I can hardly believe that it is already May, but here we are. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I would be a liar and didn’t take a moment and say that I have been really struggling with my own mental health lately. It is very difficult to dig out from the lies that depressive/anxious brains like to lie about. But I am trying. Lots of things feel like impossible tasks and I’ve taken comfort in reading a lot more recently. I know that this is just a rough patch and there is light at the Continue Reading
Review: The Takeover Effect by Nisha Sharma
Billionaire/millionaire characters isn’t typically a trope that I enjoy. But I was interested to see how this new to me author might put a different spin on it. The blurb mentions an arranged marriage and I mistakenly thought that meant between the heroine, Mina, and the hero, Hem but it was about something else. Regardless, I really enjoyed this story. It is strong with the family connection, I love family sagas when they are done well and planting the seeds in interest in the secondary Continue Reading
Review: When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
You may remember that Cleeton is the author of two of my favorite books, Fly With Me and Next Year in Havana. When We Left Cuba is the follow up to NYIH and I have been excited about Beatriz’ story since last year. I found Beatriz Perez to be incredibly intriguing and she did not disappoint. Beatriz is smart and beautiful and a fighter. She is heartbroken about her family's relocation to Florida after Castro takes over Cuba. She is counting down the days until she can return to Cuba. Much Continue Reading
Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
I'm like a moth to a flame for any sort of epistolary romance, add in a single parent to the mix and basically it's almost like the book was written for me. And it was but also there was a lot of this book that made me unhappy. Before we go any further, please note that this book has heavy themes of sick children, death, grieving, and PTSD. If any of these are triggering to you, this book is not for you. The book does not have any content warnings and I wouldn’t want a reader to be surprised Continue Reading
Review: Three Little Kisses by Jenny Holiday
I think I have been hesitant to write about this book because I can't possibly formulate the appropriate words to tell you how incredibly good this book is. It was a fantastic close to a fantastic series. In previous books Gia didn't seem like she would be my favorite. Because I really love Jane. And adored Wendy. But Gia, oh man, Gia blew me away. She's lacking roots. She's struggling with her body. Struggled with who she is and where she fits it. She is a loyal friend. She is determined Continue Reading
Kini’s Friday Kisses
I finished two ARCs for upcoming releases, DNF one older book from my TBR, and I am 70% on another book. Snowy weekends allow lots of reading time. Overnight Sensation by Sarina Bowen- This is part of her Brooklyn Bruisers hockey series, which I have mostly enjoyed. This was a miss for me. Not enough that I DNF it, but I can’t say I truly enjoyed it. I did like seeing, even minimally, some of the characters from previous books. Heidi, the heroine, is kind of a Mary Sue. She is a Continue Reading
Kini’s Friday Kisses
The first part of the year hasn’t been great for reading for me. Just a lot of things going on. Nothing Personal by Karina Halle- I really enjoyed some of Halle’s earlier books, but either my reading preferences have changed a lot or she has changed her writing style. This book felt like a bit of a mess to me. I think it was supposed to be funny but I didn’t really find humor in it. The beginning was a bit heavy on calling women skanks (Nova’s ex cheated on her in Vegas with a Continue Reading
Kini’s Friday Kisses
I didn't get nearly as much reading done in the last week as I wanted to do. I vow to read at least one book over the New Year holiday though. The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson- This book had a cute blurb and was described as a cross between The Parent Trap (Lindsay Lohan version is my fave) and Miss Congeniality, which I also enjoyed. Sadly, the book was pretty much a disappointment. The heroine, Charlotte, is a librarian and ends up filling in for her sister in a beauty Continue Reading
Kini’s Friday Kisses
Pilot and the Puck-Up by Pippa Grant- I actually read this a few weeks ago but I forgot about it. It’s been a hectic month, what can I say. Grant can be a little much for me with her meta take on romance and just general over the topness, but I really enjoyed this book. Joey, the heroine was a sarcastic and smart heroine, one of my favorite kinds. Zeus is a not so dumb hockey player. He is instantly smitten with her. I loved the way their relationship builds. Zeus loves Joey for her strengths Continue Reading
Kini’s Friday Kisses
I managed to read to Holiday novellas this week and both were pretty cute. Merrily Ever After by Jenny Holiday. This is part of her Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series and probably better enjoyed if you have read at least one of the previous books. This one feature Elise and Jay who got married and the first book although the first book was not their love story. This was a cute and emotional holiday novella about a couple who is already married working through some things. This isn't a Continue Reading