Many thanks to my friends at @gallerybooks and @simon.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

Swoon worthy, firecracker HOT, and hilarious!  I had the biggest, cheesiest grin plastered on my face as I fell in love right alongside Fizzy and Connor.  

 

CLo’s latest is not only their 30th book and a love letter to readers of romance, but it’s also my favorite of theirs to date.  

 

Bestselling romance author, Fizzy, teams up with documentarian turned TV producer, Connor, to find her “true love” match in a reality dating show.  {The queen of romance looking for love?  And the suitors are based on romance tropes? I’d totally watch that.}  But the sparks start to fly long before her TV dating prospects are even chosen.  

 

The banter.  The chemistry.  The flirting.  Tension you could cut with a knife.  Longing that was palpable. 

 

And yet, there was more to them than steam alone.  There was a genuine friendship and a longing to want the best for each other.  There was a focus on vulnerability and growth, singularly and together.  And maybe most importantly, there was quality communication! (What a breath of fresh air!!!)

 

I don’t think I’ve ever been so easily convinced that a couple deserved a HEA.  And this happily ever after was absolutely worth the journey! I’m still swooning.  

 

Other reasons to read this book:

💞 Fizzy is a bold, independent female that oozes fun.

💞 Connor is dependable and genuine.  He’s also tall, handsome, and British. 🔥

💞 The Ex-relationship is sensible and healthy 

💞 The entire boy band concert scene!

💞 Single (girl!) dad 

💞 Jess, River, & Juno (The Soulmate Equation) make appearances

💞 Sex-positive: you’ll find no sex shaming here!

 

The old adage “better with time” definitely applies to this writing duo.  True Love Experiment is “chef’s kiss” perfection.  It’s the ideal summer escape to throw in your pool bag.  

 

🎧 I’d recommend this in any format, but the audiobook was a total win for me.  Cindy Kay’s narration brought Fizzy’s energy and wit to life, and Jonathan Cole’s sexy British accent had me like putty in his hands.  The audiobook is a total treat.  

 

Many thanks to my friends at @simon.audio for the #gifted copy.  

 

A Nigerwife:  a foreign wife of a Nigerian man living in Nigeria

 

In the “good luck” years of Nigeria, the allure brought many natives, along with their foreign wives, back to their homeland.  That is how Nicole became a Nigerwife. 

 

At first glance, she appeared to have it all.  Handsome husband.  Healthy, happy sons.  Abundant wealth and privileged social status.  But when Nicole mysteriously vanishes, those perceptions begin to crumble and the discontent she felt over her marriage and living abroad are exposed.  

 

This story is told in dual perspective:  that of Nicole prior to the disappearance and that of her estranged aunt in search of answers to Nicole’s disappearance.  I appreciated how the alternating POV allowed us to get a complete picture of Nicole’s life, both in Lagos and London.  

 

“Nicole often wondered what happened to the body. A few months after she arrived in Lagos, a body appeared in the lagoon close to the compound, bobbing along on a blanket of trash, a bloated starfish face down in the river.” 

 

As the book opens, we see the dichotomy found within her life:  Living in an extravagant compound alongside one of Lagos’ canals.  Yet the canal portrays the sinister nature outside of her home.  And from that first line, we see the complexities of the Nigerwife life.  

 

Part mystery, part cultural expose.  The Nigerwife was an interesting read that kept me engaged and needing to know exactly what happened to Nicole.  

 

The author’s note is a must read.  With experience as a Nigerwife, Walters brings an authenticity to this story and creates an important dialogue about cultural isolation and marital strife.  Her note provides a context for the story that enriched my overall experience.    

 

🎧I listened to the audiobook and found narration by the narrators, Dami Olukoya and Debra Michaels, to be exceptional.  They created a nuance to the two perspectives as the story unfolded that kept me hanging on to each word.  

 

 

 

 

 

Many thanks to my friends at @harpermuse and @tlcbooktours for this #gifted copy.  

 

Harrowing, heartrending, and powerful.  

 

When it comes to WW2 fiction, the vast majority is set within the European theater with stories of the Pacific going largely untapped.  

 

However, in this collaboration by @ariellawhon @kristinamcmorris and @susanmeissner, we are introduced to the “Angels of Bataan,” nurses stationed in the Philippines, where their exotic paradise quickly turned into the most heinous war ensconced region.  

 

Abject cruelty, disease, famine, death.  Imprisoned by captors that refused the articles of the Geneva Code, these nurses faced some of the most dire circumstances of war, all while being expected to honor their own Hippocratic Oath.  

 

Though the conditions were brutal and harsh, the spirit of these astonishing women kept me hanging on each word.  With strength and determination, these angels never allowed defeat.  Each character was the embodiment of resiliency and courage, and I couldn’t have been more inspired by their bravery.   

 

But it was the unwavering friendship between our three main characters that truly buoyed my adoration for this story.  Those lasting bonds, forged in wartime atrocity, showcased the power of connection and the healing capacity found in love.  And that ending.  “Chef’s kiss.” 

 

If you’re looking for unique WW2 literature and/or aspirational women whose stories need to be heard, look no further.  

 

🎧It’s worth noting that the audiobook is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, one of my favorites.  Her powerhouse execution of this story was an easy listen.   

Many thanks to my friends at @uplitreads @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted book.

I read this book right before publication day.  It completely swept me away, and I became utterly devoted to Rosie, one of our main characters, right away.  And OH the book hangover I felt after saying goodbye to her and Helen.  

I was zealous to share my 5⭐️ love of Only the Beautiful with everyone.  And yet, I struggled to write a review that embodied the scope of my thoughts.  I’ve managed to compile something.  But truthfully, nothing equates to the splendor within the book itself.   

Haunting.  Mesmerizing.  Beautiful.  Rosie and Helen have left an indelible mark on me.  

Rosie had assumed the greatest tragedy of her life would be the loss of her parents at the age of 16.  But before her next birthday, she would come to understand the cruel realities of a world that didn’t understand her and afforded her no autonomy.  

Helen returned home to California after fighting against the heinous abuse Nazi’s wielded towards the genetically “impure.”  And it quickly became apparent that her next battle would be against similar atrocities within her own home state and family.  

It feels wholly unoriginal to call this book beautiful.  And yet, the word that comes to mind each time I think of this book is exactly that: beautiful. But not reminiscent of a beauty that comes easy or without cost.   

The kind of beauty that is cultivated.  A rising out of the ashes beauty. Breathtaking and stunning.  

With a backdrop that showcases the absolute worst of humanity, Meissner weaves a story of strength and hope that drew me in and touched my very soul.  This is a tragic, oftentimes dark, story.  And yet, hope radiated throughout.  From gut-wrenching to uplifting.  From heartbreak to joy.  

Powerful and poignant.  This is a tender story with important messaging, and it was worth every single tear I shed.  This is not a story I will soon forget.  

🎧 I enjoyed the vast majority of this book in the physical format. (I can read much faster than I can listen, and I found that important combined with my desire for annotation.) However, the audio narration by Xe Sands and Jorjeanna Marie is exceptional.  I’d definitely recommend, particularly if you aren’t one for annotation. 

 

Completely over the top. 

 

When burgeoning writer Ali gets invited to a retreat with one of the most prolific horror authors, it turns out to be a cutthroat competition… quite literally.  

 

I was drawn in by the premise of this book and the fact that it had a polarizing effect on its readers.  I have no doubt it will make a great discussion for my book club later.  And maybe, that, in itself, is a huge win for this debut author.  

 

After reading, it was abundantly clear just why this book lends to such strong reactions.  Unfortunately, with the book being so utterly preposterous, it was a miss for me.

 

So why did I finish??? Honestly, I’m not sure.  Maybe I kept hoping that some twist would give just cause for all of the outlandish elements. 

 

The “kitchen sink” approach was off-putting yet it kept me glued to obnoxiousness.  I couldn’t stop reading even knowing this train was going completely off the rails.  

 

And I’m not sure if that’s a nod to the author’s abilities or my continuing lack of ability to DNF.  

 

Many thanks to my friends at @celadonbooks for this @gifted book and including me in this #readtogether initiative!

 

Growing up, the Connelly matriarch regaled her children with a rendition of an Irish fairy tale where each child was a superhero featuring his/her very own superpower.  And when joined together, those superheroes were unstoppable.  

 

Just released from prison, Tara’s life feels far removed from those superhero days.  As she returns to her family home, it’s evident that neither of her two siblings has usage of those old superpowers either.  

 

This is a raw portrayal of a messy family, and the complex dynamics are on full display.  Secrets.  Drama.  Broken people trying to co-exist.  Each sibling in the unit is unique and chock-full of substance.  I found myself cheering for them as individuals as well as rooting for them as a team, believing their mother’s fairytale wasn’t all that far-fetched.  

 

The hardest part about reading this book with others… it’s so compulsively readable, that I didn’t want to put it down.  Relatable.  Approachable.   Lange’s writing drew easily drew me in and held my attention until the end.  

 

While I was completely drawn in throughout the story, I did long for a bit more from the ending.  

 

Even so, this is a worthwhile read with a great message about family loyalty and the lengths we’ll go to for those we love. 

 

I enjoyed racing through the pages with my buddy, @books_and_biceps9155.  It’s a story worth discussion, and it was fun to be paired with a new friend to do it with.  

 

Many thanks to my partners at @vintageanchorbooks and @prhaudio for the #gifted books.

 

Lies, deception, and the pull for more power.  

 

When a long lost, highly sought after composition by Frederik Delaney is found, Professor Bern Hendricks is immediately brought in to authenticate and prepare the piece.  But it doesn’t take long for him to realize that the truth of Delaney and his music is much more complicated and sinister than previously known.  

 

The story unfolds in dual timeframe: that of the past following Delaney in his rise to success and that of Hendricks unraveling the history and determined to right old wrongs.  

 

I found myself fully immersed in the past storyline.  The early 20’s backdrop in the jazz era created an atmospheric backdrop.  The clubs.  The horns and piano.  The look at the music industry.  I could feel its rhythm within the pages.  

 

But it was Josephine Reed that really made the past timeline shine.  She was such an interesting character… so full of talent yet not quite at ease even within the musical world.  That raw genius mixed with other complexities created a fully 3-dimensional portrayal.  I found myself equally cheering for her and distraught on her behalf.  

 

I appreciated the present-day timeline and the main character’s determination to fight for Josephine.  And yet, it didn’t hold my interest to the same degree as that of the past.  I found much of the present-day execution over-the-top and muddled, which led me to wonder if the past-timeline couldn’t have told the overall story more fully.  

 

Slocumb comes into this sophomore novel with a message, and it’s a strong, important one.  “Vital voices” have often failed to be heard, particularly those from marginalized groups: Blacks, women, those with differing abilities. 

 

Slocumb well honors the underrepresented and gives them a voice in hopes of championing change.  And for that powerful reason, this is a book worth reading.  

 

🎧 The audiobook was well narrated by Chante’ McCormick, and I easily fell into her rhythm as Jo and Bern’s stories unfolded.       

 

Many thanks to my friends at @simon.audio for the #gifted audiobook.  

 

Well researched and thought provoking, this is an incendiary look at the best and worst of humanity.  

 

Historic fiction was my first reading love.  It has often provided me what high school history lessons never could: an appreciation for what happened long ago and ambition to learn from its missteps.  

 

In The House is On Fire, where Beanland chonicles the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811, I am again reminded of the power of historical perspective.  

 

With social season at its height, Richmond finds its theater packed to the gills.  The celebratory atmosphere quickly turns grim when the unthinkable happens and the theater catches fire.  Right away, we see the community reeling from the face of destruction and immense loss of life. 

 

Through alternating points of view, the recounting of the fire becomes personal.   Two slaves, one woman, and one orphaned boy provide four unique lenses that allowed a full and intimate perspective of the events.  

 

True character is often revealed most fully in the face of adversity.  And ultimately, this narrative, both the true account and this fictionalized version, becomes a story of heroes and cowards.  As we see the characters grapple with complex moral dilemmas, the essences of their souls are laid bare.  

 

To survive?  To help?  To make excuses?  To take responsibility?  A bright spotlight is shown on the depravity, but in the end, it’s the compassion and bravery that provide hope as the dust settles over the long-extinguished flames.

 

The author’s note at the end is a must!  She outlines the depth of her research and any changes/extra details regarding the characters.  It gave me a greater appreciation of the book as well as closure in areas the book’s ending did not.

 

🎧This full cast audio brought the story to life.  With four distinct narrators, each character felt authentic and provided a human element to the account, as though a real person telling his/her own story.  It’s worth noting that the narrator for Gilbert is an actual ancestor of his.  This information from @no.more.shelf.control gave me an ever greater appreciation of his story and presentation.   

 

Many thanks to my friends at @foreverreads for this #gifted book.  

 

Part of Your World was one of my favorite reads last year.  The baby goat in pajamas.  The cozy, small town.  The perfectly magical romance.  I still swoon. 

But when you find the most perfect read, it’s difficult for the follow up to have the same magnetic pull.  

 

Of course, this is Abby, so I definitely found plenty to love in this read.  But those things felt a bit overshadowed by what didn’t work, especially towards the end.  

 

What I loved:

 

💌The letters- So sweet and tender!  I was totally smitten with the way Brianna and Jacob’s love story began.

💌The witty exchanges- I am a sucker for good banter, and the sarcasm level in the exchanges between Bri and Jacob were “chef’s kiss.” 

💌The safe word- Not only was this such fun to see executed in the varied scenarios, it also showcased Briana’s attention to Jacob’s needs.  Swoon.  

💌A man with plants- Listen, I love a rugged man as much as the next girl.  But a man who can keep plants alive?  This is next level.  

💌The mental health focus- Jacob’s anxiety felt real and genuine.  I think many people will find themselves identifying with his struggles.  I particularly appreciated the focus on calming techniques and seeking therapy. 

💌 The ending- The way she brought the story full circle! She totally nailed it.  

 

What didn’t work:

 

✉️The transplant narrative- This generous gift (and much needed representation) started to feel icky as it was intermingled with fake dating and family expectations.  For me, it confused the altruistic nature of the transplant.   

✉️Miscommunication trope- This is my *very* least favorite trope.  And the more it played out in the end, the more I began to dislike Briana after having appreciated her fierce and caring nature for much of the read.

✉️A 2nd last quarter breakup but 90% in- I hesitated to even mention this.  And yet, because it created such frustration in me as a reader, I felt I must.  In the last countdown towards a HEA, I was gobsmacked by this.  And ultimately, it interfered with my enjoyment of what really should’ve been the perfect ending.  

 

Overall, I enjoyed this read.  But it didn’t ooze romance magic like I had hoped.

 

 

 

Many thanks to my friends at @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook.  

 

Radiant. Poignant.  Striking.  

 

Hello Beautiful is a journey through heart and soul.  Something so beautiful and so special.  Honest and raw.  An emotional exploration that captures very essence of the human spirit.  

 

Born into tragedy, William Waters had never known genuine love until meeting Julia and the Padavanos.  And while love abounded within the family, it was also ripe with conflict and flaws.  

 

As the decades unfold, we are met with a captivating unpacking of time:  the choices (some egregious), the sorrows, the arguments, the loneliness, the paths not taken, the regrets… but in the end and most importantly… there’s a vein of love and hope that persists.    

 

Hello Beautiful captures the very essence of messy family dynamics and how those bonds mold who we become.  The push and pull.  The complicated nature of the sibling bond.  The thin line between individuality and cohesiveness.  

 

I found myself completely swept away by Napolitono’s tender prose.  A story of redemption rife with complex characters always feeds my soul.  But this one felt even more dear.  It was moving and immersive.  It was brimming with love, even in the most complex of situations.  Full of sentiment yet tinged with deep pain.  

 

This story felt so very intimate and real.  Maybe, in the end, it was the exploration of the flaws that drew me in closer to this family, the humanity and growth rooting in my soul.  

 

This book was made for discussion, and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation had with my friends @bookmarked.by.becky @chicagobooklover and @thats.one.for.the.books.  

 

🎧 There is no right or wrong way format for enjoying this book.  The writing is lyrical and beautiful and a feast for the eyes.  Plus, I found the need to annotate and tab my book often.  But the narration by Maura Tierney was impeccably executed.  Her quiet tone pulled me in and held me completely captive.