Foxglove by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Foxglove (Belladonna, #2)

Author: Adalyn Grace

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 8/22/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Series, Fantasy, Gothic, Mystery, Paranormal

The captivating sequel to the Gothic-infused Belladonna, in which Signa and Death face a supernatural foe determined to tear them apart.

A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous estate nearby. He’s hellbent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago…and now he’s determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.

Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from prison if they will entertain his presence. But the more time the girls spend with Fate, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate’s past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide if they can trust one another as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate’s unexpected games—all with their destinies hanging in the balance.

Dangerous, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to Signa and Death’s story is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.

Content Warning: death

I finally read one of my most anticipated reads this year and I will say I did not expect this new direction in the story at all! And how gorgeous is this cover?! I bought the hard copy and this is what it looks like:

Most of this book is set as a gothic paranormal mystery. Signa and Blythe (mostly Blythe) are trying to figure out who murdered the duke. Blythe’s father is the main suspect and she will do anything to clear his name. But we get a new player in town, Death’s brother, Fate! Fate is convinced Signa is his long lost love but Signa is doesn’t believe it when she is so madly in love with Death. But they all have to make deals with Fate to help clear Elijah Hawthorne’s name.

I already loved Signa and Death from Belladonna so I didn’t love Fate trying to come between them. I did like learning more about Life though and of course Signa’s skill for seeing and talking to ghosts lends the gothic paranormal vibes to this book, which I love. I felt like the beginning of the book went slowly because it is a mystery. I also didn’t feel like there was much of Signa and Death in this book as I would have liked only because Blythe has a bigger role in this book.

Blythe really gets the spotlight in this book. She fights for her dad, trying to figure out who could have killed the duke because she believes with her whole heart it wasn’t her dad. She even makes a deal with Fate that would have unknowingly (to her), ruin Signa’s life forever. I loved how she goes toe to toe with Fate. As for Fate – he’s a mysterious character and not very likable but the twist in his fate was fantastic and I’m excited to see what happens in book three!

My Final Thoughts:

I don’t think I loved this as much as Belladonna but I do love how Blythe emerges as a strong character in this book. I think it’s a balanced enough book for Signa and Blythe to share the spotlight in this one but it’s clear in the end the next book will be Blythe’s story. The mystery moved a little too slow for me at first but the story picks up in the second half and I was hooked from there to the end. I’m looking forward to reading the next book!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Belladonna by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by. Zoulfa Katouh | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

Author: Zoulfa Katouh

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 417

Publication Date: 9/13/22

Categories: Fiction, War, Young Adult, Romance, Historical Fiction

Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.

Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.

But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.

Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.

Content Warning: violence, medical horror, PTSD, war trauma, attempted rape, bloodshed, bombing, drowning, death

This book gutted me.

I absolutely love the cover and the titles because I have a love for lemons but wow was this book eye-opening, raw, bittersweet, sentimental, and yet still filled with love and hope despite such a heavy topic such as war.

Salama is living a horrific life where as a pharmacist she’s doing the job of a doctor or surgeon on the fly. Her dad and brother were imprisoned or are dead, her mother is dead and her sister-in-law is the only one she really has. That at her imaginary conscience who’s name is Khawf. At times he felt like a villain but in reality, his horrofic warnings saved her life many times. Salama is trying to survive in war-torn Syria who is being pulled apart by the dictatorship and the freedom fighters. It is a revolution, but with change comes so much pain and blood.

There is a lot of blood in this book. A lot of children drying, homes being bombed, horrific injuries, despair, hunger, trauma and Salama tries her hardest to help and make a difference until it’s time to make a decision to leave her beloved Syria so she can survive. So she can stay alive. But along the way she meets Kenan, who in another time, could have been the man of her dreams. But it’s in this violent time, they grasp at hope and even give love a chance.

I was hooked on this story from beginning to end and was rooting for Salama until the end.

My Final Thoughts:

I remember the Arab spring and seeing what was happening in Syria on the news but reading this book places you there in the middle of all the horrific things that was happening then. And it’s an important story to share to the world. Salama goes through so much trauma and didn’t even have time to grieve the life she lost, the family and friends she lost, the parts of her self that was lost. The happy ending was bittersweet but that’s what I cherished about this book, that in the midst of it all there was hope and love still there and waiting for a chance. Salama gets the chance and finally grabs and holds on to it, she never gives up even though she was given multiple chance to do so.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When You Wish Upon a Lantern | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: When You Wish Upon a Lantern

Author: Gloria Chao

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 2/14/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Family Rivalry, Contemporary, Grief

Acclaimed author Gloria Chao creates real-world magic in this luminous romance about teens who devote themselves to granting other people’s wishes, but are too afraid to let themselves have their own hearts’ desires—each other.

Liya and Kai had been best friends since they were little kids, but all that changed when a humiliating incident sparked The Biggest Misunderstanding Of All Time—and they haven’t spoken since.

Then Liya discovers her family’s wishing lantern store is struggling, and she decides to resume a tradition she had with her beloved late grandmother: secretly fulfilling the wishes people write on the lanterns they send into the sky. It may boost sales and save the store, but she can’t do it alone . . . and Kai is the only one who cares enough to help.

While working on their covert missions, Liya and Kai rekindle their friendship—and maybe more. But when their feuding families and their changing futures threaten to tear them apart again, can they find a way to make their own wishes come true?

Content Warning: grief, family rivalry

There is so much to love about this book. Liya is really grieving her grandmother and her dealing with this grief permeates throughout this whole story along with beautiful memories she has of her. Liya lives in a very tight-knit small Chinese community and I loved all the holidays and tradition I got to learn from this book. The lantern festivals sound as magical and beautiful as the book cover.

I also love the concept of being a secret wish granter. I thought that was such a loving memory of her grandmother for Liya and it was sweet to see her try and continue it.

Liya isn’t close to her parents. They expect her to be dutiful and obedient and she has a hard time communicating with them. This goes the same for Kai, who is her ex-best friend and who she misses a lot. Both their fathers forbid them from being friends. The rivalry between their families is a big problem for Liya and Kai but when her grandmother was alive, those problems were made smaller. I was frustrated for both Liya and Kai plenty times throughout the story especially because they are two, innocent, hard-working, obedient kids. They did so much for their families even though they weren’t happy with them.

I did listen to this as an audiobook so I felt at times that the conflict was very repetitive. Liya and Kai have a hard time communicating with one another now that they aren’t friends. And the incident that ended their friendship seemed like such a minimal thing that could have been cleared up with communication! They do become friends again but it takes so long for them to just say what they need to say to one another, and to their parents.

Tropes: miscommunication, ex-best friends to lovers

My Final Thoughts:

I thought the writing was beautiful and would definitely appeal to a younger young adult audience. I didn’t like the miscommunication throughout the book but I also understand it since I had an Asian-American upbringing. I did like seeing Liya grow into a capable young woman who was trying to help her family and community in memory of her grandmother. Overall, I thought this was a beautiful story.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

ARC Review | Our Wayward Fate ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bitter Medicine by. Mia Tsai | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Bitter Medicine

Author: Mia Tsai

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 325

Publication Date: 3/14/23

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural, Contemporary

In this xianxia-inspired contemporary fantasy, a Chinese immortal and a French elf navigate romance, family loyalty, and workplace demands. In her debut novel, Mia Tsai has created a paranormal adventure that is full of humor, passion, and depth.

As a descendant of the Chinese god of medicine, ignored middle child Elle was destined to be a doctor. Instead, she is underemployed as a mediocre magical calligrapher at the fairy temp agency, paranoid that her murderous younger brother will find her and their elder brother.

Using her full abilities will expose Elle’s location. Nevertheless, she challenges herself by covertly outfitting Luc, her client and crush, with high-powered glyphs.

Half-elf Luc, the agency’s top security expert, has his own secret: he’s responsible for a curse laid on two children from an old assignment. To heal them, he’ll need to perform his job duties with unrelenting excellence and earn time off from his tyrannical boss.

When Elle saves Luc’s life on a mission, he brings her a gift and a request for stronger magic to ensure success on the next job—except the next job is hunting down Elle’s younger brother.

As Luc and Elle collaborate, their chemistry blooms. Happiness, for once, is an option for them both. But Elle is loyal to her family, and Luc is bound by his true name. To win freedom from duty, they must make unexpected sacrifices.

Content Warning: violence, racism

I’ve been curious about this book because of the cover and synopsis, but I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it. I was pleasantly surprised!

Elle has been keeping a low profile ever since a family dispute/drama forced her and her brother Tony to practically disappear. But Tony is tired of hiding and Elle is too but she’s afraid with her younger out there still, and out for blood. Elle is caught in between the middle of the dispute, but she loves both brothers. Luc is a top security agent, he has a reputation for a killer and he is half Elf. But there is something about Elle that makes him wants to quit his job and live a different, more fulfilled life with her.

This is a story about family, about choices, and about love. I thought that the magic in the world was cool but I would have liked more explanation on certain things like the leas. I liked the diversity of the cast and I found Tony, Elle’s brother, a really fun character. And Oberon was quite a villain – someone Luc couldn’t defeat without a big sacrifice.

Elle and Luc’s romance story was sweet with some spice! They are opposites – Elle being messy and Luc being methodical. But I like how they get together and how they stick by one another even when they go through a hard time. I was rooting for them!

I thought the story pacing was a little off.. It feels like everything is resolved 75% into the book, as least with everything that deals with Elle and her family – which I thought was the main conflict. So I thought it was interesting when Elle goes through a grieving process and the story swings to Luc’s conflict with Oberon.

Tropes:

My Final Thoughts:

Overall I enjoyed this book even despite the issues I had with it. It was a cool urban fantasy story filled with interesting magic, a sweet and spicy romance and a funny and loving sibling relationship between Elle and Tony. I look forward to reading more books from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Flip the Script by. Lyla Lee | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Flip the Script

Author: Lyla Lee

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 296

Publication Date: 5/31/22

Categories: Young Adult, K-Drama, Romance, LGBT+, Contemporary

The first rule of watching K-dramas: Never fall in love with the second lead.

As an avid watcher of K-dramas, Hana knows all the tropes to avoid when she finally lands a starring role in a buzzy new drama. And she can totally handle her fake co-star boyfriend who might be falling in love with her. After all, she promised the producers a contract romance, and that’s all they’re going to get from her.

But when showrunners bring on a new girl to challenge Hana’s role as main love interest—and worse, it’s someone Hana knows all too well—can Hana fight for her position on the show while falling for her on-screen rival in real life?

-K-drama lovers will fall for all the fan-favorite tropes that make for a hit show.
-Romance is everywhere in this swoony, joy-filled novel, with fake dating, a secret relationship, and a classic love triangle!
-Visit South Korea as Hana takes readers through popular spots and hidden gems.

Content Warning:

This book has been sitting on my shelf for awhile so I decided it was time to pick it up and read it. I loved Lyla Lee’s first book I’ll Be the One. In Flip the Script, Hana is a K-drama actress who is making her debut, but the ratings are lagging and the studio needs to boost it up so they make her fake-date her co-star, Bryan. But it is really fake dating meaning, Hana has no feelings whatsoever for him because well, she’s bi and have been crushing on her best-friend Minjee for a long time. Minjee is not only her bestie but her acting rival also, they compete for roles and even support one another when they either get roles or don’t. But Minjee doesn’t know about Hana’s feelings for her.

So this book was just okay. I didn’t connect with anybody and the story was boring but it’s a quick, easy read. I did like the behind the scenes looks behind filming a k-drama and the things the actors go through but other than that I wasn’t really feeling it. I also do appreciate that it’s a queer book and set in the world of k-drama. Hana, Minjee, and Bryan can break barriers in the industry with their homophobic views on LGBT+ and I’m so glad they stand up for what they believe in.

Tropes: love triangle (sort of)

My Final Thoughts:

This book was just okay but I did like how it’s a book about k-drama actors who don’t quite fit the perfect mold. I like how Hana and Minjee brave the industry big heads and fight for their right to love who they love. It’s a light-hearted, and a quick read but I just wanted more from it.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

I’ll Be the One | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Forestfall by. Lyndall Clipstone | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Forestfall (World at the Lake’s Edge, #2)

Author: Lyndall Clipstone

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 9/27/22

Categories: Gothic, Dark Fantasy, Young Adult, Series

Some oaths can never be broken…

The curse that haunted Lakesedge Estate has been broken, but at great cost. Violeta Graceling has sacrificed herself to end the Corruption. To escape death, Leta makes a desperate bargain with the Lord Under, one that sees her living at his side in the land of the dead.

But this world of souls and mist hides many secrets. And when Leta realizes she is still connected to Rowan by a tethering spell, she will risk everything— even her soul— to try and reach him.

Torn between power and love, life and death, Leta struggles to keep hold of her humanity as she falls further and further under the spell of the world Below… and the Lord Under.

Content Warning: self harm

I am sadly disappointed with this one since I really enjoyed the first one, Lakesedge. Leta is in the underworld with Lord Under and Rowan is above and not willing to let Leta go. Rowan doesn’t believe she’s dead and he’s kind of right.

The thing I did like about this story is that it is a dark fantasy. It’s got all the elements with the blood magic, Gods in the underworld, dark forests, a dark lake. It’s got the angst and emotional longing of two people who love one another and will do anything to be together, even making deals with the devil (so to speak). I even liked the dark Gods.

What I didn’t quite enjoy was Leta’s relationship with Lord Under, who she hates but…loves? But she LOVES Rowan…I get she was trying to find a way to get back to Rowan but I didn’t want a love triangle. I wasn’t connecting to Leta in this one whereas in the first book, I liked her character. I did get tired of the angst between Leta and Rowan, it was repetitive, the back and forth.

Tropes: love triangle

Why you should read it:

you like Lakesedge and now want to explore the world where Lord Under thrives
dark themes, dark gothic fantasy

Why you might not want to read it:

I couldn’t connect to any of the characters
had to push through and eventually skim a few chapters to finish

My Thoughts:

This series had so much potential but this sequel falls flat and I’m sad about it. I can say that this would make a great read for Fall, near Halloween. Maybe it would have made me enjoy it more? Mood reader problems! Anyway, at least I can say I completed this series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Lakesedge by. Lyndall Clipstone | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The True Love Experiment by. Christina Lauren | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The True Love Experiment

Author: Christina Lauren

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 5/16/23

Categories: Adult, Romance, Chick Lit, Women’s Fiction

Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

The True Love Experiment is the book fans have been waiting for ever since Fizzy’s debut in The Soulmate Equation. But when the lights come on and all eyes are on her, it turns out the happily ever after Fizzy had all but given up on might lie just behind the camera.

Content Warning:

I didn’t know this book was about Fizzy until I read someone’s review about it and then I had to get it. If you read The Soulmate Equation then you are familiar with Jess’s best friend, Fizzy. And I loved Fizzy and wished she was going to have her own book and now she does!

This whole story does Fizzy justice! We get more of her humor and wit. She’s so much fun and she loves her family, her friends and their kids. I love how she jumped off the pages full of life and she’s a romance writer, what’s not to love? And we even get to dig beneath Fizzy’s armor and see her vulnerable side when she starts falling in love with Connor, the producer of the dating show she’s signed up to be on. Their romance is everything. I love that they both have had relationship issues but they eventually work through it, like adults, to get their happily ever after. The romance is full of chemistry and sparks and sweetness too. I love them together. And not only is she and Connor amazing together but the friendship between Jess and Fizzy is top-tier. I love them together too, they are soul sisters.

I also appreciate that we get such a well-rounded Fizzy. I loved the moments with her family and her mentioning even though they love her, she didn’t think her mom thought her job as a romance writer had any merit. And then they have that moment at the end…I don’t know why it made me emotional. I related a lot to the parental expectations.

I thought the story was heart warming and emotional and everything I wanted in a romance.

Favorite Quotes from the Book:

“I tell them that if they put in the work, if they allow that there will be blind curves and ups and downs, if they allow themselves to be vulnerable and loved and honest with the people who mean something to them, things really will turn out okay.”

“Tall, British, and dimpled? Never trust a cliché.“

“Truth is, you’ll never meet a book lover who hates the quiet.”

“People think romances are just about sex-and some are, which is fine-but they’re also about social change and challenging the status quo, such as who the world thinks deserves a happily ever after.”

“Book people are just better, I swear by it.”

“No one loves you in this exact, perfect, consuming way.”

Tropes: single parent, grand gesture

Why you should read it:

you loved Fizzy in The Soulmate Equation – you’ll love her more here
Connor and Fizzy gave me all the feels
this book is fun and funny! I love when Jess and Fizzy talk and River is there at the wrong time and tries to leave the room LOL, love them

Why you might not want to read it:

My Thoughts:

This might be my new favorite Christina Lauren book because of Fizzy. I’m so happy she got her own book because she’s a side character that totally deserves to be in the spotlight and have a happily after. And she gets it. ❤️

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Something Wilder by. Christina Lauren | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Soulmate Equation | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In A Holidaze | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Book Review | The Unhoneymooners ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC Review | The Honey-Don’t List ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How the Grump Saved Christmas by. Claire Kingsley | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: How the Grump Saved Christmas

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Author: Claire Kingsley

Pages: 339

Publication Date: 11/16/22

Categories: Romance, Holiday Romance, Christmas, Small Town Romance, Second Chance Romance

Hardworking Isabelle Cook has a serious problem. Her family farm, site of Tilikum’s Christmas Village, is in trouble. Big trouble. And worst of all? The man trying to buy it is none other than the grumpiest, grinchiest man of them all—Elias Stoneheart.

That’s a big nope. She’s not letting him get involved. Not with his heart made of coal.

Elias Stoneheart is in the business of making money, not friends. Especially when his boss is promising a long-awaited promotion. All he has to do is convince one struggling family to sell their farm.

The problem? It’s Cook Family Farm. And Isabelle Cook is his ex.

He might have history with Isabelle, but this is just business. A Christmas-loving farm girl is not going to come between him and his ambition.

And Christmas? He hates it. Christmas Village needs to go.

But as Elias spends time in the small town, holiday spirit—and Isabelle—get under his skin. And she might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.

Author’s Note: a sassy farm girl takes on a grumpy businessman in this stand-alone, snowy, small-town Christmas romance. Saucy banter, a guard donkey, plenty of holiday cheer, and a heartwarming happily ever after that will make you believe in the magic of Christmas.

Content Warning: parental neglect, miscarriage

How Christmassy can this book get? Look at that book cover – it screams holiday, small town romance. And that’s exactly what I got! Here’s what I thought:

+ This is Hallmark Christmas movie worthy! It’s set in a small town, a big company wants to buy the land where Christmas Village takes place every year and where Elias’ ex-love lives. So he comes back to help buy the land for his job and being back there reminds him of why the place is important to the community and the woman he loves.

+ It has a great cast of character with everyone pretty much getting a happy ending!

+ It’s a second chance romance and there is definitely a past between Elias and Isabelle and a past. Elias is such a Scrooge and Isabelle is the only one who can really open and melt his heart. So it was nice seeing him succumb to Christmas, the people around him and Isabelle again. It’s very heartwarming. There are sexy scenes but it’s very rushed, nothing very detailed.

~ It’s predictable but it’s what I expect of a holiday romance. It hit a lull for me in the middle because of it. Maybe I was wishing for a little more chemistry or heat between Elias and Isabelle?

~ It’s a lot of holiday cheer to the point of it maybe being too much with everybody getting their happy ending? But eh…you just gotta go with it!

Tropes: small town romance, second chance romance, a Christmas miracle

Spice Level: 🌶

Why you should read it:

you want a story with lots of holiday cheer, and happily ever afters
small town romance, second change romance, a snowy small time with a tight community
fun characters

Why you might not want to read it:

overload on happiness? lol…maybe too cheesy at some parts

My Thoughts:

If you are looking for a holiday romance where the guy is basically Scrooge and he has a second chance to “make things right” then this book is it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made it into a Hallmark movie! I found this one enjoyable and heart warming. Was it predictable? Sure! But isn’t that why we read holiday romance?

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Heartbreaker by. Sarah MacLean | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Heartbreaker (Hell’s Belles, #2)

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Author: Sarah MacLean

Pages: 391

Publication Date: 8/22/22

Categories: Romance, Historical Romance

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean follows her highly acclaimed Bombshell with Heartbreaker, featuring a fierce, fearless heroine on a mission to steal a duke’s secrets…and his heart.

A Princess of Thieves

Raised among London’s most notorious criminals, a twist of fate landed Adelaide Frampton in the bright ballrooms of Mayfair, where she masquerades as a quiet wallflower—so plain and unassuming that no one realizes she’s the Matchbreaker…using her superior skills as a thief to help brides avoid the altar.

A King of Reputation

Henry, Duke of Clayborn, has spent a lifetime living in perfection. He has no time for the salacious gossip that arises every time the Matchbreaker ends another groom. His own reputation is impeccable—and the last thing he needs is a frustrating, fascinating woman discovering the truth of his past, or the secrets he holds close.

A Royal Match

When the two find themselves on a breakneck journey across Britain to stop a wedding, it’s impossible for Clayborn to resist this woman who both frustrates and fascinates him. But late-night carriage rides make for delicious danger…and soon Adelaide is uncovering Clayborn’s truths, throwing his well-laid plans into chaos…and threatening to steal his heavily guarded heart.

Content Warning: violence

I haven’t read a historical romance in SO long but Sarah MacLean is a must-read author for me so I had to read her newest book. This is what I thought:

+ It’s Sarah MacLean and she writes historical romance the way I like it and this book is no exception. There is swoon worthy romance, chemistry, spicy sexy scenes, humor and a fun cast of characters!

+ I love Adelaide as our heroine! She’s the thief of the Hell’s Belles with a shady past – I love that she’s from the streets and the daughter of a notorious leader of a gang. She’s smart, brave, and drives the Duke of Clayborn, Henry, crazy. She has her insecurities from growing up without parental love but Henry is going to show her in every way possible he’s noticed her for a long time. Henry is a stable love interest – he has the ducal airs but has a secret of his own. They are a perfect match!

+ The romance is fantastic and I like that Addie is the one who makes the first move. They have great chemistry and the scenes between them are filled with tension, heat and eventually love – it’s so well done. I loved it and it made me miss historical romance books! I love all the emotions and the room for humor even at a climactic scene.

+ I’m excited to read Imogen’s story! A plus-size, short, young woman with a love for explosives? Yes!

~ I did feel like we didn’t know much about Henry until we hear about his secret but it didn’t make my reading less enjoyable.

Tropes: close proximity

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

this is historical romance at it’s finest, full of romance, chemistry, heat and a happy ever after
the cast of characters is so much fun – yes this is about Addie and Henry falling in love but the Hell’s Belles are an amazing group of young women
you read the first book in the series, Bombshell – this one is way better

Why you might not want to read it:

not into the Hell’s Belles series

My Thoughts:

This book is so much fun from the action, the romance, the sexy times and the cast of characters. I wasn’t sure if I was going to read this one because I liked Bombshell but I didn’t love it – but this one I love a lot. I felt all the emotions I want to feel when I read a historical romance. I love Addie and Henry as a couple. I’m looking forward to book three!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other books by this author that I have reviewed on my blog:

Bombshell by. Sarah MacLean | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Daring and the Duke | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review: Brazen and the Beast ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Merry Little Meet Cute by. Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Merry Little Meet Cute

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Author: Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

Pages: 418

Publication Date: 9/19/22

Categories: Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Adult

Cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone—a steamy plus-size holiday rom-com about an adult film star who is semi-accidentally cast as a lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie, and the former bad-boy pop star she falls in love with.

Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. But when Bee’s favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he’s making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take a more family-friendly direction.

Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhile when she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan’s promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he’ll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom.

But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he’s a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel’s execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan’s singing career comes snooping around—and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee.

And if Bee and Nolan can’t keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor.

Content Warning: fat phobia, internet slut-shaming

It was the cover for this book that attracted me. It made me wonder about the cutesy cartoon art but…with red trees? It seemed a bit unconventional for a holiday rom com to have so much red on the cover with pink – and the synopsis was different and intriguing. This is what I thought:

+ There are a few things I was happy to see in this book: a plus size character who is an adult film star, people that work in the adult film industry, bisexual main characters, it’s a very sex positive book. Both characters are likable and I also totally enjoy the subtle Christmas vibes to the book as well – it’s not a book surrounding Christmas but the fact that the story is based on filming a holiday movie around Christmas time gives it enough holiday vibes.

+ I thought the romance between Bee and Nolan was sweet and spicy. I think it was a good balance. I expect nothing less from an adult film star and a has-been bad boy from a boy band! They are both trying to break into different careers and don’t want to mess up. I think it helped that both characters were likable.

+ I thought the secondary characters were fun! I liked Sunny who is Bee’s best friend, Luca was funny and I even enjoyed Gretchen (the director). I think having Bee’s parents and Nolan’s family in the story also added the wholesome, holiday vibes to the story as well.

~ I didn’t mind the raunchiness between Bee and Nolan, but it would have been nice to feel more of a connection between them outside of the lust. I did like that they had a moment apart when the conflict of story came to a head, and it was cute when they are back together again – but I feel like I wanted more from the ending? In all fairness it keeps the light hearted, rom-com, Hallmark movie vibe (just with a little more sexiness). But to me the story started off good and then fizzled out at the end.

~ They only know each other for 2 weeks – so yes, it’s insta-love, just to warn those who aren’t into that.

Tropes: insta love, characters trying to change their public image, forced proximity, co-workers

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

you want to read a spicy holiday romance
Bee and Nolan’s romance and sexy times
it’s a light hearted rom-com

Why you might not want to read it:

it’s insta lust and love

My Thoughts:

As a holiday romance, I think it’s great how spicy and steamy it is. The characters are likable and it has enough Christmas vibes to add some wholesome element to the story even with all the raunchiness. I think the whole cast together was fun. Bee and Nolan are cute together but I did wish there was more of an emotional connection between them – but on the other hand I still enjoyed the lighthearted feel about this book