Tag: Books


Feb
2022

Recommended Reads: Books to Read if You Enjoyed The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

categories: Books

It’s been way too long since I did a recommended reads post and since I just watched “The Hating Game”, here are my recommendations for fans who are looking for something similar. Note- the links listed below are affiliate links which mean I earn a small commission when you purchase using those links.

1) The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren: Sworn enemies Olive and Ethan are forced to pretend to be newlyweds when their siblings get food poisoning and have to forfeit their all-expenses paid vacation. From the first page I was hooked on this novel. The enemies-to-lovers plot is fairly similar to “The Hating Game” and the chemistry between the two main characters is amazing.

2) The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas: Similar to “The Hating Game”, this novel has a pretend relationship in order for one of the main characters to save face at a wedding. There’s always amazing chemistry and once again enemies-to-lovers (so apparently I have a type when it comes to my romance novels?)

3) The Flatshare by Beth O’ Leary: “The Flatshare” doesn’t have any of the same themes as “The Hating Game” however somehow it just conveys the same flawless chemistry and romantic energy.

4) You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle: A quirky lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, “You Deserve Each Other” is another gem that is a quick, easy-to-read with a really cute couple.

Is there any books that you think I missed? Let me know below


Feb
2022

Book Review: The Rake by L.J Shen

categories: Books, Reviews
The Rake (Boston Belles, #4)

The Rake by L.J. Shen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have been obsessed with Devon and Belle for as long as I can remember and was so thrilled to have received an e-ARC of this story.
Belle gets some bad news regarding her fertility and decides to start a family ASAP.
Devon comes upon her while she is mourning (he has received some bad news of his own) and offers to help her start the family she so desperately wants.
Bonus points- he’ll even support the child.
Naturally the two of them start to fall in love.
But this is a L.J Shen story so of course there’s Dark secrets and traumatic pasts.
I was already excited to see Belle’s story but this story totally blew my mind.
I think this is one of L.J Shens best work yet.
Belle and Devon have a clear chemistry (that we have seen in previous books). They just work.
This was my Valentines Day read and I do not regret it a single bit.


Jan
2022

Cover Reveal: The Rake by L.J Shen

categories: Books

The Rake, an all new emotional and angsty romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author L.J. Shen is coming February 16th and we have the first look at the stunning cover!

Boston’s most infamous femme fatale meets her match in a dangerously mild Englishman who has vowed to never marry.
Emmabelle Penrose has cruised through life never needing a man, a plan that has worked stunningly well until about five minutes ago, when she decided she must have a baby.
Devon Whitehall is 6’2” of premium DNA, financial security, and British royal titles. Best of all, he fears the one thing she dreads the most: getting hitched.
Emmabelle figures it’s a no-brainer when Devon offers his services—sperm and involvement in her future child’s life.
What begins as an innocent, modern-family arrangement, quickly erodes into a web of lies, dark pasts, and unfurled secrets.
Inside this chaos, Emmabelle and Devon are forced to face the awful truth—they are capable of love.
Even worse, they might feel it toward each other.

Add The Rake to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Dp9J9H

Cover designer: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs
Photographer: Wong Sim
Model: Gilberto Fritsch

About LJ Shen
L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries.

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

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Jan
2022

Fiction Friday: Book Review- A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

categories: Books, Reviews
A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received an unsolicited copy of this book for review and it was such a pleasant surprise. Look at that cover!
Lila Reyes loses her grandmother, her best friend and her boyfriend in a short period of time. When it is clear that Lila is unable to cope with her grief, her parents send her away to England for 3 months.
I remember hearing someone on BookTube mention once that kids who are forced to go on vacation and hate it, are plot devices that make no sense. In this case however, I really did feel for Lila.
It is clear that she has suffered tremendously and she is genuinely hurt.
Like Lila, from the get-go, I wanted her back home with her family.
Orion took a painfully long time to appear. Orion has some family issues of his own but when he meets Lila he offers to be her tour guide.
It isn’t long between something starts to build between them (and I mean it really isn’t long. From their first few meetings, these two have an instant connection. IT’S ADORABLE!)
In terms of plot I feel like this was a story that we have seen before. But I loved it nonetheless. I enjoyed every second of this book and even took it with me to work so that I didn’t miss out on any reading time.


Jan
2022

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

categories: Books, Reviews
Norse Mythology

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A co-worker lent me this book and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it (actually I am still surprised since it has been a while since I enjoyed a book that wasn’t a romance).
“Norse Mythology is a collection of stories about the Norse Gods and their lives. I went in just for Thor and Loki however this isn’t the story that I knew (i.e Marvel).
In fact the first few pages were tough on me because my mind kept disagreeing with Gaiman’s series of events and I desperately wanted to follow along the way I would have if this was following the characters we knew from Marvel.
Once I managed to shut my brain off however, I enjoyed this book immensely. It moves quickly and you finish a story without even realizing it.
I devoured this book in one sitting and it was such an amazing experience. If you are a fan of fantasy or mythology, GIVE THIS A GO!



View all my reviews


Jan
2022

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

categories: Books, Reviews
The Spanish Love Deception

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Spanish Love Deception tells the story of Catalina Martín who is forced to take her work nemesis, Aaron Blackford to her sister’s wedding as a date.
Cat lied to her parents that she was in a relationship and now, desperate to not have her family look at her with pity (and left with no other choice), Aaron is her only choice.
At the surface this seems like such a cliche trope. But the book makes it clear why Catalina lied, why her family is so worried about her and why she cannot take anyone else but Aaron to this wedding.
Catalina is against the idea 110% but, left with no other option, takes Aaron to meet her family.
This book was incredibly well-written and gave me all the feels. I thought Aaron was insufferable but did eventually grow to like him.
This was a wonderful and heartwarming read that I recommend to anyone who is looking for a romance novel.


Jan
2022

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Bad Cruz by L.J Shen

categories: Books, Reviews
Bad Cruz

Bad Cruz by L.J. Shen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I made the mistake of reading other reviews before posting mine just so I could get the female main character’s name right and now I have mixed feelings about my review. I see the obvious problems pointed out by other readers but for me personally I loved this book.
This was a light read that I did not take too seriously which is probably why I cannot personally find faults with it.
I did hate how the cruel people went along with life as normal because it just felt like everyone was a a##hole to Tenesse.
“Bad Cruz” is the story of Tenesse, who is the town’s bad girl simply because she made the mistake of getting pregnant at 16 (Did she make the child on her own???).
Tenesse’s sister is getting married to the brother of the town’s golden boy (and Tenesse’s enemy) Dr Cruz Costello.
The families are getting together to go on a cruise before the wedding but due to a mix-up, Dr Cruz Costello and Tenesse end up together on the wrong cruise ship.
I liked this book because I felt like it was a fun read. The relationship between Cruz and Tenesse was cute and I was rooting for them the entire way.
My only issue was that I wished that they had just left their entire ridiculous small town and moved away


Dec
2021

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Stanislaski Brothers by Nora Roberts

categories: Books, Reviews

The Stanislaski Brothers by Nora Roberts

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I really enjoy Nora Roberts’ books especially when stories from the same universe or timeline are packaged together.
The Stanislaski Brothers follow the two men in the Stanislaski family. I remember reading Taming Natasha long ago and while I do not remember much of the book, I do remember that I enjoyed it immensely.
This book was no different.
I loved getting another look at the Stanislaskis. This family is colorful like all of Nora Roberts’ families however each and every individual has their own personality which is fleshed out fully in each novel.
The Stanislaski Brothers is incredibly well-written with clear chemistry between both pairings. The plot is pretty predictable but I am reading these books for comfort and not mind-boggling plot twists.
If you are looking for a romance read, I always suggest Nora Roberts because her style of writing is like that of a friend reciting a story.
Just maybe, give the entire series a try for this kooky family


Dec
2021

Fiction Friday: Book Review- In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

categories: Books, Reviews

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dannie is on her way to her dream job and her dream life. After she aces an interview for a job that she has been eyeing for a while, her boyfriend proposes to her. Dannie is ecstatic knowing that everything in her life is going exactly how it she planned.
But then she goes to sleep and wakes up in a different apartment, with a different man and according to the TV, five years in the future.
Dannie goes to sleep again and wakes up back in 2020 as she is supposed to be. As time goes on, Dannie passes off this odd event as an unusual dream.
But four-and-a-half years later, she meets the man from her strange dream and her world is turned upside down.
I do not know how I heard of this book but once I purchased a copy I finished it in one go.
This book was gripping, emotional and heart-breaking. I couldn’t read fast enough.
If you are looking for a book that just grabs you and makes you forget you are reading, this is the book to try!


Nov
2021

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The MacGregor Grooms (The MacGregors #9) by Nora Roberts

categories: Books, Reviews

The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The MacGregor series follows the Meddling Daniel MacGregor, a man who is obsessed with matchmaking for his kids and now his grandkids. After seeing his kids and grand-daughters happily mariied, Daniel sets his eyes on his grandsons next in an attempt to secure great-grandchildren for his wife, Anna.
This book is no different from the others in the series. It’s the same old formula. Daniel finds someone, decides to pair them up with someone from his family, rinse and repeat.
However at this stage, the familiarity is actually comforting.
There wasn’t really anything new or surprising about this book but that was what made it so great. This was an effortless read and with my short attention span, this was exactly what I needed. I was able to read one story a night so I walked away after each story feeling like I accomplished something instead of forcing myself through a book I might not have enjoyed.
If you are going through a book slump, I highly recommend any of Nora Roberts books.



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