The Stopover by T.L. Swan

The Stopover by T.L. Swan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been recommended this one so many times. It is on KU and also has the audiobook, so I decided to start the series. I had fun with this one.

I really enjoyed this one. Yes, the characters were immature at times but I still enjoyed it. I really loved Tristan, so I am excited to see book two will follow his story. That alone wants me to keep going in the series.


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Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I was very excited for this one and was excited when it showed up at my door. I saw mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed it.

This is told in two parts. I found myself smiling through most of part one. I was enjoying the funny banter between Reena and Nadim. I enjoyed how they meet and how everything unfolds within their relationship.

Mental health was thrown in with very limited detail. It really did not fit in with the story and I do not think it was needed. There was also an eating disorder discussed, but again it was a very brief conversation. These were just the heavy topics that were thrown in and where not needed. They did not match the tone of the overall story.

I also did not love how paranoid Reena was based off a picture. We did not really get the information around the picture or why it was so off putting until later.

I also enjoyed all of the cultural information which also focused a lot around food. It is a nice touch for some recipes to be added at the end of the book as well. This book will make you want some fresh bread!

Overall, I still really enjoyed this light hearted romance.


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The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan

The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have had this one for several years and had the intention to read it so many times. It is now on audio, so of course, it was time to finally jump in.

This started off a little slow. I was almost going to DNF, but saw some of my favorite reviewers mention it being slow but that they ended up loving it. I pushed through and I am very happy I did. I ended up really loving it too.

This started off very insta-attraction. I really started to love this once Drew and Anna really started to connect with each other. I could not put this down after the initial 100 or so pages.

I really hope the author puts the rest of the series on audio as well!



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Little Universes by Heather Demetrios

Little Universes by Heather Demetrios
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

This was a very emotional read. If you listen to the audio, there are some very sobering parts. The narrator did a great job of matching the tone of the story.

This is not going to be a read for the light of heart. It is a story around loss, grief, and picking up the pieces. Triggers for loss, addiction, abortions, and mental health including suicide (and more). It touches on Foster Care/adoption as well. It is a great story to see how addiction effects the whole family.

This was a little too long. I think I would have bumped it up a star if some of the fluff was cut out. Some parts moved very slowly and focused too much on space and science stuff. I found myself skimming through May’s sections.

Overall, a heavy read that was pretty good.


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Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

I am so sad it is over! I thought there was one more book, but book four is following Kaiden and his POV.


Book three may be my favorite so far which is not surprising since it has the most romance in the series. If you have a younger child reading this, this one does have a sex scenes and more sex talk than the others.
I also loved the build up of the relationships and also the anticipation of the upcoming fight. I had adrenaline at times waiting to see what was going to happen.

The big moment arrived and it was very anti-climactic. I wanted and needed more. There was a very emotional scene right before everything happened, but after that it was pretty underwhelming. This was the only part of the book that I just did not love.

Again, like the others, I love all of the characters. We get even more romance in this one as every couple pretty much is paired up.

Overall, this book had me swoon, laugh, and cry. I really enjoyed this series much more than I was expecting. I even found myself talking to my husband around what was going on with this one!

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Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

I have heard mixed reviews on this series and have put off reading it for so long. I have all of the books though and decided to give it a go. I went into this with very low expectations, but ended up enjoying it more than I was expecting.
Book two was a little slow in the beginning and picked up towards the end. There is a lot of build up in this book around the story as an “army” is being formed.

I really love when all of the characters are together. They have a fun dynamic. The reason I really enjoyed this so far, is the relationship between Anna and Kaiden. I am so glad we get to see a little more between the two this time.

Overall, I did enjoy this more than I was expecting and plan to continue the series.


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Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

I have heard mixed reviews on this series and have put off reading it for so long. I have all of the books though and decided to give it a go. I went into this with very low expectations, but ended up enjoying it more than I was expecting.
This started off pretty strong. I was actually flying through it. It did slow down towards the middle/end and was longer than it needed to be. However; I did enjoy it. Yes, this does deal with younger teens “working” around the sins of the world. Triggers for drug use and underage partying and sex. I can see why others do not like this as it does talk about forcing younger kids to have sex and touches on kids in sex slavery. I knew some of this going in though.

The reason I really enjoyed this so far, is the relationship between Anna and Kaiden. Their romance was much needed within the story and I actually wanted more. We only get limited scenes with them and it really stops once you hit the half way point.

Overall, I did enjoy this more than I was expecting and plan to continue the series.


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The End of Her by Shari Lapena

The End of Her by Shari Lapena
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5
I love Shari Lapena and somehow missed when this one came out. I picked it up on audio and finished this in one day.

The pacing was pretty good. There were times in the beginning where my heart was racing to find out what would happen next. It did slow down a little and I do feel the ending was a little rushed.

I liked this one, but I did not love how everything unfolded at the end. I just wanted a little more. I was able to predict some of the twists and did not see some of the others. I needed more though.



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On Hart’s Boardwalk by Samantha Young

On Hart’s Boardwalk by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is following my favorite couple from the book series. When it started, I thought I would hate this since it was showing trouble in paradise. However; I am glad I kept reading.

I just love Nate and Liv. I loved getting to see more of their story. After reading, I can appreciate that they had struggles as marriage is not going to be all highs. This shows how even a great love can have lows, but how important it is to work through those times.

Of course, I wanted more in the end since I love them so much. And with that…I have officially ended the series.


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Moonlight on Nightingale Way by Samantha Young

Moonlight on Nightingale Way by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the sixth book in the series. I highly recommend starting from book one as there are so many characters involved. You may be confused if you are not familiar with many of them already. Plus, the series is great so far and I recommend starting from book one anyway.

All of the books really have family involved, but this one took it to a different level. I was expecting something with custody to happen towards the end, but was also happy when it did not.
This one was a little slower at times. I still enjoyed it though.

I cannot believe it is over! I still have two novellas, but will be sad when it is done.


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Echoes of Scotland Street by Samantha Young

Echoes of Scotland Street by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

This is the fifth book in the series. I highly recommend starting from book one as there are so many characters involved. You may be confused if you are not familiar with many of them already. Plus, the series is great so far and I recommend starting from book one anyway.

This one is following Cole. It really follows a new generation as Cole and Hannah were both young children in the previous books. I really enjoyed this one but for some reason I also felt it was very similar to others just with different situations thrown in. It may be due to binge reading the series and needing to take a break and coming back to the next few books. I still enjoyed it, but I feel I should have loved this one.


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Fall from India Place by Samantha Young

Fall from India Place by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

This is the fourth book in the series. I highly recommend starting from book one as there are so many characters involved. You may be confused if you are not familiar with many of them already. Plus, the series is great so far and I recommend starting from book one anyway.

This one is following Hannah which I was not expecting. It really follows a new generation as Cole and Hannah were both young children in the previous books. For this reason, it took me a little time to adjust to both of them being old enough to be adults.

This one was still great but not my favorite. Still giving it a 3.5/4 star. On to the next!


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Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young

Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think I need to read every book from Samantha Young now. I have already picked up the rest of this series. I have only read a few of her books and have loved them all.

This is the third book in the series. I highly recommend starting from book one as there are so many characters involved. You may be confused if you are not familiar with many of them already. Plus, the series is great so far and I recommend starting from book one anyway.

This one hooked me right from the start. I loved everything about it. Nate has been my absolute favorite guy so far featured in the series. Can we just say Swoon? I just loved him!

This story really hits on self love and self image. I am plus size and I did not have any issues with how many of these issues were handled. Triggers also for cancer and loss as well so be mindful of that. This really deals with many different levels of loss as many of the characters are working on moving on and coming to terms with what the previous loss means now in their lives.

This one has been my favorite so far. I loved all of the emotions! On to the next!


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The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides


DNF

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I was not initially pulled into this one by the cover, but I had heard some amazing reviews on it so I wanted to give it a try.
This one started off pretty strong. It really throws the mystery at you right away which I liked. However; this just took a turn that lost my interest. After the initial scene at the college, nothing happened. It was not too much talking and too much around mythical creatures and Gods. It was just not my thing and I found myself zoning out when reading. I decided to just DNF this one.



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Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5/3 Stars
Shari Lapena is one of my favorite authors and a must buy from me. I was so excited to jump into this one and started it the day it came in the mail.

This starts off introducing so many characters. Different sections are told from a different character; however, once sorting out the characters it was pretty easy to follow. There were some twists and turns along the way to keep pushing through, but overall this one was just lacking. Everything was so nonchalant: around the murders, the twists, the evidence. There was no emotion around anything it was all just very stoic for me.

The ending was a little rushed and the twist was not a very large twist at all. I wanted and needed more all around on this one. So yes, I was a little disappointed as I expected more from one of my favorites. I know they can not all be amazing winners though and this one just fell flat.


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How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton

How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I really wanted to love this one, but it just fell a little flat for me. I just never found myself getting lost in the story or the romance. Everything was moving a little too slow. There were also parts that were too detailed that did not bring anything to the story.

I just wanted more. I needed more chemistry between Kate and Drake. I found myself putting this one down and forcing myself to push through it.

Sadly, this one was just not for me.


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We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

When this first started you learn about way too many characters a little too fast. It is well worth sorting everyone out and pushing through though.

This had a little bit of everything: family tragedy; current mystery; romance. I loved the pacing and never found myself bored with the storyline. There were so many side stories and I enjoyed each and wanted more about them all: romance, the bar, history around the family, and etc.

This is one of those reads where you will not want to put it down. I only did a few times and every time I stopped reading, I was thinking about these characters and their story. I ended up finishing this one is one day for that reason.

Overall, I really loved this one.


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On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think I need to read every book from Samantha Young now. I have already picked up the rest of this series. I have only read a few of her books and have loved them all.

This one hooked me right from the start. I loved everything about it. I am excited that there are so many more books as I cannot get enough of these characters. I love Joce and her backstory. It really brings the emotional moments that I love in romances. I actually really liked Braden as well. Yes, he could be a jerk sometimes, but I loved the tension between the two.

Can we also talk about Adam and Ellie? I need more! I hope some of the other books will include their story or follow their love story.

I loved this and cannot wait to finish this series.


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