I feel like it has been forever since I talked about what I was reading! I looked back and it has been a few weeks, but I am back now. Here’s what I read recently.
What Matters More by Liora Blake– I picked this up because I have read and enjoyed all of her previous books.
For the most part I found this book boring and lacking emotional connection. Too much emotional stuff happened off page. That is annoying to me. There was a fair amount of sex though if that is something you are looking for :)
I read this in late May and as I write this on 6/13, I honestly can’t remember what the book was about even after referring to my notes. So I guess this book was enjoying enough at the time I read it but not enough to retain it a few weeks later.
Rebel (Women Who Dare #1) by Beverly Jenkins– This story centers around Val, a teacher in New Orleans and Drake an architect from a prominent family in New Orleans. They meet when Drake helps her out of a bad situation. I really enjoyed the setting of post-Civil War and as always Jenkins fills a fictional story with non-fictional things from the time period.
When the story begins Val is engaged to another man and there are some things that happen that some readers may not appreciate but it is pretty clear early on that something is not quite right with Val’s relationship with her intended as it is not a love match. As an interesting aside Drake has a mistress and I would have liked to have seen that dynamic explored a little more. It tied up very neatly and I like things messy.
Overall I enjoyed the story and was invested in Val and Drake getting their HEA. I look forward to more in this series.
Crazy Cupid Love by Amanda Heger– I picked this up after seeing that Amanda participated in the Romantic Comedy panel at BookCon earlier this month. I had a vague recollection of seeing this book cover earlier this year and couldn’t remember why I didn’t read it. Romantic Comedy is my JAM. I looked up the blurb and saw the references to mythology and knew that is why I didn’t read it sooner. Mythology is not my strong suit. Y’all know I hardly ever read outside of contemporary. I avoid paranormal. But in the effort of trying to expand my reading habits I figured I would give it a try. So I bought it.
If I remember correctly, this is what I posted on my Instagram after reading it- It was cute, a little silly, and feminist AF.
I really enjoyed this book. The heroine, Eliza/Liza, is a “cupid”. She thinks she is really bad at it so she has avoided participating in that part of her life. Due to some family issues, she has to step in and help her family’s struggling cupid business. Along the way she reconnects with a man from her past, Jake. He is also a cupid and ends being her mentor. They have to battle some internal and external villains and it was a fun read. I definitely look forward to reading more from Heger.
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston– Y’all this book left me with some complicated feelings. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. It is in 3rd person, present tense, and only one POV. That was hard to get into, but once I did it was fine.
The main characters are in their early 20’s and they behaved accordingly. They were reckless and angsty and although it was appropriate and authentic is one of the main reasons I don’t read much new adult. I can’t handle it. LOL
This book is heavy in to politics. Particularly the US election. If that is too much for you right now, this book is probably not for you.
One of the main characters, Alex, discovers he is bisexual as his attraction grows towards Henry, aka the Prince of England. There is a lot of suspension of belief happening in this book about the first son of the US president and the Prince of England meeting and how they go about it.
There is an epistolary component to this book as Alex and Henry send each other texts and lengthy emails. But seriously, EMAILS! See above where I said they were reckless.
Overall the book was mostly entertaining and I was invested in their HEA. There was a side character Zahra who I am very interested in getting her story. We do get some of it but I want it all.
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