The premise of this book was SO good, but the execution was just not right for me. I loved the fact the heroine was older than most historical romances at 35, was a mother, and in the first book of this series seemed to be a strong willed lady. I was hoping for a super sexy and consensual tryst with her step-son's best friend, a younger man who would show her what she had been missing out on during her marriage and widowhood.

Unfortunately, Graciela turned into a wilting flower. Her first experience at a sex club is non-consensual and the two men who try to force her are merely brushed away and allowed to continue being at this club by the hero! Um, hello, where are the bouncers?!

Plus, she repeatedly tells Colin no, verbally AND in a letter but he continually pursues her, sneaks into her bedroom to watch her sleep, and basically forces her into submitting to a relationship with him. I craved more banter, more battle of wits, not just the repeated continuation of "I'm too old for you, so no, but really I mean yes."

I've been reading a lot of romance lately and needed a genre break, so picked this one up based of a Shelf Awareness recommendation.

I don't want to give much away, but it is a Nordic Noir in the vein of Stieg Larrsson and Jo Nesbo, but written by a female and featuring a female lead which is refreshing.

Leona is a complicated main character with an intriguing voice. She is not sentimental or emotional, and the reader is given hints into her difficult childhood. I enjoyed being in Leona's brain for the majority of the story as she investigates a bank robbery pulled off by a naked, bloody seven-year old girl.

The writing style was a bit cold, for lack of a better word, and I'm not sure if this is due to translation or just what the author was going for. Not usually my preference but it worked for this book.

I'll definitely be reading the next books in the series because DAMN that ending.

After Emma shows up at the Duke of Ashbury's home demanding payment for the wedding gown she painstakingly sewed for the Duke's now ex-fiancee, she receives a far better proposition - become his duchess.

Ashbury, horribly scarred from a rocket explosion during the campaign against Napoleon figures he has found a convenient bride. Emma is of child-bearing age, she's pretty, she isn't scared of him, and she has nothing to lose by suddenly becoming rich.

They strike a deal - Emma will become his wife, they'll eat dinner together, have sex in the dark, and when she bears his heir she'll be set up for life away from him. What they both don't expect is that they are perfect for one another, despite both their flaws.

So much fun, so swoony, and a lovely way to spend the evening. I loved all the banter between Emma and Ashbury, her silly nicknames for him and the slow, steamy way they eventually fall in love.

Looking forward to more books in this series!

Liv and Finn were making out in a janitor's closet during prom when they heard gunshots. Finn left Liv to find his actual prom date causing Liv to be discovered but allowed to live by one of the shooters while Finn was shot (and survived).
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Twelve years later, Liv, Finn, and other survivors reconnect after all agreeing to be part of a documentary. The horrible experience brought some of them closer together, including Liv and a group of three girls, but completely killed any chance of Liv and Finn having a real relationship.

Now adults, Liv and Finn still feel a magnetic pull to one another, but each still struggle with their own issues that clearly mean they probably shouldn't even try, but they cannot resist.

A sweet and emotional romance that never felt schlocky or over-wrought. I appreciated the journey of both characters and how they finally found their way to one another. I also really appreciated that the girl who Finn took to the prom instead of Liv was given complete agency and wasn't a "villain." I ate up the the tension between Liv and Finn. Phew.

Holland is a bit perplexed when she finds out the beautiful busker she has a crush on refuses to give a statement to the police after she is knocked off the subway platform by a mugger. Despite this odd behavior, she still thinks he would be the perfect replacement musician in her uncle's outrageously popular Broadway show. Calvin agrees to audition but has to turn down the opportunity because he is living in NYC illegally and is afraid he will be deported back to Ireland.

Deciding to take a huge risk both to help her uncle AND to get to know Calvin better, Holland proposes they marry. They agree but find out that they both are afraid to trust their growing chemistry and intimacy especially as Calvin's career takes off.

Super sweet with some unexpected turns, another awesome Christina Lauren romance!

I did miss the dual POV that they usually bring to their stories, but this is a minor "issue."

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!!

The concept of a whiskey bar/men's barbershop was a cool one and I loved that both main characters were barbers, but these things were underdeveloped as the majority of the plot revolved around family drama, trauma, and conflict.

Maybe and Alexei felt a little insta-love despite a two year gap in time between their introduction and relationship, but it was steamy and kept me reading. I felt like I was missing some plot about Maybe's sister's abduction, but perhaps this will be explored further in the next title in the series.

Intriguing, but not sure if I'll keep up with the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Ugh this book! The audiobook narrator was amazing, probably a good part of the reason I listened to this brick (14 discs!!) but at this juncture in my life it probably wasn't the wisest choice to listen to this tale of two French sisters who find their strength tested during WWII.

I overall enjoyed the story but often found myself frustrated with the characters' choices. Isabel annoyed me at first especially in regards to her first love interest Gaiton, but I grew to really enjoy her chapters. Vienne's made me cry because as a mother myself I could understand her choices but also hated them at the same time.

I also took a bit of an issue with the "Forrest Gump" syndrome imbuing this novel in that the characters often seemed to be at the exact right place at the right time for "important historical events" and used terminology that I don't exactly think they would have had access to at the time of the war. I could be wrong, but I'm not sure.

I detested the "kindly handsome German" character and I'm glad about his fate. Fuck Nazis.

That said, I can understand why I cannot keep this book on the shelf at my library. It is beautifully written and definitely pulls at the heart strings. And heck, I'll take anything that will remind people that Nazis are terrible.

Claudia Gray can write all the Star Wars books, for real. She so accurately captures the voice of Princess Leia, both as a seasoned politician in Bloodline and here as a teenager on the cusp of becoming the great Rebel leader we all know from a New Hope.

Leia is about to be named the heir to the Alderaanian throne after she completes three challenges, but is irked her parents Bail and Breha seem to be very absent. Leia isn't satisfied to ignore why, and finds herself learning dangerous new information that could threaten her, her family, and Alderaan.

**Mild Spoiler**

There was a bit of a romance here and at first I was skeptical, but I really enjoyed how it was handled. Breha also made a great crack about hoping Leia would date a scoundrel and I had a good cackle.

A quick set of essays that make you chuckle and think a bit. Not on my list of "must reads" but one I'm glad I took the time to engage with.

So much fun! We learn more about Han Solo's supposed wife, Luke gets kidnapped by a Jedi artifact collecting Hutt and turned into a gladiator, Leia takes matters into her own hands and succeeds as per usual (woo hoo!), and Chewie and C3po get to work together!

There is a lot here that is very reminiscent of future events in Jabba's palace AND there is a lot of reference to Luke as "The Last Jedi!!!!" WHAT.

Also, there is the best panel of Han looking so smokin' I about died. I love you Han. Also you Luke. And Leia you are my everything.