Meddling Daniel MacGregor has grown tired of waiting for his grand-daughters to marry and give him great-grandbabies. So he cooks up a plot and finds nice healthy males from “nice healthy stock” (his words not mine) for all three of them. It’s hard not to admire Daniel and his schemes. He carries them off SO WELL! I loved that each character in this book was so different and you could really see how their background and family shaped them. I have been following this series from the very beginning and it was so good to see characters from the earlier books pop up again. I flew through these stories and really enjoyed myself. If you’re interested in a light read I definitely recommend this book.
I don’t care how much of a book slump I am in. I am always down for a Kate Bateman book. “A Reckless Match” follows two feuding families. The reasons why they’re feuding are not really clear but their dislike has been passed down to the kids and that’s where the story begins. Maddie and Gryff show up for their families annual “pledge of goodwill” meeting. The two of them have been enemies since they were kids and that hasn’t changed. Until they uncover a smuggling plot and team up to stop the smugglers. Soon the two enemies are sharing passionate kisses and spending nights together- all to bring the bad guys to justice of course. Kate Bateman writes books with strong-willed heroines, swoon-worthy heros and a plot that just drives you to know more. This book is no different. I enjoyed “A Reckless Match” immensely and cannot wait to read more about this feuding family.
Best friends to lovers is the worst trope in human history, IMO. That being said, THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD! Avery and Declan have been friends since college and now live together. They share the same friends and spend most of their evenings together. When Avery is involved in an accident, Declan is wrecked with guilt. He was supposed to be with her in the car but he blew her off for a one-night stand. Declan dedicates himself to helping her recover and keeping her company while she is stuck at home. Declan and Avery get closer than ever as he helps her heal and soon they realize that their feelings might be more than just platonic. So again, like I said. Worst trope ever but Helena Hunting does it SOO good. The friendship between Declan and Avery honestly seems platonic at first and I was like “eeww” because I couldn’t see them falling in love. Basically their feelings surprised me as much as it surprised them. I loved how the evolution of their relationship just seemed so genuine. This was the book that brought me out of my book slump and I am so glad for it. If you’re a fan of romance, this is the book for you.
When Tara Park and Seth Kim meet at a wedding, there is an instant attraction between them. They try to ignore it- both of them are carrying baggage from previous relationships and know that anything between them is a bag idea. However after a drunken night together and a game of Truth or Dare, Tara and Seth come up with the idea of spending five dates together before Seth moves away to Paris. Their dates will remain a secret between the two of them and when it’s over, they both move on with their lives. But as time goes on, their dates do not go as plan and they soon start developing feelings for each other. This storyline was super cliche but I loved it regardless. Tara and Seth are too cute together and I was rooted for them since the first very page. If you enjoy romance novels, definitely give this one a go. I enjoyed this book immensely and hope to read more.
No matter what your view on eBooks or paperbacks, the fact remains that the Amazon Kindle is a pretty popular device. But if, like me, you’ve considered purchasing a Kindle, you might still be on the fence trying to decide if you should take the plunge or not. Here are my top 5 reasons why you should purchase a Kindle device.
You can read anywhere: On the bus? In the bathtub? On the beach? Don’t worry, the Kindle has got you covered
The internet won’t be able to distract you: This is a major selling point for me. Reading on my Kindle app on the tablet or the cellphone usually almost always leads to me getting distracted by the internet whether it’s a notification from an app or just me needing to Google something. A proper Kindle device instead of the app means you can focus just on your book with no distractions.
You can read in the dark (a huge plus if you’re South African): Save on your light bill by reading on your Kindle. Or if you’re South African, make the most of load shedding by reading when the lights go off. Ask any bookworm in South African and they can confirm that lots of reading takes place during load shedding.
No need to worry about lugging around heavy books: Carry the entire series of “Game of Thrones” without a worry. Having a Kindle means you can have access to thousands of books without worrying about space.
You can read trashy romance novels without anyone judging you: Something else you don’t have to worry about when you have a Kindle is people judging your choice in books. Whether this is a trashy romance novel or Twilight, your secret read is safe with you and your Kindle.
Basically, having a Kindle allows you the privacy of reading whatever you want, whenever you want without any space restrictions.
Subscribe and get access to a printable TBR list. You’ll never have to wonder “What book should I read next?”
Throughout the Boston Belles series we all saw how Aisling had a huge crush on Sam for whatever reason while he treated her like something he found stuck on the bottom of his shoe. “The Monster” delves deeper into this crush and their background together. When Aisling manages to sneak into Sam’s club despite him banning her, the result is an encounter that has lasting repercussions on both of them. But both Sam and Aisling have their own demons and it isn’t long before their secrets threaten to tear apart both their worlds. I really enjoyed getting a better look at Aisling’s inexplicable crush on Sam. I always saw her as a poor, sappy schoolgirl and “The Monster” really fleshes out her character. This book was compelling and I couldn’t stop reading. I was torn between waiting to make it last as long as possible (I don’t know when the next L.J Shen book releases so I wanted to savor this one) and finishing it and finally getting some answers. L. J Shen is brilliant with her spellbinding romances and this is no different.
Naomi and Nick are the perfect couple. At least that’s what they want their friends and family to think. In reality though, they can barely stand each other. Neither of them want to call off their upcoming lavish wedding and be left with paying the bill. So Naomi comes up with a different suggestion. She would make Nicholas so miserable that he would have to choice but to call off the wedding. But it looks like Nicholas has a game of his own and when he moves them to a house in the middle of the woods, Naomi is forced to confront her own deep-seated fears and issues regarding their broken relationship. This was a really cute novel. At the start I truly hated Nicholas and actually wanted to stop reading because he seemed so annoying but I persisted and eventually he redeemed himself in my eyes. I feel like I really saw the characters grow throughout this novel which was fun considering the way they started off (i.e barely tolerating each other. This book is definitely worth a go if you’re looking for a fun, light read.
So I have slowly started reading again after the pandemic and boy has it been amazing!
The kind folk over at St Martin’s press sent me a few review copies which I enjoyed immensely and once I was done, I went straight to my bookshelf and picked out my next reads. Here are the books that are currently on my TBR list.
Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting: This is the last book that I read and I loved so very much. This is a sweet best-friends-to-lovers book and while usually I detest this trope, this book does it beautifully.
A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman: Anything by Kate Bateman is a winner in my books. I’m currently reading this and it is such a thrill.
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi- I’m listening to the audiobook of this and honestly it really isn’t doing much for me. I think I might switch to ebook or paperback since I knew I loved the book when I picked it up on a whim. It was supposed to be a read just to pass time but it really sucked me in.
What are you currently reading? Do you have any recommendations for books that helped you out of a pandemic slump? I’d love to know below.
I’ve been interested in reading “Tales from the Hinterland” since the first time I picked up “The Hazel Wood”. Let me just say this book does not disappoint. “Tales from the Hinterland” is full of spooky illustrations and captivating tales that stay with you long after you’ve finished the novel. I especially enjoyed seeing characters and stories I remembered from “The Hazel Wood”. This was a well-written read that flows beautifully and can be finished in one setting. Even if you haven’t read “The Hazel Wood”, if you’re a fan of spooky fairytales, I definitely recommend this book for you
