Book Review: On A Night Like This

Folks.... I need the weekend. I need to nap all day, I need popsicles. I'm not even rational at this point.  

On A Night Like This - Lindsey Kelk

Within days of wishing she could change her life, Fran Cooper is acting assistant to a celebrity, on a yacht in the Mediterranean, and en route to a tiny Italian island and the glittering Crystal Ball, along with the world’s rich and famous.

When she – quite literally – bumps into a handsome American called Evan, a man able to keep his cool in the face of chaos, the magic really begins.

Evan makes her a promise: no last names, no life stories, just one unforgettable night. Yet Evan belongs at the Crystal Ball and Fran is a gatecrasher. They may be soulmates, but their homes are an ocean apart, and their lives a world apart. They’ll never meet again – unless, on a night like this, everything can change forever…

You GUYS. I was already a Lindsey Kelk fan, but this one has sealed the deal for me! I love a re-telling, and while this isn't really a re-telling, it kind of follows a Cinderella storyline but it injects humor throughout and is so much fun. I could identify with Frankie and her self talk because man... if someone could record the things I say to myself throughout the day.. ha! I keep saying it's probably best that we have masks because I am constantly muttering things. 

Although this isn't my favorite trope in a romance (a woman out of her 20's that is with the absolute wrong loser), I liked that our characters weren't living in the clouds, so I was more invested in this one. That aside, the romance isn't the main part of this book and I think that really helped me enjoy this one so much. The ending was predictable, but also kind of not, if that makes sense (it will when you read it), but if you are looking for something to quickly get through, maybe a mid-winter vacation read, add this to your list. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins for sending me a copy for review, I'm really looking forward to Lindsey's next read!

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Book Review: All Kinds of Other

I know its only Tuesday but.... how is your week going? Mine is pretty alright. I feel like I'm a little overwhelmed with our family schedule, so I'm hoping that kind of eases up soon.  

I do have a really good YA book for you today, and I feel like it has been awhile since I've read YA, which is strange. I have a couple coming up so we'll get back on track. 

All Kinds of Other - James Sie

In this tender, nuanced coming-of-age love story, two boys—one who is cis and one who is trans—have been guarding their hearts to protect themselves, until their feelings for each other give them a reason to stand up to their fears.

Two boys are starting at a new school.

Jules is just figuring out what it means to be gay and hasn’t totally decided whether he wants to be out at his new school. His parents and friends have all kinds of opinions, but for his part, Jules just wants to make the basketball team and keep his head down.

Jack is trying to start over after a best friend break-up. He followed his actor father clear across the country to LA, but he’s also totally ready to leave his past behind. Maybe this new school where no one knows him is exactly what he needs.

When the two boys meet, the sparks are undeniable. But then a video surfaces linking Jack to a pair of popular transgender vloggers, and the revelations about Jack’s past thrust both Jack and Jules into the spotlight they’ve been trying to avoid. Suddenly both boys have a choice to make—between lying low where it’s easier or following their hearts.

I really want to talk about this cover because it is so interesting to look at. I mean, I didn't see the larger face right away, it wasn't until I was taking a photo of it that I saw it and I just really love it. So.. there's that. 

I also need to confess that I don't read a lot of books with LGBTQ+ characters and it isn't because I'm not an ally. I just really have a hard time connecting with the characters and I have to feel some kind of connection for me to really get into the story. Usually. I really adored these characters though because I think of my own kids at that age, but also remember what it was like to be a teen and awkward as hell, so I just really wanted to hug them both.

I'll be honest and tell you that there are some potentially triggering things that might be hard for some, at least make most people uncomfortable. Obviously a lot of transphobia and homophobia so slurs do make an appearance, there are some racist comments, and bullying. I feel like it takes a lot to make me uncomfortable in a book, but even I squirmed a bit. Honestly, I think its because I'm a mom and I am always fiercely protective of kids being mistreated. 

So that's my mini-mom rant. 

I went into this book thinking it was a YA romance but it really wasn't? Well, kind of? I'm not really sure I would classify it as such, but I guess I can understand why some would say that it was. I'm just saying, don't go into this hoping that that's what you're getting, because it's just a lot more than that. I also will say I felt like there could have been more book, there were some loose threads kind of left hanging and that is frustrating for me. I loved the writing style, I love the tumblr posts, I felt like the conversations throughout felt normal (which is a thing for me, it either works or it very much doesn't), and overall? I really liked this. 

I do think that I'm looking at this from a very straight and boring female point of view and if you were a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you might have a differing opinion of how the story flowed and maybe a few specific things about the book. In short, this book would be different for everyone but honestly? I kind of loved that. I think that's part of the beauty of it. 

Thank you to HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books for a review copy. I'm really excited to have my teens read this and get their thoughts on it. 

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Book Review: Her Last Holiday

Happy Monday, lambs! I hope your week goes smoothly... considering people are morons out there. Honestly, I don't know what it is but warmer weather makes everyone drive like an idiot. It's so stressful.  

I have to watch murder shows and read thrillers to get myself off the ledge, but that probably says something about me, doesn't it? 

Her Last Holiday - C.L. Taylor

You come to the retreat to be healed. You don’t expect to die.

Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong.

Tom Wade, the now infamous man behind Soul Shrink Retreats, has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of two people. But he has never let on what happened to the third victim: Jenna.

Determined to find out the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat – the first since his release – and finds herself face to face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. The only question is, will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?

I'll be honest, the sound of this made me think of a Dateline show and it got me thinking maybe Keith Morrison should be narrating thriller novels. 

I'm just saying, it would be amazing. 

Alright, so in this one we have a woman who is missing/presumably dead, her sister who feels guilty because of a bad last interaction with her, and a guy fresh out of prison for the deaths of two other retreat guests (he runs the retreat). The sister decides to figure out the fate of her sister because it's eating their mother alive, the not knowing, so she enrolls and embarks on the newly revived retreat. The retreat was heavily suggested by Tom's wife, Kate, who wants Tom to basically restart his career as someone who "helps people". Right off the bat she comes off kind of loony and I didn't like her. I almost felt bad for Tom because I can only imagine being right out of prison involves a serious readjustment to life and here she is, forcing him to get back into it all. She seems grossly oblivious to his current issues so you know this is going to end badly. 

The story obviously covers two storylines, the past (where Jenna is at the retreat) and now (where Fran is now at the retreat, resolved to solve this damn thing). I felt like the author did a good job going back and forth, I wasn't confused or lost, so that was good. 

There were quite a few characters in this one, and truly- nobody really is as they seem. I had everyone pegged and kind of started piecing this story together and yeah.... I was wrong. I couldn't have been more wrong. It actually was comical because I missed a few things through the story, so just pay attention because maybe you'll do a better job than I did. The best part? I flew through this story because I just really wanted to know what was going on, and as things really start moving and I realized some of my theories were totally wrong, I had to keep going. 

I will say there was a few things that make the story a little unbelievable (the rafting scene- I'll tell you what- you will NEVER see my butt in a raft on any kind.. ever... just saying), but honestly? I know people take points off for that but it's a fictional story, so that kind of thing doesn't bother me. 

Overall? I'd give this one 4 stars. I really liked this and felt like it was an entertaining read. If you're going on a vacation, this might be a fun read to throw in your bag. It was my first C.L. Taylor book but I would definitely read another. Thank you to TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins for having me on this tour and sending me an ARC for review! 

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Book Review: No Regrets

Are you looking for a summer read? I am not even going to fudge it, I love covers of books and 100% judge books by their cover. I can't help it, and it really hasn't served me wrong, and it definitely worked on this one. 

No Regrets - Tabitha Webb

Best friends Stella, Ana and Dixie have always lived life to the full. But now they’re approaching their forties, reality is starting to kill the mood…

Stella loves her children, but misses her glittering career. Plus she can’t even remember the last time she had sex.

Ana is trying for a baby with her partner Rex. So why can’t she stop thinking about the one that got away?

Dixie is the wildest of them all. A Tinder addict who’ll never settle down. But has she accidentally found Mr Right…?

It’s time for the friends to shake things up and start having some fun. Because you only regret the things you don’t do, right?

Here's where I confess to my absolute loserness, I have never watched Sex and the City OR any of the Bridget Jones' Diary. Never once, ever ever. This book is compared to both of those and I really can't tell you if that is true at all, but I suppose if you loved either of those you'd likely enjoy this one. Or if you're a cool kid like me (or someone who never had cable and just isn't interested unless there is dead bodies in it), you haven't seen those but you'll enjoy this one anyways. 

The book follows the lives of three friends: Stella, Ana, and Dixie. Stella once had a really exciting job in the fashion industry but once she had children she's been home and isn't adjusting well. She's missing her previous life, she's struggling with momlife, and she is starting to suspect something isn't quite right with her husband, who is still a high profile lawyer. We also have Ana, who is in a steady relationship with a reliable, and safe, guy. She's not a spring chicken so they are trying for a baby but Ana has this nagging feeling in the back of her head that maybe she's made a mistake along the way and that the grass is maybe greener. Dixie is different than both, she's single and ready to mingle... or just Tinder. She's got a great job, she commutes between London and New York frequently, and on one of those flights she meets a guy who is seemingly really great. It definitely confuses her because she felt happy and content with her steady Tinder activity, but once meeting this guy she's thrown for a loop and she starts to question if settling down is something she needs to consider. 

Initially, I had a hard time sticking with this one and I was worried that I would end up DNF'ing this. Just know that going in, the whole set up of each character (the chapters switch from different POV's) is a bit slow, but once the ball starts rolling it really picks up. The book is hilarious in parts, it is definitely raunchy in others, and it becomes a really perfect beach/vacation read. It's going to top the summer reading lists this summer, you can count on it. 

I thought I was going to really identify with Stella the most, and I guess in mom perspective I kind of did, but she has a lot of other things the roll on in the book that I just didn't love and she felt kind of like the weakest character. Dixie was my favorite, but all three of them are so wildly different but together they all kind of fit together. 

Thank you to Harper360 for sending me an ARC of this, what a way to start my spring/summer reading!  

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Book Review: Happy Girl Lucky

Happy pub day for Holly Smale! This adorable book is officially out into the world, and it is really a fun juvenile fiction. Honestly, these books are so much better than most of what was offered when I was a kid, I feel kind of cheated. 

Happy Girl Lucky - Holly Smale

Sisters Hope, Faith and Mercy have everything: fame, success, money and beauty. But what Hope wants most of all is love, and it doesn’t matter how far she has to go to find it.

Except real-life isn't like the movies. Even if you're a Valentine .

If you have a child in the 11+ age range looking for a new series to get into, I strongly suggest this one! Happy Girl Lucky is the first one, but I can only assume the others will be just as fun. I remember a lot of books from back in my day, ahem, were mostly fluff aside from The Babysitters Club, which I never could get into. I am loving that the books aimed at this middle-grade/young adult age group are coming with some grit to them because this is the tik-tok generation, let's keep them engaged. 

Stepping off my soapbox now, mmkay? 

Hope is our main character, she's part of a Hollywood famous family, The Valentine's. Her family has raised her largely in the shadows of fame, but she has been waiting for her 16th birthday, because that's when she can be introduced to the world. Hope thinks this is going to be amazing and glamorous, that all of these doors are going to open for her and of course, it doesn't quite turn out that way. 

I love Hope so much because you're reading this and you want to be her friend. You want her to be your daughter's friend. She reminds me of me, doing the quizzes out magazines, finding my love match based on my horoscope, etc. She holds fake auditions for a potential boyfriend and it reminded me so much of high school and giving boys code names so nobody knew who we were talking about. Through memory loss and brain injury I still remember my friend's was Turtle and mine was Ernie, and I still remember exactly who they were. HA! One of my favorite things about this book, which is becoming a real life reality to me as a mom of a teenager on the cusp of driving, is that eventually teenagers drift from their parents' lives and it becomes their life. They have to make decisions and as a mom who knows it all, I could see Hope veering off and all of the potential consequences, but Hope couldn't... because she's only a teenager. It was a bit of a splash of cold water for me realizing Hope is kind of like my daughter, and I know what is coming down the road and as a parent you want to steer them away from all of it, but you know we all have to hit those bumps so we grow as people. 

As a parent, this was actually a fun and quick read that reminds you what it was like to be a teenager, and maybe put things into perspective as your children grow. As child, easily a relatable read that is both fun and entertaining, but keeps you engaged, especially if you are reading a book for a dreaded school assignment. I promise you'll enjoy this and get through it quickly. 

A big thank you to Harper Collins for sending me an ARC for review, I hope that you get a chance to pick this one up for your child. I'm all about books in Easter baskets, just saying.

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Book Review: Unchosen

One of my goals for 2021 is to read more Young Adult (YA) books because I feel like I haven't really read very many and it is one of my favorite genre to read. I'm pretty open to all kinds of YA books but every once in awhile one jumps out at me, and that's what this book was for me. 

Unchosen - Katharyn Blair

Katharyn Blair crafts a fiercely feminist fantasy with a horrifying curse, swoon-worthy sea captains, and the power of one girl to choose her own fate in this contemporary standalone adventure that's perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and Seafire, and for anyone who has ever felt unchosen.

For Charlotte Holloway, the world ended twice.

The first was when her childhood crush, Dean, fell in love—with her older sister.

The second was when the Crimson, a curse spread through eye contact, turned the majority of humanity into flesh-eating monsters.

Neither end of the world changed Charlotte. She’s still in the shadows of her siblings. Her popular older sister, Harlow, now commands forces of survivors. And her talented younger sister, Vanessa, is the Chosen One—who, legend has it, can end the curse.

When their settlement is raided by those seeking the Chosen One, Charlotte makes a reckless decision to save Vanessa: she takes her place as prisoner.

The word spreads across the seven seas—the Chosen One has been found.

But when Dean’s life is threatened and a resistance looms on the horizon, the lie keeping Charlotte alive begins to unravel. She’ll have to break free, forge new bonds, and choose her own destiny if she has any hope of saving her sisters, her love, and maybe even the world.

Because sometimes the end is just a new beginning. 

If ever there was a time that we could use a hardcore, feminist book for teens about a crazy ass plague, now is that moment. There is no better time. 

In this book we are in a time during the Crimson, think The Walking Dead but with blood red eyes, and instead of it being spread through bites, it is spread through looking at one of the infected's red eyes. It happens rather quickly once it comes ashore and we find ourselves with three sisters: Harlow, Charlotte, and Vanessa. 

Harlow is the oldest and pretty badass, and she basically becomes a leader of sorts of this little group of people. Vanessa is the youngest and everyone realizes she is the Chosen One, which is (seemingly) what the Infected are looking for to bring to their leader. Nobody knows what will happen then but it surely can't be good and Harlow and Charlotte know they must protect their sister at all costs. 

Then we have Charlotte. Charlotte is the middle kid, she never gets what she wants and nobody asks how she is doing. She is in love with Dean since childhood (never mind these are teenagers so basically still children as it is), but Dean and her sister Harlow are together and in love. Charlotte remains heartbroken but she does her duty to protect Vanessa. Charlotte is the only one who seems to be thinking of a way to stop the Crimson or something, but she feels unimportant because she isn't a leader and she isn't the Chosen One, so she doesn't know what her place is in this strange world. Vanessa randomly speaks in riddles and Charlotte is trying to decode them, and during an attempt to find a priceless headdress, she basically leaves a blinking trail for the Crimson and Runners (kind of like human traffickers but instead of selling sex they are selling uninfected to the infected to... eat/consume) and all hell breaks loose. 

I'll be the first to say that all of the information about the Crimson and laying out the different groups of people (depending on how infected they are), and I was getting worried this would all go over my head. It was all for nothing because once the action starts happening, I could NOT put this one down! 

I love that the Crimson starts because the world believe an angry woman cursed it. I can't tell you how it ends but I will tell you that I love the bigger story of this book. I love that we are telling girls that only they can pick their fate, that despite what history says and what people assume of  you, that only you get to write your story. 

You will not choose my end. 

For this heart is mine. 

If you are looking for a positive, but adventurous, story to read for you or your daughter, I highly suggest this one. It was such a homerun for me and I say that as someone that doesn't consider fantasy one of my top genres. I loved this. I think you will too. 

Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me an ARC for review. The cover is stunningly beautiful, it is even prettier in person, but this book feels like it can be compared to current world health issues. 

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Book Review: A Curse of Ash & Embers

TGIF, baby. TGIF. Although this week went by rather quick, it was a complete change in my daily pace and change is hard. The kids went back to regular (well, hybrid) school and that was great but it was also a huge change and now I feel like I have to get used to an entirely new schedule. Once I get used to a schedule and make myself new patterns, something changes and I have to start all over again.  

It's really hard and sucky. 

I also didn't get as much reading in as I had hoped, but I was able to start/finish this one and I am happy about that. 

A Curse of Ash & Embers - Jo Spurrier

A dead witch. A bitter curse. A battle of magic.

Some people knit socks by the fire at night. Gyssha Blackbone made monsters.

But the old witch is dead now, and somehow it's Elodie's job to clean up the mess.

When she was hired at Black Oak Cottage, Elodie had no idea she'd find herself working for a witch; and her acid-tongued new mistress, Aleida, was not expecting a housemaid to turn up on her doorstep.

Gyssha's final curse left Aleida practically dead on her feet, and now, with huge monsters roaming the woods, a demonic tree lurking in the orchard and an angry warlock demanding repayment of a debt, Aleida needs Elodie's help, whether she likes it or not.

And no matter what the old witch throws at her, to Elodie it's still better than going back home.

I always forget how much I like witch books until I'm elbow deep into a witch book, and then I wonder why I'm not looking for these more often. Also, I don't even know what my last witch book was, and that's just sad. The great thing is that this is the first book in The Blackbone Witches series, which makes me excited because I cannot wait for book two. 

In this one, we begin with Elodie, the oldest child of her family, who is being unceremoniously sent away for no reason. She's sure that her step-father has done this and she can't understand why her mother is OK with it, but it's clear that it isn't a happy household. While she's partly excited to leave home and be away from her step-father, she's concerned about her siblings and it's abundantly clear that she won't be welcomed back. She has a new job, essentially, for a mistress she knows nothing about in a place she has never been. On her strange trip, she realizes her mistress is a witch who is in dire straits. Elodie doesn't know quite is wrong with her, though it's fairly obvious she's not able to care for herself, and this totally wrecked home. 

It doesn't take long for Elodie to notice things aren't quite normal. We have warlocks on weird horses, a demon tree that was grown too large, strange monsters running amuck, and some other strange characters you don't quite know what to think about. It also becomes obvious that her mistress, Aleida, is a bit outmatched and she needs Elodie's help even though Elodie knows next to nothing about magic or witches, but she's going to learn because she has no other real option. 

I really liked this story, and the pace is fantastic. Sometimes with fantasy is gets a little sluggish, but I felt like this one had things happening right away and every time I got to a spot that was a good place to pause... I kept going "just to make sure" and sure enough, something else would happen. Needless to say, this was hard to put down for me. I also really enjoyed trying to figure out what happened with Gyssha, who some of these other characters were and what their part was, and trying to figure out just what the heck was going on and why. Both Aleida and Elodie are similar, having had really awful people manipulate and treat them badly, in different ways, and they come together to form an unlikely duo, two very different young women from very different backgrounds. 

Overall? I really liked this one and I'm anxious to see what the next adventure for Aleida and Elodie are. You find yourself rooting for them both, and for a young adult paranormal book, it has strong female characters with a "you can't always trust what people say" kind of theme to it. Highly recommend. 

Thank you to HarperCollins for my copy for review! Next up? Book two, Daughter of Lies and Ruin. 

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Book Review: Closer Than You Think

I know that normally I read thrillers and such in the fall, and there isn't a reason for it, it's just how the books come in. I saw this one come up and I just had to read it early. Not sorry. 

Closer Than You Think - Darren O'Sullivan

He’s watching. She’s waiting.

Having barely escaped the clutches of a serial killer, Claire Moore has struggled to rebuild her life. After her terrifying encounter with the man the media dubbed The Black-Out Killer, she became an overnight celebrity: a symbol of hope and survival in the face of pure evil. And then the killings stopped.

Now ten years have passed, and Claire remains traumatised by her brush with death. Though she has a loving and supportive family around her, what happened that night continues to haunt her still.

Just when things are starting to improve, there is a power cut; a house fire; another victim found killed in the same way as before.

The Black-Out Killer is back. And he’s coming for Claire…

Before I even get started I have to tell you that this isn't my first rodeo with Darren O'Sullivan. I've read and reviewed Close Your Eyes and Our Little Secret. One I really liked and one that was just meh for me. I felt like I had to read this one to see if it the great one was a fluke, or maybe the meh one was just me. 

I'm happy to report that I think it was just me or I was just off because I really liked this one! I'm not going to lie it started a little weird, this is the kind of book where you aren't sure if everyone in Claire's life is a suspect or if this is going to be just some random murderer, like a barista who likes her hair or something. I so badly want to tell you who the killer ends up being and I'll tell you full stop, I had no idea. Somewhere on IG I had mentioned I was reading this book and the author replied and said I was either going to LOVE the ending or HATE it so I got a little bit worried. 

I can't spoil it for you but.... its a little bit of both but I can't really tell you why. 

How's that for suspense?!

So much about this book I really liked and I had such a hard time putting it down! The book begins with the killer and its clear he has his sights on Claire. We learn that she is literally the one that got away, but her husband was murdered. He tried ten years earlier and (I can't tell you why/how) she escaped that fate. He never gave up killing though, he honed his skills on several victims over the decade and avoided capture. She may have escaped being murdered but she hasn't lived an easy life since then. Claire has struggled in all aspects of her life. She's relied heavily on her family to get her through and, understandably, her anxiety is pretty awful. She feels as if she is being stalked but its hard to know if its a trauma response or if she is actually being stalked. Of course people think its in her head. 

I am torn on the ending. First, I basically screamed when I found out who the killer was. Screamed because I didn't see it coming at all and that is basically my favorite thing in a thriller. Second, I then had a wave of a MILLION questions that aren't answered. I get that we are supposed to either fill in what we think happened/happens but man..... an epilogue? Could we get an epilogue? Haha!

It has been a long time since I've had a book that made me equal parts proud of a character but absolutely terrified for her. I honestly can't remember the last time I have had a book end quite in that way so because of those? I have to give this one 5 stars. I really enjoyed this one and I really can't wait to read what Darren O'Sullivan gives me next. 

A huge thank you to HQ, Harper Collins, and Darren O'Sullivan for having me on the tour and sending me a copy for review. 

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Book Review: The Secret Messenger

Happy Tuesday! I am so glad I have therapy tomorrow, I can always tell when I must be getting close to an appointment because it always feels like things in life all pile up right before. I've already connected with two friends this week and I am so happy about it. It's just good to connect with people. 

The Secret Messenger - Mandy Robotham

Venice, 1943

The world is at war, and Stella Jilani is leading a double life. By day she works in the lion’s den as a typist for the Reich; by night, she risks her life as a messenger for the Italian resistance. Against all odds, Stella must impart Nazi secrets, smuggle essential supplies and produce an underground newspaper on her beloved typewriter.

But when German commander General Breugal becomes suspicious, it seems he will stop at nothing to find the mole, and Stella knows her future could be in jeopardy.

London, 2017

Years later, Luisa Belmont finds a mysterious old typewriter in her attic. Determined to find out who it belonged to, Luisa delves into the past and uncovers a story of fierce love, unimaginable sacrifice and, ultimately, the worst kind of betrayal…

Today we are going to talk about The Secret Messenger, which is a historical fiction and you know that isn't always my jam. I'll also admit there are SO MANY books around WWII and frankly, I'm over it. While that was an interesting time from every aspect, I'm over it, give me any other time period, truly. 

But. 

I picked this one because I really like a good time hop book and the idea that this story is about a woman who, by all accounts, is leading a double life is what sold me. Also, I really wish I could find something cool like an old typewriter in a house but the closest I got was an electrical how-to manual shoved in a wall near (you guessed it) faulty wiring. 

Let's talk about some things that I didn't totally love:

• The description of Venice is almost too much. I often get lost in a historical romance because it becomes too much, it feels tedious, and it actually makes me sleepy. 
• I had a hard time understanding what some Italian words meant and I ended up making up my own definitions. I think though if you were reading this as an e-book you could look them up easier, so this might have been an issue with me. 
• Stella and her monologue make up most of the book but I don't feel like I every really got to know her. I didn't get to know Luisa much either, but that didn't feel like a big deal. 

With that out of the way, let me tell you that I really loved this book! I loved her radical behavior and the danger element of the Nazis finding out she is running this radical newspaper is what really kept me going. I also loved the relevancy of this book in current times; we have a female advocating change and fairness to all, but she's also a part of the honest media who the Nazi wants stopped at all costs. I feel like you can make connections throughout the book and it's great. The betrayal aspect? Wow. I think I felt the gut punch Stella must have as well. 

Overall I have to give this a good 4 stars. I really enjoyed this one and it just reminds me that we often forget to ask our parents and grandparents and great grandparents their life story. What may seem boring or ordinary to them may be interesting for us. I highly suggest you read this book and then have a cool conversation with your family, see what you find. (Also, go look for cool typewriters.)

 

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Book Review: Barefoot on the Beach

I know it isn't summer yet but because I'm home all of the time, and surely wishing it were summer, I'm all about beach reads at this point. I feel like if you read summer books early it gets you into a summer mindset!

Barefoot on the Beach - Katlyn Duncan

Renee may be thrilled to be planning her sister’s wedding, but after witnessing her mother’s two failed marriages, she has always vowed that she is better off on her own.

But when Renee discovers that Luc Hardy has moved next door, her world is knocked off kilter. Luc was her whirlwind summer romance as a teen and, more importantly, her first love. Now he’s back in West Cove, looking more handsome than ever.

There is no escaping the romance in the air this summer. With the wedding planning in full swing, Renee begins to believe that she might be able to put her childhood reservations about marriage aside.

Yet when her mother arrives, she stirs a torrent of emotions in Renee’s heart. She’s up to her old tricks again – boasting about her latest conquests – reaffirming Renee’s lack of faith in love.

As Renee’s happily-ever-after hangs in the balance, will Luc be able to convince her that true love can last forever?

It's always nice to find a new to me author, and Katlyn Duncan is certainly that! In this book we have Renee, who has decided that love and marriage wasn't for her after watching her mother cycle through husbands her entire childhood. Over summer though, she finds herself becoming a last minute wedding planner for her sister who is getting married in a month. One morning her dog runs into the neighbor's house which is when she realized that the guy next door this summer?

Her first crush and definitely the guy she lost her virginity to. Their summer fling ended abruptly and she never heard or seen him again.

They end up hanging out over that month and she finds herself reluctantly rekindling things with him though she has no idea what she's doing. Between that and planning her sister's wedding (who doesn't seem to have a care in the world), having to deal with her mess of a mother, and trying to keep her freelance work afloat, this is an incredibly stressful time for Renee.

Overall? I liked this one, I'd give it a solid 3.5 star for sure. Renee wasn't really someone I would want to hang out with, she wasn't warm or approachable, and it seemed like using her mother's failures as her reason to not even try was just an easy excuse. What she really was feeling was scared to fail herself and she wasn't very nice to Luc. I really liked him a lot and he seemed like a genuinely good guy, he definitely didn't deserve the attitude Renee through his way.

Also, Renee's sister is the worst. I get it she has anxiety and stress but she is incredibly selfish and self-entitled and I really wanted Renee to tell her exactly where to go and how to get there. Don't even get me started on the mother.

If you are looking for a light read, something to enjoy while your kids run around screaming during quarantine, this should be your next pick. It's a fast read, you won't be swinging by the last thread of your emotions, and that's what we all need at this point!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing a copy for review!  All thoughts are my own, of course. Happy reading, friends!

This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Are you reading during this quarantine? I'm trying to get through some of the books on my TBR that I had started before all of this (and the move) but now I'm trying to get back into them and finish. This was one of them, I'm so glad I got back into it.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown - Talia Hibbert

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?

• Enjoy a drunken night out.

• Ride a motorcycle.

• Go camping.

• Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.

• Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.

• And... do something bad.

But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.

Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.

But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…

I don't think I have to tell you what draw me to this book but for the newbies here, I will. The premise of a romance book featuring a character with chronic illness that affects their day to day living and functionality is right up my alley. Not only is that personal to me, but a lot of the issues Chloe dealt with are ones that I deal with daily as well. Her description of becoming so tired that she basically melts to the floor?

I can identify with that. In fact, I took a nap on the dining room floor the other day because that's where my body decided to stop.

So to say I liked this is an understatement. I was worried that I wouldn't like Chloe when I started because it kind of started oddly and she was really pretty snobby and rude to Red. As the story unfolds it feels like the author found her groove and the humor really kicked in and I could not get enough of this.

"Apparently, this climb was wearing her out - but she'd been taking irregular walks for years, damn it. Surely she should be a semipro athlete by now? Apparently not. The human body was an inconvenient and unreasonable thing." - page 41

Let's talk about Red though. Red was so great. Sure, he has some hang ups and real issues that he struggles with in this book but I really adored him. He's so great with Chloe and her medical issues, he does the verbal combat on her level and it made it so fun to watch their relationship unfold. They each have a similar of issue of trusting others and together they learn how to do it.

Chloe's list is pretty fun too, and his willingness to jump into it is pretty adorable. I love her guilt of her "spying" on him, I love the camping trip, I even love the drunken night of debauchery. This book was fun, funny, sweet, and the sexy moments were pretty good (not explicit, but just enough) and I really enjoyed this one as my bedtime read. I'm excited to read the next two in what I think is going to be a trilogy, I'm assuming covering her two sisters. The sisters were quite the characters themselves so those will be really fun.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

      

This post contains affiliate links, if you click on them and purchase an item, I may make a few cents at no cost to you. 

Book Review: You and Me and Us

I don't know about you but quarantine is kicking me in the rear. I think it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to get a house ready to sell at the same time. I'm working until exhaustion every day and then I come home and read at night and OF COURSE, I picked up a book that gave me all the feels.

You and Me and Us - Alison Hammer

Alexis Gold knows how to put the “work” in working mom. It’s the “mom” part that she’s been struggling with lately. Since opening her own advertising agency three years ago, Alexis has all but given up on finding a good work/life balance. Instead, she’s handed over the household reins to her supportive, loving partner, Tommy. While he’s quick to say they divide and conquer, Alexis knows that Tommy does most of the heavy lifting—especially when it comes to their teenage daughter, CeCe. 

Their world changes in an instant when Tommy receives a terminal cancer diagnosis, and Alexis realizes everything she’s worked relentlessly for doesn’t matter without him. So Alexis does what Tommy has done for her almost every day since they were twelve-year-old kids in Destin, Florida—she puts him first. And when the only thing Tommy wants is to spend one last summer together at “their” beach, she puts her career on hold to make it happen…even if it means putting her family within striking distance of Tommy’s ex, an actress CeCe idolizes.

But Alexis and Tommy aren’t the only ones whose lives have been turned inside out. In addition to dealing with the normal ups and downs that come with being a teenager, CeCe is also forced to confront her feelings about Tommy’s illness—and what will happen when the one person who’s always been there for her is gone. When the magic of first love brings a bright spot to her summer, CeCe is determined not to let her mother ruin that for her, too.

As CeCe’s behavior becomes more rebellious, Alexis realizes the only thing harder for her than losing Tommy will be convincing CeCe to give her one more chance.  

You and Me and Us is a beautifully written novel that examines the unexpected ways loss teaches us how to love.

Phew... I don't know where to start with this because I don't want to ruin anything for you. I'm really not joking when I say that this book needs to unfold naturally at its own pace. Even with that, I had forgotten there was a death of a spouse and that is my worst fear, if Matt died before me. I don't know what I would do so I could kind of imagine what feelings Alexis was having. I couldn't imagine what it was like having a teenager who seemingly hated you because you focused on work far more than you ever did being a parent.

To be honest, that really gutted me. I know what a big deal it is to go to things your child is involved in, and Alexis repeatedly misses them. She's starting a new marketing business and it involves a lot of time, and Tommy has always been able to smooth it over with CeCe, but once he passes away, CeCe is left hanging. Through Alexis's grief, CeCe really struggles with her own grief so she lashes out towards her mom but of course, along comes a boy.

We've all been a teenager with a boy. A first love kind of boy.

As a mom this was gut wrenching and I felt for Alexis and CeCe. I remember being a teenager and what those feelings are like. Two very different people learning to grieve in vastly differently ways the same person who meant the world to them in different things. It's like two people losing their anchor and having to find a way to come together.

You guys. This book was BEAUTIFUL. It was beautifully written, the characters were well organized, the story itself felt like a ribbon twirling in the air. It takes to all of the places we needed to go but so gently and beautifully. It's really the best adjective for this book: beautiful. It had me smiling, it had me tearing up, it had me full out sobbing, and it had me hoping beyond hope that this would come together and end well.

I won't tell you if it does or not but I will say if you are looking for a book to keep you entertained through quarantine, this will be that book for you. If you are in a book club and you are looking for a book, this will be a great selection. I cannot wait to see what Alison Hammer writes next.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

   

A huge thank you to William Morrow and Harper Collins for sending me a copy for review and TLC Book Tours for including me on this tour! All thoughts are my own and this post contains affiliate links. Another suggestion is to check out the Harper Collins website to purchase this one and more because who knows how long we'll be stuck in our houses! 

Book Review: Little Wonders

In between the nightmare that is my life right now, I've been reading every chance I get because its one of the things that kind of helps keep my anxiety down. THANKFULLY, this was the next book on my review pile because this was a gem.

Little Wonders - Kate Rorick

Her mommy meltdown is seen around the world!

When Quinn Barrett’s son refuses to wear his hand-crafted costume to the Little Wonders Preschool Happy Halloween Parade and Dance Party she loses it -- complete with stomping, screaming, and costume-destruction galore. Not her best day. And caught on viral video.   Yep, “Halloween Mom” is now internet famous.

The posting culprit: tattooed, blue-haired, west-coast transplant Daisy McGulch, out of place in the posh New England town and unable to blend with the other perfect mommies of Little Wonders Preschool.

While she couldn’t care less about organic snacks (paleo-preferred) or the winter quarters of the Little Wonders chickens, she’s not about to admit she’s the one who accidentally brought Quinn’s worst moment to the entire world—she’d be kicked out of town!

But when Quinn and Daisy find themselves unlikely cohorts in the fight for Little Wonders Parents Association supremacy, they also discover they have more in common than they expected…but the internet is forever.  Can Quinn live down her new reputation?  And how far will Daisy go to keep the truth from coming to light?

So I'll start by telling you that this was compared to a few other books with similar ideas but I didn't find this to be like them at all. And that's OK! I think if you go into this thinking it is going to be similar and that's what you're looking for, you will likely be pretty disappointed. I feel like this is all on its very own and that's the way it should be. 

I felt like the book was funny, and this is honestly what I picture the preschools of elite suburbia to be like and I am forever thankful that it isn't like this where I live. To be frank, I would never make it. I liked the characters but there were a couple of characters I would have liked to see a POV chapter (or a couple) from, and that would be Shanna. She's painted as a pretty awful and sketch person but I kept waiting for the moment when we'd all find out what a great person she was all along. Except as I was reading it, I totally understood what she was doing and why and it was frustrating for me as a reader that the other characters weren't really seeing it. (Yes, I'm talking as if this is all real life.) 

The only other meh part of the book for me is it felt like it was taking on too many topics instead of mastering one or two. It's kind of been a trend in quite a few books lately where the author wants to start with all of these strings and then realizes you only have so many pages to put them together and some kind of drop because it doesn't matter and then others are rushed and that happened a little in this one. 

I will tell you, I thought it was funny. I found myself laughing at the absurdity of the situation quite a few times and it was a fun, light read. If you are looking for something to forget the evening news and the fact your own little wonders are tearing up the house, pick this one up. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yesterday was this book's official release day (birthday) and you can find this on the HarperCollins website where you can shop for a million other goodies!

   

A big thank you to HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. All thoughts are my own and this post contains affiliate links.