Holdout by Jacqueline Snowe

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Holdout
Author: Jacqueline Snowe, Heart Eyes Press
Series: Moo U #4
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Sports romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I love how this is a close-proximity / accidental roommate romance. Particularly, I love how well it works out for both of them. Not just the romance aspect, but also the way that Ryann and Jonah seem to actually fit well as roommates and friends. I mean, it’s kind of difficult to find someone that you can live with and not want to tear out your own hair (in my experience at least), so I love that aside from a romance, this was actually a positive roommate story!

Aside from the awesomeness of having good roommates, I did really love the romance between Ryann and Jonah. Yes, they both admit fairly early on that there is a physical attraction. But it’s the fact that they are great friends and companions that really made me root for them. I mean, it’s hard enough finding someone you don’t want to stab as a roommate, but then finding good, solid friendship and physical attraction? Yeah, I was seriously rooting for both of these guys from pretty much the first moment. Plus, they also help each other heal from their past and move onto a much, much better future.

Secondary to the romance and the main spanner in the works for the furthering of their relationship, both Ryann and Jonah have a lot of family drama that they must wade through. It’s kind of sad and painful in moments. And I like that they help each other to process this. Plus, they find a way to live with the complexities of family – as dysfunctional as this can sometimes look and feel. In fact, I thought that Ryann’s brother was going to be much more of a problem than he actually was. And I kind of liked that fact. Yes, he was a hurdle, but in the scheme of things, he was much smaller a challenge than anticipated.

All in all, I loved this romance, it had all of the character development and dynamics that I tend to enjoy in these kinds of stories. Plus a little bit of lust and steam. That’s not even getting me started on the fact that it’s about a bunch of athletes. I mean, I may not be insanely into hockey, but it’s definitely something that intrigues me. And I do love any sports romance I can get my hands on…

<- SlapshotGametime ->

Image source: Amazon

Undead Sublet by Molly Harper

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Undead Sublet
Author: Molly Harper
Series: Half-Moon Hollow #2.5
In: The Undead in My Bed (Katie MacAlister, Molly Harper & Jessica Sims)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2012

Thoughts

My first novella in this series – although not my first by this author. I love the premise that this is a world in which vampires are common knowledge and out in the open. Although, they aren’t exactly sorted in the whole figuring out their rights. I’m definitely keen to read more of this series – I love a good, clever romance. And I particularly love those that make you think about the way we treat other in real life.

I love the moment when the lead female realises that she’s got an unwilling housemate. All because of a horrible, manipulative woman. One that does eventually get her own comeuppance, but still. The shock of just finding a random man in the house you think you have to yourself? Slightly horrifying, but very entertaining to read about. I particularly love that the relationship that follows in built upon some pretty dodgy and horrible pranks. I mean, the escalation of trying to outdo one another in the annoying factor was kind of hilarious.

Even though you know that this couple is going to end up together, the journey to get there is still really fun. They learn each other through being horrible to one another (which sounds ridiculous, but we really get to know each other when we’re not on our best behaviour). It’s a great way for a relationship to build. And a fantastic way for the lead female to create other relationships and build roots that aren’t romantic in this gorgeous small town.

I love that this is a story about a chef who has a mental breakdown, takes time off and then realises that she has a whole new dream. It’s a great, fun idea that she then decides to become a chef for vampires too. I love the idea of a dinner that caters to both vampires and humans, and all of the other things that go bump in the night…

<- Shades of GrayOut with a Fang ->

Image source: Amazon

Crimson Twilight by Heather Graham

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Crimson Twilight
Author: Heather Graham
Series: Krewe of Hunters #11.5
In: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle One (Shayla Black, Heather Graham, Liliana Hart & Tina Folsom)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Romantic suspense, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2015

Thoughts

This was a brilliant novella, I’ve read one other short story (Santa’s Mortuary) in this series, so I was looking forward to finding more out about this world. And I most definitely wasn’t disappointed. I’m seriously intrigued by this series and author, and have finally splurged to actually buy Phantom Evil, the first full-length novel in the Krewe of Hunters series.

This is a fun little paranormal whodunnit. I mean, ghosts are implicated, and romance also abounds (mostly a lot of passion and love in the case of this story), but they are not immediately assumed. I like that there are totally human and plausible reasons for the murders that are running rampant. Which, in the end meant that there were two mysteries – the one of the ghosts, and the one of the murders. Both made it really hard to put down this book and not keep diving into the pages.

It was really fun having a wedding and happily ever after implications as the backdrop to a murder mystery. I like that it’s not quite as cutesy and adorable as many of the stories that I read, but still kind of sweet. Particularly the idea that it doesn’t necessarily matter where you get married, just the commitment to one another and the future. Plus, there are so many moments that I just want to know who the psycho is running around killing people! And why there are ghosts. And there’s just so much death…

<- Forever WickedCaptured in Surrender ->

Image source: Booktopia

Phantom Evil by Heather Graham

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Phantom Evil
Author: Heather Graham
Series: Krewe of Hunters #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Romantic suspense, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2011

Thoughts

The whole time I was reading this, I felt a little bit like I was reading an adult version of Scooby Doo. Although that could be because I recently watched the movie… But, it was still a really fun kind of Whodunnit book. Even though there is an actual paranormal aspect to this story in the form of ghosts, it’s still a crime story that is based on pure human horrible-ness. I love that although ghosts are kind of implicated in the death, it is still a human driver and motivation that is ultimately the culprit (hence the Scooby Doo feeling).

Although this is a full-length, adult novel, it’s honestly a very easy read. I mean, it’s a quick and fun journey, but also has plenty of creep factor to keep you engaged. Kind of like with a cozy mystery, it gives you the chill factor and makes you really need to solve the mystery. But not to the degree that I couldn’t read it late at night. The perfect balance, plus, the romance aspect is, again, there, and has moments of intensity, but also not overly intense.

I love that Angela and Jackson are able to slowly build their relationship. But, it was kind of secondary to the crime story line. It was a nice slow burn, with a bit of instant attraction thrown in. I also liked that Angela and Jackson are kind of the default “parents” of their new “crew”. Taking on the responsibility of others and kind of guiding them. They also both have some paranormal abilities, but, again, these are kind of secondary to the fact that there is a murderer running free…

It’s always fun to have a beginning of the series starting with the forming of a new team. It means that as you get to know the characters, the rest of the team is actually getting to know them. Now I can’t wait to read more of this series and find out more about these fun characters… and the awesome characters they fall in love with.

<- More Heather GrahamHeart of Evil ->

Image source: Amazon

Captured in Surrender by Liliana Hart

Book Review,
Overview

Title: Captured in Surrender
Author: Liliana Hart
In: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle One (Shayla Black, Heather Graham, Liliana Hart & Tina Folsom)
Rating Out of 5: 2 (Managed to read it… just)
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2015

Thoughts

I started off liking this novella, but it very quickly lost its sparkle. So I won’t write too much about it. Mostly I think that what I didn’t really love about this was the sex scenes… they just tried way too hard. And kept on repeating the same thing. Like, one ended, and the next pretty much immediately began. It was definitely not my cup of tea. I got about halfway through and just gave up to be honest.

<- Crimson TwilightSilent Bite ->

Image source: Booktopia

A Grave Girls’ Getaway by Jeaniene Frost

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview

Title: A Grave Girls’ Getaway
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Night Huntress #7.6, Night Huntress Universe #16.5
In: Hex on the Beach (Kelley Armstrong, Jeaniene Frost & Melissa Marr)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2021

Thoughts

Sadly, I haven’t gotten as far into the Night Huntress series as I want. Mostly because I’m kind of a series slut and tend to jump around a lot. But, it’s definitely one that I continuously enjoy picking up. And every time I read anything set in this world, I’m reminded why I find this series so exciting and interesting. Alright, this novella takes place a bit further down in the series order, but it was still exciting and seriously enjoyable. There were a few spoilers for things that are going to come up. But, with the way I jump around, I’ll probably have forgotten about some of them by then anyway.

I love that this is a story about Cat just trying to have a nice, relaxing girls’ weekend. And that it completely goes off rails and doesn’t go to plan. I mean, it wouldn’t be a story featuring Cat if anything actually went according to plan. Particularly a weekend that is all about relaxing… instead, Cat and her girlfriend get witch cults, horrors and some kind of ocean goddess. Although, surprisingly there are some survivors at the end… left on purpose and I liked the rationale for not just killing everyone.

Drunk Cat is one of the more humorous things I’ve read in a book in a little while. I mean, she is literally trying to fight the floor. And determined to still go out and kill a bunch of people. Typical Cat stubbornness, and seriously funny in that she actually succeeds in her goals. As bloody and violent as they are.

Through all of the drama and violence, Cat is trying so dang hard to figure out how to be a good mum. As a new mum myself, I understand some of this guilt and challenge. The fact that her child is actually a teenager and was trained to kill… a little bit harder than what I’ve had to go through. Her way of being a good parent and the compromise she reaches at the end is brilliant and reminded me why I love this author and series so much.

<- Goddess of Summer LoveDaiquiris and Daggers ->

Image source: Booktopia

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Author: Agatha Christie
Series: Hercule Poirot #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Cozy mystery, Crime, Mystery
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 1920

Thoughts

I read Murder on the Orient Express a long while ago, and then just didn’t get around to reading more of the Hercule Poirot series. Now I’m wondering why it took me so long to pick up this book. It was a fun and easy read. With a whole lot going on. Honestly, you could skim read and just float on the story line, or you could delve deeper (like I did) and spend the whole time trying to figure out just who the culprit was.

This is one of those books / series that I know will be a pleasure to reread. Christie manages to leave clue upon clue, but you only realise this in hindsight. Then there are plenty of red herrings that lead you to dead ends and down rabbit holes. I love that this is kind of confusing and meandering, yet, somehow it’s also fairly linear and simple. If you’re not like me and just happy to find out the culprit at the end, the story would be such a simple read.

To make this story even more compelling, and increase the difficulty of guessing the villain, every single suspect in this story has something to hide. It was a lot of fun trying to figure out which secrets were about the murder, and which ones were just people being horrible. It was nice that some of these secrets also weren’t so sinister. And that they actually lead to a nice happy ending.

I truly enjoyed this novel. It was a closed room mystery with a lot of intrigue and twists. I loved trying to figure out everyone’s secrets and now I can’t wait to dive into the next Poirot novel… it’s easy to see why these books are considered such classics.

<- More Agatha ChristieThe Murder on the Links ->

Image source: Kobo

Switch Stance by M.E. Carter & Andrea Johnston

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Switch Stance
Author: M.E. Carter & Andrea Johnston
Series: Charitable Endeavors #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

I always enjoy stories that feature a writer. I mean, a writer writing about a writer? Somehow that works out really well. Sometimes… in the case of Misery, it wasn’t such a good thing. But I digress. Carter and Johnston are a wonderful literary pair. And their ability to craft a story in which you are constantly rooting for the main couple… brilliant. A great way to spend a few hours, drifting away on a fun and romantic story.

Spencer is a great male lead. He’s that sexy jock type that you want when you’re reading a sports romance. But he’s also humble and kind of cute. There isn’t a lot of the ego like in some of the sports romances that I read. But enough to know that he’s good at his job. I also love that he’s actually driven more by his charity and need to leave a lasting impression than his legacy as a jock. He’s also incredibly emotionally mature and spends a lot of his time supporting both his slightly neurotic sister and Aggie. Definitely one of my favourite (emotionally) male leads I’ve read in a while.

As someone who is always sure that she’s completely messing things up and doesn’t fit in, it was fun to read about Aggie’s insecurities. I mean, I’ve now moved to a point that I’m comfortable with the fact that I’m kind of nutso. But it was nice learning about her journey to get to that same place of comfort in herself. Alright, she didn’t completely get to that point, but she is definitely heading in that direction by the end of the story. Plus, she manages to finally work through her writer’s block as she acknowledges her own short comings. Something else I loved about this character.

Although Aggie went through the most personal growth throughout this story, it was still an incredibly fun and beautiful journey. I love that Spencer is able to recognise that that growth is Aggie’s responsibility. He’s there to support her, but not fix her. And that, with his patience, she is able to actually start to try and trust and learn. I can’t wait to read about her best friend, Toby, in Ear Candy. Another story that I’m sure will be filled with plenty of character growth and enjoyment!

<- More M.E. CarterEar Candy ->

Image source: Amazon

Bride and Tested by Brenda St John Brown

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Bride and Tested
Author: Brenda St John Brown
Series: Bennett Brothers Bridal #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

This is a very funny and light rom com. Which I kind of knew it would be since I’ve already read The Blind Date Diaries and I found it had much the same kind of light tone to it. There really aren’t any surprises in this, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it’s nice to have an entirely cute and predictable read. And this one was still good enough that I read it cover to cover.

I love that this is the story of a wedding planner, whose own wedding completely fell apart. I mean, Evie is able to get her feet back under her fairly quickly and is pretty damn tough. But it’s still a little bit of a tough moment to overcome. Plus, Evie is such a go-getter. Someone who is so damn driven and determined. A lot of that I admire in a lead female. Although sometimes her drive and vision for the future actually undermined her own happiness.

Lincoln is also a driven individual (I love when they’re both driven). Yet, he also has to face up to his own short comings and mistakes. And find a way to fix them. Alright, some of those “mistakes” actually weren’t on him at all. But they are still things he needs to overcome. And some of his own damn personality traits. Some of them are actually Evie’s. And his brothers, and really, there is just a whole clusterfuck of history there.

Against the romance of Lincoln and Evie are the brides that Evie must organise. I love that Brooke is cast as this incredibly difficult bride. And, in some ways she totally is. But what comes off as a truly horrible person turns out to be kind of a lovely, albeit a little off kilter woman. She’s definitely not as difficult as everyone anticipates and is kind of entertaining in the challenges that she provides. A great way for both Lincoln and Evie to reconnect and find their way back to each other.

<- More Brenda St John BrownBride and True ->

Image source: BookBub

The Prison Doctor by Dr. Amanda Brown

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Prison Doctor
Author: Dr. Amanda Brown
Series: The Prison Doctor #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Medical, Memoirs, True crime
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I haven’t actually read this trilogy of memoirs in order – I read Women Inside (the second book) first. So it was really good to see just how Brown ended up in her chosen career as a prison doctor. I mean, it’s a pretty big leap to go from a GP to a prison doctor. And I’d imagine a pretty steep learning curve, both mentally and emotionally. It was definitely interesting reading just how Brown was able to make this leap and how she processed all of the extreme changes that such a change bought about in her life.

I found, aside from how interesting all of Brown’s anecdotes were, that this was a great reminder to stop, take a deep breath and just appreciate what you have. I mean, how could stories of people who have to spend a good portion of their lives incarcerated not make you stop and think? Or maybe that’s just me… there is so much compassion and sympathy throughout this story, it’s definitely a humbling read.

This is an amazing journey and a humbling tale. I want to help people, but this is a whole other level of assistance and giving that I can’t really fathom. I mean, helping people is one thing, being in a situation that can feel potentially dangerous to do so? A whole other level. And, there is a whole lot of surprising stories throughout that make you feel even more strongly for those who are battling to carve out their own lives.

I honestly expected a whole heap of danger and violence from this memoir. I mean, it’s about a woman who goes and works in prisons. But there is almost none of that. Yes, the violence is touched upon. And the challenges faced. But mostly this is a story about the triumph of humanity. The ways in which we are able to fight against all odds and come out on top. At least, that’s how it read to me.

<- More Dr. Amanda BrownThe Prison Doctor: Women Inside ->

Image source: Amazon