Category: book review

The Brothers Hawthorne by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Brothers Hawthorne (The Inheritance Games, #4)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 8/29/23

Categories: Young Adult, Series, Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense

Four brothers. Two missions. One explosive read. Jennifer Lynn Barnes returns to the world of her #1 bestselling Inheritance Games trilogy, and the stakes have never been higher.  
 
Grayson Hawthorne was raised as the heir apparent to his billionaire grandfather, taught from the cradle to put family first. Now the great Tobias Hawthorne is dead and his family disinherited, but some lessons linger. When Grayson’s half-sisters find themselves in trouble, he swoops in to do what he does best: take care of the problem—efficiently, effectively, mercilessly. And without getting bogged down in emotional entanglements.
 
Jameson Hawthorne is a risk-taker, a sensation-seeker, a player of games. When his mysterious father appears and asks for a favor, Jameson can’t resist the challenge. Now he must infiltrate London’s most exclusive underground gambling club, which caters to the rich, the powerful, and the aristocratic, and win an impossible game of greatest stakes. Luckily, Jameson Hawthorne lives for impossible.
 
Drawn into twisted games on opposite sides of the globe, Grayson and Jameson—with the help of their brothers and the girl who inherited their grandfather’s fortune—must dig deep to decide who they want to be and what each of them will sacrifice to win.

Content Warning: violence

I read this book to find out if there is any justice for Grayson and I may have to read the next book to see if he gets it there because man, is he being put through the wringer!

This book is two stories: one about Jameson and the other about Grayson. I think the story could have been split into two books but in this case, it did work pretty well because the story moves seamlessly and tightly that I wasn’t bored with one story more than the other. I definitely was more interested in Grayson’s story but there were some fascinating things happening with Jameson’s story also.

Jameson is antsy and is looking for something more. Something his own that doesn’t involve the help of his brothers, or Avery. He starts off with Avery in his journey into a secret underground club called the Devil’s Mercy and honestly, the two people that intrigued me a lot was Rohan and Zella. I want to know more about them! Jamie was being his reckless self but he did achieve what he wanted. There wasn’t much romance between Jameson and Avery and I was team Grayson so…I guess I’m glad there wasn’t much romance between them lol.

Grayson. When will Grayson catch a break? His challenge was a bit more involved with the past story of the Hawthornes and all the drama that got them to where they are but this time he gets to meet more family. And I love his half sisters, Gigi and Savannah. Gigi was the bubbly personality he needed in his life though, so I loved their interactions. I do wish this book was only about Grayson since Jameson got the girl (Avery)…but it’s not meant to be for Grayson for now – which breaks my heart for him still. He better get something good happening in his life in the next book!

There wasn’t a lot of Nash or Xander in this book but they were definitely helping more with Grayson than Jameson. Gigi reminded me of Xander though, they are both the fun characters. As for Eve…I don’t know what I think about her right now but I’ll wait to see what role she plays in book two.

My Final Thoughts:

I think this book is the transition or build-up for what’s coming in book five but I was hoping more good things to happen for Grayson but that wasn’t quite the case, except for meeting his sisters. I need Grayson to fall in love, leave Avery in the past, leave Eve there too because honestly…he needs something new. Jameson’s journey was mostly interesting because of Rohan and Zella who come into the story. I’d love for them to have their own story or series – I can see many storylines happening with the Devil’s Mercy being at the center of it. Overall the book was as entertaining as the other books in the series and fits very well. It’s fast-paced, has all the mystery, puzzles, riddles, and suspense as the other books and I look forward to reading book five if only to see Grayson come that much closer to achieving some kind of happiness.

Book Links:

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The Inheritance Games | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Hawthorne Legacy by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Final Gambit by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Never a Hero by. Vanessa Len | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Never a Hero (Monsters, #2)

Author: Vanessa Len

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 528

Publication Date: 8/29/23

Categories: Young Adult, Series, Urban Fantasy, Time Travel, Paranormal

This sequel to the contemporary fantasy Only a Monster will take Joan deeper into the monster world, where treacherous secrets and even more danger await.

Despite all of the odds, Joan achieved the impossible. She reset the timeline, saved her family – and destroyed the hero, Nick.

But her success has come at a terrible cost.

She alone remembers what happened. Now, Aaron, her hard-won friend – and maybe more – is an enemy, trying to kill her. And Nick, the boy she loved, is a stranger who doesn’t even know her name. Only Joan remembers that there is a ruthless and dangerous enemy still out there.

When a deadly attack forces Joan back into the monster world as a fugitive, she finds herself on the run with Nick – as Aaron closes in.

As the danger rises – and Nick gets perilously closer to discovering the truth of what Joan did to him – Joan discovers a secret of her own. One that threatens everyone she loves.

Torn between love and family and monstrous choices, Joan must find a way to re-gather her old allies to face down the deadliest of enemies, and to save the timeline itself.

Vanessa Len’s stunning Only a Monster trilogy continues with this second instalment, a thrilling journey where a secret past threatens to unravel everyone’s future.

Content Warning: death

Ah, time travel! I’m always either loving it or hating it and in this sequel to Only a Monster, I was on the verge of hating it. But I’ll get into that.

There are a lot of things I like about this sequel. The story moves forward, though it felt like it was pulling teeth with trying to get answers about anything in this story – but I did like how Joan finally learns more about her bloodline and her powers. Nick, her soulmate is back, but he doesn’t know her anymore because of what she did to him in book one, but that doesn’t matter to soul mates because they seem to be forever drawn to one another. But where was Aaron Oliver? I wanted more of him in this book and we got less. He only really comes into the story halfway in! Is there a love triangle? I couldn’t tell in this book – it seems like Joan loves Nick, but she has a connection to Aaron (maybe a strong friendship? I don’t know. I was rooting for Aaron honestly). I love Tom and Jamie, so I’m glad we got more of them in this sequel.

The story moves fast for a book that clocks in at 528 pages because of all the time jumping but it also feels like the information moves too fast also. Joan is trying to figure out what is happening to the current timeline – and there are multiple timelines being discussed. And it was repetitive too. Also Joan was frustrating me. She can’t stay away from Nick, so then she endangers him and then endangers her monster friends by bringing Nick along because she wants to protect him. I get he’s not a monster killer anymore but after seeing what he did in the previous timeline and watch him kill my family – I would protect my friends and family. Soulmate or not! But I guess it’s hard to resist her love for him. Yet, she remembers feeling something for Aaron in the previous timeline. Though there is angst, there isn’t much romance going on in this one. Anyway, Joan and her friends trying to get information got annoying because a lot of people didn’t know anything or if they did, wouldn’t explain.

I liked the ending which is where a lot of the action is and the unexpected twist in the story makes me want to read book three. But I really wish there was more Aaron, less repetition and more action.

My Final Thoughts:

I think the first book was better and I hope the third book has more of Aaron because that’s who I wanted to read more about in this book. But there was a lot of Nick, so you Nick fans will love this one. I like the ending and will definitely read book three. Overall, this was an entertaining book and I’m curious to see what will happen in the next book after all that was revealed in this one.

Book Links:

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Only a Monster by. Vanessa Len | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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