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636 reviews by:
kellygillespiewv
This book just wasn't for me. The writing is lovely, but it was not what I was expecting and the plot was full of circumstances I don't enjoy reading about.
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
Kendall Ryan hits me hard in the feels EVERY SINGLE TIME!
Readers met Alexei Ivan in Ryan’s book Dear Jane but truly get to know him in this book. There is just something about a hulking athlete with a heart of gold that makes it impossible not to swoon! I instantly fell for Alexei and only grew to love him more as the story progressed.
Ryleigh is the epitome of the type of female character I like most: strong, independent, and a bit stubborn. Her life, which isn’t sunshine and rainbows as is, gets turned upside down when her former roommate abandons her two month old baby girl to Ryleigh’s care.
Alexei is Ryleigh’s 21st century knight in shining armor, swooping in to help her when she needs it most, despite her reluctance. Their chemistry is amazing and when they start to turn up the heat, it’s torrid!
There is a family element throughout the book that I absolutely adored. Seeing these characters interact with baby Ella and later with Alexei’s family had my heart skipping a beat. This book is a perfect combination of sweet and sexy, and I was living for it.
I binged Finding Alexei in a day! I’m always happy to recommend Kendall Ryan, and this book is no exception.
*Thanks to the author and Inkslinger PR for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Kendall Ryan hits me hard in the feels EVERY SINGLE TIME!
Readers met Alexei Ivan in Ryan’s book Dear Jane but truly get to know him in this book. There is just something about a hulking athlete with a heart of gold that makes it impossible not to swoon! I instantly fell for Alexei and only grew to love him more as the story progressed.
Ryleigh is the epitome of the type of female character I like most: strong, independent, and a bit stubborn. Her life, which isn’t sunshine and rainbows as is, gets turned upside down when her former roommate abandons her two month old baby girl to Ryleigh’s care.
Alexei is Ryleigh’s 21st century knight in shining armor, swooping in to help her when she needs it most, despite her reluctance. Their chemistry is amazing and when they start to turn up the heat, it’s torrid!
There is a family element throughout the book that I absolutely adored. Seeing these characters interact with baby Ella and later with Alexei’s family had my heart skipping a beat. This book is a perfect combination of sweet and sexy, and I was living for it.
I binged Finding Alexei in a day! I’m always happy to recommend Kendall Ryan, and this book is no exception.
*Thanks to the author and Inkslinger PR for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review on wildandwonderfulreads.com
I am ridiculously late to the Grisha train! This is a series that I purchased as a set years ago then proceeded to let sit on my bookshelves -- unread -- for too long. I'm kind-of thankful that King of Scars is releasing soon, as the hype for that finally pushed me into reading Shadow and Bone.
I'm going to preface this by saying I am not a stranger to Bardugo's writing -- I adored Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. With that being said, Shadow and Bone fell a little short for me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it enough and I plan to continue the series, but it didn't WOW me.
The elements of this book that stood out to me were the world building and the development of the male leads, Mal and The Darkling.
The Grisha Verse is amazing with Russian influences intricately woven throughout. The magic system and political intrigue are simply fascinating!
I really enjoyed seeing the relationships between Alina and Mal and Alina and The Darkling unfold. I grew quite fond of both Mal and The Darkling, definitely for different reasons, but I thought Alina was a bit annoying.
The plot as a whole was kind of bland and predictable. Like I mentioned, though, I enjoyed it enough to continue, but I'm hoping for more from book 2.
I am ridiculously late to the Grisha train! This is a series that I purchased as a set years ago then proceeded to let sit on my bookshelves -- unread -- for too long. I'm kind-of thankful that King of Scars is releasing soon, as the hype for that finally pushed me into reading Shadow and Bone.
I'm going to preface this by saying I am not a stranger to Bardugo's writing -- I adored Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. With that being said, Shadow and Bone fell a little short for me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it enough and I plan to continue the series, but it didn't WOW me.
The elements of this book that stood out to me were the world building and the development of the male leads, Mal and The Darkling.
The Grisha Verse is amazing with Russian influences intricately woven throughout. The magic system and political intrigue are simply fascinating!
I really enjoyed seeing the relationships between Alina and Mal and Alina and The Darkling unfold. I grew quite fond of both Mal and The Darkling, definitely for different reasons, but I thought Alina was a bit annoying.
The plot as a whole was kind of bland and predictable. Like I mentioned, though, I enjoyed it enough to continue, but I'm hoping for more from book 2.
Full review on wildandwonderfulreads.com
I can always count on Lauren Blakely to write a great romance! The Real Deal is a sweet rom com that had me smiling and laughing and wishing I had a Theo of my own.
In my opinion, characters make or break romantic comedies. I want characters to be relatable with witty internal dialogue and flaws that make me feel like I’m not the only person on the planet with embarrassing stories and issues. I absolutely got what I wanted from this book! I loved-loved-loved April and Theo!
I thought the plot was fun! Fake relationships are one of my favorite literary tropes, and it was executed really well here. I also enjoyed the family dynamic in this one a lot. My only complaint is that I didn’t feel like the story was long enough — the ending seemed a bit rushed. Sometimes I need the tiniest bit more of the ‘happily ever after.’
Overall, The Real Deal is a definite recommend! This is a short, fast read and the perfect pick-me-up!
*Thanks to the Inkslinger PR and publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
I can always count on Lauren Blakely to write a great romance! The Real Deal is a sweet rom com that had me smiling and laughing and wishing I had a Theo of my own.
In my opinion, characters make or break romantic comedies. I want characters to be relatable with witty internal dialogue and flaws that make me feel like I’m not the only person on the planet with embarrassing stories and issues. I absolutely got what I wanted from this book! I loved-loved-loved April and Theo!
I thought the plot was fun! Fake relationships are one of my favorite literary tropes, and it was executed really well here. I also enjoyed the family dynamic in this one a lot. My only complaint is that I didn’t feel like the story was long enough — the ending seemed a bit rushed. Sometimes I need the tiniest bit more of the ‘happily ever after.’
Overall, The Real Deal is a definite recommend! This is a short, fast read and the perfect pick-me-up!
*Thanks to the Inkslinger PR and publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at wildandwonderfulreads.com
ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 stars
I have no chill about this…I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I am a much bigger rom com fan than I am that of drama. However, Hates Notes is honestly exactly what I enjoy about contemporary romance. It’s the perfect combination of comedy, drama, and steam. The first half of the book is super light-hearted with great banter while the second half is a bit more serious, involving life-altering revelations for the main characters.
Can we just talk a minute about Charlotte and Reed!? I absolutely adored these two! Neither one is perfect — far from it, actually — but they are perfect for each other. Charlotte gives Reed life and Reed gives Charlotte stability. I really enjoyed the various aspects and evolution of their relationship.
Not to mention, their meet-cute is hilarious and definitely different!
If you’re wondering why the 1/2 star deduction after all this raving, it’s because I can never get enough of the ‘after’ with characters that I love.
This is my first experience with Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward, but it definitely will not be my last. OBVIOUSLY, I recommend this book!
ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 stars
I have no chill about this…I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I am a much bigger rom com fan than I am that of drama. However, Hates Notes is honestly exactly what I enjoy about contemporary romance. It’s the perfect combination of comedy, drama, and steam. The first half of the book is super light-hearted with great banter while the second half is a bit more serious, involving life-altering revelations for the main characters.
Can we just talk a minute about Charlotte and Reed!? I absolutely adored these two! Neither one is perfect — far from it, actually — but they are perfect for each other. Charlotte gives Reed life and Reed gives Charlotte stability. I really enjoyed the various aspects and evolution of their relationship.
Not to mention, their meet-cute is hilarious and definitely different!
If you’re wondering why the 1/2 star deduction after all this raving, it’s because I can never get enough of the ‘after’ with characters that I love.
This is my first experience with Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward, but it definitely will not be my last. OBVIOUSLY, I recommend this book!
Full review on wildandwonderfulreads.com
The Gilded Wolves is a masterful YA Fantasy by Roshani Chokshi, author of The Star-Touched Queen and Aru Shah and the End of Time.
This book is set in 1889 Paris featuring a wonderfully diverse cast of characters reminiscent of the band of misfits from Six of Crows and a spectacular heist à la National Treasure with twists and puzzles like that of a Dan Brown book. IT’S EPIC!
Roshani Chokshi has a beautiful, flowery writing style that completely won me over. Written in multiple POVs, The Gilded Wolves is brimming with imagery and laced with wit! That being said, I feel like it may overwhelm some readers. The first quarter to a third of this book is a massive info-dump, especially while the world is built and the intricacies of the fantasy elements are explained. Readers get a lot of description and background right from the go. I caution readers to not be scared off by it, though. The story is imaginative and fun and worth it!
We get the good, the bad, and the ugly, given the point in history in which this story is set and the types of lives people of various backgrounds led then. I applaud Roshani for giving us great, diverse characters with vivid histories. I definitely loved all of the characters, but Séverin is a freakin doll — I adored him!
Overall, I really enjoyed The Gilded Wolves and recommend it to YA Fantasy fans who enjoy poetic writing and a loaded cast!
*Thanks to the BookSparks, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
The Gilded Wolves is a masterful YA Fantasy by Roshani Chokshi, author of The Star-Touched Queen and Aru Shah and the End of Time.
This book is set in 1889 Paris featuring a wonderfully diverse cast of characters reminiscent of the band of misfits from Six of Crows and a spectacular heist à la National Treasure with twists and puzzles like that of a Dan Brown book. IT’S EPIC!
Roshani Chokshi has a beautiful, flowery writing style that completely won me over. Written in multiple POVs, The Gilded Wolves is brimming with imagery and laced with wit! That being said, I feel like it may overwhelm some readers. The first quarter to a third of this book is a massive info-dump, especially while the world is built and the intricacies of the fantasy elements are explained. Readers get a lot of description and background right from the go. I caution readers to not be scared off by it, though. The story is imaginative and fun and worth it!
We get the good, the bad, and the ugly, given the point in history in which this story is set and the types of lives people of various backgrounds led then. I applaud Roshani for giving us great, diverse characters with vivid histories. I definitely loved all of the characters, but Séverin is a freakin doll — I adored him!
Overall, I really enjoyed The Gilded Wolves and recommend it to YA Fantasy fans who enjoy poetic writing and a loaded cast!
*Thanks to the BookSparks, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Emergency Contact is not the book I was expecting when I picked it up! That may have something to do with the powder pink cover, but I assumed it’s a lighter YA Contemporary. While humor and sarcasm are littered throughout, it’s grittier!
My favorite thing about this book is how relatable it is. Honestly, that’s usually why I enjoy Contemporaries, be it YA or not — I read them and find myself in the character’s shoes because at some point in my life, I felt or acted or witnessed something similar. In this case, the relatability came from the characters who are not all sunshine and rainbows, just as most of us aren’t! Penny and Sam are prickly and judgmental. Their lives are overwhelming, their relationships are flawed, and that’s what makes this such a great read!
I liked the premise for Emergency Contact which allowed for dual POVs and some really great text conversations to be added to the narrative. It is also sprinkled with fun pop culture references, which I loved! The story arch fell a little flat, though. Yes things happen, but from beginning to end, the plot really doesn’t go far.
Overall, I’d recommend this book, especially to YA Contemporary fans who like humor and drama to be well intertwined.
My favorite thing about this book is how relatable it is. Honestly, that’s usually why I enjoy Contemporaries, be it YA or not — I read them and find myself in the character’s shoes because at some point in my life, I felt or acted or witnessed something similar. In this case, the relatability came from the characters who are not all sunshine and rainbows, just as most of us aren’t! Penny and Sam are prickly and judgmental. Their lives are overwhelming, their relationships are flawed, and that’s what makes this such a great read!
I liked the premise for Emergency Contact which allowed for dual POVs and some really great text conversations to be added to the narrative. It is also sprinkled with fun pop culture references, which I loved! The story arch fell a little flat, though. Yes things happen, but from beginning to end, the plot really doesn’t go far.
Overall, I’d recommend this book, especially to YA Contemporary fans who like humor and drama to be well intertwined.
Full review at https://wildandwonderfulreads.com
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I can really appreciate a book that doesn’t dance around real life issues. Down We’ll Come, Baby by Carrie Aarons is a story of love and how sometimes it isn’t enough in a marriage.
We’ve got a wealthy girl and the working class guy she shouldn’t want to be with. This isn’t a tale of how they fell in love but rather what happens when they feel like they can’t make it work any more. Though the blurb covers it, be warned that this book is about a failing marriage and struggles with infertility.
I’ve got to be honest…I really could not stand Imogen! I found her selfish and her family is just the worst. I understand some of the struggles she goes through, but other struggles stem from her drive to rise in her family’s company and get back into their good graces after marrying a man they didn’t approve of. I did not connect with her at all.
Theo, on the other hand, is phenomenal! He loves Imogen wholeheartedly, and I was feeling all his pain alongside him as I read. My only complaint with regard to Theo has to do with his dialogue and internal dialogue — I often found it unrealistic. That is to say that I felt like it was obvious that he was written by a female author. Does that make sense?
Overall, Down We’ll Come, Baby is an emotional rollarcoaster that I feel a lot of romance readers will love!
*Thanks to the author and Inkslinger PR for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I can really appreciate a book that doesn’t dance around real life issues. Down We’ll Come, Baby by Carrie Aarons is a story of love and how sometimes it isn’t enough in a marriage.
We’ve got a wealthy girl and the working class guy she shouldn’t want to be with. This isn’t a tale of how they fell in love but rather what happens when they feel like they can’t make it work any more. Though the blurb covers it, be warned that this book is about a failing marriage and struggles with infertility.
I’ve got to be honest…I really could not stand Imogen! I found her selfish and her family is just the worst. I understand some of the struggles she goes through, but other struggles stem from her drive to rise in her family’s company and get back into their good graces after marrying a man they didn’t approve of. I did not connect with her at all.
Theo, on the other hand, is phenomenal! He loves Imogen wholeheartedly, and I was feeling all his pain alongside him as I read. My only complaint with regard to Theo has to do with his dialogue and internal dialogue — I often found it unrealistic. That is to say that I felt like it was obvious that he was written by a female author. Does that make sense?
Overall, Down We’ll Come, Baby is an emotional rollarcoaster that I feel a lot of romance readers will love!
*Thanks to the author and Inkslinger PR for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Full review at https://wildandwonderfulreads.com
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
A book has never been so fitting of its title! Enchantée by Gita Trelease left me exactly that way -- enchanted!
This book is a fabulous mélange of magic, mystery, and romance across the backdrop of revolutionary era France. The story follows a young girl who has lost everything but is trying to come back stronger.
Trelease absolutely captivated me with her writing. Her style is charming and brimming with imagery, and I was completely immersed in this story. I felt as though I was transported to 1789 Paris and could perfectly envision the opulence of Versailles and feel the struggles of the lower classes! The pacing, for me, is akin to that of a slow burn. However, it felt appropriate given the span of time of which the story traverses.
The magic system is really intriguing, weaving a dangerous thread throughout the tale, as the magic comes with a price! The magic also allows the story to take on two parts, as our main character lives a double life with its help.
Camille is a character I found myself rooting for. She has the weight of the world on her young shoulders, but she is determined not only to survive but to make a new life for her and her sister, Sophie. Her struggles help to shape her into the character that she is -- for better or for worse -- and I appreciated that. She didn't always make the best choices and I often wanted to reach through the pages to shake some sense into her, but I loved her regardless and wanted to see everything fall into place for her.
Overall, I absolutely recommend Enchantée! Fans of YA historical fantasy will love this debut! I will be eagerly anticipating reading more from Gita Trelease.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
A book has never been so fitting of its title! Enchantée by Gita Trelease left me exactly that way -- enchanted!
This book is a fabulous mélange of magic, mystery, and romance across the backdrop of revolutionary era France. The story follows a young girl who has lost everything but is trying to come back stronger.
Trelease absolutely captivated me with her writing. Her style is charming and brimming with imagery, and I was completely immersed in this story. I felt as though I was transported to 1789 Paris and could perfectly envision the opulence of Versailles and feel the struggles of the lower classes! The pacing, for me, is akin to that of a slow burn. However, it felt appropriate given the span of time of which the story traverses.
The magic system is really intriguing, weaving a dangerous thread throughout the tale, as the magic comes with a price! The magic also allows the story to take on two parts, as our main character lives a double life with its help.
Camille is a character I found myself rooting for. She has the weight of the world on her young shoulders, but she is determined not only to survive but to make a new life for her and her sister, Sophie. Her struggles help to shape her into the character that she is -- for better or for worse -- and I appreciated that. She didn't always make the best choices and I often wanted to reach through the pages to shake some sense into her, but I loved her regardless and wanted to see everything fall into place for her.
Overall, I absolutely recommend Enchantée! Fans of YA historical fantasy will love this debut! I will be eagerly anticipating reading more from Gita Trelease.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
