Back with the Bridgertons!

I've been listening to this series on Audiobook from a combination of the Libby and Hoopla apps.  I've had the 8th book and the Happily Ever After collection on hold for so long!  But I kept getting the collection before book 8 in the series and I didn't want to listen to it until I'd read On the Way to the Wedding, so I kept delaying my hold.  FINALLY, I was able to listen to it, and while listening the collection was available again.  Luckily, that means I get to move directly on to the final book in the series now that I've finished book 8.  And then I guess I only have to wait for the next season of the show!  lol  Do any of you put books on hold if you're really wanting to read them?  Or do you just go out and buy them?  I wish I had the money to just buy whatever book I want to read, but that's not always possible is it?  Thank goodness for libraries and apps like Libby and Hoopla!

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On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

 I've been on a wait list for this book for quite some time, so I'm very happy to have finally been able to listen to it!  Gregory's story had more intrigue and action than most of the others, and I was very pleased to have some new characters to meet and enjoy.  I admit to feeling a bit ambivalent about Hermione at first, but I grew to like her almost as much as the main character, Lucy.

I do miss Lady Whistledown's part in the stories, but I also appreciate the direction the series took after she was unmasked.  The drama, gossip and scandal is still there, just told in different ways.  And the drama and scandal are aplenty in this book!  I was at the literal edge of my seat at one point.

As with most of the series, I was able to listen to a second epilogue at the end of this audiobook.  I have to admit to being brought to tears during this part of the book, and I find that the story was enhanced because of it.  I do love getting little updates and sneak peeks into the lives of the characters after the initial story is over.

I'm somewhat sad to have reached the end of the series, but I do have the collection of 2nd epilogues (to read any I may have missed along the way) to read, and I intend to!  Fans of historical romance, the rest of the series, or the TV adaptation are sure to love this book.

Fairy Tales Reimagined

I love retellings of fairy tales and this one is great because it incorporated so many of them.  There are a lot of 2 star reviews for this one, but I think that you have to go into a book with a certain expectation.  I got this book from an elementary book fair, so I knew it was going to be simpler and geared towards a younger audience and I reviewed and rated it with that in mind.  A book for younger audiences isn't going to be as detailed as a book for adults.  I rated this book 4 stars because I think that it was executed nicely and that readers will enjoy it.

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Dead Upon a Time by Elizabeth Paulson

 I picked this book up ages ago at a Scholastic book fair at my kids' school.  It's been sitting on my shelf ever since until I decided to read a couple of "spooky season" books this month.  I'm glad I finally picked it up, as it was a very cute read and an interesting take on a fairy tale retelling.  

In this story, all of the fairy tales are linked and the "bad guy" is the same for all of them.  The heroes in the story are an unlikely pair of outcasts who end up leaning on each other as they try to save a princess, defeat evil and lead a rescue mission.  I really enjoyed how all of the various fairy tales we all know kept popping up throughout the story.

In the end, not only is the villain a shock, but there are other surprises for the main characters as well.  I think it was a great retelling story and that readers of all ages will enjoy it.  It does seem geared for a younger YA audience, but as an adult I still really enjoyed it.

What is it about Bullies?

As a kid in Jr. High, I was bullied quite fiercely.  I never in a million years thought I'd like books about bullies turning into romantic interests.  But here I am!  Perhaps it's because my bullies were always female.  Or maybe it's the fact that the bully is often forced to admit their true feelings and things work out for everyone in the end.  Whatever it is, ever since I read my first bully romance, I can't seem to get enough.  (And don't even get me started on if they have a reverse harem in there as well!)  I borrowed Deviant King from Prime Reading, if you have Amazon Prime and aren't taking advantage of this program you're missing out!  The following is my review!

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Deviant King by Rina Kent

While this book left me with more questions than answers, I'm so FULLY invested it's not even funny!  I was drawn in from page one and by the last page, I was practically salivating for answers and more of the story.  Needless to say, I can not wait to get my hands on book two of this series.

I never thought I would be a person who enjoyed bully romance, but the more I read, the more I enjoy it.  I think the overall tension between the two main characters enhances the romance when it finally comes about.  In this story, Elsa "Frozen" has been tormented since day one, though Aidan pretty much ignores her.  But when these two collide it's epic and powerful.  I like their dynamic for the most part, but there were some times when I found consent to be dubious.  I also feel like there is more going on with some of the side characters than we really get to see in this initial book.  I'm curious to see what might come of those tensions as well.

There is a definite cliffhanger at the end of this book, which is one of the reasons why I am so eager to get my hands on book two.  Some huge questions are lingering in my head and it's both frustrating and intriguing.

Slowing Down

Well, I'm out of quarantine and back to work.  That means my reading is slowing down again.  I'm a little bummed, but also so glad to be over the worst of the Covid and back to somewhat normal.  I did manage to finish two books in the past week, however, so here are the reviews!  Both were solid 4 star reads, though I did enjoy Ana and Zak a tad bit more than Falling Free.

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 Falling Free by Evelyn Adams

I want to start off by giving a slight trigger warning.  The female MC is in a relationship at the start of the book.  I really don't like reading about cheating, so I want to make it clear that no one cheats in this book.

I loved the way the relationship between the two main characters blossomed and how supportive Amanda's family was throughout the whole book.  It really made it clear who she should be with when the family instantly likes him.  And Michael seems to be a really great guy.  He's interested in learning more about Amanda, he enjoys doing things she enjoys with her and isn't upset when she's better at things than he is.  A case of insta-lust turns into a real connection between the two.

I became aware a little ways into the book that this is a spin off series to a series that I haven't read.  That didn't distract from the story, but I do want to go read the original series now before I continue with this one.

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The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher

I found this book at the Dollar Tree and it looked really cute so I picked it up.  I wasn't expecting how deep it would be in the relationships with the main characters and their parents.  Ana is down right terrified that one mistake will get her disowned from her parents.  Zak is dealing with the loss of a parent and the remaining parent moving on.  Neither situation is going to be easy, but somehow, they are able to show each other how to make things better.

Both Ana and Zak misjudge each other a time or two, but when the chips are down they really have each other's backs.  I also really enjoyed the setting.  I've never been to a con before, but I feel like it's something I would love, and living vicariously through these characters was pretty great.  

I would like to see more of what happened with Ana and her parents, as well as with Zak and his stepdad and what his future might hold, however, I really love the way the book ended as well.  It was full of possibility and I feel like the reader can sort of take their own imaginings and decide for themselves how the rest of that all turns out.

More COVID Reading

As I stayed quarantined, and recovering from Covid, I read a LOT more than I anticipated!  So, here's another LONG blog post with all the books I finished up while trapped in bed.  Luckily, I am out of quarantine now, back to work, and while that might mean a bit less reading... it also means the return of a little sanity!  I was missing being social for one, but also, I dearly missed my students at my job.  In any case, here are the reviews of the books I read this past week.  I saved the best for last... it was truly an amazingly stunning book!

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Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

 I had read this author before and really enjoyed the book, so when I saw this one at a thrift store it was an instant buy for me.

This book is all about first love, leaving for college, big life changes and all of the tough decisions that go along with.  Leaving behind friends and family as you go off to college on your new adventure as an adult is so hard.  The thing that really gets most of us though, is leaving behind our first love.  It can feel like life or death in those moments of just becoming an adult and having to make those decisions that will shape the way our lives will go.  It's heart-wrenching and difficult.  

I actually loved Clare's idea of taking her and Aidan around to the spots of all of their best memories in order to help them decide what to do about the future.  It was also a great way for the author to let us know some of the more important parts of their relationship.  I think it also showed the importance of memories and holding on to those good times after the ending of something, whether it's high school, a friendship ending, or moving, or whatever.

This book actually made me tear up a bit.  Which is unusual for a YA book, since I am in my 40s!  But it really brought me back to my own summer after graduation and those big decisions and the people I had to leave behind as I went off to college.   It really is both a joyous and trying time in a young person's life and those feelings, apparently, stay with you!

I loved the second prologue.  I was full of smiles at that!  I recommend this book to anyone in their Senior year of High School, anyone who has recently graduated, or anyone who just enjoys remembering those times.

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Flirty Dancing by Jenny McLachlan

I picked up this book at Dollar Tree, and I didn't realize that it was a younger YA or maybe even a middle grade book.  It was very cute though, and I can see how younger readers would really enjoy it.

I loved the relationships Bea had with her family.  It's nice to see a sibling relationship that's so adorable, and where the older sibling doesn't constantly complain about the younger one.  I also really enjoyed Bea's relationship with her grandmother, I am very close with my grandma too and it's nice to see that in books.

I think it's great that Bea gets braver the more she dances with Ollie.  It shows young readers that the more confident they become, the braver they can be.  And when she finally stands up to her bully, I found the way she did so to be classy and show maturity.

Ollie is a great character too.  I like that the "cute boy" character wasn't fooled by the bully character.  He truly sees what's important, rather than being caught up in looks or popularity.  There is a use of the "r word" that could cause a trigger for some.  I will say though, that the characters are upset about the use of the word.  (As was I.)

I think this book would be great for grades 6 through about 10, though older readers might enjoy it as well.

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Hopeless Romantic by Julie Capulet

This was a very short, insta-love, spicy romance.  The meet cute was adorable, and I loved the idea of the story.  I wished it was a bit longer though.  I would have liked to get a little more depth into the background of both main characters.

There was a little part that eluded to the story in book two and it really made you want to go read that one.  Pretty smart of the author, the way it was done.  

All in all, I think readers who enjoy insta-love and short stories will enjoy this.  The writing was good and the story was super cute.

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One Great Lie by Deb Caletti

This book was so beautifully written.  There were several points throughout the book where I had to just stop and re-read a line or paragraph because it spoke to me so deeply.  For example, "Words were forests to explore in your very own room, warm tents to hide in, and magic cloaks that transformed you."  This quote and many others I simply took a picture of with my phone so that I would remember them always.

I loved how there were stories of female writers at the beginning of each chapter.  I learned so much just from these little snippets of information about these authors who have been lost to us over time.  It really spoke to how our society tends to put the male authors up on some sort of pedestal as the ideal of someone brilliant.  It's a sad truth that there are still female authors who feel they must use initials or pseudonyms in order to get the attention their work deserves.

While the main part of the story involves Charlotte's writing and her search to find out about Isabella, the wrong that was done her quickly takes over and I found some very important themes in that.  One main thing is the embarrassment of being taken advantage of.  Even if we know it's not our fault, there's a sense of shame to it, and so often people blame the victim for not seeing what was happening.  I feel like Charlotte had to grow up fast due to what happened to her, but at the same time, it was because of this quick growing up that she was finally able to find her voice, find her past and see into her future.  And I love that she does it in spite of what happened to and to honor her relative.

I've been a fan of Deb Caletti for some time now, but this book just blew me away.  I'm struggling to write this review, because honestly my words will not do this book justice.  It was a beautiful story, written wonderfully, and I'm sure it will stay with me for a long, long time.

COVID Books

That's right, I have the Rona!  I got a positive test result on Sunday and since then can do nothing but lay in bed and read or watch TV.  I've read a Lot of books so far.  Since I'm only at my computer when no one else is home to spread my germies to, I'm just going to put all of my reviews in this one long blog post.  

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There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

 Since I loved the first book set in this world so much, I had to read the second.  And now I find out there are some novellas as well, which I am definitely going to look into.

In this story, I really appreciated the author's use of weight and body image as a struggle or an issue for young people to be facing.  I could not stand Sweetie's mom for most of the book, I was very triggered by almost everything she did and said.  I will say though, that she seemed to redeem herself at the end.  In addition to the body image issues, there were also the issues of dating and the cultural differences that Sweetie and Ashish have that other students their age don't necessarily face.

Speaking of Ashish, I found his parents to be amazing.  I think all teenagers hope for parents like that.  I also found their dating ideas and especially the reasons why they chose them to be endearing.  Obviously, if you've read When Dimple Met Rishi, you've sort of met these parents, but you get to really see them in this story.

While the body image issues that Sweetie is dealing with are paramount to the story, so are the breaking up and moving on issues that Ashish is facing.  Learning to be confident under both circumstances plays heavily into this book, and I think it is a very positive story for teens to read when dealing with these things.

I loved the story so much, but I'm also really enjoying learning about this culture and expanding my knowledge in this area.  I think that fans of the first book, fans of Indian culture and stories, as well as fans of adorable YA contemporary romances are going to love this book.

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Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

Big mistakes in our past can help change and shape us into the person we are today.  This can be either a positive or a negative thing, but in most cases I think it's a little of both.  In this story, the main character, Deanna, has made a major mistake when she was young but is continuously dealing with the fall out from not only her school mates, but her father as well.  Deanna's father is unable to forgive and move on and this causes a lot of tension and heartbreak for the family.  I love that in the story, Deanna and her brother are trying their best to become different people than their father.  There's a lot to be said for forgiveness and being able to move forward after any big mistake or tragedy.

The one big negative I see in this book, other than the fact that the father is so unreasonable, is that neither parent decided to press charges.  As a parent myself reading this book, I simply can't imagine not doing something to show how wrong what happened was and to show my child how much I supported them.

This was a one sitting read for me, and I learned that there is a film version on Netflix that I definitely want to watch.

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The One That I Want by Piper Sheldon

This is the third book in this series and I have to say that I can't even choose a favorite!  I love them all so much.  I love all the characters, and how they are recurring throughout each book.  I adore the strong, powerful female friendships that are involved, but even more than that, I love that the author has included some very strong male friendships as well.

It took me way too long, again, to clue into the inspiration for this book.  I was near the end before it finally clicked and given the title that's a tad embarrassing!  This is sort of like a gender-bent retelling of Grease, but then again not really.  The reason it took so long to make the connection, is that it's also uniquely it's own story.

With both main characters, there are some things they are working on to better themselves and it's so much easier for them to see what the other needs than themselves.  Sanders is dealing with grief and how to handle that in a safe and productive way.  Roxy is dealing with letting go of her past and learning that it's ok to lean on others sometimes.  Roxy and I have that in common, actually.  Through their relationship and realizations of what they truly want out of life, they are able to overcome the obstacles in their path and move forward.

I absolutely loved the "grand gesturing" at the end of the book.  It was so sweet and so true to the characters themselves.  I also adored how supportive all of the friends ended up being.

There is a little side story hinted at throughout the book and since I follow this author on TikTok, I happen to know that we will get that story soon!  Piper Sheldon is a new favorite for me and I can't wait to read the next one!

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Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

If Princess Diaries went to Japan, that would be this book!  Imagine all the struggles that Mia Thermopolis had to endure, but at the same time facing a graduation, learning a whole new language and a new culture.  

Izumi finds out in her Senior year that she's actually a royal daughter of Japan.  After finding her father, she accepts an invitation to spend a few weeks in Japan learning about her culture and heritage.  Through not so nice cousins, and some seemingly innocent faux pas, she is torn apart by the tabloids.  Being Japanese-American has always been a struggle for Izumi, but going to Japan makes her think she really doesn't fit in anywhere.

I loved this story, there were some truly laugh out loud moments and also times where I wanted to cry for the princess.  I think every teenager will relate to Izumi, because who among us didn't feel as if they didn't belong when they were a teen?  I also enjoyed all the Japanese culture and the things I learned while reading this book.  I not only learned some Japanese words, but some history that I was previously uninformed of. 

I was very excited to see that this is the first in a series and I can't wait for book two to come out!

When You Don't Read the Blurb

I am one of the weirdos who doesn't read the blurb before choosing a book, and often times not even then.  I'm a cover type person and I don't know if that's bad or good.  Sometimes, I truly enjoy taking the ride and being surprised what the story is about.  But in cases like this book, I probably wouldn't have chosen it for my Prime Reading selection if I'd known about the cheating in the book.  And that's definitely a personal thing.  I know many people who might absolutely love this book, and that's ok.  What bothers me isn't going to bother everyone else.  Just like there are things that bother other people that don't bother me.  What are some of the things that turn you off of a book?

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Come Undone by Jessica Hawkins

While the story was written well, and I loved the sexual tension involved, I'm just not a fan of cheating.  Most things that aren't really my thing, I can look past in books, but cheating isn't one of them and that is the only reason for my three star rating.  When it comes to writing, character development, and plot the book is very well done.  And I've read another book by this author that I truly loved.  I just found it really hard to get through this one due to the cheating aspect.

Culture

I have been stepping outside of the "norm" for my romance and contemporary novel reading and have been seeking out some books that are about people from different cultures than my own.  If you have read something about characters who are not white or maybe not even from America, I would love some suggestions!  This book was wonderful and I loved it, I'm just going to let you get to the review!  But please, drop me some suggestions!

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When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

I really enjoyed this book.  I can't remember if it was on TikTok or some other social media that I saw this book being talked about, but I'm so glad I ended up reading it.  I also had no idea that there were other book in this world.  I'm reading the companion novel about Sweetie now.  The fact that I moved on to the next book so quickly speaks highly for this book and how impressed I was with the author.  I even looked at her GoodReads page to see what else she's written.

I think the meet cute in this story is just adorable, and hilarious.  I literally laughed out loud.  And I like the way the relationship between these two characters progressed so naturally in spite of what their parents tried to do.  I also love how both Dimple and Rishi have something they are truly passionate about, and how they help each other with that aspect of their lives.

I've been really enjoying reading books about people with different cultures than my own.  Not only are they entertaining, but I feel like I'm learning something and opening my eyes to the numerous other ways of life out there.

Favorite Authors

I know we all have our favorite authors, and I'm sure if you read this blog, you can find that Siobhan Davis is one of mine.  I've been a fan since her debut book and I can not get enough of her writing.  There is so much emotion in her books and she really has a way of drawing a reader in.  Her latest book came out this week and here is my review.  By the way, what are some of your favorite authors?

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Forbidden to Love by Siobhan Davis

This book was phenomenal!  Filled with drama, intrigue, action, and of course some romantic/sexual tension between the two main characters.  Set in the same world as Condemned to Love, this book shows a mob princess who falls for a "lowly soldier."  The life both are leading prevents them from making their own choices in such matters.

What I love most about this book, and quite honestly any Davis book, is the sheer depth in the characters.  Even secondary and tertiary characters have a complex background and descriptions so that we come to feel we truly know the characters and can see them.  Worlds created like this make it so easy for the reader to simply dive in and feel like they are living the story right along side the characters.  There is so much going on with Natalia and her whole family.  She struggles with what she wants out of life and what her obligations are.  Then there is Leo and he's struggling with the same issues in a different way.  

I love the connection that Natalia and Leo have and how their desire leaps off the page, it's that tangible.  Other than the romance, which is superb, there is also a lot of danger, action, and intrigue going on with the families.  True to any mafia romance, I'm guessing, there is some betrayals and underhanded dealings going on that will inevitably end in tragedy.  I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book!

If you enjoy this author, mafia romance, steamy romance, or brother's best friend type stories, this is the book for you!  I also highly recommend the other book in this world, Condemned to Love.