a_stylish_bookworm's Reviews (1.53k)

This for me was much better than Iron Flame. The first half of the book felt really repetitive and it was like reading Iron Flame again. The 2nd half of the book there was finally some good plot twists that grabbed my interest. 

I was really hoping to see more changes with Xaden but it really never happened and we have to wait until the next book with the same cliffhanger as the last book. 

My biggest gripe with this series is the lack of depth of characters. The side characters are so interchangeable and I can't recall any of the their names. 

The dragons play a big role in the story and I will probably keep reading to see what happens. 

I have not enjoyed this narrator from the first book but I do not want to invest in reading either. The narrator seems to start screaming and talking a lot faster during all the fight scenes.

Thank you @prhaudio @berkleyromance for a copy of this. I am so bummed that this is the last of the series of the Greene sister. We have Iris who is a single mom and meets Angel again during her sister's wedding. 

Angel is R&B rising star and is also the latest ambassador to the brand that Iris works at. They end up working together and get to know each other better. I love them together. Angel is so attentive and in tune to Iris' needs. 

Their romance and personal growth was so well done. I was rooting for their HEA. I love seeing the other Greene sisters and Calla, Iris' daughter, added some humor to the story. 

J. Shani Michaels and Ian Hackney did a great job with the narration and I devoured this in a day.

This story is categorized as YA but I would say it's more new adult. Lo ends up doing to Italy with her best friend Teller and follow similar itinerary as Lo's mom who passed away when she was young. 

The main thing with this story is Lo's family have the ability to see their true love and Lo sees a vision and is determined she will meet her true love on this trip. 

The story is told in past and present timeline of Lo and Teller's time working at the movie theater together and in Italy. They compliant each other way and are fun together. 

I didn't care for the love triangle and the lack of communication between Lo and Teller. So much could've been avoided if they weren't as immature. The vision was talked about so much in the story that it felt a bit repetitive. 

I loved the family dynamics with Lo's aunts and how involved they are with her. 

Thank you to the publisher @netgalley for a copy of the book.

I knew this would be angsty and I was fine with it, thinking this was romance and expected a HEA. 

Theo and Magdalen are childhood friends and return to Italy to celebrate the Magdalen's sister's wedding. Magdalen has always had a crush on Theo and having Theo back brings all the feelings back. 

Theo is a major asshole and treat Magdalen poorly. They are both pretty immature but I guess given their age, I get it but frustrating none the less. You learn of why Theo acts the way he does and felt there was no growth in his character. 

The ending left me feeling underwhelmed. 

I don't know if I missed this in the story but I dont know why Magdalen had an English accent in the narration. I know she is at school in Oxford but I would not think she would lose her Italian accent. Aside from that, Cam Wilder and Grace Blyth did bring out the angst in the story. 

Thank you @readforeverpub @hachetteaudio for a copy of the book.

Listening to this felt so timely with the new administration's take on undocumented immigrants. Marriage of convenience is always a favorite trope for me so I was intrigued by this story. Han and Kenny have been life long friends and are roommates too. 

I thought their friendship and family ties were great but the antagonist felt so over the top. Their budding romance was great with the tension but the 3rd act breakup could've been prevented with more communication. 

The Narration by André Santana and Alejandro Antonio Ruiz was great. I appreciate that they told us whose POV it was each chapter. 

Thank you @readforeverpub @hachetteaudio for a copy of the audiobook.

DNF at 30%. Was not grabbing my attention and I was lost and not knowing what was going on. 

Thank you @simon.audio @atriabooks for a copy of the book.

This book intrigued me with the idea of Rosie, connecting to her heart donor's family anonymously through a website. Not only did Rosie have a transplant but is heartbroken by a breakup. She wants her HEA especially with working at the family bridal store. 

She is convinced that her heart belongs to a local writer's deceased wife. She starts messaging Morgan and develop a friendship. The story is told in Rosie and Morgan's POV and it kept me engaged from the first chapter. Gail Shalan and Chris Andrew Ciulla did a great job with the narration and pacing. 

There's so many twists with the story and I did not guess the killer. This was my first book from Collins and will not be my last. 

Thank you @simonandschuster @simon.audio for a copy of the book.

When I pick up a book by Jenoff, I always know it will be well researched and filled with layers of storyline. This is told in a dual time line with Helaine during WWII as well as Louise after the war as well as during the war.

I love how for Louise's story started with her finding a necklace that she recalls seeing during the war and is on a mission to find the story behind it. 

We also get Helaine's story with her upbringing and leading her finding her love and then being imprisoned at a department store for the Germans. 

I love that this was a story about love, survival as well as some mystery too. The connection that Jenoff created between the two stories and all the twists she takes us. 

Thank you @parkrowbooks @netgalley for a copy of this book.

I love the use of Chinese Medicine (TCM) and music in this love story between Chryssy and Vin. They meet at a celebrity party and agree to help each other out with fake dating. Vin is hesitant about TCM and how it can help heal a brokenheart for his brother. I love their interaction and how she opens up another world to him. 

Their family dynamics played a big part in the story and each of the aunts were so much fun. After reading this, I feel the need to find some cellist music to listen to. 

Thank you @readforeverpub @netgalley for a copy of this.

A book about a debut author writing about her celebrity crush and it going viral sounded like such a fun premise. This book had some fun moments but it fell short on a few things for me:
- characters were a bit immature. I mean Emmy was upset that her crush didn't like her posts. Let's be real, celebrities probably have publicists that maintain social media and to focus on that seems petty
- their attraction was just too insta for me
- I don't understand when a writer gives 2 characters the same names. Why make it confusing for the reader, it's not that tough to think of another name. 

I think this felt just a bit immature for me to love. 

Thank you @readforeverpub @netgalley for a copy of this book.