Oh Alaska, how I’ve missed you! It’s been awhile since I read The Simple Wild and the two books that followed, but I discovered that my love for the remote Alaska setting and its fictional residents hasn’t diminished one bit. The previous books (all 5-star reads for me) feature the romance between Calla and Jonah. Running Wild is all about Marie, the veterinarian who secretly loved Jonah. It’s a heartwarming story that doesn’t disappoint.
I think Taylor Jenkins Reid is a queen, and I’ve never rated her books less than 4 stars, but I was honestly bored listening to this novella. Although the concept is clever, the content and direction of the letters is pretty predictable. The audiobook alone is especially disappointing due to narrator George Newbern’s delivery. He depicts a man whose wife is cheating on him and whose life is turned upside down, yet his tone is incredibly blasé. It’s a jarring contrast to Julia Wheelan’s superb narration. I did like the ending of Evidence of the Affair, though, and I still believe the author is gifted.
In writing The Worst Guy, I truly think Kate Canterbary said, “I’m going to give you two of the most complicated, messiest characters I can imagine and make you fall in love with them.” If so, mission accomplished. I could not get enough of Sara and Sebastian.
It Happened One Summer is reminiscent of the tv show Schitt’s Creek, only this book is more heartwarming in my humble opinion.
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.
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 […]