Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake is the first book I’ve read by Alexis Hall, and I must say that I was completely charmed. The audiobook really enhanced my enjoyment, but more on that in a moment.
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books written by Abby Jimenez, The Friend Zone and The Happy Ever After Playlist, I fully expected Life’s Too Short to knock my socks off as well. Guess what? It did. This book checked off all my boxes. You’ve got a fun-loving heroine, a glum hero in need of rescuing, single parenting, and swooning galore.
The Heart Principle is an exceptional story that is far deeper than I anticipated. It’s about the importance of loving yourself and using your voice.
When an audiobook is narrated by the author, one hopes it will be pretty good. I’m not sure if it’s due to Julia Whelan’s background as an actress or the fact that she wrote the words she speaks, but her narration of My Oxford Year is exceptional. She is so expressive that it is easy to get wrapped up in the story.
Single parent romances and surprise pregnancy tropes are my jam, and A Kiss for a Kiss combines both of these. The result was a little ambrosia for my bibliophilic taste buds.
I’m clearly in the minority here. Based on all the glowing reviews, I expected to be blown away by A Love Letter to Whiskey, which only made my lackluster response all the more disappointing.
Getting Real is the third standalone in the Getting Some series and before I go any further, let me take a moment to bow down to the great narrator Zachary Webber. I always admire his vocal performances, but he takes it to the next level in this audiobook. The emotions, the clever distinctions between the characters, and the believability are *chef’s kiss*. Andi Arndt’s narration is excellent as well, but I found myself especially looking forward to Zachary’s chapters.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduce that Ali Hazelwood has a huge winner on her hands with her debut novel, The Love Hypothesis. I loved every single thing about this book. I didn’t realize just how badly I needed a 100% feel-good love story.
You Loved Me Once is one big angst fest, but I was in the mood for a little drama and boy did it deliver. Serenity, a gynecologic oncologist with severe abandonment issues, can’t commit to her neurosurgeon lover and colleague, Westin. He is a real catch. I found it hard to believe that Westin would stick around for a nearly 3-year-long friends with benefits arrangement when he clearly wants more from their relationship. He is unbelievably patient, but you get the sense that it’s wearing thin. There are plenty of other women waiting in the wings. Serenity is an incredibly compassionate and confident doctor but so indecisive when it comes to Wes that I was never quite sure of the strength of her feelings for him. This one kept me guessing about whether she would let herself love Westin before losing this man who sincerely loves her, or if she would go down a destructive path. When you add in ethical dilemmas and the difficult subject matter of cancer, my stomach was tied in knots throughout. I didn’t care for the past meets present aspect of the story. The significance was lost on me and I was confused as to why […]
Totally Folked is the first book in the Good Folk: Modern Folktales series, and it took me completely by surprise in the best possible way. The first book in a series usually sets the tone, and Totally Folked is far more entertaining than I expected.
The Mixtape tugged on every single one of my heartstrings.
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler was a really witty and enjoyable read. As a mom myself, I recognized in Amy Byler the constantly frazzled state that comes from juggling the many needs of your children. I can only imagine how much more difficult it must be as a single parent. I admired how hard-working and resourceful Amy became after being abandoned by her deadbeat ex-husband. She is an expert juggler, and it is easy to see why a large part of her identity comes from being needed by her kids. The need to be needed is a key topic that is addressed in the story. Amy’s two girlfriends are a hoot, pushing her to let loose in New York City and giving her advice throughout the book. Her wicked sense of humor and exploration of the city are highly entertaining. Amy and Daniel, a fellow librarian, make a really cute couple, even if the romance aspect is a little on the bland side. I enjoyed all their dates and geeky book talk. The beginning of each chapter is a little treat featuring funny journal entries written by Amy’s teenage daughter. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is an amusing book that […]