Book Review: Mistletoe Kisses by Marnie Blue

Mistletoe Kisses

Author: Marnie Blue
Publisher: Entangled: Lovestruck (October 22, 2018)
Kindle edition, 150 pages
Goodreads     |     Amazon

Summary
For Officer Justin Weaver, Christmas is the most hideous time of the year. To improve his “holiday cheer,” he’s been put on Officer Kringle duty, collecting toys for the Ho-Ho-Patrol.

It’s a week in holiday hell.

Worse, it comes with an elf—his little sister’s gorgeous best friend—but Lilly Maddox isn’t so little anymore. And as an annoyingly festive reporter looking to make her mark, she’s there to document his every move.

Justin’s always had a thing for Lilly, but he refuses to go there with her. Ever. Not after watching what his mom went through as a cop’s wife. But now that they’re trapped in his squad car, avoiding her just got a lot more complicated…

Book Review: The Decoy Date by Mira Lyn Kelly

The Decoy Date

Author: Mira Lyn Kelley

Series: The Wedding Date, book 4

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (December 4, 2018)

Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages

Goodreads     |     Amazon

SummaryFake relationship. Real feelings. Big problems.

Brody O'Donnel doesn't believe in happily-ever-afters—at least, not for himself. But he wants the best for his vivacious, beautiful friend Gwen Danes, and he's tired of watching her pine for a clueless man. Figuring a little bit of jealousy will motivate the guy, Brody proposes a fake relationship. It's an outrageous plan, but Gwen figures there's no harm in it—until they share a passionate kiss she never saw coming.

Suddenly, Gwen's fighting a growing attraction to a man she knows she can't have. After all, he's just faking it...isn't he?

Book Review: Pisces Hooks Taurus by Anyta Sunday

Pisces Hooks Taurus

Author: Anyta Sunday
Series: Signs of Love, book 4
Publisher: ? (October 14, 2018)
Kindle edition, 288 pages
Goodreads     |     Amazon

Summary
It’s a time for searching, and a time for finding, Pisces: keep casting your line and you will hook what you’re looking for.

Zane has it all planned out: land the perfect Meet Cute, fall in love, and live happily ever after.
Should be simple enough if he put his mind to it. A little creativity and some thinking outside of the box, and voila, he’d be married to the woman of his dreams.
It would be perfect.
And it would be before his visa ran out.

But why are his feelings running wild now that the pressure’s on? Why is his picture-perfect plan turning into a muddled mess of morphed metaphors he can’t make sense of anymore?

Just as well he’s met an English professor to help. And even though their first meet is anything but cute, this down-to-earth teacher may just be the realist Zane needs to ground him and give him a shot at love after all.

Don’t cast your line too wide, Pisces. Your perfect catch may already have bitten.

~ - ~ - ~

Pisces Hooks Taurus (Signs of Love #4) is an MM opposites-attract romantic comedy featuring an unapologetic romantic and a broken realist.
More wit, banter and bad puns - and even more heart-stopping slow burn!
Can be read as a standalone. 

Book Review: Sugar Spells by Lola Dodge

Sugar Spells

Author: Lola Dodge
Series: The Spellwork Syndicate, book 2
Publisher: InkMonster, LLC (October 30, 2018)
Kindle, 270 pages
Goodreads     |     Amazon

Summary
After her run-in with a jealous warlock, apprentice baker Anise Wise can’t wait to get back the kitchen where she belongs. But thanks to her brush with death, the land of the living isn’t all cupcakes and marshmallows.

Anise’s magical mojo is way out of whack and her evolving powers are stirring up trouble. As the town buzzes with news that Anise can bake deathly spells, unsavory characters start lining up for a taste. They’ll stop at nothing for the chance to use Anise and her witchcraft to further their own plots.

She plans to hole up researching magic recipes until the attention dies down, but then she discovers the horrifying terms of her bodyguard’s contract. Wynn has saved her life so many times, she can’t leave him trapped. But doing the right thing will mean risking death or worse—being cast out of her dream job.

For this witch, justice might not be as sweet as advertised.

Book Review: Wicked Nix by Lena Coakley

Wicked Nix

Author: Lena Coakley
Illustrator: Jaime Zollars
Publisher: Amulet Books (October 9, 2018)
Hardcover, 176 pages
Goodreads     |     Amazon     |     Barnes & Noble

Summary
Mischievous woodland fairy Nix is up to no good. His beloved fairy queen has gone away, leaving him with a very important job: He must protect the forest from a most dangerous enemy—humans.

When a determined invader trespasses on his territory, Nix’s skills are put to the test as he invents several wicked tricks to chase the sorry fellow away. But when his efforts don’t go quite according to plan, it becomes clear that this intruder—and this sprite—may not be at all what they seem.

Book Review: The Counterfeit Boyfriend by Cindi Madsen

The Counterfeit Boyfriend

Author: Cindi Madsen
Publisher: Cindi Madsen Books (June 25, 2018)

Goodreads   Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)

Summary
My twin brother’s talked me into a lot of crazy things, but taking his place on a road trip with his girlfriend so he can party with his friends is a whole new level of insanity. What’s even more insane is I somehow find myself agreeing to it—thanks, alcohol, guilt, and bribery. I’m determined to undo the arrangement, but then I meet Gwen, this sexy redheaded hurricane of energy and brains.

And then she kisses me. Just like that, I’m driving her up the coast, on our way to a wedding with a mess of complications. With each hour and each stop, I’m falling harder and harder for a woman who doesn’t know my actual name.

I’m trying to do the right thing. Or the lesser of the wrong things. All my life I’ve had to clean up my brother’s messes, but for the first time ever, I’ve landed the upper hand in one of our switcheroo schemes. Now I’ve just got to come clean and convince Gwen that I’m the brother she should be with.

Rating: 4 stars

Review
This book is so cheesy and unrealistic and I just adored it. It got off to a bit of a rocky start and I almost stopped reading it after the first chapter, but kept going in the hopes that I could count it for a particular category in a book bingo challenge I'm participating in. Turns out it didn't fit the book bingo category, but I'm glad I kept reading anyway! Counterfeit Boyfriend is told in the first person past tense, which seemed really odd to me and sometimes came off as feeling pretty awkward and cumbersome. The POV switched between Ethan and Gwen, and it's really interesting to get each of their viewpoint into what they're feeling and what's happening, and this way the reader really gets the full impact of the number of times/situations in which if the timing/wording/circumstances had just been a SMIDGE different, everything would have turned out in such a different way.

This book is fun fluff, and besides, I'm a sucker for both the road trip romance trope as well as the mistaken identity trope. Gwen and Ethan are so cute together, and the level of banter!

"I know you're strong and all, but you're not the Hulk."
"Are you sure about that? Have you ever seen me get angry enough to test that theory? I mean I'm not confirming or denying anything, but I'd also like to point out that you haven't seen me and Superman in the same room, either."

Later the whole Hulk/Superman thing comes up a couple more times, and it's just hilarious and touching and nerdy and I love it. This whole book is just a great summer beach read, and is great if what you're looking for a cheesy trope-y fluffy romp, with a dollop of heartbreak, a sprinkle of grand gestures, and a whole heck of a lot of happy-ever-after.

Children's Books ~ Mini Reviews: Magic Words, Lily Pond, Watermelon Madness

Magic Words From the Ancient Oral Tradition of the Inuit

by Edward Field
Pub Date 01 Sep 2013
Children's Fiction

Magic Words is a modern translation (1965) of a very old Inuit creation story by nationally known poet Edward Field. As a poem it captures beautifully the intimate relationship this Arctic people have with their natural world.

Magic Words describes a world where humans and animals share bodies and languages, where the world of the imagination mixes easily with the physical. It began as a story that told how the Inuit people came to be and became a legend passed from generation to generation. In translation it grew from myth to poem. The text comes from expedition notes recorded by Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen in 1921. Edward Field got a copy from the Harvard Library and translated it into English.

Book Review: Only With You (Man Enough #4) by Nicole McLaughlin

Only With You

Author: Nicole McLaughlin
Series: Man Enough, Book 4
Publisher: Swerve
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Amazon   Goodreads


Summary
The men in Nicole McLaughlin’s Man Enough series are tough Alphas devoted to serving their country and the women who love them.
National Guardsman Aiden King has been attracted to Hannah Walters for a while, but he never made a move because of her close relationship with his best friend. But when circumstances change, Aiden is surprised when his friend gives his blessing. Problem is, there’s a reason he’s still alone after all these years, and as much as he wants her, that secret keeps him from acting on his desires.
Hannah has finally decided to wait for the kind of love you read about in books and see in movies. After her failed engagement, Aiden’s unassuming support has become a touchstone for Hannah. It soon becomes apparent that he may be exactly the kind of man she’s been looking for. But the closer they become, the more he keeps her at arm’s length.When Aiden suggests a road trip to take Hannah’s mind off her troubles, the two of them go on a journey neither one expected. She just hopes that the final destination is them together for good.

Book Review: Like Cats and Dogs by Alexis Stanton

Like Cats and Dogs

Author: Alexis Stanton
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Publication Date: April 17, 2018
Kindle, 268 pages
Amazon   Goodreads

Summary
Laura is drifting through life.

Spencer has the next decade perfectly planned.

Laura loves her dog Frank.

Spencer pampers his cat Mozart.

Both humans have nothing in common, but when there's a mix-up with a vacation rental house, they're suddenly stuck together.

At first, they fight like cats and dogs. Yet they can't deny that opposites definitely attract. Can they find a way to share a roof without driving each other crazy...or falling in love?

This funny, feel-good romance contains a free Hallmark original recipe for S'mores Waffles.

Book Review: Making Up (London Celebrities #3) by Lucy Parker

Making Up

Author: Lucy Parker
Series: London Celebrities, Book 3
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: May 28, 2018
ebook, 245 pages
Amazon  Goodreads

Summary: Once upon a time, circus artist Trix Lane was the best around. Her spark vanished with her confidence, though, and reclaiming either has proved…difficult. So when the star of The Festival of Masks is nixed and Trix is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight, it’s exactly the push she needs. But the joy over her sudden elevation in status is cut short by a new hire on the makeup team.

Leo Magasiva: disgraced wizard of special effects. He of the beautiful voice and impressive beard. Complete dickhead and—in an unexpected twist—an enragingly good kisser.

To Leo, something about Trix is…different. Lovely. Beautiful, even though the pint-size, pink-haired former bane of his existence still spends most of her waking hours working to annoy him. They’ve barely been able to spend two minutes together for years, and now he can’t get enough of her. On stage. At home. In his bed.

When it comes to commitment, Trix has been there, done that, never wants to do it again. Leo’s this close to the job of a lifetime, which would take him away from London—and from Trix. Their past is a constant barrier between them.

It seems hopeless.

Utterly impossible.

And yet…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

“You know, when you’re not annoying the hell out of me, you might be my favourite person.”

Good lord, the chemistry between Trix and Leo is dynamite. I can't even start to say all the things I absolutely love about this book. Trix is an amazing spitfire, pink-haired, little pixie of a woman, who has some scars and issues she's dealing with that make her that much more real. Plus she's an aerialist in this awesome sounding show that sounds like Shakespeare meets Cirque du Soleil, so what's not to love? (I have a weakness for the circus arts, I will admit.)

Leo is also a gorgeous creature that I want to lick- wait, what? I mean, that is fully formed and wonderful. I love the way he cares so much about his sister (even when she's being a brat), and the way he calls Trix "Tinkerbell," and the way he's self-conscious about his hot body, and… Oh man, the list goes on. This is an AMAZING enemies to lovers romance that I just could not get enough of. And they're both such nerds, geeking out about the same show, drawing little barbed comics of each other and slipping them under each others' doors… Ugh, be still my heart. Fan of enemies to lovers romances, definitely check this one out right now. If you loved Sally Thorne's The Hating Game , definitely check out Making Up.

This is the third book in the London Celebrities series, but can be read as a stand alone. Trix's best friend Lily is the leading lady in the second book in the series, Pretty Face , so there are some minor spoilers for that book in this one (but not really anything you don’t know from reading the back cover of her book…) And since this book is AMAZING, book one is called Act Like It  and is available for only $0.99 on Amazon, so you can go read it before Making Up comes out on May 28. ;)

Book Review: Mad & Marvelous (Sassy Boyz #4) by Elizabeth Varlet

Mad & Marvelous

Author: Elizabeth Varlet
Series: Sassy Boyz, Book 4
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: May 7, 2018
Amazon  Goodreads

Summary: Hop Lovette isn’t afraid to take risks. Being the bastard son of New York royalty has never given him anything but heartache. So when the Sassy Boyz land a contract at club Switch, he knows it’s only a matter of time before his marvelous world is turned on its head: the owner is his childhood rival.

Rafe Marson owes Hop’s father everything, and he’s on a mission to repay his debts. Nothing will stand in his way—not even a wild, beautiful, maddening blast from his past. Not even when Hop stirs up feelings better left dormant. Not even when Hop begs to be taken.

When opportunity knocks, Hop is the one who needs to step up and help Rafe. But working together without being together is harder than they thought—and when everything they’ve been working toward is threatened, Rafe will need to prove that true love is one in a million.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: HOLY HANNAH. I've been thinking about adding some sort of heat level rating to my romance reviews, like sweet, simmering, steamy, holy Hannah. I think I'd need to add an extra level to it for this one - surface of the sun. DANG this book is hot, in all its BDSM kinky glory.

The best part is it's not "just" smut. I don't really go in for pure erotica; I like my romances to have a plot, fully fleshed character who go through some sort of character development, and a Happily Ever After (or at least a Happy For Now). Mad & Marvelous totally delivers in all areas.

Hop is glorious; a graceful tornado with cotton candy hair. I love how vulnerable and damaged he is, but at the same time so strong, determined, and vibrant. I love all of the Sassy Boyz (but what a stupid name for their dance group...) and their friendship with each other was so wonderful to read. Plus the descriptions of their looks and outfits and dances are HOT. I love the androgyny and freedom of the group, and how they play up their sexuality however the hell they want to.

Rafe is also amazing, with a complex history that makes him the man he is and makes him struggle so hard. I do wish we'd gotten a little more of his sister in this book, because she seemed like she would probably be pretty dang awesome.

There is a high level of kink in this book, and I love that it depicts a BDSM relationship in such a positive and healthy way, where the Dom cares for and is attentive to the needs and desires of his Sub. There are too many relationships or sexual encounters that are downright just abusive that are presented under the label "BDSM" that give the whole (genre? category? class?) a bad name, so I'm always glad to see healthy BDSM relationships depicted in media. I also really appreciate that Hop is so confused about the way he feels, about his needs and desires, and learns more about himself and coming to terms with who he is throughout this book. Lots and lots of pretty graphic, highly kinky sex scenes - don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

This is the fourth book in the Sassy Boyz series, but can be read as a stand alone with very minor spoilers for the earlier books. Now I need to go read the others in the series right now, starting with Sassy Boyz #1, Fierce & Fabulous .

Book Review: Shoot the Messenger (Messenger Chronicles #1) by Pippa DaCosta

Shoot the Messenger

Author: Pippa DaCosta
Series: Messenger Chronicles, Book 1
Publisher: Crazy Ace Publishing
Published: February 22, 2018
Kindle Edition, 285 pages
Rating: 5 Stars
★★★★★
Goodreads  Amazon

Summary: "Lies aren't her only weapons against the fae..."

In the Halow system, one of Earth’s three sister star systems, tek and magic—humans and the fae—are at war.

Kesh Lasota is a ghost in the machine. Invisible to tek, she’s hired by the criminal underworld to carry illegal messages through the Halow system. But when one of those messages kills its recipient, Kesh finds herself on the run with a bounty on her head and a quick-witted marshal on her tail.

Proving her innocence should be straightforward—until a warfae steals the evidence she needs. The fae haven’t been seen in Halow in over a thousand years. And this one—a brutally efficient killer able to wield tek—should not exist. But neither should Kesh.

As Kesh’s carefully crafted lie of a life crumbles around her, she knows remaining invisible is no longer an option. To hunt the fae, to stop him from destroying a thousand-year-long fragile peace, she must resurrect the horrors of her past.

Kesh Lasota was a ghost. Now she’s back, and there’s only one thing she knows for certain. Nobody shoots the messenger and gets away with it.

A new space fantasy reverse harem series where the guys are hot, the perils are many, and one rebel messenger holds the key to the survival of the human race.

REVERSE HAREM INFO: The Messenger Series is a slow burn reverse harem space-fantasy adventure. This series contains sexual encounters with multiple partners. The harem develops during the series.

Review: Upon finishing a book, I like to rate and shelve it on Goodreads, and my usual placeholder review is something alone the lines of "Review coming soon." I think it says a lot about this book that my placeholder review was "My heart. I can’t... words... Review to come later... once I can see again through this sheen of tears. Ack."

I'm still not even sure how to begin reviewing this book. I can't even peg the genre. The blurb touts it as being "a slow-burn reverse harem space fantasy adventure" romance. Apparently the reverse harem develops over the course of the series, as there isn't actually much romance in the book. It's set in this future society where we've advanced our society to space, but also has a sort of alternate reality where the fae are a part of the human history, so it's sci-fi, but it's also fantasy? But also romance. Oh, and with a sort of mystery element too. And adventure. But also paranormal/paranormal romance? But with a sort of steampunk, sort of western feel, sort of urban fantasy. ...Genre party! ALL THE GENRES!

This was my first book by Pippa DaCosta, but now I need to go check out her back catalog. And I also need the next book in this series, preferably injected directly into my veins RIGHT NOW. There is so much to recommend this book. The world building is amazing, the dialogue is witty and sharp, and Kesh is bad ass who doesn't take crap from anybody while walking around in a sweet pocket-filled techno duster that can disguise her and carrying a chain whip charged with magic. Add to that the bad ass warfae out to frame her for murder who has kidnapped her best-friend-slash-droid, a hot marshal (read: old west cop but in space, also with a sexy duster) who is more than he appears, and a caged and exiled (also sexy) fae, and you can see the beginnings of this reverse harem starting to build up. Oh, also, holy plot twists, Batman. I got so emotionally invested in this book and in Kesh and the other characters, and then right at the end it was like Pippa DaCosta reached her hand inside my chest and ripped out my cracked and broken heart. (...Which is fitting, actually). I felt like I needed to go find some tape and try to put my heart back together after finishing this book. That's after resisting the mighty urge to fling my kindle across the room and sob broken heartedly into a pillow.

So yes! Read this book and be forever ruined, like me! I make it sound kind of awful, but it's that really good kind of pain, where you're like "Oh God, I can't take it! ...Give me the next book right now so you can continue sticking pins into my heart, Pippa DaCosta!"

Book Review: Sit, Stay, Love (Rescue Me #2) by Debbie Burns

Sit, Stay, Love

Author: Debbie Burns
Series: Rescue Me, Book 2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Expected Publication: April 3, 2018
Paperback, 416 pages
Rating: 4 Stars
★★★★☆
Goodreads  Amazon

Summary: These dogs aren't the only ones in need of rescue
For devoted no-kill shelter worker Kelsey Sutton, rehabbing a group of rescue dogs is a welcome challenge. Working with a sexy ex-military dog handler who needs some TLC himself? That's a different story.
Kurt Crawford keeps his heart locked away from everyone. Well, everyone except the dogs who need his help...and always have his back. But as Kurt gets to know the compassionate, beautiful woman he's been assigned to work with, he can't help but feel a little puppy love...

Review: This book was great on so many levels. Kelsey and Kurt are both great characters dealing with issues from their pasts, as well as trying to do their best to get through each day and build a better future. I love Kelsey's history with depression, her rainbow color-of-the-day T-shirts, and how she takes one of the shelter dogs home with her each night. I appreciate the amount of diversity in this book - Kurt is dealing with PTSD, Kelsey struggles with depression, Patrick (a wonderful side character) has Asperger's.

The romance storyline doesn't really feel front and center of this book to me. It splits its focus on Kurt dealing with his PTSD, his family issues, and the loss of his grandmother;  running rehab for 37 dogs rescued from a dog fighting ring in a falling apart mansion, with a specific focus on a few of the individual dogs' stories, as well as issues with protesters and the like; the relationship with Ida (another really great side character). There are also many themes of fate in this book, which at times got a little sappy for me. The sex scenes are also told in a very fade-to-black manner, so this book is definitely more sweet than steamy. At times it got a little too saccharine sweet for me, which is what inevitably made me rate it 4 stars instead of 5. The writing is great, I loved the characters and the world they built, and this book make me want to go adopt a cat exactly like Mr. Longtail.

This is the second book in the Rescue Me series, but can be read as a stand alone novel. The first book, A New Leash on Love, is about Megan and Craig who do feature some as side characters in this novel, but the spoilers are really limited to things you already know from reading romance (i.e. that they wind up together and live happily ever after). There is also some set up that makes me really hopeful that the next book will be about Tess and Patrick.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Little Library by Kim Fielding

The Little Library

Author: Kim Fielding
Publisher: ?TBD?

Expected publication: approx. March 26th 2018

Kindle Edition, 290 pages 

Rating: 4 stars

★★★★☆
Goodreads  Amazon

Summary: Elliott Thompson was once a historian with a promising academic future, but his involvement in a scandal meant a lost job, public shame, and a ruined love life. He took shelter in his rural California hometown, where he teaches online classes, hoards books, and despairs of his future.

Simon Odisho has lost a job as well—to a bullet that sidelined his career in law enforcement. While his shattered knee recovers, he rethinks his job prospects and searches for the courage to come out to his close-knit but conservative extended family.

In an attempt to manage his overflowing book collection, Elliott builds a miniature neighborhood library in his front yard. The project puts him in touch with his neighbors—for better and worse—and introduces him to handsome, charming Simon. While romance blooms quickly between them, Elliott’s not willing to live in the closet, and his best career prospects might take him far away. His books have plenty to tell him about history, but they give him no clues about a future with Simon.

 

Review: I appreciated how realistic this story seemed. So many romances are about two super-hot main characters, but this one is about a somewhat gangly (but still lean and hot, don't get me wrong) runner-slash-book hoarder and a short, muscular ex-cop with a knee injury and some extra pudge around his middle. Elliot and Simon are both flawed, which makes them much more real and accessible. Elliot has his horrible past relationship and his book hoarding tendencies, while Simon has his bum knee and hasn't come out to his family yet, and they both are trying to figure out what to do with their futures now that their past plans have been smashed to smithereens. Their first dates are awkward and their sex is sometimes bumbling and messy (and not in the sexy-messy way, but in a much more normal every day sort of way). It's like instead of reading some glossy highly-idealized romance with a shirtless Fabio on the cover, you're reading the story of your neighbor down the street. It's fantastic and a really refreshing point of view.

I love that Elliot builds his little neighborhood library to help with his book hoarding tendencies, and that the start to find ways to deal with his pain and his problems besides buying more books. As something of a book hoarder myself, and someone who finds comfort in buying more books even though my physical TBR bookshelf is taking over my house (to say nothing of the books I've actually read, and let's not even think about the virtual mountains of ebooks…) I really connected to Elliot. And as a passionate reader, I felt so touched and proud right along with him when people showed such an active interest in his little library and his books. As part of the bookish community, I also know this connection with other people who love books as much as I do, and how such an introverted hobby can be turned into something so wonderful to connect with other like-minded people. I also felt heartbroken with Elliot when someone vandalizes his library, and had a stupid smile on my face at the resolution of this story. I became so emotionally invested in the lives of these people who could totally be my neighbors (if, y'know, they didn't live in California and I lived half the country away in Minnesota, not to mention that they're fictional… but that's just semantics).

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

 

 

Book Review: The Secret of Flirting (Sinful Suitors #5) by Sabrina Jeffries

The Secret of Flirting

Series: Sinful Suitors, Book 5
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Publisher: Pocket Books
Expected publication: March 27th 2018
Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages
Rating: 4 Stars
★★★★☆
Goodreads  Amazon

Summary: The moment spymaster Baron Fulkham meets the stunning Princess Anne of Chanay, he's positive her royal persona is a ruse and that she's actually Monique Servais, the mysterious actress he met three years before in Dieppe. But as he pursues his suspicions, he uncovers a plot of attempted assassination and betrayal that could very well destroy his career, expose his own secrets...and ruin the woman he's rapidly coming to love.

The Secret of Flirting is a sizzling historical romance filled with fast-paced storytelling, an enchanting heroine, and a sexy hero, perfect for fans of Regency romance.

Review: I love the premise of this book. The Princess of Chanay is in the running to be the new Queen of Belgium, but she's fallen suddenly ill so her long-lost cousin, the French actress Monique who bears a striking resemblance to the real princess, is called upon to take the princess's place... Ooh, intrigue! The potential for mistaken identities to wreak havoc! My catnip. :)

I liked Monique a lot. She's such a strong woman, as well as caring so much for her grandmother. I do love a feisty leading lady, and I love the way she repeatedly challenges Gregory. Him, I had more problems with, but I appreciate the growth he goes through as he realizes that by shutting his emotions away to avoid painful memories, he is also shutting out the positive emotions like joy and love. Both of them let their own pride, insecurity, and fear get in the way of what they both really want, and there were a few moments that my heart positively ached for these somewhat star-crossed lovers. I also really liked the inclusion of Lady Ursula and her situation, as you don't often see many [spoilers removed] in Regency romances.

There was a section of this book where Gregory kept calling Monique "my sweet" in every dang sentence, which was like nails on a chalkboard to me for some reason. Ugh. For the most part, though, this book kept me enthralled and I hated to put it down, and I now must immediately go read the first four books in the series.

This is the fifth book in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. Characters from the previous books are minor side characters in this one, and the only real benefit to reading the other books first would be so you're not horribly confused about all these established couples chattering about. The epilogue also sets up a bit the idea that the sixth book will be about Gregory's friend Hart.

Book Review: Baking Lessons (Off Guard #2) by Katie Allen

Baking Lessons

Series: Off Guard, Book 2

Author: Katie Allen

Publisher: Carina Press

Expected Publication date: March 12th 2018

Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 254 pages
Rating: 4 Stars

 

Links

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble
 



 

Summary: A free-spirited baker becomes the best kind of mess in her uptight landlord’s perfectly ordered life in this next installment of the Off Guard series by Katie Ruggle writing as Katie Allen

Leah loves everything about her bakery—the heavenly smells, the satisfaction of feeding people and, of course, unlimited cookies. The only thing she doesn’t like is her uptight landlord’s daily visits. Sure, the man’s drop-dead gorgeous, but for someone with an insatiable taste for treats, he’s anything but sweet.

Army vet Hamilton knows he comes off as rigid. He just can’t seem to bite his tongue around Leah—he might be a virgin but he can imagine a dozen better ways to use his mouth. But when the woman he considers absolutely delicious is threatened by an unwanted admirer, Hamilton intervenes, captivating Leah with his softer side.

Now the man Leah couldn’t avoid is swiftly becoming the one she can’t resist. Unrelenting temptation soon overwhelms them both, leading to an indulgence in everything they’ve been craving. But when past actions bring a fallout neither imagined, they’ll be forced to confront whether their affair is half-baked—or something to savor forever.

 

Review: The first few chapters of this book had me making weird faces as I tried not to grin like an idiot. I basically highlighted the whole dang first chunk of the book on my Kindle. There are just so many great, witty bits of dialogue! I am a desperate foodie so I loved reading all the descriptions about baking and life owning and running a bakery. Leah and Hamilton's back and forth and banter are glorious, and I love their weird little dance of courtship (and Hamilton's horny octopus arms).

"Don't be a baby. Just eat it."
"You eat it."
"I'm not eating it. It's an abomination."

---

"What?"
"What what?"
"You're looking at me."
"Yes. It's one of my favorite things to do."

The only thing I didn't care for as much was some of the language during the sex scenes was off-putting for me (I don't know why, the word "pussy" just bothers me), but oh boy are the sex scenes HOT. Ai!

I love Leah, she's definitely a girl after my own heart. She's the perfect blend of sugar and sass, and she attempts to bribe people with baked goods (though she feeds them anyway even if they don't do what they want - not terribly effective, Leah!) She's friendly and fun, and the way she twits Hamilton before she really gets to know him is hilarious. On that note, Hamilton is wonderful. I love how socially awkward he is, and that's he's a super hot stud with zero social skills. He's so clueless, but he tries so hard to be learn and be perfect. He's clearly super-smart and Allen's characterization of him makes me wonder if he's somewhere on the autism spectrum, possibly Asperger's? I'm also not sure whether to tag this as plus-sized heroine or not, because a few of the descriptions of Leah make it sound like she could be plus-sized, but maybe I'm reading into that because I want her to be...

Do not hug him. Do not hug him. It would not be welcomed. Do not hug him, even though he is the most adorable thing in the world, and he just proudly smiled at his ladybug cookie like he's never made sugar cookies before...

This is the second book in the Off Guard series, but it can be read as a stand alone and really only has a very brief passing mention of the main character of the first book, Acting Lessons. That being said, I'm definitely going to go back and read the first book now, and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series as well!

**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Mini Reviews: (Middle Grade) The Cozies, Krista Kim-Bap, The Toad Who Loved Tea

I've read several middle grade and children's books so far this year, but I don't always have a big long review to say about them so I haven't been posting each with their own review. (Plus there are so many YA and adult novels I want to review, and there are only so many days in the week!) So I thought I'd try out a post with several "mini reviews" for these shorter books. Let me know what you think of this format, yeah?

The Cozies: The Legend of Operation Moonlight

Author: T.L. Fischer
Illustrator: Kory Fluckiger

Kindle Edition, 172 pages

Published October 22nd 2017 by BookBaby

Rating: 4 Stars
★★★★☆
Goodreads  Amazon  Barnes & Noble

Review: Really cute juvenile fiction book reminiscent of The Borrowers with cute imaginary creatures. Starts off a little slow but was very enjoyable. I would have adored this book when I was about 12.

Krista Kim-Bap

Author: Angela Ahn

Paperback, 183 pages

Expected publication: April 18th 2018 by Second Story Press

Rating: 5 Stars
★★★★★
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Review: I really loved this story. Krista is eleven and I felt like the reading difficulty was appropriate for that 10+ age range, while at the same time introducing themes of culture, family, friendship, growing up, and self discovery. I also am slightly obsessed with Korean food, so I loved all the great descriptions of Korean food and culture in this book. This book is definitely accessible for a young audience, but at the same time I really enjoyed reading it at age 32 as well. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more by Angela Ahn.

The Toad Who Loved Tea

Author: Faiz Kermani

Paperback, 62 pages

Published January 28th 2018 by Matador

Rating: 2 Stars
★★☆☆☆
Goodreads  Amazon  Barnes & Noble
Review: I’m confused as to whom this book is targeted. It’s about a toad who infiltrates a human tea shop and steals people’s tea, eventually learning to talk and be their mascot. It should be geared at early readers but the language is way too high level for the age that would enjoy the content (eg names like Lady Lobsterpants and Baroness Blabberbelly). I could understand the more advanced language if it was set up as a picture book that someone would read to a 6-8 year old, but it’s set up like an early reader chapter book with very short chapters and few pictures.


*I received copies of each of these books from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: New Heights by Quinn Anderson

Rating: 4 Stars

Expected publication: March 12th 2018 by Riptide Publishing
Summary: After attending a friend’s wedding in New York, James Thompson is eager to go home, even though no one will be waiting for him at the gate. He has no expectations for his trip back to Charleston other than long lines, security, and bad airplane food. But when an annoying—albeit hot—stranger cuts him in line, James is determined not to be a pushover for once.

For Mika “It’s Mee-kuh, not Micah” Bailey, today’s just another day of boring work travel. That is, until his flight gets delayed, and some irritating (but handsome) guy keeps hogging all the good power outlets. Which means war. In the middle of an airport. In New York. What could go wrong?

Eventually, they declare a truce, and as they get to know each other, their attraction overwhelms them both. Terrified of what he’s feeling, Mika suggests a no-strings hookup, but serial-monogamist James wants more. If they don’t fight for what’s right in front of them, their romance might be canceled before it ever takes off.
(from Goodreads)

Review: This is a cute romance about two totally opposite (or are they?) guys who are both stuck in an airport in New York City waiting for their delayed flight. Everyone is pretty dang crabby to be stuck there, as you can imagine, and hilarity ensues. I love the opposites attract element to this story (with a dash of enemies to lovers), while at the same time James and Mika aren't opposites so much as two differently shaped puzzle pieces that fit together. (I definitely think James is an edge piece...) Their bumps and misunderstandings feel authentic, and while this definitely has a big dollop of insta-love to it, having both characters acknowledge how bizarre and crazy their immediate attraction is helps me be a little more ok with that. I love that Mika brings out the sass and strength in James, and in turn James helps ground Mika. They're just so great together.

This was a really quick read, I'm not sure if that's because it's actually short or if it's just because I refused to put it down until I'd read the whole thing.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Riptide Publishing in exchange for my honest review.