Title: The Bride Test Author: Helen Hoang Series: The Kiss Quotient #2 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance Dates read: 5th – 6th January 2021 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Corgi Year: 2019 5th sentence, 74th page: Fortunately, this kind of firm touch was acceptable – he liked proprioception and deep pressure.
Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, not big, important emotions – like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better – that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly refuses to consider a relationship, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.
As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. So when the opportunity arises to go to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down. This could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go quite as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working… but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.
As Esme’s time in the United States dwindles, will Khai let his head catch up with his heart? Can he find the strength to let go, and let love in?
This was one of those books that I read cover to cover, completely unwilling to put it down. It was brilliant and clever. Cute and the kind of book that left me with a smile on my face. In fact, I was almost late to work the next day because I couldn’t put this down and stayed up way too late reading.
Khai is a great male lead. You don’t get many neurodiverse leads in books, so having one that featured so strongly was brilliant. The fact that Hoang is neurodiverse herself makes his differences all that much more realistic. Not only did I find it seriously relatable, but I also love how Hoang is able to use her work to bring autism to the forefront in a light and understandable manner. Add to that the fact that Khai is a gorgeous romantic lead, well, it made everything that much more… yummy. And sweet. And I just wanted to hug everyone on the pages!
I’ve read a few contemporary stories which feature immigrants. And even non-fiction books. I haven’t yet read one which features an immigrant. Someone from poverty who is travelling to another country to try and make their lives better. Particularly when that person is effectively a mail order bride. Again, Hoang is able to provide an educated insight into the unique challenges of finding oneself in this situation.
I love the romance that Hoang takes you on in her story writing. But, I think the thing that I love the most and keeps me coming back again and again and again is the way in which she is able to feature marginalised groups. And she doesn’t do this from her imagination, but, rather, she is able to create these amazingly diverse characters from her own experiences, or the experiences of those near her.
This novel melted my heart and left me grinning from ear to ear. It is cute and sweet. And most definitely impossible to forget. Definitely one that I will be rereading at some point in the future.
Title: Kiss of Heat Author: Lora Leigh Series: Breeds #4 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Erotica, Paranormal romance, Romantic suspense Dates read: 3rd January 2021 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Lora Leigh Year: 2004 5th sentence, 74th page: And now Kane was sleeping deep and painlessly while she paced the room, kicking herself for her own lack of control.
They’ve waited a decade to come together. Long years filled with unbearable pain and soul-wrenching torment that have changed them both and left wounds that have laid their souls bare. Wounds that stand one chance of healing – if only they could stop fighting each other long enough for the truth to work its healing balm.
Kane, a relentless warrior, lost more than his heart to Sherra in a night of mating passion that marked them both for life. But news of her death ripped his soul apart. For years he has fought to avenge the death of the woman he loved more than his own life, by revealing the deceit and cruelty of the Council that created the Breeds
But Sherra didn’t die, and now amid the rapidly escalating violence against the Feline Breeds, Kane and Sherra learn that there’s more to mating than just the “heat,” just as there’s more to love than just the sex…
Ever since reading Tempting the Beast, I’ve been really intrigued to find out more about Kane and Sherra’s story. There are hints and bits and pieces throughout the next two novels in this series that highlight how great a story it’s going to be. And very, very many hints about what really went wrong between these two. But until I actually had the chance to read this story… wow.
Although this novel had the same intensity and erotica as the other Breeds novels, there was a little more heart break and heart wrenching than the other stories. The horrors that have been committed against the female breeds start to rear their ugly, horrifying heads. And pull my heart apart even more. After all, some of the horrors that are mentioned in this story are exactly the things that I am most afraid of. I’m just glad they don’t go into too much detail.
I always find in a series, particularly romance series which focus on different couples each novel, by the third or fourth novel, things start to get… intense. And that’s exactly what happened here. Now, there is more at stake in each story than the happiness and the livelihood of the couples. Rather, war is declared and things are steadily getting deadlier and deadlier. I can’t wait to see how everything progresses from this point forward!
Kiss of Heat is a phenomenal paranormal romance novel. One that I read cover to cover in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed. It makes me not only keen to read more Breeds novels. But left me with some very… wonderful dreams later that night.
Title: The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband Author: Julia Quinn Series: Rokesbys #2 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 1st – 2nd January 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Avon Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: She took his arm, and then slowly, without a word, they made their way out to the street, where a carriage awaited to take them the short distance to the Devil’s Head.
While you were sleeping…
With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He’s unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier’s life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie…
I told everyone I was your wife
When Edward comes to, he’s more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he’d always assumed he’d marry his neighbor back in England.
If only it were true…
Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.
This is one of those books that I’ve been really dying to get into, but keep getting distracted before I actually start it… I can be a little too easily distracted at times. But, once I finally actually got my butt into gear, I finally managed to completely sink my teeth into this. It was amazing, brilliant and, filled with Quinn’s brilliant wit and humour.
I think that one of the reasons I found it a little hard to pick up this book was because, just from the blurb you could see all of the things that could go terribly wrong. After all, the woman is pretending to be a man’s husband. And even though he wakes up and doesn’t quite remember things, he believes this. It’s not a great recipe for a romance. Or at least, so I thought. Since, once I read this… I realised that it was actually the perfect romantic recipe.
Cecelia might be doing something kind of horrible in this story (pretending to an amnesiac that she’s he’s wife). But all of her motives are honourable. And, ultimately, I love that Quinn created a heroine who is soft, sweet and delicate. She has a backbone of steel and bravery that, even at the end of this story, she isn’t able to own up to. But, ultimately, she is more of a typical heroine for a regency romance story. Yet, one that I didn’t find tedious and irritating.
The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband was fun and beautiful. There were so many moments of awkwardness and fun throughout the story that had me smiling and giggling. It was such an easy, fairly light-hearted read. One that included just enough emotional and personal upheaval that you felt seriously personally connected to the characters. And completely unable to let them go. There’s nothing like a few pulled heart strings to make you emotionally invest in such a beautiful romance…
Title: Dumplin’ Author: Julie Murphy Series: Dumplin’ #1 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Book to Film, Contemporary, Young adult Dates read: 1st – 2nd January 2021 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Penguin Books Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: And now I know.
Willowdean Dickson (Dumplin’, to her mum) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Really, the criteria is simple. Do you have a body? Put a swimsuit on it.
But life as Willow knows it is about to change. And when this happens, she suffers an unaccustomed and unwelcome attack of self-doubt. So in an effort to regain her confidence, Willowdean enters into the local Miss Teen Blue Bonnet beauty pageant.
With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs and a wildly unforgettable heroine – Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart. And send you out to buy the bikini.
I bought Dumplin’ a little while ago. Because I loved the Netflix movie, and, so far, all of the books that I’ve read which have been adapted into Netflix content has been glorious. And this was no different. Dumplin’ the movie was amazing, and Dumplin’ the book was also glorious. I read this cover to cover in about a twenty-four hour period, struggling to find a way to actually be productive in the meantime…
I should probably preface most of this review by stating the fact that I’m quite skinny. So the ways in which a “fat girl” or really any of the outcasts in this book feel is kind of foreign. Having said that, I was bullied, just for different reasons. But I love that Murphy is able to place you in Willowdean’s shoes. And show you all of the emotional and insane entanglements which come with being a plus sized girl. One with a beauty queen mother.
There is something that is always glorious fun about those fish out of water stories. The ones in which the outcast who doesn’t quite fit in chooses to stand up and stand out. Willowdean does this amazingly. And it is a great reminder that we should all jump up and grab what we want in life. Without waiting for someone else to tell us that it’s ours. It seems like such a simple choice, but no matter what your status or what the world tells you, sometimes you need that reminder that living your best life starts with putting your best foot forwards.
I absolutely loved this book. The older I get, the more my body changes, and the more I question what I see in the mirror. It doesn’t matter what size your body is, everyone has things that they love and don’t love about themselves. Murphy reminds us that we all have our own issues. And Willowdean is able to remind us that there are so many different ways to find our own strength and identity. Even on the days that we kind of hate the body that we find ourselves in.
Title: Rolling with the Punchlines: A Memoir Author: Urzila Carlson Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Humour, Memoirs Dates read: 1st – 2nd January 2021 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Allen & Unwin Year: 2019 5th sentence, 74th page: Now I’m conscious that anyone who was grateful for my explanation of the concept of the fax will be hanging out for me to explain this little word ‘apartheid’.
Chuckle, laugh and snigger along with Urzila in this fascinating memoir of a life in comedy.
Updated with new chapters and written with her trademark deadpan humour, Urzila’s memoir is full of ripping yarns about both the big and the little things in life.
Urzila’s accidental beginning in stand-up has led to an incredibly successful career in comedy, with regular gigs on Channel 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention? in Australia and 7 Days in New Zealand, as well as sell-out shows across both countries, appearances at international festivals and a Netflix special.
But life hasn’t always been a bundle of laughs. Urzila talks candidly about her childhood within a happy family – apart from her abusive dad – and about growing up in South Africa. She shares crazy but true tales about her travels, her move down under, coming out, getting married and having children, and cracking Australia.
This was a memoir that had me laughing out loud again and again. Carlson was able to deal with issues that are incredibly intense and serious in moments with a great look of humour and lightness. There is something about her style of writing that made you feel like she was right there, recounting all of her incredible adventures into your ear. And, since I love the accent… I loved that whole idea.
I found Carlson’sjourney into stand-up to be incredibly fascinating. She somehow managed to fall into a career that is completely suited to her and her personality. And found herself a life and reality that she absolutely adores. The fact that throughout this memoir she also shamelessly plugs her Netflix special and tells tales of the different shows that she’s done. Not only did it make for an intriguing and fascinating career-journey, but again, I was laughing and giggling throughout all of her many tales.
Carlson’sjourney and tales are wonderful and unforgettable. There is nothing like a good memoir to start of the year’s reading. When that history and memoir has as much humour to it as this story, well, it just keeps getting better and better. That, and the fact that I found out a lot more about a woman I’ve been watching on tv for a while. And very much enjoying.
As the second book that I read of 2020, I feel like this gave me a great running start to the year. It was positive and light-hearted. Yet, there were moments of genuineness and concern that not all comedians are able to achieve. It certainly makes me want to watch Carlson’s Netflix special.
Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021 Number of books: 10 Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection
February 2021 Monthly Scavenger Challenge | Romantic Paintings Duration: February 1 – 28, 2021
Since February is a short month, choose any SIX of the paintings below to complete the challenge. You may choose the paintings before you start or choose as you go along. Of course, you’re welcome to do all of them!!
1. THE KISSby Gustav Klimt (1908) An undeniable masterpiece from the Austrian’s “Golden Period,” the painting is at once both erotic and tender. Klimt was inspired by the style of Japanese mosaics and the universal appeal of romantic love. “The Kiss” is notable for its heavy use of gold foil. ❤ Read a book that takes place in Austria or Japan; tell us where OR read a book that has a gold object on its cover; post the cover.
2. THE BIRTH OF VENUSby Sandro Botticelli (1484-86) Botticelli was commissioned to produce this work by the renowned Medici family. It portrays the goddess of love as an idealized standard of perfection and purity, standing on a giant scallop shell. ❤ Read a book that features an artist who is a painter (real or fictional); tell us who OR read a book in which a main character gives birth; tell us who. – The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid (Eilish)
3. CHEZ LE PÉRE LATHUILLEby Édouard Manet (1879) This restrained, everyday scene depicts a more modest expression of desire. But the couple’s passion is evident from their deep gazes and the position of their bodies. The model for the young man was the son of the cafe’s owner, and the young woman was modeled by two different people. ❤ Read a book that is co-written by two female authors; list author links for both females OR read a book that has at least one scene set in a cafe’ or bistro; tell us the establishment’s name. – The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
4. IN BED: THE KISSby Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1892) This post-Impressionist painting by Toulouse-Lautrec captures a moment of unadulterated passion between two women. It’s one of several images he painted of same-sex intimacy, as he documented the lives of workers in Parisian brothels. ❤ Read a book that takes place in Paris OR read a book with a character who is a prostitute / escort; tell us who.
5. FLAMING JUNEby Sir Frederic Leighton (1895) Generally acknowledged to be Leighton’s masterpiece, the painting showcases his classical training and is heavy with Greek erotic imagery. Though the woman sleeps alone, the rich colors and flowing gown set a romantic tone. ❤ Read a book whose cover features a woman in a beautiful gown; post the cover OR read a book in which the main character is a redhead; tell us who. – The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
6. DISCARDED ROSESby Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1875) Renoir was known for his approach toward depictions of feminine beauty, and this is clearly seen in this sensual still-life painting. Renoir painted roses in many of his works, using careful brushstrokes to capture the variation in the color of their petals. ❤ Read a book by an author or with a main character named ROSE (reasonable variations accepted – i.e. Rosie, Rosemarie) OR read a book with a picture of a rose or roses on its cover (roses only); post the cover.
7. THE GRAND CANAL OF VENICE (Blue Venice)by Édouard Manet (1875) Venice is one of the world’s most romantic cities. In compelling shades of blue, Manet’s painting captures the dreamy feeling of floating down a canal in one of the city’s famed gondolas ❤ Read a book that takes place in Venice OR read a book with a primarily blue cover; post the cover. – Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride
8. PROMENADE NEAR ARGENTEUILby Claude Monet (1873) This Monet painting conveys innocence and longing. Notably devoid of any strong passion or eroticism, it evokes a nostalgia for days of modesty and certainty. ❤ Read a book whose author’s first and last initials are in “ARGENTEUIL;” be sure to post the author link OR read a book with a character who seems modest and/or innocent; tell us who. – Matilda by Roald Dahl (Matilda)
9. THE FISHERMAN AND THE SYRENby Frederic Leighton (1856-58) You don’t have to be an art critic to see the fire and passion that inspires this mythological painting. Though the lust may be short-lived: The mythical Sirens were said to lure sailors to their deaths. ❤ Read a book that features a Siren (aka Syren) or any other mythological creature; tell us who/what OR read a book in which a relationship is especially passionate; tell us the couple.
10. CUPID AND PSYCHE AS CHILDRENby William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1890) Known colloquially as “The First Kiss,” this painting depicts Cupid, the Greek god of love and affection, with Psyche, the goddess of the soul. The painting is an allegory of love triumphing over obstacles. ❤ Read a book that is a Young Adult Romance OR read a book with the word “LOVE” in its title; exact matches only.
See this thread for more detailed rules for all CCC challenges.
♣ If you want to participate in this challenge, please sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses.
♣ For each book you read, please indicate the title, the author and the date you finished reading it. If a challenge task gives several options, please make it clear which option you’ve chosen. If the task calls for an item on the cover, include a link to the book cover.* If it’s not obvious from the book title or cover, be sure to explain how your book fits the task. If you don’t, you won’t get credit for completing that task.
♣ Unless otherwise noted, books must be at least 150 pages long. (See the link above for rules regarding graphic novels.) Books may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged 🙂 Re-reads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book. You must read at least half of the book AFTER the challenge begins in order to count it for this challenge.
♣ Books may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged!
♣ If you want the challenge moderator to check your progress as you make updates, please copy/paste your update into a new message . We don’t have time to scroll back through the entire thread looking for “message #15,” or to follow links back to an original post.
♣ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read. If you don’t repost your list, you won’t be included in the list of those who have completed the challenge.
*If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title or cover, see the instructions here: Link Instructions
February 2021 Spell Challenge – Romantic Paintings Duration: Feb 01, 2021 – Feb 28, 2021
To complement Suzanne’s scavenger challenge about romantic paintings, we’ve got a number of word choices for this month’s spell challenge. The rules are simple, pick a word and read a book for every letter using the first letter of the title (ignore A, An and The) or the first or last initial of the author (not the middle).
Allegory Beauty Botticelli Bouguereau Cupid
de Toulouse-Lautrec Desire Dreamy Erotic Fisherman Flaming June
Imagery Innocence Intimacy Japanese Klimt
Leighton Longing Love Manet Monet Mosaic
Passion Renoir Romantic Roses Sensual Syren
Tender The Kiss Venice Venus Vienna
CHALLENGE RULES – PLEASE READ! See this thread for more detailed rules for CCC challenges.
❖ Books must be at least 150 pages long (unless they are graphic novels, see below) and may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged.
❖ Graphic novels must be at least 300 pages long, but two books can be combined to make up the page count as long as they both meet the same criteria.
❖ For each book you read, please post a link to the title and mention the author and the date you finished reading it.*
❖ If you want the challenge moderator to verify those books as you post them, please copy/paste your update into a new message. If you do this while you still have the Edit window open, it will copy all of your formatting, etc. too. It will make it easier on the moderators if we won’t have to scroll back through the entire thread looking for “message #15,” or to follow links back to an original post.
❖ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read 🙂 If you don’t repost your list, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge.
❖ Rereads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book and not just skim the best portions! 🙂
* If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions HERE.
Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021 Number of books: 3 Hosted by: Bookworm Bitches
February 2021: The Struggle of Good and Evil Duration: 2/1/2021-2/28/2021
There are 3 tasks, you only need to read three books to finish this challenge. Or pick one task and read 3 books for that one task.
February 1. Read a book featuring someone you admire (famous historical figure, character who has qualities you admire, author you admire, etc.) – Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh (Nayna) 2. Read a book featuring a power struggle – Matilda by Roald Dahl 3. Read a hard-hitting book or a character who is morally grey. – The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid (Bryan and alcoholism)
Rules ~Books must be read during the selected time period. ~Post the date you finished the book. ~All books read for challenges can be used for more than one challenge. ~Books can be either Fiction or Non Fiction. Your choice. ~At the end of the challenge, it will be closed for commenting and moved to the archives folder ~Use the add book/author tool to tag your book within your challenge.
Duration: 1st February – 28th February 2021 Number of books: 9 Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession
Welcome to Night Spawn BINGO. Each month a new BINGO game will be posted with new tasks to complete. Get three in a row (Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal) to receive your Vampire Heart.
Rules: Complete three tasks to get the vampire heart All genres welcome Rereads welcome No minimum page count One book per task
Read 3 books that have one of the following Supernatural Beings in it (Must be in a Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal pattern).
Earth and Skye 