How far would you go to find THE ONE?

Match Your DNA was designed to help people find their perfect match. With a quick DNA test, you will find your perfect partner, the one you’re genetically made for. But what if your soul mate has secrets that could be shocking or even deadly? Would you still want to find them?

In The One, we follow five people looking forward their perfect match. Mandy, whose match is involved in an accident before they get to meet. Christopher, who doesn’t want his match to know who he really is. Jade, an Englishwoman who must travel to Australia to meet her match. Nick, who is engaged to a woman who wants to take the test to make sure they are destined to be together. Ellie, a businesswoman who is too busy to worry about finding the one.

This is one of those books where it’s better not to know too much going into it. Each of these stories was unique and interesting and sometimes crazy! I loved the alternating chapters which are shorter making the book easy to fly through. I listened to the audiobook, and enjoyed the full cast of narrators.

3.5 stars

3.5 stars

“They say life is full of surprises. That our dreams really can come true.  Then again, so can our nightmares…”
– Gossip Girl
 
“All I know is sometimes, if there’s too many white folks…I get nervous.” –Get Out
 
Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where the students work hard to get into the colleges of their dreams.  Most students are wealthy and seem to be perfect, but one day that all changes when anonymous texts by someone calling themselves “Aces” start targeting two students, Devon and Chiamaka.  Devon is talented musician who keeps to himself, and Chi is the head girl who isn’t afraid to get what she wants.  So why is Aces out to get them both? 
 
Ace of Spades was one of my most anticipated summer reads, and it did not disappoint.  I loved the dual point of views between Devon and Chi.  Both Devon and Chi’s characters are developed really well throughout the story, and the author, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, gave us a clear insight into each of them.  The story definitely has Gossip Girl and Get Out vibes so I think it was perfect that the author started the book with quotes from each of these. 
 
I listened to the audiobook, and loved it. I really didn’t want to turn it off because I felt the two narrators, Jeanette Illidge and Tapiwa Mugweni, did such a great job of creating suspense in a story that touches on controversial topics such as racism, homophobia, bullying and suicide ideation.  I needed to see where the story was going and just had to know who Aces was and why they were targeting these two students. 
 
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start by saying that I loved this book. It’s not common for me to rate a romance 5 stars, but this one was so good. Tessa Bailey’s writing is fantastic. She combines the right amount of character development and spice!

Speaking of spice…whoa! The steamy scenes in this book were hot! When it comes to steam in books, I’m generally moderate spice, but I enjoyed the way that Bailey wrote them and felt that they worked with this story.

When I read that this book was inspired by Schitt’s Creek, I knew I needed to read it. Piper definitely reminded me of Alexis. I liked the story of a socialite forced to learn how to live in a small town with little money and really enjoyed Piper’s growth throughout the book.

Brendan was also written very well, and I liked how he grew in a completely different way than Piper. Bailey definitely knows how to develop her characters in realistic ways which I enjoy.

Although a bit predictable, I loved this story so much that I could overlook that. This was my first book by Tessa Bailey, but it certainly won’t be my last. I’m so excited to read Hook, Line, and Sinker when it comes out next year.

When three couples travel to Portugal for one of their weddings, things take an unfortunate turn. Noah and Rachel are old friends who thought they might be more, but are now both happily married. Jack is Rachel’s husband, and his brother Will is getting married to Ali. Ali is immature and rubs the group the wrong way. Paige, Noah’s wife thinks Ali just wants attention, but is there more to it? Rachel uncovers a secret that Ali is keeping, one that might cause all of their marriages to unravel.

This book read more like a soap opera to me than a thriller. About 90% of the story is leading up to the wedding, and it is filled with Rachel and Paige gossiping about Ali and realizing that none of these characters are being honest with each other. It was hard to find any of the characters likable because of this. Although there were some good reveals at the end that I did not see coming, I did think it took a long time to get to them. This book was a bit repetitious at times and could have been a little shorter in my opinion. I also would classify this book as a domestic drama instead of a thriller.

I listened to the audiobook and did think the narrator, Clare Corbett did a good job with each of the characters and voicing them appropriately.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Tara Park does not do serious relationships. Neither does Seth Kim, but when a game of truth or dare turns into Tara going on 4 dates with Seth, but not falling for him she accepts the dare. I thought this had such a cute premise that I was excited when I got a copy of the audiobook through Macmillan Audio and NetGalley.

This was such a fun story, and the chemistry between Tara and Seth was undeniable from the first scene. I did not realize how steamy this book would be though. I’m moderate spice when it comes to romance, but the steam factor did not bother me at all. It worked for their storyline. The author, Jayci Lee, did a great job with character development while combining it with the steam.

Both characters had their reasons for not wanting serious relationships, but I felt that part of the story was a bit drawn out. I just wanted them to admit their feelings for each other and after a while I got a little annoyed that they wouldn’t.

When I requested this ARC, I did not realize this is the second book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. I do plan to go back and read it at some point. Jayci Lee is a new to me author, but I look forward to reading more of her books.