Month: April 2024

#5OnMyTBR: Romance

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook and you can learn more about it here or in the post announcing it. It occurs every Monday when we post about 5 books on our TBR.

This week’s theme is: Romance

Title: The Rule Book

Author: Sarah Adams

College sweethearts meet again years later, in this highly anticipated romance and companion story to the viral TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet.

Nora Mackenzie’s entire career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender who also happens to be her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things as gracefully as she could have back then, and now it’s come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent and he’s holding a grudge.

Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, oh he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily.

Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship be the thing to save their careers?

Title: Can’t Help Falling in Love

Author: Sophie Sullivan

A struggling waitress and the heir to a major Seattle company stumble into a high-profile fake engagement while simultaneously trying to keep up with their own love lives in this flirty fall rom-com!

Lexi Danby is looking for some no-strings, fall fun. Once a college track star, she was forced to drop out when her father passed away. Now she’s trying to make ends meet while putting herself through school and caring for her grieving mother. When her comically bad waitressing lands her directly in the path of a handsome, charming stranger named Will, Lexi may just have found the distraction she’s been looking for. Their first date looks promising until a misunderstanding at a party thrusts Lexi and Will into a fake engagement they can’t talk themselves out of. And Will turns out to be a member of Seattle royalty.

Will Grand is heir to a major company, and Seattle’s most eligible bachelor. But he’s been placed in charge of an important merger with a company that values family above all else, and needs to show them that he’s settled down. While a fake engagement is advantageous from a business standpoint, it’s not so great for a budding relationship with a woman who’s wary of commitment. With a woman who Will is beginning to care about much more than he could have anticipated.

As Lexi gets a taste of Will’s glamorous world and the pair keeps up the pretense of their fake engagement for the press, they decide to see where a more casual relationship takes them out of the spotlight. And amid apple picking in comfy flannels, outdoor breweries in the crisp air, and fun Halloween preparations, Lexi starts to realize the scariest part of the season might just be taking a chance on love.

“Sophie Sullivan consistently crafts romances to root for.” -Courtney Kae, author of In the Event of Love and In the Case of Heartbreak

Title: Not Another Love Song

Author: Julie Soto

Two string players fight their attraction for each other as they compete for center stage in this spicy and emotional romance.

Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies, but each has had very different paths to success. Xander was born into classical music royalty, while Gwen had a natural ear for music that was nurtured by a kind shop owner.

After Gwen performs at his friend’s wedding, she’s mortified when she realizes Xander has no clue who she is—despite having worked together for a year at the Pops Orchestra. But she’s more furious that he arrogantly critiques her performance.

When Gwen is offered the role of First Chair of the orchestra, something Xander had secretly coveted for years, their existing hostility goes up a notch. But their respect for each other’s music is undeniable, and their onstage chemistry off the scale. As they begin to explore their feelings for one another, suddenly they’re box office dynamite and the fragile romance that’s growing between them is in danger of being crushed beneath a publicity stunt…

Title: Just for the Summer

Authors: Abby Jimenez

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

Title: Happily Never After

Author: Lynn Painter

Two love sceptics agree to work together as professional wedding disruptors. But fate has more romantic plans in mind for them . . .

When Sophie finds out right before getting married that she’s been cheated on (again!) it’s time for drastic action. Instead of calling the wedding off, she hires a gorgeous stranger – Max – to interrupt the ceremony and confront her fiancé. It’s hardly the wedding she’d planned. But Sophie enjoys taking revenge. So, when Max asks if she’ll work with him to help others expose their cheating partners, Sophie agrees. When they’re hired by a man who’s marrying the girl that once broke Max’s heart, Sophie expects Max to revel in the job. But instead, he seems to be wrestling with his feelings for his ex. And worse than that, Sophie is jealous . . .Tropes/ Friends to lovers2. Slow burn romance3. Spicy books4. Love triangle

Have you read any of these? Or plan to read any of these?

April

  • 01/04/2024 — Humour
  • 08/04/2024 — Recced by a Friend
  • 15/04/2024 — Title Starting with an ‘A’
  • 22/04/2024 — Romance
  • 29/04/2024 — Adventurous

Weekly Wrap Up | 4/21/24

Aloha friends!

I got over my illness – YAY! And right as my coughing was coming to an end, my daughter’s allergies/coughing started again and she got pink eye. 😅 Spring has not been kind to us!

My best friend since kindergarten so yes…that is 40 years of friendship 🥲🥰, had neck fusion surgery this past Tuesday. So my thoughts have been on her too – she was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis when we were in the second grade, I still remember our teacher explaining why she was going to miss so much class time. Anyway, it’s been a battle these past 40 years for her, with a knee replacement and hip replacement all before the age of 21, daily pain, joints fusing but she’s been a fighter. Her brother is giving me updates as he gets them – but the surgery went well, she’s just dealing with the pain now. 😔 So I have been worried about her but I am SO glad the surgery went well.

My daughter’s dance recital is coming up so we are busy with that. I didn’t get much reading done at all. Still in my slump I think and maybe it’s needed?

Anyway I hope everyone has a good week!

Blog Posts:

Seems like I didn’t post much this week…

Books I Read:

Verity by. Colleen Hoover

Six of Sorrow by. Amanda Linsmeier

Currently Reading:

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

  • The Tortured Poets Department (Taylor Swift) – The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology – My Thoughts – first initial reaction I thought the whole thing was too slow but after a few listens, I think it’s perfect to listen to for when I’m doing certain tasks like blogging ☺️

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology – My Thoughts

Well, it’s finally out, The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift and it was a double album like she’s been hinting for so long with her 2’s. I’m Swiftie enough to follow all the easter eggs and clue and investigate things etc…I just go on TikTok and watch the people that do have theories – it’s fun but I don’t have the time! 😅 But I’ve been so curious about this album because of the grayscale or “greige” as she says in one song of her songs, it’s such a gloomy aesthetic. There is a lot of songs to process and just remember, this is just my interpretation of her songs and my first impressions. Everyone has their own and that’s all good! Let’s get into it:

  1. Fortnight (feat. Post Malone) – unexpected slow tempo, beat is very pop-synth, lyrics are interesting…(fortnight is 2 weeks – so is this about Matty Healy?!🤭 since they were so short lived in public last year), kinda thought Post Malone’s part would be more pronounced but I think I like it. This one is a grower I think.
  2. The Tortured Poets Department – slow tempo beat again, Matty again…”a tattooed golden retriever” lol…oh wow…this situationship she had with him really affected her – relatable!😅
  3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys – so far the beats feel the same, feels like one continuous song, slight differences here and there but tempo is the same and feels like the same song…”once I fix me, he’s gonna miss me” YUP…all the time. “stole my tortured heart, left all these broken parts” ouch.
  4. Down Bad – still kind of slow but I love the funky sounds it starts with – oh she said “fuck it if I can’t have him” – he really had her down bad! “I loved your hostile takeovers” – I felt that. He really screwed with her heart and brain. The ending sounds like a song from Lana Del Rey 🤔
  5. So Long, London – track 5? Will it break my heart? Love how it starts like bells chiming? Another slow one. Oh Joe…this one is sad and I think about their relationship or the ending of it. This one reminds me of Folklore and Evermore – and it makes sense because it’s co-written with Aaron Dessner and I LOVE her songs with him.
  6. But Daddy I Love Him – AH! this gives me Fearless/Love Story vibes and I love it! Another Aaron Dessner song. My favorite so far 🥰 maybe because it sounds so different from the first 5. Great lyrics – she even came for the fans who was going on and on about her and Matty “all this bitching and moaning” and that chaotic time! 😅 It is her life guys and girls, she’s grown enough to make her own mistakes and learn from it. Such a good song!!
  7. Fresh Out of the Slammer – back to slow but again, that guitar sound in the beginning and throughout giving me Lana vibes, maybe “Brooklyn Baby”?. She was in prison doing her time and now she’s out and running back to “him”. Whoa – tempo change.
  8. Florida!!! (feat. Florence + the Machine) – someone explain Florida to me, or the significance of it. She mentions Florida in Fortnight too. Love how this song is more hard hitting at some parts of the song, love Florence’s voice. What happened in Florida?! lol…🤷🏻‍♀️. I know this one has layers, I just can’t decode it right now. Also…I’m realizing all these guitar sounding/Lana vibes are Jack Antanoff songs which makes sense.
  9. Guilty as Sin? – she’s fantasizing! Ah! 🤭 Kind of reminds me of her song “I Can See You”…fantasies. Question is who is she fantasizing about? 👀
  10. Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me – ohhhh this one is good. She screams, finally! Reminds me of 1989 and I’m a 1989 girly. Love this song and the theme. “I was tame, I was gentle till the circus life made me mean”. Seems like she’s talking about the entertainment industry and how it’s changed her.
  11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) – another slow one that gives me Lana vibes – oh Matty how you had her in a chokehold. But so relatable. “I can fix him, no, really, I can and only I can.” Yes, I have been this delusional but not anymore. LOL..love that she comes to her senses at the end of the song!👏🏼👏🏼
  12. loml – giving me Evermore vibes – UGH, this one is so good and such a sad, heartbreaker song. Thank you Aaron Dessner. “Talking rings and talking cradles”. I wanna say both about Joe and Matty.
  13. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart – finally an upbeat song?! wow! Aw damn, her heart was breaking and broken but she had her Eras Tour, she kept going even with her broken heart…honestly she deserves to take a break as long as she wants! Very synth-pop.
  14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived – Aaron Dessner song again. “Cause it wasn’t sexy once it wasn’t forbidden.” This one reminds me of All Too Well…great story telling. Love it.
  15. The Alchemy – she likes her white wine. “Touch down”? Is this aTravis song?! 🤭 aww she’s saying why fight the magic happening between them – cute!🥰
  16. Clara Bow – yup another Aaron Dessner song, love how it sounds. Another song about her experience with fame and the music industry. As much as I love her sad love songs, I totally love any songs about herself and how she deals with fame, the public, the fans, etc…great song! “It’s hell on earth to be heavenly”. That’s heavy. I love how she mentions her own name at the end…almost like talking about the next starlet, a successor, who will have to endure this hell of the entertainment industry.
  17. The Black Dog – love how the hard guitars came in, I like this one a lot and probably need a few listens but I like how it builds.
  18. imgonnagetyouback – this one’s okay I think, still same slow tempo so it kind of sounds like other songs and nothing is really standing out for me on it – giving me 1989 vibes but I wish it was a little more dynamic maybe just to make it stand out a little more.
  19. The Albatross – Folklore vibes – gotta be an Aaron song. Love the sound, not sure what it’s about yet, need a few more listens but I love it. I think she’s saying she’s the albatross? Will have to see what people say about it.
  20. Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus – Evermore vibes – wait – she mentions “scarlet maroon” and I was getting that it’s about Matty way before that line….but does this mean Maroon is about Matty?! Because I love Maroon and I didn’t feel like it was a Joe song. Whoa…”Will I always wonder?”. Oh that wondering and what ifs.
  21. How Did It End? – wow these extra songs are the Folklore/Evermore storytelling songs. Sad, sad song. ☹️ “It’s happening again, how did it end?” UGH. To go from ending it with Joe after 6 years, to the crazy ending with Matty right after? I don’t know how she did those first Eras Tours shows with all this going on.
  22. So High School – YES. guitars, drums! 1990’s/2000’s teen rom-coms?! Awww a Travis song!! I love it. So cute! Oh this is sooo high school, at least when I was in high school! lol I’m rooting for them.
  23. I Hate It Here – “secret gardens in my mind” yes…I escape too Taylor! Folklore/Evermore vibes again.
  24. thanK you aIMee – I saw this one being broken down on Tik Tok and I was like ohhhhh. I can definitely see it! It’s about a certain person who tried to tear Taylor down. Great song, just a big F-U to any person that’s tried beating you down.
  25. I Look in People’s Windows – this is an interesting song. “I’m addicted to the ‘if only'” – I used to relate to that! I’ll need a few listens on this one. I think this one is just okay for me.
  26. The Prophecy – Folklore/Evermore vibes – so so good, so witchy! Love the lyrics “please, I’ve been on my knees, Change the prophecy”. Ugh the begging. This is one of my favorites! Shades of “greige”?! Yes I had to google that word old. Gray/beige pallete.
  27. Cassandra – more Folklore/Evermore vibes! amazing storytelling “In a mourning warning no one heard.” WOW – tortured poets for real!! This one is deep – love it and need a few more listens!
  28. Peter – Peter Pan? Another Matty song? But this time a sad Matty song and not so much anger, more reflective. “And I won’t confess that I waited, but I let the lamp burn.” Sadness that she was pining for him that long.
  29. The Bolter – for sure the Aaron Dessner songs are probably some of my favorites in this whole Anthology! It’s the story-telling for me, I love it. I love that this one is a little upbeat since it’s kind of rare on this album.
  30. Robin – I think this song is about innocence. I picture Christopher Robin (Winnie the Pooh) but as a mom this is giving me so many visuals of children and my hopes of them to stay innocent as long as they can be.❤️ Sweet song.
  31. The Manuscript – hmmm looking back on All Too Well?! whoa…”But the story isn’t mine anymore.” She’s not going to dwell on it – good for her! I like this ending.

I need a few more listens to figure out which of 31 songs is my favorite. Top ones so far is But Daddy I Love Him, loml, and The Prophecy. I’m sure a few more will be growers. I know I love So High School

I will say this on my first two listens…I feel like it’s too slow in tempo and the first couple songs blend into one continuous song it feels like. It’s why I love But Daddy I Love Him, because it changed sound and beat, made me think of Fearless, which is a much needed switch up. Then it went back to slow tempo but I get it…it’s “The TORTURED POETS Department”…so these were going to be sad, slow songs! Who knows maybe it’s like Midnights and will grow on me?

It’s obvious I loved all the Aaron Dessner produced songs. The storytelling just shines and Folklore is in my top 3 Taylor albums. Funny, I never really listened to Evermore until this year! Yeah I don’t know why…I think during the pandemic and Folklore was on repeat, I couldn’t take more sad songs so I didn’t listen to Evermore. I took a chance this year and started listening to it and really love a bunch of songs on there!

It sounds like this album is Midnights/Folklore/Evermore combined with a few nods to Fearless and Red? I will say I am a 1989/Rep/Folklore girl so I’m happy about all the Aaron Dessner tracks – he and Taylor together make amazing music. Most of the songs on TTPD just felt like they blended into one which was just okay to me. I was waiting for a song to jump out at me and Florida! definitely did but I guess I should have expected something more low tempo since the theme was “greige”.

As for subject matter…wow! I didn’t anticipate it being a lot about Matty Healy but I TOTALLY get it and it allllll makes sense now with all that took place last year between them – she really unloaded all her feelings about this situation-ship. I love that there is a song or 2 about Travis – it’s the only happy tracks on this album! Of course the Joe was are just sad but definitely a goodbye. I think she already made 5 albums about their relationship so what else is there to say there? I love how she also addressed how people need to stay out of her business and if she wants to go wreck her life with some guy she’s so in love with – LET HER – she’s a grown up and she can make mistakes and learn from them too. 😅 Why is it always the bad boys that wreck you so bad? So relatable lol…and SO glad that phase of my life is over. She talks about her mental health a lot and she was really going through something bad and smiled through it all with a drink in her hand.

I love how she ends the Anthology with The Manuscript. Very much like “Dear Reader” but it’s definitely telling us that this whole chapter of messy guys, etc…is over for her. And I hope she does find Happiness and I’m rooting for her and Travis so hard but even if it’s not with him I think as fans we just want her to be okay. ❤️

And yeah…I bought the vinyl even though I have no record player. 😅 Last time I had a record player I was a kid and I would play my uncle’s records like Queen and my grandpa’s music from the 50’s. I’d beg to play with the records. I guess it’s time to get one! I have wanted to get some vinyls but I figured I didn’t need another expensive hobby. 😭 I bought The Albatross because I love the grayness of it and I liked the title of that song. I’m glad I love the song also now that I have heard it, but I now wish I had the vinyl for the DOUBLE album.

A poem from Stevie Nicks
Love this song!!
this song gutted me

This poem Taylor wrote is at the end of vinyl and I LOVE the line:

“A smirk creeps onto this poet’s face

Because it’s the worst men that I write best.”

😅 Because YES, we can’t have this album if Matty wasn’t the worst to her unfortunately. I don’t feel like Joe was the worst…I think they tried hard and it just fell apart.

Are you going to listen to the album? What did you think of the album?

I have been listening to a few major drops like Ariana and Beyonce’s records so I may do a post of them too since I haven’t been finding good books to read lately. 😔 At least music is doing it for me!

Verity by. Colleen Hoover | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Verity

Author: Colleen Hoover

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 12/7/18

Categories: Adult, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Romance


Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

Content Warning: child death, parental death, grief, murder, harm towards child

Wow, what did I just read? I haven’t read a Colleen Hoover book in awhile because I do need to be in the mood for her books since they kind of get heavy and I saw this title being hyped up years ago, but was never interested but since I’m in a reading slump, I finally decided to read it.

I read it in one sitting because it shocked me and kept me awake plus it’s a quick read. The first chapter sets the tone with an accident, blood and a coincidental meeting between Lowen and Jeremy. From there the story moves quick where they attend a meeting and Jeremy is there representing his wife who is a big time author of a thriller series that she can’t finish because she’s been in a car accident. They ask Lowen if she can finish the series and from there this story twists into something unpredictable and horrific.

Let me just say some emotions I felt from this book were anger, disgust, fear, shock, and basically was wondering what the hell I was reading! I was definitely getting suspicious of certain things happening and even guessed a few things but yikes what a way to tell this story.

I think it was totally entertaining though if you can get through some of the sick things that happen. Some of the stuff where it affected children was hard for me to read.

My Final Thoughts:

I’ve been in a reading slump and I don’t know if this kicked me out of it but at least it gave me a shock to wake me up a little! What a crazy story, and what an ending. I was gagged, as they say now. It is a psychological thriller so beware for some hard topics, like some of the things that involved kids was hard for me to read. But overall I went for a suspenseful ride of a story and was entertained.

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | Instagram (crafts🎨) | Twitter (X) | Etsy (shop)

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Reminders of Him by. Colleen Hoover | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heart Bones | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WWW Wednesday | 4/17/24

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

Finally I am feeling much better! Still some congestion but most of the yuckiness and the coughing is gone thank goodness. But now my daughter has pink eye so yay…fun! Now I’m trying to avoid that lol. I haven’t posted much, I haven’t read much and if I did it was one or two pages and then I’d put the book down. Not sure why I’m in such a slump but have you read any amazing books lately? If you have drop some recs in the comments, please!

What are you currently reading?

Six of Sorrow by. Amanda Linsmeier

The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken

Not Another Love Song by. Julie Soto

What have you just finished reading?

The Summer Swap by. Sarah Morgan – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

Castle of the Cursed by. Romina Garber – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

What are you going to read next?

    What are you reading right now?

    Happy Book Birthday | New Releases | 4/16/24

    Happy book birthday to these new releases! Check out this list today:

    Calling of Light by. Lori M. Lee

    Sirscha has returned to Evewyn, only to discover that everyone believes she killed the queen and that she’s the new king’s Shadow. These rumors have made people fear her, but it’s not the rumors that concern her―it’s finding out what the Soulless is going to do next so she can finally destroy him.

    Everyone might believe she’s a monster, but Sirscha knows who the real evil is, and she refuses to let him destroy their world.

    Full of the danger, intrigue, fierce friendship, and incredible world building of the first two books in the Shamanborn trilogy, this final installment will delight readers of this popular series.

    Goodreads | Amazon

    To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods By. Molly X. Chang

    She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one?

    Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.

    Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.

    When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.

    Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

    Goodreads | Amazon

    Are you getting any new books this week?

    Happy Reading!

    Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | Instagram (crafts🎨) | Twitter (X) | Etsy (shop)

    Weekly Wrap Up | 4/14/24

    Aloha friends!

    I got sick the day of the solar eclipse – we only got a 20% eclipse here in Hawaii, but yeah was feeling yucky at the end of the day and then the next few days I was struggling to get through my days with congestion, joint aching, chills, coughing, vertigo – it sucked and I FINALLY feel someone better though I’m still coughing. So I had no motivation to blog at all. I was sleeping, a LOT this week – but it’s just me so I had to at least get my kids to school and fed this week.😅 My sweet dog was my cuddle buddy the whole time I was napping two times a day. He knew I was feeling poorly. I just really hate all the coughing that happens at night, ugh it hurts my whole upper body, so I feel like I need a massage after this week.

    I did manage to read two books because I would wake up in the middle of the night coughing and couldn’t go back to sleep. So at least I accomplished that!

    I hope you all have a good week!

    Blog Posts:

    Books I Read:

    Castle of the Cursed by. Romina Garber

    The Summer Swap by. Sarah Morgan

    Currently Reading:

    I haven’t picked up anything to read and I won’t until maybe tomorrow because I just needed to get through this weekend. 😫

    Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

    • Bring it On (movie) – I needed a feel good movie and this was perfect.
    • Coachella (youtube) – Chappell Roan, Lana Del Rey

    How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

    Bridesmaid For Hire by. Meghan Quinn | Book Review

    My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

    Title: Bridesmaid for Hire

    Author: Meghan Quinn

    Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

    Pages: 448

    Publication Date: 4/2/24

    Categories: Adult, Romance


    Sometimes the wedding of the century calls for desperate measures.
    And sometimes those desperate measures are to pretend the person you hate most is actually your boyfriend.

    After years of working her tail off at her event-planning business, Maggie Mitchell is ready for a vacation. With nothing on her mind but R & R, she’s enjoying the warm weather of Bora Bora when in saunters Brody McFadden, her brother’s best friend and also her sworn enemy. Thanks to years of tension between the two—kicked off by a make-out session at her brother’s wedding that ended horribly—Maggie has sworn to stay away from the man. That is, until she finds out he’s in Bora Bora for his boss’s daughter’s wedding, hoping to use the trip to win a real future at the company.

    Maggie promised herself she wouldn’t even think of work on the island, but as word spreads about the “wedding of the century” taking place in the midst of her vacation, she realizes offering her services as a bridesmaid and planner could bring her business to the next level. The only catch? She needs to pose as Brody’s girlfriend to get the job…while letting him stay in her peaceful bungalow.

    Tensions rise, irritation flairs, and despite years’ worth of bickering behind closed doors, Maggie can’t quite squash the sparks building between her and her new fake boyfriend, especially when she learns the real reason their first kiss was cut short. But as the wedding day draws closer and everything starts to go wrong, it just might be Brody who sends Maggie’s business crashing down—and her heart along with it.

    Content Warning:

    This one started off strong. Maggie, and her brother’s best friend, Brody, had a moment during her brother’s wedding. But he left her hanging and she put that bad experience out of her mind. They meet again coincidentally in Bora Bora where Brody is trying to get in good with the head of the company he works for. Maggie, is a wedding planner and wants make some connection with Brody’s boss also, so she can further her goals for her company.

    There are a lot of fun tropes in this one: fake dating, forced proximity, and mutual pining.

    Maggie and Brody bicker so much and it’s really fun and funny at the beginning of the book. Then it just becomes a bit immature. Clearly the physical attraction between them is there and I love that Brody likes things about Maggie like her being driven, social, and just always making people feel comfortable. But I think Maggie only likes Brody for his looks because honestly…there wasn’t else much there about him to be attracted to. He seems like a fun guy, and with her brother Gary, they are ridiculous together. I felt like at times Maggie went overboard with trying to humiliate him too – even if it wasn’t “on purpose”, I was like okay…that seemed uncalled for? When they finally take things to the next level though, it gets steamy. They have good chemistry in bed and when they aren’t fighting.

    I did think the book was too long. I was hoping for a quick, romance read and I thought it would be with how fast everything was happening in the beginning but by 60% in I was kind of losing interest. Also there were some typos in the beginning of the book which threw me off a little.

    My Final Thoughts:

    This one is a fun romp on an island with two characters who are trying so hard not to fall for each other but it’s so hard when they are physically attracted to one another and forced into one room for a few days. There is a lot of sex humor in this one. It’s a spicy romantic comedy that’s easy to read but for me it fizzled out at the end.

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    Book Links:

    Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

    A Not So Meet Cute by. Meghan Quinn | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

    The Highland Fling by. Meghan Quinn | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

    WWW Wednesday | 4/10/24

    WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

    The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

    What are you currently reading?

    What have you just finished reading?

    What are you going to read next?

    I am a little off this week – my daughter caught her monthly cold last week, and then I think I have a bit of it or allergies. I can’t tell, but I feel funky – even woke up with vertigo yesterday, which SUCKS bad. I had to drain my sinuses which helped a lot. So I have a cough, post-nasal drip and just low energy. I feel like I’m in a reading slump, or I can’t seem to find the kind of book I want to read. Anyway, I’m pushing through some arcs, not a lot but I’d rather stay on top of them.

    I feel like I’ve been a little sloppy with my posts too or scheduling them. I posted two Top Ten Tuesdays yesterday lol. 😅 Sorry about that.

    What are you currently reading?

    The Summer Swap by. Sarah Morgan

    Castle of the Cursed by. Romina Garber

    What have you just finished reading?

    The Dangerous Ones by. Lauren Blackwood – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

    The Calculation of You and Me by. Serena Kaylor – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Bridesmaid for Hire by. Meghan Quinn – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

    What are you going to read next?

    Six of Sorrow by. Amanda Linsmeier

    Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken

    Not Another Love Song by. Julie Soto

    What are you reading right now?

    Ten Characters I’d Like to go on Vacation With | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday 4/9/24

    Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!

    This week’s topic is:

    Characters I’d Like to go on Vacation With

    (Pretend you’re going on vacation and can bring 10 of your closest friends with you. Pick your vacation spot and tell us who you’d like to bring! Bonus point if you tell us why. Or maybe you like the idea of traveling in small groups, so plan 10 trips or 5 trips!)

    • Xingyin from Heart of the Sun Warrior by. Sue Lynn Tan, because I want her to take me to the Moon and traveling on a cloud would be so cool. Just want to stay out of the Celestial Kingdom drama though!
    • Reyva from The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst is a solid friend! She would fun to vacation with I think – just not at a lake house. 😅
    • Marco from Ciao For Now by. Kate Bromley seems like so much fun! I’d definitely take a trip to Italy with him!
    • Cassian from A Court of Silver Flames by. Sarah J. Maas – I think Cassian has so much personality and honestly he could fly us to any destination – I’d just have to hold onto him. 🥰
    • Xaden from Fourth Wing by. Rebecca Yarros – I don’t know if he’d be fun on vacation lol…but he could take me riding on a dragon. 🐉
    • Jin from A Tempest of Tea by. Hafsah Faizal – he would be a fun vacation partner! I loved him in the book.
    • Oak from The Prisoner’s Throne by. Holly Black – this boy is always down for a good time! And his charming personality would make any vacation fun I think.
    • Izumi from Tokyo Ever After by. Emiko Jean – she can take me all around Japan! I love Japan.
    • Fizzy from The True Love Experiment by. Christina Lauren – she’s so much fun.

    Isabella from King of Pride by. Ana Huang – she has a pet snake and writes erotica lol…I think she’d be fun to vacation with but I don’t think she’d be good at planning one.

    What’s on your TTT?

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