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bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)
reread in 2022 and it just hits me in the feels again and again and i love JJ and Brooke so much.
My favorite Talbott's Cove story
By far my favorite in the Talbotts Cove series, I've been eagerly awaiting Brooke's HEA. Brooke is prickly, stubborn, verbal about what she wants and doesn't want, and takes no prisoners. She's a billionaire and she's not here for anyone's guff but is stuck back at home in a place she thought she left behind, with a father who doesn't know her anymore, and no plans for the future. I adored watching her bang against grumpy JJ, both verbally and phsyically, and ate up every quipy line from their arguments.
I also loved how JJ pushed Brooke, but not too much, and never expected her to change. He met her where she was at and slowly won her trust and her heart. This story takes place over very long stretch of time, which I appreciate, but is definitely not a slow-burn.
CW for dementia, parental death, discussion of a secondary character's addiction, and alcohol.
Loved it.
The audiobook for Far Cry is absolutely delicious, I really liked both the narrators. The way JJ said BAM and Brooke said Jed gave me all the oomf feels I was hoping for. I'd also like to try some of JJ's gin right now please, and basically just let me live there right now.
My favorite Talbott's Cove story
By far my favorite in the Talbotts Cove series, I've been eagerly awaiting Brooke's HEA. Brooke is prickly, stubborn, verbal about what she wants and doesn't want, and takes no prisoners. She's a billionaire and she's not here for anyone's guff but is stuck back at home in a place she thought she left behind, with a father who doesn't know her anymore, and no plans for the future. I adored watching her bang against grumpy JJ, both verbally and phsyically, and ate up every quipy line from their arguments.
I also loved how JJ pushed Brooke, but not too much, and never expected her to change. He met her where she was at and slowly won her trust and her heart. This story takes place over very long stretch of time, which I appreciate, but is definitely not a slow-burn.
CW for dementia, parental death, discussion of a secondary character's addiction, and alcohol.
Loved it.
The audiobook for Far Cry is absolutely delicious, I really liked both the narrators. The way JJ said BAM and Brooke said Jed gave me all the oomf feels I was hoping for. I'd also like to try some of JJ's gin right now please, and basically just let me live there right now.
i hadn't realized this was a novella, and it was honestly just so much fun and a perfect read to get me through the holidays. also, combined with the fact i had just watched Glass Onion, the Greek Island setting at the start was a lovely treat.
Amanda Thomas was jilted by a "viscount" and is left trying to get on any ship to take her back to England after also escaping her emotionally and physically abusive employer, Mrs. Pennypacker (i hope she gets cholera). alas Amanda soon finds out her viscount was not in fact any sort of viscount, nor hers, and is stuck with her ex-fiancee's family member in one-bed, in one ship cabin, on one boat.
Ah, the real viscount is my favorite; super handsome, full of starch and smolder, and also so sure he's going to be just fine but is also SO bamboozled by the beauty and grit of this former lady's companion he's just beside himself when she tells him to stuff it, even after his great lovemaking (when she finds out he sort of misled her about her ex). Great stuff, I EAT IT UP.
This would be a great entry to duran, as it is a bit less angsty (on the duran scale) and is so much fun. jolly good time.
Amanda Thomas was jilted by a "viscount" and is left trying to get on any ship to take her back to England after also escaping her emotionally and physically abusive employer, Mrs. Pennypacker (i hope she gets cholera). alas Amanda soon finds out her viscount was not in fact any sort of viscount, nor hers, and is stuck with her ex-fiancee's family member in one-bed, in one ship cabin, on one boat.
Ah, the real viscount is my favorite; super handsome, full of starch and smolder, and also so sure he's going to be just fine but is also SO bamboozled by the beauty and grit of this former lady's companion he's just beside himself when she tells him to stuff it, even after his great lovemaking (when she finds out he sort of misled her about her ex). Great stuff, I EAT IT UP.
This would be a great entry to duran, as it is a bit less angsty (on the duran scale) and is so much fun. jolly good time.
Number one, I wanted way more Lulu and Dex together, especially since Dex was and has been a bit of cipher for me. that said I did enjoy listening to this, and loved Lulu's growing friendship with the card readers as she traveled along the Ren Faire circuit. I also got some tarot cards! excited to learn.
I think this is the steamiest Well Met book? Like hello RV sexy times, and hello yes i loved those too.
*I received an ARC from the publisher, checked it out from the library in print, and downloaded an ALC from PRH Audio. Thank you.
I think this is the steamiest Well Met book? Like hello RV sexy times, and hello yes i loved those too.
*I received an ARC from the publisher, checked it out from the library in print, and downloaded an ALC from PRH Audio. Thank you.
i read about 60% and then just sort of tapered off. it was such an intriguing premise and i liked the writing, but i'm in a weird reader mood and i would need to re-start the whole thing (maybe someday).
this erotic novella just really hit the spot; for being of shorter length the author did an amazing job making this "we only have this night" story full of character development and funny and steamy sex scenes that continued to build on those two characters. I loved both of them so hard, and while the ending is more happily-for-now // let's try this, I believe in my heart they are together for ever, always.
The attention to sensuality without swerving into gender essentialist terms was masterful, and more authors writing sex scenes should take note of this as a primer.
The attention to sensuality without swerving into gender essentialist terms was masterful, and more authors writing sex scenes should take note of this as a primer.
Narrator Philippa Soo just nails these books, and she kept me going in this otherwise a bit overly long closed-door contemporary that felt a bit too focused on Ariadne's work woes than I prefer in a romance. Jihoon was such a swoony love interest and from his love of designer clothes (THE SHOES) and his song writing, I was just simply greedy for more of his on page.
Also, the swerve into the reveal that Jihoon is part of the uber/mega/BTS level famous kpop band Star Lune (spelling??) was just sort of meh for me, along with the third act break.
That said, I had a pretty great time listening.
Thank you to romansdegare for the rec!
Also, the swerve into the reveal that Jihoon is part of the uber/mega/BTS level famous kpop band Star Lune (spelling??) was just sort of meh for me, along with the third act break.
That said, I had a pretty great time listening.
Thank you to romansdegare for the rec!
O’Neal Lory; Shaq; Good Girl.
New college O'Neal is now free from religiously oppressive grandparents who raised her in a conservative, sheltered, and shameful home after the death of her mother who everyone thought was being a "bad girl." Attending the same college as the mother who died when O'Neal was a baby is the first step in discovering who she is as she also explores a journalism career.
The fact Auden Blake, O'Neal's best friend's brother and childhood crush (and first and only kiss) also attends this college may have factored a bit in O'Neal's decision, but she wasn't anticipating him to have such a strong protective presence in her college life. That he seems to want to keep completely platonic even if O'Neal can sense his attraction to her (and hers to him).
Auden Blake and his roommate and sometimes bedmate Lennox immediately hone in on O'Neal's curiosity and throbbing horny-ness that is just waiting for someone to explore with her. So why not make her journey exceptional??
What emerges is a messy combination of education, voyeurism, and falling in love with more than one person, along with combatting years of in-grained shame.
Like the story, this was messy for me. It is really hot, naturally, but some of the BDSM//Kink discussions didn't land for me. O'Neal is clueless, like really clueless, and FINALLY at the end of the story her new partners are giving her books/websites to explore. BUT as a student of journalism I found it a bit hard to believe she only thought she could research sex, k1nk, and other matters of sexuality from...p0rn??
I wish there had been a bit more of O'Neal finding herself at school, or having a bit of a wider circle of friends. It really felt like she went from one insular family to almost another? We never see Auden and Lennox with anyone else either really, despite their kinks and apparent community? I did like O'Neal's roommate a lot and appreciated her care and concern for O'Neal when she doesn't check in or is missing.
Also, the hint of 'mystery' over the death of her mother and O'Neal's search into finding out who killed her or what happened panned out in a odd manner spoiler: I think this was trying to serve to show what O'Neal has in common?? with her mother?? but honestly I wish this was already known to O'Neal as part of her mother's 'party girl//sinner' tabloid/news branding.
Also, there is SO much internal unpacking of shame, but mostly from Auden, who's STILL unpacking his stuff and it got just a bit heavy for me.
As always Roni Loren pen's an exciting romance and I did really like the last scenes which were joyful and fun for the new poly triad.
CW: internalized homophobia (countered), murder (in past, grief on page), emotionally controlling parents, conservative religious viewpoints that are meant to shame//cause fear (countered). Fear of outing.
Thank you to the author for the advance copy.
New college O'Neal is now free from religiously oppressive grandparents who raised her in a conservative, sheltered, and shameful home after the death of her mother who everyone thought was being a "bad girl." Attending the same college as the mother who died when O'Neal was a baby is the first step in discovering who she is as she also explores a journalism career.
The fact Auden Blake, O'Neal's best friend's brother and childhood crush (and first and only kiss) also attends this college may have factored a bit in O'Neal's decision, but she wasn't anticipating him to have such a strong protective presence in her college life. That he seems to want to keep completely platonic even if O'Neal can sense his attraction to her (and hers to him).
Auden Blake and his roommate and sometimes bedmate Lennox immediately hone in on O'Neal's curiosity and throbbing horny-ness that is just waiting for someone to explore with her. So why not make her journey exceptional??
What emerges is a messy combination of education, voyeurism, and falling in love with more than one person, along with combatting years of in-grained shame.
Like the story, this was messy for me. It is really hot, naturally, but some of the BDSM//Kink discussions didn't land for me. O'Neal is clueless, like really clueless, and FINALLY at the end of the story her new partners are giving her books/websites to explore. BUT as a student of journalism I found it a bit hard to believe she only thought she could research sex, k1nk, and other matters of sexuality from...p0rn??
I wish there had been a bit more of O'Neal finding herself at school, or having a bit of a wider circle of friends. It really felt like she went from one insular family to almost another? We never see Auden and Lennox with anyone else either really, despite their kinks and apparent community? I did like O'Neal's roommate a lot and appreciated her care and concern for O'Neal when she doesn't check in or is missing.
Also, the hint of 'mystery' over the death of her mother and O'Neal's search into finding out who killed her or what happened panned out in a odd manner spoiler:
Spoiler
O'Neal finds the friend her mother was last seen with, who turns out to be a man who had a threesome with her mother the night she disappeared; her mom left because she wanted to give that man time to realize his queerness and and crush for a man. And that is it. No other resolution.Also, there is SO much internal unpacking of shame, but mostly from Auden, who's STILL unpacking his stuff and it got just a bit heavy for me.
As always Roni Loren pen's an exciting romance and I did really like the last scenes which were joyful and fun for the new poly triad.
CW: internalized homophobia (countered), murder (in past, grief on page), emotionally controlling parents, conservative religious viewpoints that are meant to shame//cause fear (countered). Fear of outing.
Thank you to the author for the advance copy.
we had a rocky start but i switched to reading with my eyes and i did really like this single POV contemporary about a romance book influencer // nurse and the gruff, been abandoned too many times, firefighter who becomes her roommate and one true love.
big thank you to Han who's glowing review made me give this one a chance! it is a slowburn with steam pay-off, and super romantic at the end. i also appreciate seeing a love interest who dedicated to being true to herself and her emotions.
Check out Han's review here and give it a like!
CW for use of ableist language (especially crazy) throughout, but countered by both the heroine and her love interest. think a la the show crazy ex girlfriend. Sick child (niece of hero) who needs a heart transplant and is in the hospital. the epilogue reveals she has gotten a successful one and is doing great.
big thank you to Han who's glowing review made me give this one a chance! it is a slowburn with steam pay-off, and super romantic at the end. i also appreciate seeing a love interest who dedicated to being true to herself and her emotions.
Check out Han's review here and give it a like!
CW for use of ableist language (especially crazy) throughout, but countered by both the heroine and her love interest. think a la the show crazy ex girlfriend. Sick child (niece of hero) who needs a heart transplant and is in the hospital. the epilogue reveals she has gotten a successful one and is doing great.
Getting Rid of Bradley is my second-ever Crusie, and wow, just wow. What a banter queen! Crusie really knows how to grip your throat from the opening passages, and has a way with repetitive sentences that call back to previous events and jokes that make a rom-com just sing. Truly unmatched so far in any contemporary romance I've read, and definitely worth a study.
these two are so perfect for one another and i just had to giggle at the madcap antics leading this grumpy, aging investigator to this horribly hair-dyed science teacher and her pack of dogs, and her beautiful old house that is begging to be their home, together.
**i will note that this is from 1994. that said a reference to a confederate uniform being used as a quit square and some older language choices (i.e. who cares if he says no, do it anyway) might upset, so i wanted to make note of that.
these two are so perfect for one another and i just had to giggle at the madcap antics leading this grumpy, aging investigator to this horribly hair-dyed science teacher and her pack of dogs, and her beautiful old house that is begging to be their home, together.
**i will note that this is from 1994. that said a reference to a confederate uniform being used as a quit square and some older language choices (i.e. who cares if he says no, do it anyway) might upset, so i wanted to make note of that.
I really appreciated Prince Harry's narration style. It truly felt like we were sitting in a pub together and I was listening to his stories as a pal. So conversational and so overwhelmingly sad. I am the same age as the author, and I appreciated his struggles that he shared with memory, with depression, with running away and crushing down feelings. Other than feeling deeply personal and sad, nothing else was really shocking to me nor did I feel he took to task Empire or colonialism quite enough, but I hope he continues this journey to peace and family.
This is a very long memoir, and I had to absorb it in pieces and while doing other things because the grief is really really palpable. Glad I listened, will not listen again.
**I purchased an Audible copy with my own money
This is a very long memoir, and I had to absorb it in pieces and while doing other things because the grief is really really palpable. Glad I listened, will not listen again.
**I purchased an Audible copy with my own money