dermkat's Reviews (2.11k)

Career or Fibromyalgia: Do I Have to Choose: this one was not at all what the title made it appear to be. There was one chapter that was pretty good but I'd read or heard a lot of it already. ⭐⭐

This was short and spicy poly holiday novella, but there were a handful of things that made me enjoy it less than I'd like. Starts with a kiss (not just one solitary kiss, it's long and drawn out) between two of the three but she has a boyfriend so that is cheating in my books. Granted, he's a shitty boyfriend and they break up the next day but still. Then she runs into kissing guy (who she also works with and is going against policy by fraternizing) and his roommate (and they were roommates) on Christmas Day. She agrees to have them share her and they have a wild few days together that leads to more than just a rebound as planned. But they had no sexual health talk or safe sex practices during their first times together so that bothered me too. There was another spicy novella by this author I was going to read but now I'm not sure I will. 

This was a really lovely, informative, sometimes heart wrenching graphic novel by an artist sharing their non-binary experience and some general knowledge. As a cis woman, I like to learn from people whose experiences with gender are different and am grateful to Theo for sharing their story. The art is in a cute, easy to follow style (not too text heavy, not too busy visually) and I really do think this could be an important piece of literature to share with people who are new to learning about what it is to be trans and nonbinary because it's full of information and insight, not holding back while also not being didactic. 

This was a cute little holiday novella that tied up the series, bringing something into reality that was alluded to but wasn't originally going to get its own story. It's second gen, and the off-limits in the title refers to the fact that at quick glance people might guess they're cousins because they share mutual extended family. But they're not related to nothing is really off-limits (his uncle married her stepmom's sister). Liam and Izzy were kids in the original trilogy and either teens or new adults in the final epilogue, so this was fun. He moves back to the city she's living in and they end up in close proximity while he introduces software to the company she works for. She's had feelings for him for years but it's been almost a year that they drifted apart when he brought a girlfriend home to the family last Christmas. What she doesn't know at first is that he broke up with that girlfriend right after the holiday because seeing them together made him realize how no one could measure up. It's closed door but has a little flirting and some kissing. Seeing the family was fun again too, including the newest rescue racoon named Ukulele (long live Banjo), and though not a huge part of the story, one MC has Celiac.

This was cute and I think my fave of the series! Josie has a new adorable student named Lucy in her kindergarten class and is shocked to discover the girl's dad is Wyatt, the one who got away. They were first loves, grew up together and planned on forever until he broke up with her when he got the chance to go away to play football. He's regretted it other than that he has Lucy now, and his feelings and attraction are back immediately. Josie still feels the attraction but is more hesitate, obviously. The three end up on a team competing to complete a list of holiday activities for the town competition. I liked the way he just went for it and started flirting and telling her how he felt. There was a nice mix of sweet and spice, and for a short novella I thought the pacing was done well. I did think this one would have been good as a full novel, though. Also, I don't know if there are going to be more books in the series (I feel like the author said this is our last trip to Strawberry Hollow) but one of Josie's brothers was teased to have a secret girlfriend, so.... are we going to find out about that?

This is a fun, spicy novella (more spice than plot, but intentionally, and still some plot) set around Christmas time about two runners. She's newer at the sport and meets him when she finishes her first half marathon, which she started training for fo prove her douchey ex-boyfriend wrong since he said she'd never be able to do it. Margo is a bit shaky on her feet and Finn is a paramedic working the medical tent who catches her. Then they run into each other again shortly after and he admits that he knows who she is because she used to date his son briefly (recall the ex?). It's a one night stand to definitely not one night, kinky, sixteen-year age gap holiday novella. I always trust I'm in for a good time with a Chelsea Curto book and it was true again, plus I like reading sports stories from people who clearly love the sport, like I know she does. Also, I'm pretty sure the epilogue was inspired by someone we probably both follow on Instagram who that just happened to because I think I saw her share the reel, but maybe it was a weird, cute coincidence!

I finally finished it! I got this ALC three weeks ago and hoped to have it done in time for its release last week but my brain hasn't been focusing well on audio. Even so, Cristina is one of my fave new to me authors this year (and a genuinely lovely person), so I wanted to read this again for a third time this year! The narrators did well, and I'm very glad that Adam and Elaina's story is now out in the world in another format so more people can experience them! I did a post on IG already, so more details are there. Thanks again for the ALC!

I really enjoyed this third book in the series! I've been looking forward to Henry's story since the beginning, and I'm not sure if it's because I knew he was neurodivergent (which the author confirms he is, but he doesn't get a diagnosis during the book) and I tend to relate to the no filter aspect of his character. Getting to know him even more now, seeing how his brain works, and the way it affects his journey as team captain and his friendship to more with Halle. I think that there may be readers who don't understand and might think he's rude and blunt, but I hope they use it as an opportunity to learn. She's also great, and I loved that she's the eldest daughter (didn't love it on her behalf based on how her family abuses her kindness and nature managerial skills), that she's another character with very little sexual experience, and also that she's a writer and romance novel lover. The way she and Henry meet, become friends who just want the best for each other and offer to help out, and then truly become best friends and lovers felt perfect. They both have their individual things they're dealing with and they let the other figure it out while also being supportive. There was one line in Halle's POV where she thinks that if this was the olden days she'd have burnt out the cassette tape made me feel old, and then I realized they're suppose fto be 20 at the start of this book and I am so far beyond that. Regardless, I think it's my fave of the series and while there's no obvious next couple/book, there is one character's story I'd like to see told. No idea if that's the plan, so we'll see! And as always, a gorgeous Leni Kauffman cover! 

Okay, I knew in the back of my mind that I liked this one but I forgot just how much! I am always here for a time loop, it's one of my favorite underrated tropes, and this one is well done. Mae is at the cabin for Christmas with her family (which consists of her parents, their best friends and their kids as a large extended family). She's always loved Andrew but has been closer with his brother Theo, raised almost as twins together. She and Theo drunkenly makeout a bit and regret it, then she finds out that Andrew saw them and his parents are selling the cabin. Everything is sad, and then something happens and she wakes up back in the plane seat on the way to the cabin, six days earlier. This begins a time loop where she tries to figure out how to fix the mess. There is a fun uncle sidekick, eventually some romance, and the inevitable everything blowing up in her face. I haven't read this for a few years and I think it'll have to become one of my yearly holiday time reads now!

I got an arc and tried to push through reading but had to stop at about 30% in because I wasn't enjoying it. Something in the writing felt stilted and dialogue forced.