different ingredient combinations, knowing she will eventually lead him to the right recipe. And you know what ends up happening with them working so closely to together…
Frankly, I thought this book was boring. The writing itself wasn’t bad but it was very slow paced. I didn’t think there was good chemistry between Iris and Gio. They spent a lot of time making gelato. Like a lot. And I didn’t understand what the big deal was with Iris just telling Gio’s family that she had the recipe. I think they would have preferred that over being closed for weeks while they tried to figure out the recipe. I probably would have DNFed this book if it wasn’t one of my Book of the Month books. I paid good money for it, so I was determined to make it through!
Sunshine Nails is a light-hearted, urgent fable of gentrification with a cast of memorable and complex characters who showcase the diversity of immigrant experiences and community resilience.
Debbie and Phil Tran have owned Sunshine Nails for years, but the neighborhood is becoming more gentrified by the minute. A fancy new nail salon opens across the street while Sunshine Nails’ rent is nearly doubled. What lengths will Phil and Debbie go to save their nail salon?
I enjoyed Sunshine Nails. It’s a heartwarming story about family and community. It has its serious moments. The microaggressions some members of the Tran family experienced made me angry. But there is humor to keep it from becoming too heavy. The audiobook had multiple narrators, which I thought worked well. Recommended.
Debbie and Phil Tran have owned Sunshine Nails for years, but the neighborhood is becoming more gentrified by the minute. A fancy new nail salon opens across the street while Sunshine Nails’ rent is nearly doubled. What lengths will Phil and Debbie go to save their nail salon?
I enjoyed Sunshine Nails. It’s a heartwarming story about family and community. It has its serious moments. The microaggressions some members of the Tran family experienced made me angry. But there is humor to keep it from becoming too heavy. The audiobook had multiple narrators, which I thought worked well. Recommended.
Sadie has just had a Very Bad Year. Her temper has caused her boyfriend to break up with her and for her to lose her job as a pastry chef as well. Plus, she kissed her brother’s best friend Jacob, which was probably not a good idea. At a New Year’s Eve party, a fortune teller casts a spell that wipes out the previous year. The next morning when she wakes up, it’s the first day of what was her Very Bad Year. She has a chance to do things differently, so she doesn’t lose her job and boyfriend. And kissing Jacob never happened.
As Sadie relives the year, she starts to wonder if the Very Bad Year wasn’t so bad after all.
This book was cute. I loved Jacob. He was so shy and sweet. I thought it was clever that since. Sadie was a pastry chef, all the metaphors she thought were food related. For example:
“I blush brighter than a red velvet cake.”
The Second Chance Year is a great New Year’s themed book to read anytime.
As Sadie relives the year, she starts to wonder if the Very Bad Year wasn’t so bad after all.
This book was cute. I loved Jacob. He was so shy and sweet. I thought it was clever that since. Sadie was a pastry chef, all the metaphors she thought were food related. For example:
“I blush brighter than a red velvet cake.”
The Second Chance Year is a great New Year’s themed book to read anytime.
Another great thriller!
Wylie is a true crime writer staying at a remote cabin to finish her latest book. A huge snowstorm is raging outside when she encounters a small child who will not speak. Who is this child and why are they alone outside in a snowstorm?
The book also flashes back to the 1990s when the crime Wylie is currently writing about occurred. That is another mystery – who committed that crime and why?
This is the kind of thriller where I really can’t tell you much more about it without spoilers. Just trust me when I tell you that the twists are crazy. And the last part was so suspenseful, my stomach was in knots. Heather has a long backlist – I can’t wait to read more of her books!
Wylie is a true crime writer staying at a remote cabin to finish her latest book. A huge snowstorm is raging outside when she encounters a small child who will not speak. Who is this child and why are they alone outside in a snowstorm?
The book also flashes back to the 1990s when the crime Wylie is currently writing about occurred. That is another mystery – who committed that crime and why?
This is the kind of thriller where I really can’t tell you much more about it without spoilers. Just trust me when I tell you that the twists are crazy. And the last part was so suspenseful, my stomach was in knots. Heather has a long backlist – I can’t wait to read more of her books!
Andy Cohen’s new book is his third book of published diaries. It starts when his son Ben is three and his surrogate is pregnant with his daughter Lucy to when Lucy is a few months old.
Even though Andy is wealthy and has a nanny, his struggles as a single dad were actually relatable. He writes about feeling insecure at one of his son Ben’s birthday parties because he doesn’t feel he measure’s up to the other parents. My favorite relatable moment is when he moved Ben to a toddler bed and Ben would not stay in it and would get up super early. Andy wrote, “This toddler bed is ruining my life!” I’ve totally been there, Andy!
I listened to this on audio, which is a must. Andy reads it himself which makes it even funnier. His comedic timing is spot on. And he spills tea all over the place, which I love.
I hope he keeps publishing his diaries – they’re the best!
Even though Andy is wealthy and has a nanny, his struggles as a single dad were actually relatable. He writes about feeling insecure at one of his son Ben’s birthday parties because he doesn’t feel he measure’s up to the other parents. My favorite relatable moment is when he moved Ben to a toddler bed and Ben would not stay in it and would get up super early. Andy wrote, “This toddler bed is ruining my life!” I’ve totally been there, Andy!
I listened to this on audio, which is a must. Andy reads it himself which makes it even funnier. His comedic timing is spot on. And he spills tea all over the place, which I love.
I hope he keeps publishing his diaries – they’re the best!
Tash is a journalist who recently quit her job to start free-lancing. The projects aren’t exactly rolling in so when she hears about the mysterious death of an area nanny, she decides to investigate and write an article about it.
Tash puts her son in a playgroup (it seems in England playgroup is what we call preschool or mother’s day out in the US) and finds she is envious of the other mothers’ seemingly perfect, lavish lifestyles. When they invite her into their inner circle, she feels special but also like a bit of an imposter. Her husband is a doctor, so they don’t have enough money to keep up with the Jones’s as it were. (I guess in England, being a physician isn’t a high paying career like it is here!) As Tash gets further into her investigation of the nanny’s death, she starts to wonder if the women in her playgroup know something they aren’t telling her.
The Other Mothers was so good! I had high hopes going in because the description gave Stepford Wives vibes and that’s one of my favorite books. I was not disappointed! There were so many twists – this book was expertly plotted. I want to go back and read it again. I feel like I felt after I read Gone Girl – just amazed at how everything came together at the end. The Other Mothers definitely has earned a spot on my favorite thrillers list! Now I must read Katherine Faulkner’s other book Greenwich Park. If it’s even half as good as The Other Mothers, it’ll be great!
Tash puts her son in a playgroup (it seems in England playgroup is what we call preschool or mother’s day out in the US) and finds she is envious of the other mothers’ seemingly perfect, lavish lifestyles. When they invite her into their inner circle, she feels special but also like a bit of an imposter. Her husband is a doctor, so they don’t have enough money to keep up with the Jones’s as it were. (I guess in England, being a physician isn’t a high paying career like it is here!) As Tash gets further into her investigation of the nanny’s death, she starts to wonder if the women in her playgroup know something they aren’t telling her.
The Other Mothers was so good! I had high hopes going in because the description gave Stepford Wives vibes and that’s one of my favorite books. I was not disappointed! There were so many twists – this book was expertly plotted. I want to go back and read it again. I feel like I felt after I read Gone Girl – just amazed at how everything came together at the end. The Other Mothers definitely has earned a spot on my favorite thrillers list! Now I must read Katherine Faulkner’s other book Greenwich Park. If it’s even half as good as The Other Mothers, it’ll be great!
Melody Gallard’s mother was in the band the Steel Birds with Beat Dawkins’ mother, but they broke up years ago due to an unspecified feud. Beat and Melody are offered a lot of money from a reality TV producer to convince their mothers to reunite for a Christmas Eve performance.
When Beat and Melody met at sixteen years old, there was chemistry, but they haven’t seen each other since then because of their mothers’ fight. When they meet again, the spark is still there. However, Beat harbors a few secrets that might keep them from being able to get together.
This book was way steamier than I expected based off the cute cartoon cover. I’m probably the only one who didn’t know that Tessa Bailey writes super spicy books. I’m totally down for that, it just caught me off guard. Beat and Melody’s chemistry leapt off the page. Beat was super protective of Melody which got a little annoying because she was a strong, capable woman from the get-go. At least she seemed that way to me. I know that Tessa Bailey is supposed to be the “Michelangelo of dirty talk” but Beat’s dirty talk was just a little too…something. Cheesy, maybe? I don’t like a lot of talking in my spicy scenes. More action, less talking!
I enjoyed Melody. She was charming and funny. I liked how she handled Beat and his overprotectiveness. They made a great couple. Overall, I thought this was a fun, holiday read, and I definitely want to check out more of Tessa’s books. From the list in the back show more of the book, it appears that there are several more to choose from. show less
When Beat and Melody met at sixteen years old, there was chemistry, but they haven’t seen each other since then because of their mothers’ fight. When they meet again, the spark is still there. However, Beat harbors a few secrets that might keep them from being able to get together.
This book was way steamier than I expected based off the cute cartoon cover. I’m probably the only one who didn’t know that Tessa Bailey writes super spicy books. I’m totally down for that, it just caught me off guard. Beat and Melody’s chemistry leapt off the page. Beat was super protective of Melody which got a little annoying because she was a strong, capable woman from the get-go. At least she seemed that way to me. I know that Tessa Bailey is supposed to be the “Michelangelo of dirty talk” but Beat’s dirty talk was just a little too…something. Cheesy, maybe? I don’t like a lot of talking in my spicy scenes. More action, less talking!
I enjoyed Melody. She was charming and funny. I liked how she handled Beat and his overprotectiveness. They made a great couple. Overall, I thought this was a fun, holiday read, and I definitely want to check out more of Tessa’s books. From the list in the back show more of the book, it appears that there are several more to choose from. show less
Let it Snow is a collection of three short, loosely connected holiday romances written by three different authors: John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle. In Maureen Johnson’s The Jubilee Express, Jubilee is sent on a train to her grandparents’ house after her parents are arrested for getting in a brawl while Christmas shopping. The train breaks down in a small town next to a Waffle House, leaving Jubilee stranded.
In John Green’s A Cheertastic Miracle, a group of friends is at home watching James Bond movies when another friend working at the Waffle House calls to tell them that a train full of cheerleaders has just arrived and they need to get down there asap. The cheerleaders want to play Twister!
In Lauren Myracle’s The Patron Saint of Pigs, Addie must admit and overcome her self-centeredness to help out her friends with their teacup pig.
It’s so hard to review short story collections because the quality of the stories can vary so much. And since in Let it Snow, they are all written by different people, each story has a distinct style. Of course, John Green’s story was my favorite. No surprise there – we all know that I’m a huge John Green fangirl. A Cheertastic Miracle is John Green through and through. If I had read the stories without knowing who wrote each one, I could have picked his out a mile away. The friend group in his story has that snappy dialogue that his characters often have, and the Duke and Tobin reminded me vaguely of Alaska and show more Miles.
The other two stories were entertaining as well but it was Green’s that made the collection. If you’re looking for a fun YA holiday read, put Let It Snow on your list. show less
In John Green’s A Cheertastic Miracle, a group of friends is at home watching James Bond movies when another friend working at the Waffle House calls to tell them that a train full of cheerleaders has just arrived and they need to get down there asap. The cheerleaders want to play Twister!
In Lauren Myracle’s The Patron Saint of Pigs, Addie must admit and overcome her self-centeredness to help out her friends with their teacup pig.
It’s so hard to review short story collections because the quality of the stories can vary so much. And since in Let it Snow, they are all written by different people, each story has a distinct style. Of course, John Green’s story was my favorite. No surprise there – we all know that I’m a huge John Green fangirl. A Cheertastic Miracle is John Green through and through. If I had read the stories without knowing who wrote each one, I could have picked his out a mile away. The friend group in his story has that snappy dialogue that his characters often have, and the Duke and Tobin reminded me vaguely of Alaska and show more Miles.
The other two stories were entertaining as well but it was Green’s that made the collection. If you’re looking for a fun YA holiday read, put Let It Snow on your list. show less
Vivian Forest is excited to accompany her daughter Maddie to England, where Maddie has a job styling a member of the royal family for all of her holiday events. Vivian relaxes and hangs out with the staff of the cottage where they are staying while Maddie works. There she meets Malcom Hudson, who works directly with the Queen. When he gives her a private tour of the grounds, sparks fly. However, Vivian is only in England for a brief time. What will happen to their relationship when she leaves? Are they having a vacation fling or is it more?
This is a cute little holiday romance. It’s part of The Wedding Date series but from what I gathered on Jasmine Guillory’s website, it’s not a series that you have to read in order, but there are characters who are the main characters in one book and supporting characters in others. Anyway, you could totally read this book as a stand-alone – I don’t think I missed anything by not having read the others. After reading this book, I do want to read the others at some point.
I liked that the main characters were over fifty and were still portrayed as sexual beings with desires and passion. At the same time, they had a maturity that comes with life experience that I appreciated. I listened to the audiobook, which was great except that the narrator had a pretty bad English accent when she read the dialogue of the British characters. If fake accents bother you, you might want to read this book in print!
Royal Holiday is terrific show more addition to a romance lovers’ holiday TBR. show less
This is a cute little holiday romance. It’s part of The Wedding Date series but from what I gathered on Jasmine Guillory’s website, it’s not a series that you have to read in order, but there are characters who are the main characters in one book and supporting characters in others. Anyway, you could totally read this book as a stand-alone – I don’t think I missed anything by not having read the others. After reading this book, I do want to read the others at some point.
I liked that the main characters were over fifty and were still portrayed as sexual beings with desires and passion. At the same time, they had a maturity that comes with life experience that I appreciated. I listened to the audiobook, which was great except that the narrator had a pretty bad English accent when she read the dialogue of the British characters. If fake accents bother you, you might want to read this book in print!
Royal Holiday is terrific show more addition to a romance lovers’ holiday TBR. show less