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bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)
Suleikha Snyder really brings the best of romance to the novella form. This was a quick, yet fully satisfying bite of a post-apocalyptic romance story, with amazing character work and world building, plus THE HEAT. Fantastic. The glimpses into how the main characters first met as wide-eyed youths, and how she ruined his life by one dance, and yet he has been entranced with her since, the memory carrying him through dark times to find her again.
The zombies are scary, this has big COVID feels without being a COVID book.
The zombies are scary, this has big COVID feels without being a COVID book.
Sapphic friends to lovers about a witch and a bear shifter who hook up during their annual friends weekend and fall in love. Definitely hot, felt a bit stilted, and needed more character development. Interested to watch and see how this author/series grows!
Estie Williams joins her family on a ski holiday even though she doesn't really know how to ski and had some not fun experiences on a ski lift. She figures she can work on her next indie romance novel while her loved ones enjoy the slopes, enjoying some inspiration and a change in scenery from her NYC life.
Estie does agree to at least try hitting the slopes, signing up for some group lessons. And lo, one of her instructors is both Serious about teaching how to safely enjoy the sport and also Seriously cute (that mustache!!).
As Estie learns to trust herself on the slopes, James also earns the trust of her heart until a mis-timed spill on Estie's plane home ends our lovers' vacation romance...or does it?
this was a delightful debut novella that lovingly plays with romance tropes. Horny, sweet, and steamy! Plus a sexy mustache (you know I love a mustache). It made me want to enjoy some apres ski time myself (I too do not ski). I also very much appreciated James's sobriety and discussions of Estie's mood disorder which were integral parts of their CHARACTER but not served up as plot movers (yay).
So looking forward to more from this author.
Fair disclosure, I am friends with the author online, but did purchase the book with my own monies and reviewed it fairly.
Estie does agree to at least try hitting the slopes, signing up for some group lessons. And lo, one of her instructors is both Serious about teaching how to safely enjoy the sport and also Seriously cute (that mustache!!).
As Estie learns to trust herself on the slopes, James also earns the trust of her heart until a mis-timed spill on Estie's plane home ends our lovers' vacation romance...or does it?
this was a delightful debut novella that lovingly plays with romance tropes. Horny, sweet, and steamy! Plus a sexy mustache (you know I love a mustache). It made me want to enjoy some apres ski time myself (I too do not ski). I also very much appreciated James's sobriety and discussions of Estie's mood disorder which were integral parts of their CHARACTER but not served up as plot movers (yay).
So looking forward to more from this author.
Fair disclosure, I am friends with the author online, but did purchase the book with my own monies and reviewed it fairly.
earthy collection of poetry focusing on nature, midwifery, life and death. i enjoyed the progression of sections, from birth to end and the callbacks to other poets and literary figures.
*read for 2023 Wisconsin Library Association Literary Awards
*read for 2023 Wisconsin Library Association Literary Awards
this collection smashed my heart into a million little pieces and made me weep at my desk. i'm very glad i read it. post-partum mental illnesses need compassion and care, and this nation and wisconsin is failing its people.
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scandal is right. Regina Black kept me on the edge of my seat while narrator Mela Lee slayed all of the characters' voices. i had started in in print eons ago, but finished off after using an audible credit with the narration and what a great choice. one of my favorite audiobooks of 2023!
this skimmed the line between domestic fiction and romance, but landed firmly in romance with the HEA//HFN between Rachel and Nathan. Whew was I worried though, especially after that shocking moment during the art fundraiser. The way back from there, masterful!
for those leery of the age-gap of it all, I really appreciated Nathan was mid-20s and had his own business and support system. The juxtaposition of Nathan appearing to be blue collar (based on his choices, not his lack of family or financial support if you chose differently) versus Rachel's apparent "high society" veneer when she in fact was unhoused, financially insecure, and with a child she had at 16 was so deftly woven! I also very much appreciated that Nathan's mother, and Rachel's peer, isn't demonized. She's a society bitch but she's not one-dimensional.
All in all, this was such a great debut and I hope for far more from the author, AND it would translate so well to screen.
One thing I will directly point out, because it is sort of my own personal issue, is that i was not suspecting Nathan's father to CW (view spoiler). I didn't look up content notes, but i also didn't really see this mentioned elsewhere, so just FYI
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC; i also purchased the audio with my own money
this skimmed the line between domestic fiction and romance, but landed firmly in romance with the HEA//HFN between Rachel and Nathan. Whew was I worried though, especially after that shocking moment during the art fundraiser. The way back from there, masterful!
for those leery of the age-gap of it all, I really appreciated Nathan was mid-20s and had his own business and support system. The juxtaposition of Nathan appearing to be blue collar (based on his choices, not his lack of family or financial support if you chose differently) versus Rachel's apparent "high society" veneer when she in fact was unhoused, financially insecure, and with a child she had at 16 was so deftly woven! I also very much appreciated that Nathan's mother, and Rachel's peer, isn't demonized. She's a society bitch but she's not one-dimensional.
All in all, this was such a great debut and I hope for far more from the author, AND it would translate so well to screen.
One thing I will directly point out, because it is sort of my own personal issue, is that i was not suspecting Nathan's father to CW (view spoiler). I didn't look up content notes, but i also didn't really see this mentioned elsewhere, so just FYI
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC; i also purchased the audio with my own money
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Oops, their divorce never actually went through and now they have to pretend to be happily married (again) and their dogs and feeeeelings are probably going to make sure they stay that way (I love this second chance romance so hard).
Jayce Ellis really just hits all my best feelings and favorite tropes in this glorious second-chance romance. I loved all the touches; the contrast between DeShawn's Michelin starred restaurant and Malik's family restaurant. The love that never really burned out between these two. Having to fake be romantic in public with ALL the feelings behind it. YES.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
CW; Grandma with terminal cancer; she passes off page after the HEA (epilogue is a future jump).
Jayce Ellis really just hits all my best feelings and favorite tropes in this glorious second-chance romance. I loved all the touches; the contrast between DeShawn's Michelin starred restaurant and Malik's family restaurant. The love that never really burned out between these two. Having to fake be romantic in public with ALL the feelings behind it. YES.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
CW; Grandma with terminal cancer; she passes off page after the HEA (epilogue is a future jump).
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have been eagerly awaiting to meet Mitch's match since we got at glimpse at his glorious knees in that kilt in Well Met. I was also delighted to see the slow build up in tension between Mitch and April in the previous books, and overall Well Matched delivered.
Mitch is such a babe, and he treats April so kindly, and he's so into her. I loved seeing grumpy April realize she was pre-judging Mitch based on his looks and reputation, not his deeds or actions. Seeing how her pre-judgment is the same as the way his family treats him because of his career was also deftly handled. And dang, Mitch delivers the sexy goods to April when she finally gives in to his obvious care for her.
Besides the romance, April is experiencing a lot of life changes, with her daughter leaving for college, and trying to figure out if she should indeed move to a bigger city and a condo, or stay with the community she's built. I liked how it played out.
So much fun, what a grand read.
Actual rating 4.5 stars, I would have loved to see Mitch's POV in this story, but that isn't the author's choice and that was fine and it worked! I am just greedy.
Mitch is such a babe, and he treats April so kindly, and he's so into her. I loved seeing grumpy April realize she was pre-judging Mitch based on his looks and reputation, not his deeds or actions. Seeing how her pre-judgment is the same as the way his family treats him because of his career was also deftly handled. And dang, Mitch delivers the sexy goods to April when she finally gives in to his obvious care for her.
Besides the romance, April is experiencing a lot of life changes, with her daughter leaving for college, and trying to figure out if she should indeed move to a bigger city and a condo, or stay with the community she's built. I liked how it played out.
So much fun, what a grand read.
Actual rating 4.5 stars, I would have loved to see Mitch's POV in this story, but that isn't the author's choice and that was fine and it worked! I am just greedy.
