a_stylish_bookworm's Reviews (1.53k)

** spoiler alert ** Thank you @prhaudio @berkleyromance for a copy of this book. 

There were parts of the book that I enjoyed but the main thing for me that made it a 2 star were:
- I felt like I was reading a book with cheating 
- lack of communication between Scarlett and Lukas
- why Penelope pushed Scarlett and Lukas and then gets mad 

I enjoyed the competitive swimming aspect and how they were both so dedicated not only to the sport but to their future in medicine as well. The appearance of Olive and Adam was a nice surprise as well. 

Therese Plummer and Ben Holtzmuller did a great job on the duet narration.

Thank you @prhaudio @berkleyromance for a copy of this book.

This was such a fun debt rom com. This was a bit of Planes, Trains and Automobiles vibes. The meet cute/disaster between Jack and Ada started the book with such a fun setting. It was a lot of fun to see their madness to make it to Ada's sister's wedding. A lot happens on this trip and there's some fake dating and forced proximity.

I enjoyed how the story played out so it wasn't insta love and made me appreciate Ada and Jack so much more. As always, Brittany Presley did an amazing job with bringing this story to life.

 liked the idea of the story with Liam, the IT guy for F1 racing and Sophie, the daughter of rival team owner. Liam is older and is instantly attracted to Sophie who is young and innocent. He discover her list of things she wants to do and decides to help her. 

I like that they began as friends through the racing season and the tension between them are great. Sophie just seemed a bit too immature and needed to grow a bit for me. As for Liam, he just seemed like a horny guy and didn't haven't much depth.

This book had total The Wedding Planner movie vibe. We have Ali who is at crossroads with her life and recently moved back home and interning to be a wedding planner. Her big project is no other than a sweet couple that she had connection to the groom in college. 

Graham and Ali are forced to work together for wedding planning while Graham's fiancé needs to go back to NYC for her job. 

I really enjoyed Ali and Graham's character growth. Ali's family added humor to the story as well. What bother me the most is that the whole story felt like a temptation to cheat. There were so many opportunities for Graham to have those conversations and didn't. 

Thank you @smpromance for a copy of this.

I really enjoyed Love, Naturally and was excited to be back in Smile. Though this is the second in the series, this can be read as a standalone. 

This is a second chance, single mom romance with Jilly and Levi. Levi returns home to help his father who recently had surgery. While home, he runs into Jilly and old feelings brews. 

I enjoyed their time together to get and also the time that Levi spends with her daughter.

I do have some issues with some of the plot, like her parents' dropping a big surprise and her brothers hiring someone without consulting her when they are a tight knit family. I also wished that the book was not written 3rd person POV, I don't feel as vested in the story. 

Thank you @smpromance for a copy of the book.

This is the 4th in the series and can be read as a standalone. This is a small town second chance romance between Billie and Marcus. 

We have Billie who helps with Books and Beans as their baker and Marcus, an ex that hasn't been back in town in 10 years. We see how they are still so drawn to each other not the main rub is Marcus does not want
To stay in this hick town. 

We learn more about their past as well as Marcus' reason for staying away. I was rooting for them and wanted to knock some sense into Marcus with his attitude about his home town. 

The supporting characters added depth to the story and I was happy for their HEA. Now I need to go and read the rest of the series. 

Carly Robins did a great job on pacing and narration and bringing the story to life. 

Thank you @dreamscape_media for a copy of the audiobook.

DNF at 20%. I haven't read the other books in this series and may try to read it in order to see if I will enjoy it. 

There was just too many characters for me to keep track on audio. 

Thank you @dreamscape_media for the audiobook. 

Thank you @prhaudio @berkleyromance for a copy of this book. 

This book is in the same universe as Out on a Limb and can be read as a standalone. This story is about a marriage in crisis between Sarah and Caleb. High school sweethearts, they end up going away for a hiking trip after a disastrous gala. 

The story felt so real with a couple that questions their individuality and self reflection as they have been
together for so long. We get to see Sarah and Caleb as kids and how they got together as well as their time at the retreat. 

The story centers on Sarah and a lot of grief with her mom. I wished we got Caleb's POV - without it, his character felt a little flat. 

I enjoyed the counselor in the story that helped their journey. Victoria Connolly did a great job with the narration and brought all the feelings to life.

Thank you @prhaudio @berkelyromance for a copy of this book. This is the last of the series and I have enjoyed each other sisters' story. As like the other books, this is a nod to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. 

What you find in this story:
- Disability representation 
- Neurodivergent representation 
- Second chance romance
- Fake dating 
- No 3rd act breakup 

I enjoyed Juliet and Will's love story. Their dates together were great and created an opportunity for slow burn tension. Liese knows how to create the burn and the payoff is always 🔥🔥.

It was fun to see the other characters from the previous books and a great way to end this series. 

Charlotte North and Tim Paige's narration brought the characters to life.

DNF at 20%. This one just wasn't for me. I was intrigued by the premise but I could not get into it. I don't know how many times MFA was mentioned but it felt like it was every paragraph. 

Thank you @readforeverpub for a copy of the book.