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bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)
Fox's struggle to be seen as more than a one-night hookup guy, a womanizer, a player, really worked for me. He's so very dear to Hannah but clearly is quite smitten by her, despite his attempts not to be.
I don't know, I liked this but I didn't love it. Slow-burn (especially for Tessa Bailey but made sense for the story arc), and then it got hot at the end and it felt more like a whiplash than a natural progression for our two characters. Hannah being a young twenty something with a quirky love for old music and vinyl and wanting to be a movie soundtrack maker was fine, but she felt older than her age. The subplot about her crush on her director also felt a bit tacked on from the first book, and while I was glad to see it wasn't a major focus, the whole "let's make this person jealous thing" also didn't quite work for me.
A mixed bag, but I'm positive fans of the previous book will gobble this one up. I would recommend reading It Happened One Summer first to fully sink in to this story. Lots of returning characters and you are immediately plopped into Fox and Hannah's courtship, so the sparks from the first book help a lot.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the advance copy.
I don't know, I liked this but I didn't love it. Slow-burn (especially for Tessa Bailey but made sense for the story arc), and then it got hot at the end and it felt more like a whiplash than a natural progression for our two characters. Hannah being a young twenty something with a quirky love for old music and vinyl and wanting to be a movie soundtrack maker was fine, but she felt older than her age. The subplot about her crush on her director also felt a bit tacked on from the first book, and while I was glad to see it wasn't a major focus, the whole "let's make this person jealous thing" also didn't quite work for me.
A mixed bag, but I'm positive fans of the previous book will gobble this one up. I would recommend reading It Happened One Summer first to fully sink in to this story. Lots of returning characters and you are immediately plopped into Fox and Hannah's courtship, so the sparks from the first book help a lot.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the advance copy.
Truly a story perfect for me. Let's here it for sofa shopping dates, complete with some semi-public sexy times, and a second chance for romance between a young, nonbinary love interest who has learned to be comfortable in their skin and the older trans woman who they hooked up with years ago who helped them get there.
Loved it; despite being short, this was a perfect example of a fully created romance in short format. I loved it.
Story Notes: Sorrel Jones is 19 when they first hook up with Eileen Bowers (but is now 25 when the story is set) and is a white nonbinary person who loves to wear suits. Eillen Bowers is a 40 + year-old Black trans woman and writer.
Loved it; despite being short, this was a perfect example of a fully created romance in short format. I loved it.
Story Notes: Sorrel Jones is 19 when they first hook up with Eileen Bowers (but is now 25 when the story is set) and is a white nonbinary person who loves to wear suits. Eillen Bowers is a 40 + year-old Black trans woman and writer.
Thank you to my trusted recommendation babes for giving me a reason to take a chance on a book that is so much more than its sassy cover and premise. Full of the most exquisitely real Millennial raw emotion, readers, I loved it.
Also, would I have done this job versus my minimum wage bakery job after graduating grad school myself? Yup.
Also, would I have done this job versus my minimum wage bakery job after graduating grad school myself? Yup.
My fated mate @hopefulleigh always knows the right book rec (I wanted angst). Big Boy, a novella by Ruthie Knox, punched me in the heart.
Sex pact, historical cosplay, train s*x. Phenomenal discussion of parenthood (both as a parent and when you become the caretaker for your parent).
Sex pact, historical cosplay, train s*x. Phenomenal discussion of parenthood (both as a parent and when you become the caretaker for your parent).
Two coworkers finally realize their unrequited love is absolutely requited when the harbinger accidentally has skin contact with her partner gargoyle.
Super hot, great set up, I was astounded by the detail in this short novellette. Will absolutely be reading more from this author.
Super hot, great set up, I was astounded by the detail in this short novellette. Will absolutely be reading more from this author.
Recommended for those who would enjoy fade to black, light magic, very cozy cottagecore vibes, and a bumbling himbo.
Not really a "me" book but I'm glad I tried it!
Not really a "me" book but I'm glad I tried it!
while heck if this didn't turn me into a huge pile of goo. SO utterly sweet and steamy at the same time. Reid writes banter that is *chef's kiss* exquisite for each of her characters, and seeing how quickly taciturn and moody Troy fell for Harris (despite all of his attempts not to) made for such a great listen.
The romance was a perfect balance of sweet and comfy, which complemented the unpacking of Troy's old role in perpetuating harm by laughing at and not stopping homophobic jokes and bullying on his previous team, and his taking a stance against his former best friend's denial of sexual assault (which is why he's been transferred to the Centaurs). there's no quick and easy solutions offered, and I appreciated how the author focused on Troy, his actions, and what he could personally do to be better.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I loved seeing Ilya in this story!
I listened to an ALC from LibroFm and Harper Audio, and I absolutely loved the narrator. He did a wonderful job making each character distinct, and for a book with a team of men, this was definitely not an easy feat!
The romance was a perfect balance of sweet and comfy, which complemented the unpacking of Troy's old role in perpetuating harm by laughing at and not stopping homophobic jokes and bullying on his previous team, and his taking a stance against his former best friend's denial of sexual assault (which is why he's been transferred to the Centaurs). there's no quick and easy solutions offered, and I appreciated how the author focused on Troy, his actions, and what he could personally do to be better.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I loved seeing Ilya in this story!
I listened to an ALC from LibroFm and Harper Audio, and I absolutely loved the narrator. He did a wonderful job making each character distinct, and for a book with a team of men, this was definitely not an easy feat!
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!
re-read for But Do They Bang
All in all, upon my second reading, I still adore Ash and Emma's romance. I was having a hard time focusing on the reread for whatever reason, so it didn't grip me as hard this time.
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!
re-read for But Do They Bang
All in all, upon my second reading, I still adore Ash and Emma's romance. I was having a hard time focusing on the reread for whatever reason, so it didn't grip me as hard this time.
Spoilers, all spoilers.
Brinkley works for a secret company that takes cash only to "ruin" men who have wronged others. There's different divisions, but only one woman working in each division. Brinkley is in "ego" and is a "master" at taking egotistical men down a few pegs (or ruining their career). Or so we are told.
Brinkley joined this job because of huge mommy issues, dropping out of her graduate school program, and not being ready or willing to take a leap on her painting. All she really wants is "a gallery" for her career. Sure.
But of course, when she's sent on the first mission we go along with her on, she fails and gets some oral instead because the mark is just her type and they have sparks. Sure. Okay. But, before she can come she gets outta dodge and hides behind a dumpster because what is she doing!? I'm also thinking this by the by.
Turns out dude is just a Nice Guy because the woman who hired the H4H is truly the villain here (good job vetting clients???) and Mark is just trying to get his foot in the door at Northwestern University as a professor, because that is all HIS grandfather ever wanted for him.
Oh, and now Mark is working for H4H because the evil CEO who someone in my book club described as being just like the evil pink wearing teacher from Harry Potter, has decided to now hire men for the business. And Mark, despite just being a "failed mark," is now Brinkley's underling.
What?? Why??
Of course Brinkley has already fallen for Mark - all the why bickering and fighting, and he is apparently the bees knees, and she worries about ethics all of a sudden while also getting a bar to chant "Little D*ck" at a shitty guy for "revenge" and another crowd chanting "Finger Butt" at another shitty man. Is Brinkley good at this job? seems to me she just throws lame and offensive names out there and is chaos in each situation.
Anyway, I do not get what this book was trying to do. All Brinkley wants is her gallery, on her own merit. That doesn't happen (on her own merit), and I never get why Mark would actually be in love with her, or frankly really anything about him.
There's also a shitty mom subplot, a sperm donor subplot, and oops I wrote a a secret article about your shifty "job" subplot, and well, I just didn't like any of it at all. Also, if your cat doesn't like wearing sweaters and attacks you all the time, that isn't a good thing?? And if the cat scratches you and hisses at you because it is forced to wear a sweater vest for the grovel, well, why are you torturing the pet?
anyway, what a ride that was, and I AM excited to talk about it at book club.
Somewhere I read a review calling this "charming" and pft, no.
Brinkley works for a secret company that takes cash only to "ruin" men who have wronged others. There's different divisions, but only one woman working in each division. Brinkley is in "ego" and is a "master" at taking egotistical men down a few pegs (or ruining their career). Or so we are told.
Brinkley joined this job because of huge mommy issues, dropping out of her graduate school program, and not being ready or willing to take a leap on her painting. All she really wants is "a gallery" for her career. Sure.
But of course, when she's sent on the first mission we go along with her on, she fails and gets some oral instead because the mark is just her type and they have sparks. Sure. Okay. But, before she can come she gets outta dodge and hides behind a dumpster because what is she doing!? I'm also thinking this by the by.
Turns out dude is just a Nice Guy because the woman who hired the H4H is truly the villain here (good job vetting clients???) and Mark is just trying to get his foot in the door at Northwestern University as a professor, because that is all HIS grandfather ever wanted for him.
Oh, and now Mark is working for H4H because the evil CEO who someone in my book club described as being just like the evil pink wearing teacher from Harry Potter, has decided to now hire men for the business. And Mark, despite just being a "failed mark," is now Brinkley's underling.
What?? Why??
Of course Brinkley has already fallen for Mark - all the why bickering and fighting, and he is apparently the bees knees, and she worries about ethics all of a sudden while also getting a bar to chant "Little D*ck" at a shitty guy for "revenge" and another crowd chanting "Finger Butt" at another shitty man. Is Brinkley good at this job? seems to me she just throws lame and offensive names out there and is chaos in each situation.
Anyway, I do not get what this book was trying to do. All Brinkley wants is her gallery, on her own merit. That doesn't happen (on her own merit), and I never get why Mark would actually be in love with her, or frankly really anything about him.
There's also a shitty mom subplot, a sperm donor subplot, and oops I wrote a a secret article about your shifty "job" subplot, and well, I just didn't like any of it at all. Also, if your cat doesn't like wearing sweaters and attacks you all the time, that isn't a good thing?? And if the cat scratches you and hisses at you because it is forced to wear a sweater vest for the grovel, well, why are you torturing the pet?
anyway, what a ride that was, and I AM excited to talk about it at book club.
Somewhere I read a review calling this "charming" and pft, no.
Thank you to the publisher for a free copy, received in exchange for a fair review!
Alexandra Mountbatten, daughter of a sailor, is proud of her practical nature, her business setting clocks in rich people's homes, and her love of astronomy. She isn't too proud that despite these practicalities, she has a slightly embarrassing and completely unrealistic fantasy. One revolving around a certain man she only knows as "The Bookshop Rake." Alexandra knows in heart the man with the heart-melting smile who accidentally made off with her book when they collided at the bookstore is probably a good-for-nothing rake of the first order, and someone she'll never encounter again, even if she dreams he has her book secretly tucked into his breast pocket and also dreams he'll see her again.
Alexandra's dream is just that, until she does run into Chase...in his own home. Utterly alarmed, especially since she interrupts the man himself while he builds what appears to be a sex-den, Alexandra can't believe that she finds herself suddenly hired on, as a governess...
Chase Reynaud may not have Alexandra's book tucked into his jacket, but he does have two problems: two rambunctious, unteachable girls who he is suddenly in charge of and a title he doesn't actually want. He's Chase, the renowned lover and rake of the London set, he's not respectable! He can't really be in charge of anyone!
What follows is an utterly delightful and utterly romantic story of mistaken identity, a "rake" who is really just a big cinnamon roll, a comet, plucky children, pirates, and more. This is Tessa Dare at her finest, and I ate up every minute of this story.
Alexandra is a wonderful heroine, and I loved reading about her childhood growing up on her father's ship. Alexandra is 'mestiza,' which I'm sure many readers will not be familiar with (in Alexandra's case, her father was American, her mother was from the Philippines, her grandfather was Spanish, her grandmother also Filipino), and I appreciated the discussion of her heritage and its ramifications on Alexandra's life in London during the time period.
Spoiler alert!
Alexandra Mountbatten, daughter of a sailor, is proud of her practical nature, her business setting clocks in rich people's homes, and her love of astronomy. She isn't too proud that despite these practicalities, she has a slightly embarrassing and completely unrealistic fantasy. One revolving around a certain man she only knows as "The Bookshop Rake." Alexandra knows in heart the man with the heart-melting smile who accidentally made off with her book when they collided at the bookstore is probably a good-for-nothing rake of the first order, and someone she'll never encounter again, even if she dreams he has her book secretly tucked into his breast pocket and also dreams he'll see her again.
Alexandra's dream is just that, until she does run into Chase...in his own home. Utterly alarmed, especially since she interrupts the man himself while he builds what appears to be a sex-den, Alexandra can't believe that she finds herself suddenly hired on, as a governess...
Chase Reynaud may not have Alexandra's book tucked into his jacket, but he does have two problems: two rambunctious, unteachable girls who he is suddenly in charge of and a title he doesn't actually want. He's Chase, the renowned lover and rake of the London set, he's not respectable! He can't really be in charge of anyone!
What follows is an utterly delightful and utterly romantic story of mistaken identity, a "rake" who is really just a big cinnamon roll, a comet, plucky children, pirates, and more. This is Tessa Dare at her finest, and I ate up every minute of this story.
Alexandra is a wonderful heroine, and I loved reading about her childhood growing up on her father's ship. Alexandra is 'mestiza,' which I'm sure many readers will not be familiar with (in Alexandra's case, her father was American, her mother was from the Philippines, her grandfather was Spanish, her grandmother also Filipino), and I appreciated the discussion of her heritage and its ramifications on Alexandra's life in London during the time period.
Spoiler alert!