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bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)
less about birding, or in UK parlance "twitching" and more about the activity as a way to bring a messy family together even during huge upheaval and struggle, along with a young person's concerns about their future in this warming planet.
The writing was excellent and kept me interested in this hyper specific world of "international birders" along with both the sheer joy and jealousy that can come with it, and the mindfullness it can bring as an activity. Mya-Rose's relationship with her mentally ill mother was also lovingly AND forthrightly discussed, and I only wish their family had more answers, sooner.
Definitely one to pick up.
The writing was excellent and kept me interested in this hyper specific world of "international birders" along with both the sheer joy and jealousy that can come with it, and the mindfullness it can bring as an activity. Mya-Rose's relationship with her mentally ill mother was also lovingly AND forthrightly discussed, and I only wish their family had more answers, sooner.
Definitely one to pick up.
Pint-sized powerhouse assistant to one of the top talent agents in Hollywood Max Van Doren is afraid she's not being taken seriously at work, or in her life. So, when her famous influencer roommate asks if Max will be the subject of her newest sponcon using an up & coming self-actualization app, Max decides why not? If anything, maybe it will help her actually ask out her crush, the sexy bartender at Max's favorite queer bar. Sadie seems impossibly cool and put together, but as Max soon realizes, she and Sadie have a lot more in common than just their chemistry.
This was a really fun romance featuring twenty-somethings figuring it out, finding their place & family, and falling in love. Great (but not overwhelming) job details, sexy, and funny.
Super excited for this one to be in the world!
**reviewed professionally for Library Journal
***thank you to the publisher and LJ for the review copy
This was a really fun romance featuring twenty-somethings figuring it out, finding their place & family, and falling in love. Great (but not overwhelming) job details, sexy, and funny.
Super excited for this one to be in the world!
**reviewed professionally for Library Journal
***thank you to the publisher and LJ for the review copy
I have been thinking about The Worst Guy pretty much all the time. This romance does the work. it hit me in all the right emotional places - some that hurt a little, some that made me go, hm yes, and some that made me just yell YES.
Stremmel and Shapiro are down right MEAN to each other when they first interact on page for the reader. There's animosity, and it is clear this has been brewing for awhile. Having the dual POV for this story was truly vital, but even in either character's POV you could sense the place of not meanness a lot of the comments were coming from.
As someone who truly has a big, snappy mouth sometimes I appreciated seeing these honest moments that weren't delivered well. That's me sometimes. And sometimes my Sagittarius comes out hard. So I guess that spoke to me in this work.
Also the slow, tiny ways Stremmel demonstrates that he's stupid over Shapiro (from the raisins, to the listening, to the constant thoughts about her hair), I just loved it so much.
Again, this isn't a coherent review, but I've not read anything else that really captures so much of what I love in contemporary romance as this book.
Full review to come, but this hit all my anticipated happy places and more. I've been desperate for Stremmel's book since he was a grumpy babe so many Canterbary tales ago.
CW: eating disorder, in the past, side effects of in the present (discussed). medical procedures, character is sick on page, emesis (on page)
How do I love The Worst Guy? Let me count the ways.
From the sorting of croutons into their different flavors, to the hand at the small of the back, to the smashing of both exam room glass and characters' expectations, foam jousting swords to the heart, pastel pink glasses and teal green velvet chairs, pacing in front of tropical resorts, I Love Yous by actions and words, group chat hijinks to help with the grovel, doctors who say don't doctor me, sick bed scenes, cheerleader fantasies come to life SO MUCH MORE.
I just love this book. I listened on audio, the male narrator was really good, the woman narrator was okay and I settled into her. Her main voice was great, the side characters didn't always work for me.
after my now fourth re-read (it might be more because sometimes i just read a scene or three), i am still firmly in love with this contemporary romance. truly great character work that hits every emotional beat that i want in a mid-heat contemporary. these two are perfect for each other; all their jaggedy parts line up, and I love watching them spin the pieces around until they click in like a korok puzzle in Zelda Breath of the Wild (the girls who get it, get it). Truly hate fucking at its finest that turns into soft love.
Stremmel and Shapiro are down right MEAN to each other when they first interact on page for the reader. There's animosity, and it is clear this has been brewing for awhile. Having the dual POV for this story was truly vital, but even in either character's POV you could sense the place of not meanness a lot of the comments were coming from.
As someone who truly has a big, snappy mouth sometimes I appreciated seeing these honest moments that weren't delivered well. That's me sometimes. And sometimes my Sagittarius comes out hard. So I guess that spoke to me in this work.
Also the slow, tiny ways Stremmel demonstrates that he's stupid over Shapiro (from the raisins, to the listening, to the constant thoughts about her hair), I just loved it so much.
Again, this isn't a coherent review, but I've not read anything else that really captures so much of what I love in contemporary romance as this book.
Full review to come, but this hit all my anticipated happy places and more. I've been desperate for Stremmel's book since he was a grumpy babe so many Canterbary tales ago.
CW: eating disorder, in the past, side effects of in the present (discussed). medical procedures, character is sick on page, emesis (on page)
How do I love The Worst Guy? Let me count the ways.
From the sorting of croutons into their different flavors, to the hand at the small of the back, to the smashing of both exam room glass and characters' expectations, foam jousting swords to the heart, pastel pink glasses and teal green velvet chairs, pacing in front of tropical resorts, I Love Yous by actions and words, group chat hijinks to help with the grovel, doctors who say don't doctor me, sick bed scenes, cheerleader fantasies come to life SO MUCH MORE.
I just love this book. I listened on audio, the male narrator was really good, the woman narrator was okay and I settled into her. Her main voice was great, the side characters didn't always work for me.
after my now fourth re-read (it might be more because sometimes i just read a scene or three), i am still firmly in love with this contemporary romance. truly great character work that hits every emotional beat that i want in a mid-heat contemporary. these two are perfect for each other; all their jaggedy parts line up, and I love watching them spin the pieces around until they click in like a korok puzzle in Zelda Breath of the Wild (the girls who get it, get it). Truly hate fucking at its finest that turns into soft love.
Content notes: Taryn Falvey is a mid-20s white woman, EMT; Nick Kanelos is a white man pushing 40, is a widower, and works with Taryn as an EMT. They live and work somewhere in Western Massachusetts.
CW: grief (wife, died from complications of Huntington's in the past). Addiction (alcohol, drugs-secondary characters), overdose scares, medical procedures and emergencies (both for EMT work and secondary characters), child abuse (off-page, described), parental neglect, violence, fear of losing home/work/kids. Cheating (in past, main characters historically hooked up once before breaking up with their partner).
Actual rating: 4.5 ⭐ (good lord did i need an epilogue)
OKAY now that I've noted everything, gosh i have to say Crash swept me absolutely away. What an absolutely captivating contemporary romance that was so full of angst i could wring it out and serve it up to you like a hot cup of coffee from the Kanelos siblings' diner. It was absolutely delicious for me.
Kanelos and Falvey have been dancing around each other since Falvey's first days as an EMT and both are still thinking about a torrid hook-up they had on Kanelos's counter after a particularly hard emergency run. Falvey had a boyfriend, and told Nick it was a mistake. Now, Taryn has broken up with her doctor boyfriend because he got too close to her family's problems, and turned his nose up at them. Taryn's been trying to keep her younger siblings and her alcoholic mother housed and safe, but on her meager salary and the suspicious fist-fulls of cash her brother keeps bringing home, things are getting dicey. Taryn can't get involved with another squeaky clean, too good widower who might see how messy she and her family are, but can't seem to stop wanting him.
For Nick, its been three years since the death of his wife and high school sweetheart. She was his first and everything, but now he's drawn to the surly Falvey who knows just how to push his buttons. Now that she's finally single and she keeps throwing down the guantlet for Nick to make a move, he can't help but do so, even if he's terrified of losing yet another love of his life.
Whew, this was so scorching-ly sexy and also such a hard-won HEA. The age-gap was handled so well, and I really was not sure how we'd get these two to the same place. I was Worried™!!!!
But seriously, these two are in HEAT (call 911 i think the kitchen counter is on fire). Both Nick & Taryn like to take the lead, and they'll fight for it too he he.
I must note, the writing was truly exceptional. I can't really describe it well, but it was both spare and also each word held weight. the characters were so alive on page, even if we only met them briefly. There's a scene where Nick has to take Taryn to his family's Greek diner and the way the author describes his oldest sister and how she discover he's sleeping with Falvey merely through context clues, damn. masterful.
Author Kate Clayborn described this as being similar in tone and feel to Cara Mckenna's work and I heartily agree with her.
If you love weighty, sad but ultimately so hopeful contemporary romances this is definitely one to check out. I'll be reading the next in series featuring firefighters, but will be skipping the cop book (these were first published in 2018).
Ruby McNally is a penname for author Katie Cotugno (who i know for writing weighty love stories and YA)
CW: grief (wife, died from complications of Huntington's in the past). Addiction (alcohol, drugs-secondary characters), overdose scares, medical procedures and emergencies (both for EMT work and secondary characters), child abuse (off-page, described), parental neglect, violence, fear of losing home/work/kids. Cheating (in past, main characters historically hooked up once before breaking up with their partner).
Actual rating: 4.5 ⭐ (good lord did i need an epilogue)
OKAY now that I've noted everything, gosh i have to say Crash swept me absolutely away. What an absolutely captivating contemporary romance that was so full of angst i could wring it out and serve it up to you like a hot cup of coffee from the Kanelos siblings' diner. It was absolutely delicious for me.
Kanelos and Falvey have been dancing around each other since Falvey's first days as an EMT and both are still thinking about a torrid hook-up they had on Kanelos's counter after a particularly hard emergency run. Falvey had a boyfriend, and told Nick it was a mistake. Now, Taryn has broken up with her doctor boyfriend because he got too close to her family's problems, and turned his nose up at them. Taryn's been trying to keep her younger siblings and her alcoholic mother housed and safe, but on her meager salary and the suspicious fist-fulls of cash her brother keeps bringing home, things are getting dicey. Taryn can't get involved with another squeaky clean, too good widower who might see how messy she and her family are, but can't seem to stop wanting him.
For Nick, its been three years since the death of his wife and high school sweetheart. She was his first and everything, but now he's drawn to the surly Falvey who knows just how to push his buttons. Now that she's finally single and she keeps throwing down the guantlet for Nick to make a move, he can't help but do so, even if he's terrified of losing yet another love of his life.
Whew, this was so scorching-ly sexy and also such a hard-won HEA. The age-gap was handled so well, and I really was not sure how we'd get these two to the same place. I was Worried™!!!!
But seriously, these two are in HEAT (call 911 i think the kitchen counter is on fire). Both Nick & Taryn like to take the lead, and they'll fight for it too he he.
I must note, the writing was truly exceptional. I can't really describe it well, but it was both spare and also each word held weight. the characters were so alive on page, even if we only met them briefly. There's a scene where Nick has to take Taryn to his family's Greek diner and the way the author describes his oldest sister and how she discover he's sleeping with Falvey merely through context clues, damn. masterful.
Author Kate Clayborn described this as being similar in tone and feel to Cara Mckenna's work and I heartily agree with her.
If you love weighty, sad but ultimately so hopeful contemporary romances this is definitely one to check out. I'll be reading the next in series featuring firefighters, but will be skipping the cop book (these were first published in 2018).
Ruby McNally is a penname for author Katie Cotugno (who i know for writing weighty love stories and YA)
Okay I'm bumping up my original rating to a solid four stars. I re-read via audio and this is just a very special book, and the vibes are just immaculate. I still dislike the "You've Got Mail" aspects and the secrets, and how DARE i have to think poor Hart is gone for THAT LONG (playing my emotions like a fiddle), but this will be a re-read fav for sure for years to come.
Cannot wait for the next book!
Actual rating - ⭐⭐⭐.5
I've been struggling to write this review, as my initial read was very swept up and emotional but became a bit more complicated after some parsing and chats with other readers.
Firstly, the "you've got mail" aspect of it all, especially what happened before and after the reveal, I did not love that. I adored the letters themselves, I just really wish how Mercy & Hart began their relationship was ... different.
Secondly, speaking as a white reader, I'm not positive where all of the funerary traditions and mythology was being drawn from, but it feels very inspired by Egyptian mythology and perhaps some Viking mythology, and I'm not sure I can determine how appropriative this story is. I very much responded to the awe and care the author took with honoring the dead and those who are gone, that was honestly my favorite part even over the romance. So I'm conflicted, and I will be looking for other reviews to explore my thoughts.
Also, Hart is a cop. And well, even though it is mostly against "drudges" or "zombies," he's still the law. And I had to set aside my personal feelings to enjoy the story and I know many readers will not be able to do that, and that is okay. I really disliked the secondary character (Mercy's ex) who was also a cop, and while sort of redeemed at the end, was still
Cannot wait for the next book!
Actual rating - ⭐⭐⭐.5
I've been struggling to write this review, as my initial read was very swept up and emotional but became a bit more complicated after some parsing and chats with other readers.
Firstly, the "you've got mail" aspect of it all, especially what happened before and after the reveal, I did not love that. I adored the letters themselves, I just really wish how Mercy & Hart began their relationship was ... different.
Secondly, speaking as a white reader, I'm not positive where all of the funerary traditions and mythology was being drawn from, but it feels very inspired by Egyptian mythology and perhaps some Viking mythology, and I'm not sure I can determine how appropriative this story is. I very much responded to the awe and care the author took with honoring the dead and those who are gone, that was honestly my favorite part even over the romance. So I'm conflicted, and I will be looking for other reviews to explore my thoughts.
Also, Hart is a cop. And well, even though it is mostly against "drudges" or "zombies," he's still the law. And I had to set aside my personal feelings to enjoy the story and I know many readers will not be able to do that, and that is okay. I really disliked the secondary character (Mercy's ex) who was also a cop, and while sort of redeemed at the end, was still
i am entirely biased because i'm an epic sarah maclean simp and honestly each hell's belles has been my FAVORITE but really, this was a perfect historical romance read for me. the way Tommy and Imogen are panting for each other is just excellence at its very finest, and hits me right in my id. sarah maclean writes the romances i want to read, always, and over and over again.
i won't say more until post-release date, but i DO want to point out this is the second instance of a desk being built with shipwrecked wood in the MacLean-verse lmao (inside joke)
i won't say more until post-release date, but i DO want to point out this is the second instance of a desk being built with shipwrecked wood in the MacLean-verse lmao (inside joke)
read partially for WLA Lit awards; it was compelling prose and story, but i ultimately DNF'ed. might come back to see if this mother make it thru homesteading all on her own after losing her husband to a lumbering accident. I would have grabbed my kids and ran to civilization so quick.
A retro contemporary romance set in glamorous Monte Carlo in the 1980s with all the glitz, glamour, smoking, and big hair you could ever desire. Booby, blonde, beautiful and young Diane falls hard for the strong, silent-type Marco de Noli after he deflowers her in the store room of the salon she works at. Diane is drawn to the filthy and rough sex Marco has introduced her to, and nothing else will suit, even if she now feels cage in at the beautiful and cold estate they live in along with Marco's family.
Marco was supposed to marry a quiet woman to bear the heir(s) of the de Noli family, especially a woman who would understand it is family above all else, even if said family is a pit of nasty vipers. As business draws Marco away and as Diane worries he is growing colder and may be cheating on her, she snaps during a particularly rough family dinner that is also supposed to be their one year anniversary celebration. Marco isn't there, until it is too late and The Slap and the Great Statue Breaking has already occured.
Diane disappears back to America, and soon finds out she is carrying the de Noli heir. She thinks Marco has given up on them, but five months later he has found her. And he will do anything to keep her, even if that means stopping their rough love making. What Marco doesn't understand is that Diane loves it, she just wants him to stand up with her to his family and be her true partner.
This book was a whole MOOD. I wouldn't recommend it unless you enjoy the epic categories of this same era because it definitely hit those buttons (and for some, triggers). This is a case I was quite happy these two enjoyed those things (and boy howdy do they), but i was like WHATTT several times lol.
A darn good time, I hope the author continues on with more. I was definitely not bored!
Content notes: dub con, rough sex, discussions of vomiting during rough sex, pregnancy, toxic family, cigarette smoking, sexual harassment (secondary characters) . probably more.
Marco was supposed to marry a quiet woman to bear the heir(s) of the de Noli family, especially a woman who would understand it is family above all else, even if said family is a pit of nasty vipers. As business draws Marco away and as Diane worries he is growing colder and may be cheating on her, she snaps during a particularly rough family dinner that is also supposed to be their one year anniversary celebration. Marco isn't there, until it is too late and The Slap and the Great Statue Breaking has already occured.
Diane disappears back to America, and soon finds out she is carrying the de Noli heir. She thinks Marco has given up on them, but five months later he has found her. And he will do anything to keep her, even if that means stopping their rough love making. What Marco doesn't understand is that Diane loves it, she just wants him to stand up with her to his family and be her true partner.
This book was a whole MOOD. I wouldn't recommend it unless you enjoy the epic categories of this same era because it definitely hit those buttons (and for some, triggers). This is a case I was quite happy these two enjoyed those things (and boy howdy do they), but i was like WHATTT several times lol.
A darn good time, I hope the author continues on with more. I was definitely not bored!
Content notes: dub con, rough sex, discussions of vomiting during rough sex, pregnancy, toxic family, cigarette smoking, sexual harassment (secondary characters) . probably more.
The King fed my need for steamy romances that are similar in comedy and action to the film The Kingsman. Young, hot, and jacked secret agents sparring sexily, being horny, pretending to be married, and taking down bad actors? Sign me up!!
It took me a minute to settle into the world building and it appears there is a prequel novella that I'll definitely going back to read, detailing King and Saff's one-night stand before he's roofied and taken away to be part of the Rogues' training program (and forgets Saff!!). I was like what is going on, should I know some more about this organization and what the point is and why he was kidnapped?
Whew these two are absolutely panting for each other in every scene, which I enjoyed, but by the end I was feeling the length and not in the fun sexy/girthy way. The pacing is a bit off for me, lots of rises and falls and lots of training scenes that aren't imo necessary? BUT I forgive it all for the banter and the fun characters.
The last sentence of the epilogue made me scream and made me want to jump immediately into the next book (but I have to tackle a different audiobook for work ahh). Truly loved both narrators who really brought this to life.
Content notes: Saff is a Black cis woman of British & American descent, with a British accent. She's also the "heir" to the rogues division and has an adopted brother named Gabe who's been running things since their parents were un-alived. King is a white, cis English man and billionaire former fuckboi who is kidnapped by the Rogues to get him in line for his 'legacy' appt to the organization. gun violence throughout, fighting, sparring, wounds, danger bangs, explosions, unwanted solicitation of a threesome during a mission
It took me a minute to settle into the world building and it appears there is a prequel novella that I'll definitely going back to read, detailing King and Saff's one-night stand before he's roofied and taken away to be part of the Rogues' training program (and forgets Saff!!). I was like what is going on, should I know some more about this organization and what the point is and why he was kidnapped?
Whew these two are absolutely panting for each other in every scene, which I enjoyed, but by the end I was feeling the length and not in the fun sexy/girthy way. The pacing is a bit off for me, lots of rises and falls and lots of training scenes that aren't imo necessary? BUT I forgive it all for the banter and the fun characters.
The last sentence of the epilogue made me scream and made me want to jump immediately into the next book (but I have to tackle a different audiobook for work ahh). Truly loved both narrators who really brought this to life.
Content notes: Saff is a Black cis woman of British & American descent, with a British accent. She's also the "heir" to the rogues division and has an adopted brother named Gabe who's been running things since their parents were un-alived. King is a white, cis English man and billionaire former fuckboi who is kidnapped by the Rogues to get him in line for his 'legacy' appt to the organization. gun violence throughout, fighting, sparring, wounds, danger bangs, explosions, unwanted solicitation of a threesome during a mission
A happy surprise audio delight for me; I wasn't expecting a lot I just wanted a contemporary romance and this delivers on both small town, cowboy yeehaw feels with deep feelings and nice steam. The plot overall was really complicated, especially in regards to Tait's estranged father, the ranch//inheritance business, and the family dynamics. Her and her sister's dialogue felt very juvenile (but hey what do I know), but overall I'll be back for more from this author.
gave me a bit of a similar feel to Jen Devon // Kate Clayborn, and I'm hoping as this author's writing matures it will pack more of those emotional punches that are swaddled in softness of the romance.
I waited too long to write this review so some of the details are a bit hazy, but i did also enjoy the audiobook narrators.
Content notes: grandmother has heart failure, has passed away in the epilogue
gave me a bit of a similar feel to Jen Devon // Kate Clayborn, and I'm hoping as this author's writing matures it will pack more of those emotional punches that are swaddled in softness of the romance.
I waited too long to write this review so some of the details are a bit hazy, but i did also enjoy the audiobook narrators.
Content notes: grandmother has heart failure, has passed away in the epilogue