Starling House by. Alix E. Harrow | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Starling House

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 10/3/23

Categories: Contemporary, Fantasy, Mystery, Sentient House, Romance, Gothic, Dark Fantasy, Magic

A grim and gothic new tale from author Alix E. Harrow about a small town haunted by secrets that can’t stay buried and the sinister house that sits at the crossroads of it all.

Eden, Kentucky, is just another dying, bad-luck town, known only for the legend of E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth-century author and illustrator who wrote The Underland–and disappeared. Before she vanished, Starling House appeared. But everyone agrees that it’s best to let the uncanny house―and its last lonely heir, Arthur Starling―go to rot.

Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but an unexpected job offer might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she’s never had: a home.

As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire choice to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares.

If Opal wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it.

Content Warning: violence, thieving. nightmares, monsters, incest, death of parent

I can’t believe this is the first book I’ve read from this author but I finally did it.

+ I like the small town vibes with secrets and a haunted house! The story is set in Eden, Kentucky and the Starling House is what they are known for. Starling House is a mysterious house and author Eleanor Starling used to live there but disappeared. There is lots of lore about the town and the house. Everyone has a version of the story about Starling House and different theories. It’s quite a mystery.

+ Opal is such a strong character – she is a survivor. She thieves, she lies, she does everything she can to keep her brother Jasper thriving – but they are close to being homeless. They have little to eat most times but they only have each other. She only wants to give her brother a good life. Arthur is the new guardian of Starling House and he’s a scary, anti-social recluse. They are both described as very not good looking people but I love that they look ordinary (because that’s REAL) and they fell for each other in all their imperfections.

+ I love the found family, the romance between Opal and Arthur, the sibling bond between Opal and Jasper, and the history of Starling House. The gothic, dark fantasy vibes are great, it’s very atmospheric – makes for a good book for fall.

~ I think the beginning was a bit slow for me (it’s a me thing – sometimes mysteries are just too slow for me), but the second half of the book, I was totally hooked until the end.

~ There was a lot going on at the ending and the way it was resolved was not what I was expecting. It was strange and maybe I needed to suspend my belief a bit more because I didn’t totally believe it. I did like Eleanor’s story and how we learn the truth of what happened but it also felt a bit anti-climatic for me.

My Final Thoughts:

This one is a great read for fall because it has all the right elements: it’s gothic, has a haunted house, and a small town with secrets. I did like the second half of the book more than the first but only because mysteries are not my favorite genre. This one had a great lore surrounding Starling House and it was definitely a fascinating story. If you are into gothic, fantasy contemporary tales about a sentient house, nightmares and monsters then you will definitely enjoy this one.

Book Links:

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With or Without You by. Eric Smith | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: With or Without You

Author: Eric Smith

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 11/7/23

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Rivalry, Coming of Age

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Inkyard Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

New from Eric Smith comes a delightful YA rom-com about two teens caught in the middle of their families’ orchestrated rivalry between their Philly cheesesteak food trucks.

All’s fair in love and (food truck) war.

Everyone knows Jordan Plazas and Cindy Ortiz hate each other.

According to many viral videos of their public shouting matches, the Plazas and Ortiz families have a well-known food truck rivalry. Jordan and Cindy have spent all of high school making cheesesteaks and slinging insults at each other across their shared Philadelphia street.

But the truth? They’re in love, and it’s all just an act for the tourists.

When the fake feud lands them a reality tv show pilot, Jordan and Cindy find themselves having to lie on a much bigger scale. Trapped between pursuing their dreams or their love, can they find a way to have their cheesesteak and eat it too?

Content Warning:

I have a husband who was born and raised in Philly so I love books that are set there because I get to learn more about the city and culture. We get a lot of the culture in this book through Jordan who is a Philly boy and then the other perspective through his girlfriend, Cindy, a transplant from Boston, MA. They both run a food truck and they have a rivalry going on between them when they are outside but in secret they have been together for awhile. When a television company wants to do a show on the rivalry, things start to unravel.

Jordan and Cindy already have an established relationship, so I thought this book did a good job showcasing the different challenges a young relationship could face when both parties are about to start their lives after high school. Jordan has a dream that he and Cindy will do a road trip together and run a food truck. But Cindy has dreams of actually returning to Boston, her hometown, and go to college. With all the secrecy going on, trying to hide their relationship from the public – they realize they were keeping secrets themselves…well actually mostly Cindy. I felt bad that these teens couldn’t be together without lying to the public and on camera. I don’t read a lot of books where the couple is already together so I thought this was different but in a good way. Thing is you don’t get the falling in love feels in this book, but more the -“I love you, let’s fight for our relationship” vibes instead.

I did wish Cindy could have told Jordan right away what she was feeling but it’s not always easy. And I was surprised with Jordan – yes he should have listened to Cindy and realized the food truck business was not her passion, but he was pretty forgiving of her after some things went down. I felt like that showed both of them were pretty mature for their age and were in it for the long haul, which is heartwarming. I like how they made it work in the end.

There are other themes in this book other than Jordan and Cindy’s relationship. The story explores how their families went into debt from their small businesses and how they dealt with that challenge. Some of that burden falls on Jordan and Cindy’s shoulders, but they deal with it in different ways, just like their parents.

Tropes: secret lovers, family rivalry

My Thoughts:

Instead of a falling in love type of romance, we get an established relationship between two teens who hit a few road bumps in their relationship, but they decide to fight to make it work. I loved that the story is set in Philly, and that it’s a story based around one of their favorite foods, cheesesteaks. It definitely made me hungry! All the characters are vibrant and unique and I liked the themes about family, debt and belonging. I like how both Jordan and Cindy are coming of age and really have to make some big decisions about their lives, with or without the other. I enjoyed this one!

Book Links:

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BLOG TOUR} ARC Review | Don’t Read the Comments ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BLOG TOUR} You Can Go Your Own Way by. Eric Smith | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

King of Pride by. Ana Huang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: King of Pride (Kings of Sin, #2)

Author: Ana Huang

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 358

Publication Date: 4/27/23

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Opposites Attract

She’s his opposite in every way…and the greatest temptation he’s ever known.

Reserved, controlled, and proper to a fault, Kai Young has neither the time nor inclination for chaos—and Isabella, with her purple hair and inappropriate jokes, is chaos personified.

With a crucial CEO vote looming and a media empire at stake, the billionaire heir can’t afford the distraction she brings.

Isabella is everything he shouldn’t want, but with every look and every touch, he’s tempted to break all his rules…and claim her as his own.

***

Bold, impulsive, and full of life, Isabella Valencia has never met a party she doesn’t like or a man she couldn’t charm…except for Kai Young.

It shouldn’t matter. He’s not her type—the man translates classics into Latin for fun, and his membership at the exclusive club where she bartends means he’s strictly off limits.

But she can’t deny that, beneath his cool exterior, is a man who could make her melt with just a touch.

No matter how hard they try, they can’t resist giving into their forbidden desires.

Even if it costs them everything.

King of Pride is a steamy opposite attract, forbidden billionaire romance. It’s book two in the Kings of Sin series but can be read as a standalone.

Contains explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature readers only.

Content Warning:

I have finally read King of Pride which is the second book in the Kings of Sin series and follows Isabella and Kai from book one! It took me awhile to finish this one not because it’s bad but because of my mood swings. So here’s what I thought:

+ I was intrigued by Kai and Isabella in book one, King of Wrath, because we get introduced to them there and there is definitely some interest between them – especially on Kai’s part I think. These two are complete opposites! Isabella is vivacious, a bit flighty, still searching for her path in life. Kai is controlled, sticks to his goals, doesn’t show much emotion and likes to win.

+ I like how Kai wasn’t a total alpha male. I felt like he gave Isabella space even though there were times he would feel some jealousy. And honestly once he admitted to himself how he liked her he was all in. Also he was a comforting figure when Isabella didn’t believe in herself. He’s smart, open to trying new things (with Isabella) and honestly this man was not afraid of his feelings for her which I appreciated! It was Isa who was afraid.

+ Isabella is a Filipina which is cool! Love the representation and I could totally relate to her family dynamics.

+ Their love story is sweet and spicy. The conflict was mostly about their separate lives and how to bridge it but I thought it was cute seeing them grow as friends and then taking the leap as lovers. And yes there are very spicy scenes that I was not expecting out of Kai! lol…he does seem like someone who is straight forward but I like how he had his little kinky moments.

~ I know Isabella having low self-esteem and struggling through life is realistic but the story of her ex boyfriend was a little dramatic and I kind of laughed because it was so out of left field! It’s not a funny story but – Like, what girl?! You’ve been hiding that story in you all this time? 🤦🏻‍♀️ It wasn’t needed and was only mentioned once! She was having enough trouble just figuring out her career and path in life and comparing herself to her successful brothers.

~ I felt like this book didn’t have that romance angst as the first one so it didn’t seem as passionate as Dante and Vivian but I still enjoyed it. There were no games between Isa and Kai – I really do love that about them.

My Final Thoughts:

I liked how different Isa and Kai are from Dante and Vivian and honestly Kai is a great guy. He’s the boring, driven, but caring guy who goes all in for the woman he loves! If you like the opposites attract trope then you will enjoy this one. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book!

Book Links:

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King of Wrath by. Ana Huang | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hunting Moon by. Susan Dennard | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Hunting Moon (#2)

Author: Susan Dennard

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 272

Publication Date: 11/07/23

Publisher: Tor Teen

Categories: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Series, Mystery, Contemporary

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Tor Teen for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The highly anticipated sequel to The Luminaries by New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard.

Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family has been welcomed back into the Luminaries, and overnight, she has become a local celebrity.

The Girl Who Jumped. The Girl Who Got Bitten.

Unfortunately, it all feels wrong. For one, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer that’s killing hunters each night. Everyone blames the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent.

On top of that, following her dad’s convoluted clues about the Dianas, their magic, and what happened in Hemlock Falls four years ago is leaving her with more questions than answers.

Then to complicate it all, there is still only one person who can help her: Jay Friday, the boy with plenty of problems all his own.

As bodies and secrets pile up around town, Winnie finds herself questioning what it means to be a true Wednesday and a true Luminary—and also where her fierce-hearted loyalties might ultimately have to lie.

Content Warning: violence

I loved the first book of The Luminaries because Winnie’s test to become a luminary made this book exciting. This sequel felt slower and a little more like a filler.

I did love that Jay and Winnie’s relationship gets somewhat resolved, but it’s slow to get there. There is some complicated feelings between them and some things that has to be said out loud but I was happy that there was progress between them because I just want them together.

Winnie is trying to figure out clues maybe her dad has left her but it’s a challenge for her. And the community is still looking for the werewolf, while Winnie still is insisting there is a Whisperer creature on the loose. Her family has now earned their right to come back into the fold and she doesn’t want to jeopardize anything but when she finds out something about Jay, she puts everything on the line.

The first half is slow, but the second half picks up and just as I was invested in the story it ends abruptly. I was actually shocked that it was over. But I did enjoy the second half of the book more than the first.

I probably went in with high expectations because I loved book one. I did enjoy some parts of it but it does slow down and becomes more of a mystery with Winnie trying to put all the clues together.

Tropes: slow burn romance, friends to lovers

Why you should read it:

you enjoyed book one, but this one is more of a mystery and slower
Winnie and Jay’s angsty romance
a few things happen, but at the end

Why you might not want to read it:

abrupt ending and shorter than I expected, wanted more

My Thoughts:

I had high expectations which this sequel didn’t quite meet mostly because mysteries are too slow for me and this becomes a mystery that Winnie is trying to solve. It’s definitely not a high stakes challenge anymore for her. I did love that FINALLY she and Jay make some headway into their slow burn romance, because it was frustrating seeing these two not being able to communicate. I’ll definitely read book three after that ending – but I do wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt and the book was longer.

Book Links:

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The Luminaries by.Susan Dennard | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Holiday Mix-Up by. Ginny Baird | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Holiday Mix-Up

Author: Ginny Baird

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 10/10/23

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Categories: Romance, Holiday Romance, Contemporary

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

While You Were Sleeping meets The Wedding Date with a fun Puerto Rican holiday twist in NYT and USA Today bestselling author Ginny Baird’s latest romance, in which a diner waitress agrees to be her patron’s fake date…only for him to land in a coma and her to be stuck playing his sweetheart with his family all week long.

Lonely-hearted waitress Katie Smith has nowhere to go for Christmas, and a huge crush on her gorgeous diner patron Juan Martinez. So when Juan asks Katie to pose as his girlfriend for holiday festivities at his family’s winery, Katie leaps at the chance…that is, until an accident lands Juan in a coma right after giving his folks the “news.” Katie knows she should tell the Martinezes the truth, but when they immediately embrace her, Katie is reluctant to let her fantasy of a family holiday go. And then there’s Juan’s brother, Mateo, whose smile tugs at her heartstrings just right―and who tells her perfect Juan might not be everything he seems. Second son Mateo Martinez loves his brother, but Juan’s plan to “rebrand and expand” Los Cielos Cellars has cost their family too much and put its entire tradition in jeopardy. Katie seems to understand, but she’s still committed to Juan…even when Mateo starts to wish her gentle heart and beautiful smile were committed to him instead. With the winery at stake, secrets on all sides, and Juan due to wake up any day, can Katie and Mateo follow their hearts to a Christmas miracle, or will this mix-up ruin their chances?

Content Warning:

I grew up watching rom-coms like While You Were Sleeping and this book definitely follows the script!

Katie is a waitress who has a crush on her customer, Juan and he asks her to be his fake girlfriend for Christmas. But before they can even carry their plan out, there is a freak accident and Juan is in a coma. Juan’s family believes Katie is his girlfriend and she goes along with it. What she didn’t expect being around Juan’s family was having her fall for his brother Matteo instead.

I got lots of While You Were Sleeping similarities in this book and knew how the story would end but I still thought it was cute. It’s a light hearted read and set leading up to Christmas.

I did like the family themes and the cast of characters in Matteo’s family. As for the romance, though it was cute and I knew how it would end – I kind of wanted more from Katie and Matteo. I just thought they were a little bland. There’s no steam between them, just some kisses but it makes for a wholesome holiday romance.

Tropes: chaste romance, falling for the brother of the guy in the coma, fake girlfriend

My Final Thoughts:

You will definitely like this if you are a fan of the movie While You Were Sleeping. This one was a sweet, light-hearted holiday romance heavy on family themes.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Right Girl, Wrong Side by. Ginny Baird | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Woke Up Like This by. Amy Lea | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Woke Up Like this

Author: Amy Lea

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 300

Publication Date: 9/5/23

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Rivals To Romance, Time Travel, 13 Going on 30

Planning the perfect prom is one last “to do” on ultra-organized Charlotte Wu’s high school bucket list. So far, so good, if not for a decorating accident that sends Charlotte crash-landing off a ladder, face-first into her obnoxiously ripped archnemesis J. T. Renner. Worse? When Charlotte wakes up, she finds herself in an unfamiliar bed at thirty years old, with her bearded fiancé, Renner, by her side.

Either they’ve lost their minds or they’ve been drop-kicked into adulthood, forever trapped in the thirty-year-old bodies of their future selves. With each other as their only constant, Charlotte and Renner discover all that’s changed in the time they’ve missed. Charlotte also learns there’s more to Renner than irritating-jock charm, and that reaching the next milestone isn’t as important as what happens in between.

Navigating a series of adventures and a confounding new normal, Charlotte and Renner will do whatever it takes to find a way back to seventeen. But when―and if―they do, what then?

Content Warning:

I read one book of Amy Lea, Exes & O’s, and loved it so when I saw she wrote a YA book I had to get my hands on it. If you like the movie 13 Going on 30, you will love this book. I love that movie so I was kind of scared that the time travel wouldn’t work so well in this story because time travel in some books always throw me off unless it’s done well. I think it’s done well in this one. And even though they do go into the future for a little bit and become 30 years old – this is mainly a young adult book.

Charlotte and J.T. are high school rivals. They are always competing, and Char can’t stand it. But she used to like him and he maybe he used to like her but the rivalry between them clouds everything until they are transported into the future and realize they are engaged.

I thought this story was so cute. I love the rivalry between Char and J.T. but I also like the other things going on like Char and her relationship with her estranged dad. She’s also questioning some of her friendships and I just found all of this Senior year angst about the last few weeks, prom, college, family, friends, and the future so relatable.

There was lots of sparks between Char and J.T. when she let her guard down and saw him for more than just someone she loathes. Char could be a little bit high strung and type-A but J.T. is her opposite and they made a cute couple eventually. I liked how going into the future made Char see that she had to enjoy the present instead of worrying about the future.

Quote from the Book:

“For some reason, I always thought adults made decisions with purpose. That they knew what they were doing all the time. But maybe adults are just like teens, bumbling around aimlessly, unsure if they’ve gotten it right.”

Tropes: rivals to lovers

My Final Thoughts:

This was a fun book to read and I love how it’s inspired by a sweet rom-com like 13 Going on 30. If you like that movie and books like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, you will enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Exes & O’s by. Amy Lea | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Love in Winter Wonderland by. Abiola Bello | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Love in Winter Wonderland

Author: Abiola Bello

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 312

Publication Date: 10/03/23

Publisher: Soho Teen

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Holiday Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Soho Teen for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ meets ‘You’ve Got Mail’ in this YA Christmas love story set in a London Black-owned bookshop.

Charming, handsome Trey Anderson balances the pressures of school popularity with a job at his family’s beloved local bookshop, Wonderland.

Quirky, creative Ariel Spencer needs tuition for the prestigious art program of her dreams, and an opening at Wonderland is the answer. When Trey and Ariel learn that Wonderland is on the brink of being shut down by a neighborhood gentrifier, they team up to stop the doors from closing before the Christmas Eve deadline—and embark on a hate-to-love journey that will change them forever.

Heartwarming and romantic, this read is the gift that keeps on giving, no matter the season.

Content Warning: binge eating, fat shaming, grief

My favorite part of these young adult holiday romance novel is the Wonderland bookshop and everyone pitching to coming in and save it. I also love that this was set in England, so we get the Black British perspective on things. And it’s fantastic that Wonderland is a black owned, indie bookstore! Indie bookstores need more love. The play list songs before every chapter was a cute touch also! Trey’s family has had the bookshop in the family for years so losing it is not an option he or his family wants to face. Not only is he dealing with the bookshop woes but his relationship with his girlfriend Blair has been a bit rocky. They’re both the popular kids on the college campus but lately Trey needs to focus on his family and the shop, which Blair is not happy about.

Ariel goes to the same college as Trey and Blair, but she’s an artist. She needs a job to help pay for possible entry into the art school of her dreams and luck so has it that Wonderland hires her even though they are in dire straits. Ariel and her friends come up with a great idea to save Wonderland and their hard work really pays off. I thought it was very sweet to see the community come together especially during Christmas time. I thought Ariel was a cool character. She’s talented in her art and she’s plus-sized, which for the most part she is comfortable about until Blair makes her feel less than and Ariel binge-eats when she feels down. And not only is she feeling down about when people comment on her size but she’s also dealing with losing her dad. So she’s going through some things but she has her art and her support system of family and good friends!

As far as the romance goes? Trey has a girlfriend for most of the book. Ariel has had a crush on him for awhile now but even with them working close together – I didn’t feel any sparks between them. It felt forced. Trey was just dealing with too much and at times I didn’t even like him. He was always mad at Ariel for something! And I think the story had enough Christmas themes – I think the ending is where most of it comes in with the Wonderland showcase, but if this were a Hallmark or Netflix Christmas movie I can already picture the bookstore and everyone walking around in their coats and scarves.

Tropes: close proximity

My Thoughts:

Strangely enough I didn’t love the holiday romance in this story but I loved the storyline of saving Wonderland because it is a Black-owned indie bookstore! In that sense it definitely gave me You’ve Got Mail vibes – a bookstore in winter just scream Christmas vibes. And the community comes together to help save this bookstore so that was heartwarming. I loved the supporting cast like Trey’s family and Ariel’s friends but I just felt like the romance was missing something – chemistry or even some sparks. Overall, it was an entertaining holiday story.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Wreck the Halls by. Tessa Bailey | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Wreck the Halls

Author: Tessa Bailey

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 10/03/23

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Adult, Romance, Holiday Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Avon for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey delivers a sexy, hilarious standalone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert…

Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.

Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite–the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.

While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything–the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.

Content Warning: blackmail, parental abandonment

Tessa Bailey does it again with her spicy rom-coms, but this time I felt like it had a Daisy Jones & the Six inspiration which I loved.

Beat and Melody’s mom hate one another. The two women were bandmates decades ago and recently with their song going viral again years later, everyone wants a band reunion. Beat and Melody only met once when they were teenagers and basically it was love at first sight, especially for Melody. The next time they meet they are adults, and Beat signed up to do a reality show about reuniting the band, so he could make some money.

I was invested! I never read Daisy Jones & the Six but I did watch the show and Beat and Melody’s moms being part of a band made me think of Daisy Jones for some reason. I think because both women had a reputation and so much drama between them, it is such the typical rock star problems and it makes for a great story. So I wanted to see how the reunion would take place! Also I love Octavia and Trina as characters, their bickering made me laugh. Octavia the lead diva and Trina the wild child, they were great!

The romance is hot and spicy. And Beat’s kink? He likes to come to the edge of pleasure and be denied. I don’t know how I felt about it! The lead up and build up is great but I was feeling Melody’s confusion and feelings of loneliness about it when everything was said and done. But the reason for Beat’s preferences have a deeper meaning and I think that’s why I love them even with the whole insta-love, love at first sight situation because they see each other next as adults where a lot has happened to them both. They’ve grown in ways, some good and bad, but I love that they feel so familiar to one another without really knowing each other. I was rooting for them hard!

Now did it give me Christmas vibes? No, it’s definitely not Hallmark movie worthy, it doesn’t have all the holiday cheer and cheese that I expect out of a holiday romance. The band reunion is set to happen during the holidays and there is an epic snow fight but other than that I felt like there wasn’t enough to remind me the story was taking place in December.

Tropes: insta love, forced proximity, one bed, strangers to friends to lovers

Why you should read it:

you like a hot and spicy holiday romance
to see if the band reunion happens, Octavia and Trina’s drama

Why you might not want to read it:

I had to get used to Beat’s name lol…I get it’s because his mom is a musician (Beat and Melody) but I kept asking “why?”

My Thoughts:

Not quite the holiday romance I was expecting meaning I wanted more holiday themes in it but I was fully invested in the band reunion because Octavia and Trina’s drama was classic rock star drama! There was a lot of spice in this one but I like that it was balanced with Beat and Melody’s love story even if it was insta-love. I think they would naturally be curious about one another because their mothers had such a public past so maybe meeting one another felt familiar because of the limelight. Overall, I did love them together and that this has a happy ending.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Secretly Yours by. Tessa Bailey | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Hook, Line and Sinker by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It Happened One Summer by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Forget Me Not by. Julie Soto | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Forget Me Not

Author: Julie Soto

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/11/23

Categories: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary, Chick-Lit, Romance, Second Chance Romance

An ambitious wedding planner must work with her grumpy florist ex, whose heart she broke, on the most high-profile wedding of her career, in this spicy and emotional romance from popular fanfic author Julie Soto.

He loves me; he loves me not…

Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner. But with a mother who has been married more times than you can count on your fingers, Ama has decided that marriage is not the route for her. But weddings? Weddings are amazing. As a small business owner, she knows how to match her clients with the perfect vendor to give them the wedding of their dreams. Well, almost perfect…

Elliot hates being a florist, most of the time. When his father left him the flower shop, he considered it a burden, but he’s stuck with it. Just like how he’s stuck with the way he proposed to Ama, his main collaborator and girlfriend (or was she?) two years ago. But flowers have grown on him, just like Ama did. And flowers can’t run off and never speak to him again, like Ama did.

When Ama is hired to plan a celebrity wedding that will bring her business national exposure, there’s a catch: Elliot is already contracted to design the flowers. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. Add in a meddling ex-boss, and a reality TV film crew documenting every step of the wedding prep, and Ama and Elliot’s hearts are not only in jeopardy again, but this time, their livelihoods are too.

Content Warning: fear of commitment

I was so excited to read Forget Me Not because I was seeing it every on blogs and I was seeing good things about it! Now that I’ve read it I can see why people loved it so much.

This one is a second chance romance and I love how we are introduced to Ama and Elliot then get peeks into their past. I like how the past scenes built with the tension going on between them in the present day. Also, I love a wedding planner kind of story because it reminds me so much of the movie, The Wedding Planner, which was such a cute rom-com! This story is obviously different from that, but I love the whole wedding planner thing.

And I really love Elliot as a florist! I don’t blame Ama for falling for this guy who is so knowledgeable about flowers and so talented with installations. Yes, he is Mr. Grumpy and she’s Miss Sunshine and I love how she got past his defenses. Their past story is so cute and the heartbreak was sad but I could totally understand both their point of views. I think it makes their second chance romance story even more sweeter! The sparks are there between them and never really went away. They do have some spicy scenes which just adds to their chemistry – but I love the little awkward scenes between them too – I had some laugh out loud moments.

There are a bunch of fun side characters too – the couple who is getting married, Hazel and Jackie area cute couple. And I love how yes, Ama’s mother has had 14 marriages so she’s had a multitude of ex step-siblings, some that she employs! I especially love Mar.

Tropes: second chance romance, grumpy/sunshine

My Final Thoughts:

I love Ama and Elliott’s second chance romance. He’s grumpy, she’s sunshine and the sparks fly between them. I thought their love story was sweet and I love that there was a big wedding to plan while they tried to not bring up their past with one another. If you like wedding planner type of romance stories, you will definitely enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Unfortunately Yours by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Unfortunately Yours (A Vine Mess, #2)

Author: Tessa Bailey

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 6/6/23

Categories: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary, Chick-Lit, Romance

A down-on-her-luck Napa heiress suggests a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience to a man she can’t stand… only to discover there’s a fine line between love and hate.

After losing her job and her fiancé in one fell swoop, Natalie Vos returned home to lick her wounds. A few months later, she’s sufficiently drowned her sorrows in cabernet and she’s ready to get back on her feet. She just needs her trust fund to finance her new business venture. Unfortunately, the terms require she marry before she can have the money. And well, dumped, remember? But Natalie is desperate enough to propose to a man who makes her want to kill him–and kiss him, in equal measure.

August Cates may own a vineyard, but he doesn’t know jack about making wine. He’s determined to do his late best friend proud, no matter what it takes. Except his tasting room is empty, his wine is disgusting (seriously, he once saw someone gag), and his buddy’s legacy is circling the drain. No bank will give him the loan he needs to turn the business around… and then the gorgeous, feisty heiress knocks on his door. Natalie has haunted his dreams since the moment they met, but their sizzling chemistry immediately morphed into simmering insults.

Now, a quickie marriage could help them both. A sham wedding, a few weeks living under the same roof, and then they can go their separate ways–assuming they make it out alive. How hard could it be? There’s just one thing they didn’t account for: their unfortunate, unbearable, undeniable attraction.

Content Warning: PTSD, grief

If you read Secretly Yours, then you will have met these two characters, Natalie (Julian’s sister) and August, in that story. So this story starts off right away with Natalie and August already going at it with the sexual innuendos, but it’s an enemies to lovers romance so Natalie is always trying to take him down a notch and August likes the torture and tries to match her tit for tat (literally lol). He is obsessed with her breasts – and tells her every chance he gets.

I thought the two of them were so funny because both of them are hot-heads and want to get their way. August is an ex-Navy SEAL so he is a bit intense but funny too. Natalie was intense too when it came to finance – the two of them was chaos at times but fun chaos. And when they finally relieve the sexual tension between its explosive, dirty, loud, and intense as they both are. I thought it was cute how they finally admitted to feelings for one another though.

I think this was the perfect sequel to Secretly Yours and very different from Julian and Hallie. It has the same spice, and more laughs in this one. I do think if you didn’t read the first book, you’d be shocked at how Natalie and August are already off to the races with hating and wanting one another. So just be aware of that if you didn’t read the first book.

Tropes: fake dating, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience

My Final Thoughts:

I think Natalie and August make a great couple because of how they can set each other down but not be too offended. It’s a turn on for them actually! This story has enough spice to keep things juicy and enough laughs to make you root for the both of them.