Mona Lisa Three by Sunny

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Mona Lisa Three
Author: Sunny
Series: Monere: Children of the Moon #1.5
In: Over the Moon (Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson, Virginia Kantra & Sunny)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Erotica, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2011

Thoughts

I’ve yet to read my first full-length Mona Lisa book, although it is sitting in my shelf ready to go. And this novella honestly reminded me of why I’ve had it in my shelf ready to go for so long. This is a bit smuttier than most of the romances that I read, but also so damn delicious.

I love that this takes place after Mona Lisa’s adventures in the first book. It did give me a lot for spoilers but considering this is probably a bit more emotionally and exotically intense than I’m used to, it’s not a bad thing. I love how Mona Lisa is constantly thankful for the two men that she’s in love with and wanting.

This novella takes place in a transitional phase on Mona Lisa’s life. One that highlights how drastically her life changes in such a short period of time. That it uses her very special healing gifts and highlights the complexities in her many relationships just makes me love it even more. In fact, I got so involved in the storyline that I read this beginning to end in one sitting. And managed to walk into a wall while doing it.

I really loved this novella and now look forward to, more than ever reading Mona Lisa Awakening. I should probably finish the books that I’m currently halfway through first though…

<- DriftwoodOver the Moon ->

Image source: Penguin Random House

Parks and Provocation by Juliette Cross

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Parks and Provocation
Author: Juliette Cross, SmartyPants Romance
Series: Green Valley Heroes #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

I always love a good second chance romance. And there’s something about those moments in high school that you can’t forget that stick with us. So a combination of the two made me smile multiple times throughout reading this. Particularly when you realise how much of a torch Jed has carried for Lola since the very beginning.

As wonderful as the romance throughout this story is, its the very first scene that truly sets the tine for this whole novel. I mean, she locks her damn keys in the car (I’ve pretty much done this a thousand times). But, to top it off, her keys are in the ignition and the car is still running… I haven’t done that, but the humour and pure frustration of this moment had me giggling. That Cross mentions it in her dedication just made it a thousand times better.

Lola’s quandary about her emotions is a great sell. She starts off trying to convince herself that she’s just dating Jed to sell her podcast, but then… emotions. I also love that she spends a lot of time coming to terms with what her idea of success is. I mean, pride at mentioning who and what you are to people is a big part of our lives. But, most people just don’t actually judge you for your decisions. Its something that I’ve been working at coming to terms with myself.

Parks and Provocation is such a gorgeous and wonderful novel. Pretty much what I would expect from a SmartyPants Romance novel to be honest. It is just so damn gorgeous and sweet. Maybe not as many cameos as I was expecting, but still a sweet, wonderful and fun novel that took me away to a happier place for a while.

<- Forrest for the TreesMore SmartyPants Romance ->

Image source: Amazon

Beard in Hiding by Penny Reid

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Beard in Hiding
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Winston Brothers #4.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I’ve been totally intrigued to read this since found out that Diane was going to get heron novel. But I wasn’t entirely sure how I’d feel a out it, after all, Diane is kind of hard to stomach in Beard Science. But, even though I don’t love her as much as the many other women in the Penny Reid world, I liked her a whole lot more than I had anticipated. Plus Repo, who, again wasn’t exactly all that likeable, was also so much more sympathetic than I had anticipated.

After reading about the murder and craziness in Marriage and Murder, it was really cool to read about the events from a different point of view. In fact, reading about all of Diane’s experiences from a different point of view was enjoyable. I love how Penny is able to take a pretty intense story and tell it from so many different angles. Total different facets of a story that I really can’t get out of my head. Now I need to read Home and Heist to see if Diane is able to re-enter Jennifer’s life…

Reid did a fantastic  job of fleshing Diane out and providing context to her behaviour. Coming from an abusive background and the decisions that she made, whilst not good, have a little more understanding. Plus, Cletus makes a few appearances, and I always love that. It reminds us that even villains sometimes have a great back story that make them relatable. Although, not every author can make them as sympathetic as Reid has managed to.

It was a whole lot of fun learning more about both Repo and Diane. It also highlights the ways in which the Iron Wraiths are completely falling apart. How good men can get tangled up in a bad situation, and how Jessica James can come from someone who seems the be kind of evil… I’m just hoping that Diane and Repo manage to make more appearances in the future books about Green Valley.

<- Beard in MindDr. Strange Beard ->

Image source: Amazon

Homecoming King by Penny Reid

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Homecoming King
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Three Kings #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

Fake relationship tropes are always good fun. But a fake marriage to your childhood obsession / crush? That meets whole new levels of awesome! Plus, Abbi is just all kinds of cute and fun. I particularly love her enjoyment in decorating for Halloween and Christmas. I seriously wish I had the creativity and motivation to be such a decorating whizz.

From the beginning, you know that Abbi has come from a fairly bad relationship. One in which she was definitely abused in some fashion, although it’s not clear how. And then when you FINALLY find out what actually happened, the fact that she was groomed and used so tragically is a little bit heartbreaking. God, it would put anyone off of dating. Which, of course is what leads to the whole fake marriage thing that gives us such a fun happily ever after.

Rex and Abbi’s ?re?Meet Cute was so much fun. I mean, pouring your ridiculously drunk past crush into the car and undressing him with gloves? That was pure romantic comedy. Which of course set the tone perfectly for this whole novel. A tale that is filled with fateful moments, some awkward blunders and a whole lot of sweetness. Particularly when you find out that all of those “dates” that Rex went on that ended up in a marriage, he totally planned out. I mean, could he get any cuter? The answer is that yes, yes he does.

I loved Homecoming King. It was not only a great fake marriage trope, but also a really sweet second chances romance. I love that it features leads who are just that little bit older and just that bit jaded. Plus, Abbi is just so beautifully quirky. I always love the quirky women in the lead, it’s so wonderfully easy to relate… now I can’t wait for Drama King to be released.

<- More Penny ReidDrama King ->

Image source: Amazon

Capture by Penny Reid

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Elements of Chemistry: Capture
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Hypothesis #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2015

Thoughts

This was such a beautiful ending to this trilogy. FINALLY, there is an ending without a horrible cliff-hanger. And Abe is introduced JUST enough for me to be curious about the happenings in Motion. I love that while this fast forwards from the happenings in Heat, there are still snapshots of the time that has passed. Basically, I just loved this whole story and the way that Kaitlyn and Martin’s story ends.

I had a few hopes that I mentioned in my Heat review. Hopes that Kaitlyn would stand up for herself and come into her own. That Martin would get over his assholery and be a better man… and they all came true. Which is honestly obvious from the very start. But I did love how a series of miscommunications drew out that final moment of reconnection. It meant that this was pretty much a cover to cover read for me.

Kaitlyn is such a gorgeous, loveable woman right through this series. Although I love how in this book she starts to figure out how to be the woman she wants. She renegotiated her relationship with her parents, particularly her mother. Figures out how to support herself in her chosen career, and just generally becomes a badass woman. It’s a little cliche that she is getting crushed on by multiple men, but it still emphasises her growing I to her own.

Mostly though it’s the way that Martin changes that made me incredibly happy. He doesn’t necessarily fundamentally change, but he does soften at the edges a bit. And, mostly, he gets so much better at listening to Kaitlyn and her desires. He makes room for someone else in his single mindedness. Which, of course, completely melted my heart. THIS is why I love Penny Reid so much.

<- HeatMotion ->

Image source: Goodreads

Attraction by Penny Reid

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Elements of Chemistry: Attraction
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Hypothesis #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2015

Thoughts

I wasn’t sure how I’d like this story, since it starts with a girl hiding in a closet, overhearing a drugging and exploitation plot. And then you meet Martin, and it doesn’t necessarily get easier to spend some literary time with him. Although, because it’s Penny Reid, once Martin makes his appearance, you are unequivocally pulled in. I might still be a bit iffy on him after reading this novel, but I’m also completely pulled in – I NEED to find out just WHY he is such a royal dick.

Kaitlyn is a fantastic counterpoint to Martin. She’s incredibly sweet and reserved. And although not comfortable with the “Bunsen burner in her pants” (what a great description), she does seem quite comfortable with herself. That doesn’t mean there is an iota of self-confidence there, but there is comfort and like of oneself.

There is a warning with this story that it does end on a cliff-hanger, so I was expecting that. But the cliff-hanger that it ended on? Wow. I wasn’t expecting that. Or the emotional intensity. I should have expected that from one of my favourite authors. Let’s be honest here. It makes it incredibly difficult not to pick up the next boom immediately. I lasted less than 24 hours before diving into Heat…

I must admit, Sam is an absolutely amazing beat friend. She makes sure Kaitlyn is safe and cared for. She looks out for her and stands up for her. She is the kind of best friend that I think every woman deserves. She’s also willing to set aside her own prejudices so that Kaitlyn is able to experience her own life without a strong, independent, female best friend to cramp her style. The support but willingness to have someone make their own mistakes is just gorgeous.

<- More Penny ReidHeat ->

Image source: Amazon

Heat by Penny Reid

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Elements of Chemistry: Heat
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Hypothesis #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2015

Thoughts

Like Attraction, this novel had a pretty untended cliff-hanger. Unlike Attraction, it was kind of horrible. And heartbreaking. And I actually felt my heart break a little bit. I mean I know that Martin and Kaitlyn are going to end up together eventually because… well, romance novel. But it still hurt to read this, and there’s that bit you think is the sad, cliff-hanger ending… and then it just gets worse.

I’m not going to lie, Martin’s background is kind of tragic, and it does hurt your heart. But that really doesn’t excuse his assholery behaviour. And some of his behaviour is seriously not okay. I’m seriously hoping that in Capture all of his mistakes make him realise that maybe he needs to pull back on his damn attitude. Having said that, I still completely loved him. He’s that bad boy trope that you can’t help but love.

To be fair, Kaitlyn’s family isn’t all that great either. At least there’s love there, but it is somewhat neglectful. I don’t love how the inability to communicate causes the horrible badness that ends this story either. But, there’s already moments of Kaitlyn figuring out who she is, so hopefully that continues in Capture. Actually, I probably look forward to Kaitlyn coming into her own more than I look forward to her and Martin finding their way back to each other.

As much as the breakup in this story sucks, I’m 100% behind Kaitlyn’s decision. It’s hard to imagine the heartbreak that she goes through, but Martin breaks so many unwritten relationship rules, it’s hard not to understand why she does it.

<- AttractionCapture ->

Image source: Amazon

Totally Folked by Penny Reid

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Totally Folked
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Good Folk: Modern Folktales #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

Even though Jackson is a bit of a douche from the moment you meet him in Beauty and the Mustache, I always found it kind of hard to dislike him. He definitely has his idiot quotient, but underneath, there’s always this sense of decency about him. That definitely shines through in Totally Folked. And shows me that I had reason to think good, happy thoughts about the man with his many appearances throughout the Winston Brothers series.

Aside from the romance, one of the things that stuck out the most to me was Jackson’s rationale for his approach to the Winston’s. In particular, there is a moment when he talks about Duane and his many, many speeding tickets. It’s kind of cool to see so much of that story and courtship from both sides. And yeah, I think that both sides had a lot of validity.

Reid also doesn’t shy away from the realities of being an emergency service worker and the horrors that they see. Something that I really appreciated. After all, sometimes being an emergency service worker is romanticised and glorified. It’s an amazing calling and I could wax poetic about the wonderful people who choose to pursue this, but it’s not all sunshine and roses. In fact, one of my favourite moments is when, towards the end of the book, Jackson finally admits that everything is not okay, and it was a sucky day.

Raquel and Jackson are a wonderful couple. And I love that when they both realise that this is REAL, they genuinely try to make compromises. It’s a fear I have for some people in my life, that that unwillingness to give a little will result in losing everything. Which, it almost does in this story, but, as with all good romances, it all ends up okay. With compromise!

<- Just Folking AroundFolk Around and Find Out ->

Image source: Amazon

Just Folking Around by Penny Reid

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Just Folking Around
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Good Folk: Modern Folktales #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I knew that Raquel and Jackson start out as a fling night, and then there’s the reception. But honestly, knew no more than that. Because you know, I like to avoid spoilers. I kind of thought that this fling moment would be hashed out in a short prologue that gives you the bare bones of the interactions. Instead, Reid granted us with this amazing novella that gives us SO MUCH MORE than I expected.

Rachel and Jackson are, indeed an incredibly cute couple. I love that Raquel is a little bit off kilter. Like most of us who are slightly odd, she is constantly censoring herself. I love how neurotic she is (kindred spirit much?) The constant censoring is way too familiar and incredibly sweet. But, I also love how she is able to release some of that control around Jackson.

This was a beautiful novella, one that I’m likely to read again and again. In part because I really loved the whole set chess thing. I might have to suggest this for my next date night…

<- More Penny ReidTotally Folked ->

Image source: Amazon

Always Only You by Chloe Liese

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Always Only You
Author: Chloe Liese
Series: Bergman Brothers #2
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: 2020

Thoughts

Hints of the depths of Ren’s unrequited love rear their head in Only When It’s Us, so I pretty much immediately dived straight into the novel. I mean, I loved the first story of the Bergman Brothers, so I figured why not jump straight into the second one. And, as predicated, it was just as wonderful and fantastic as predicted.

Liese did wonderfully in her description of living with a chronic illness, at least to my limited understanding. Frankie’s constant, daily battles to manage something that most of us couldn’t ever fathom make her completely loveable and adorable. As is the gradual understanding that her distance form her family is entirely chosen and of her own making. Every piece of information about her daily life made me fall more and more in love with her. And made it that much understandable why Ren has had his unrequited love.

Sometimes the whole loving from afar, unrequited loved can be a bit of a creepy storyline and trope. I mean, I find it generally frustrating that someone hasn’t shared their feelings. And it can be seriously creepy. Yet, Liese was able to make this incredibly sweet. Ren has totally sound reasons for keeping his mouth shut and his fascination somehow doesn’t feel creepy. I mean, he’s waiting, but he doesn’t just stop his life in the meantime.

This was pretty much a cover to cover read for me. I loved the whole Bergman clan, I loved the romance and found everything about it completely adorable. I also enjoyed listening to the play list as the story unfolded. Plus, once the romance started, there were a few challenges, but mostly it was just beautiful and all of the gooey feelings.

<- Only When It’s UsEver After Always ->

Image source: Goodreads