Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan Young Adult May 4, 2021, by Inkyard Press Review by Melanie I don’t find myself reading too much YA but this delightful book made me want to change that. There’s so much I want to say about this book that I’m a little afraid my review might be all over the place. But before I start in on the actual bones of the review, I just want to address one thing really quickly: I related HARD to this book. Maybe it’s because of the similarities in our Continue Reading
Review: The Road to Rose Bend by Naima Simone
The Road to Rose Bend by Naima SimoneContemporary RomanceApril 27, 2021, by HQN Books Review by Melanie You might suspect, upon glancing at this rather bucolic cover, that this is a quiet, peaceful, drama-free romance...and you’d be wrong. This series starter introduces us to the town of Rose Bend, a charming little town nestled in the Berkshires that has all of the small-town coziness of a Hallmark Channel movie. But that’s really where the similarities end. Unlike the aforementioned Continue Reading
The Psy/Changeling Channel: Mine to Possess
Before we dive into this month’s Psy-Changeling recap, a quick note: this month’s book features a character who as a child was abused by her foster father. The abuse is in the past and mostly off-page with a little bit of recalling things that happened in the past. There’s also a secondary character who is abused on the page. We want to make sure if you’re following along with us and haven’t read these books yet, that you be made aware of anything that may trigger you. Melanie: That Continue Reading
Review: Hot Copy by Ruby Barrett
Hot Copy by Ruby BarrettContemporary RomanceApril 13, 2021, by Carina Press Review by Melanie I genuinely did not know how to start this review, to be honest. I’d heard so many things going into it, I was fully expecting to absolutely love this book and much to my dismay...I did not. First of all, the blurb and the cover do this book no favors. Both give off a lighthearted rom-com vibe but there is a whole heck of a lot of issues addressed in this book that could trigger a lot of Continue Reading
The Psy/Changeling Channel: Caressed by Ice
Melinda: We’re back with a completely new dynamic to explore this time around with Caressed by Ice and I know that we’ve both been really excited to get into this one! The first two books of the series featured male alpha changelings with female Psy but this time we get Judd, an emotionally closed off Psy, and Brenna, a volatile and strong changeling woman. I would not have described either of these two as gentle or easygoing...and yet. Melanie: Judd!!!! I remember loving this book back when Continue Reading
Review: When Tara Met Farah by Tara Pammi
When Tara Met Farah by Tara PammiBollywood Dance & Drama Society Book 1Contemporary RomanceJanuary 26, 2021 Review by Melanie A little bit about me before I delve into this review. I don’t DNF books lightly. In fact, I do everything in my power to resist DNF’ing a book. Ironically, I advise people to DNF on the regular because life is too short to force yourself to read a book that isn’t working for you. But rarely do I ever take that advice for myself. Having said all that, I almost Continue Reading
Review: Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron
Accidentally Engaged by Farah HeronContemporary RomanceMarch 2, 2021Forever Reviewed by Melanie A couple of chapters into this book, I quickly realized that it was maybe not a great idea to read this book on an empty stomach. So if you’re reading this review and contemplating reading this book (which you absolutely should read, btw), then consider this your first and only warning. Of the 38 chapters in this book, 30 of them mention food in some context, either just in passing or because Continue Reading
Joint Review: Love at First by Kate Clayborn
Love at First by Kate ClaybornContemporary Romance02/23/2021 by Kensington Joint review by Melinda and Melanie Melinda: Kate Clayborn has become one of the top contemporary authors for me that I look to for emotion and character development. I’ve come to appreciate the love and care that comes through with her writing so much. However, Love at First strikes an uneven tone for me and had flashes of that brilliance that I expect from her, but it didn’t feel like it was carried all Continue Reading
The Psy/Changeling Channel: Visions of Heat
Melinda: Phew, right out of the gate there is so much to talk about with this one and consent because touch and lack of consent is intrinsic to Faith's story. But I don't know that it could be told differently and still be the same story? Melanie: Wow, what a difference 2 years makes! I read this book for the first time almost exactly 2 years ago and while I didn’t love it as much as I loved the first book of the series even back then, I definitely think rereading it for a second time raised Continue Reading
Review: In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria MachadoMemoir November 5, 2019 by Graywolf Press Review by Melanie I listened to In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado and it was, quite simply, a beautiful experience. This is such an unusual book in so many ways - it’s a memoir but reads as fiction. It’s a domestic abuse narrative but it’s also poetry. It’s increasingly horrifying but it’s also lyrical on audio. This is one of those books I absolutely recommend you listen to, as it’s read by the Continue Reading