kristen_paige_reads's Reviews (462)

Jinger Duggar Vuolo is one of the many stars of 19 Kids and Counting and it’s spin off Counting On. The 6th out of 19 children, Jinger grew up in front of a camera (though she grew up in a home without a tv). In her new memoir, Jinger opens up about her upbringing and the teachings of Bill Gothard that shaped her life. She talks about the how she’s re-examined her faith and how she now has a true understanding of the Bible and who God really is. 

This is a very personal journey of Jinger’s faith walk and how she’s learned the difference between following a religion and having a true relationship with God. I listened to Jinger reading her book on Audible and I really enjoyed it. She has a lovely heart for God and I loved hearing about the ups and down with her walk with God. 

Chess and Emily have been best friends for most of their lives. Now in their thirties, their relationship has been strained by the demands of adulthood. When Chess suggests a summer vacation in Italy, Emily jumps at the chance of a new adventure and to rekindle their friendship. 

When Emily arrives at Villa Aestas in Orvieto, she is blown away. But it’s not an ordinary vacation home. It’s one with a complicated past that sparks her curious mind. Back in 1974, known then as Villa Rosato, it was the summer home to notorious rock legend Noel Gordon. Looking to reignite his creative spark, Noel invited up and coming musician Pierce Sheldon to join him along with Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. Unknowingly, the invitation set in motion a chain of events that led to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album, and Pierce’s brutal murder. As Emily begins to dig into the past, she soon realizes that it may not have been all sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Secrets soon come to light and it seems that history has a way of repeating itself. 

Wow! Just wow! I loved every second reading this book and I think Rachel Hawkins is now one of my top favorite authors!

Enter a world where magic has been outlawed, tyrannical kings rule, and a castle is made of glass. A clever assassin is pulled from a life of servitude to compete for her freedom. If she wins, defeating 23 killers, thieves, and warriors, she’ll be released from her imprisonment to serve as the King’s Champion. But all is not as easy as it may seem. An evil lurks in the castle walls, killing off the competitors one by one. Her fight for freedom becomes one of survival. And she’s desperate to rid the evil before it destroys her world. 

Layla Thompson is completely and utterly undateable. She’s 28 years old and never had a boyfriend. With her thirties quickly rearing it’s ugly head, she’s losing patience with her dating life. But, lucky for her, she has three best friends who are all too happy to help. There’s Zack, the huge ex-rugby star. Josh, the sweet boy next door. And Luke, the silver haired divorcee, who just so happens to be her former high school English teacher. After a date gone horribly wrong leaves her crying on their shoulders, the three men are determined to help her find Mr. Right. Together, they become her ‘practice boyfriends’ and come up with lesson plans that include, but are not limited to, fake dates, make out sessions, and flirty texting 101. In return, all she has to do is appear once a week on their relationship podcast. Piece of cake, right? As their lessons progress and become more intense, the foursome find themselves getting in too deep. The guys have been teaching Layla how to get a boyfriend. Now it’s time to put their lessons to the test. 

This was definitely a fun read! I loved the characters and found myself laughing throughout the book. It’s definitely a little steamy but one I highly recommend!

This was definitely a sweet romance that gives you the feels and warms your heart. It reminded me of a Hallmark movie! I really enjoyed this one. 

Everyone has their own idea of the way love is supposed to happen, but life tends to have other plans. Eli thought he had love all figured out. But the one he gave his heart to had plans of her own. She jets off to Rome for a year leaving Eli behind and determined to win her back. 

Leah is used to being alone. After caring for her ill foster mother for the past year, she no longer feels she has a reason to stay in Willow Cove. It’s time for her to move on. Again.

The agenda is set for Eli to have a complete boyfriend makeover to become the guy of his girl’s dreams. Leah inadvertently gets roped in to take part in Eli’s “training”, though she doesn’t think he needs to change a thing about himself. 

Love doesn’t always happen in the way we expect it to. We can’t always find it ourselves. Maybe love finds us. 

April was the first person Hannah met when she arrived at Oxford and they became fast friends. April was the girl that had it all: beautiful, smart, occasionally viscous, the ultimate IT girl. Together, they formed a close knit group of friends - Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily - by the end of their first term. By years end, April was dead. Now ten years later, Hannah and Will are expecting their first child and the former Oxford Porter, John Neville, has died in prison. You would think his passing would have laid the past to rest. But no, it’s opened a whole new can of worms when a journalist comes knocking with surprising new evidence that Neville may have been innocent. With alternating timelines with the past and the present, Hannah takes a deep dive into the mystery surrounding April’s death. It seems everyone has something to hide. This is the newest Ruth Ware novel and it definitely did not disappoint. I couldn’t put it down!

Completely Mind Blown
Is she guilty? Or isn’t she? That’s the ultimate question. When Rowan stumbles upon an add for a live-in nanny job with a generous salary, it seems too good to be true. When she arrives at Heatherbrae House she is absolutely smitten with the luxurious “smart” house, the breathtaking views of the Scottish Countryside, and the seemingly picture perfect family. What she never anticipated was that taking on this position was the beginning of a nightmare that ends with a child dead and she herself on trial for the murder. Writing to her attorney from prison, she begins to unravel the events that led up to her incarceration. I was captivated by her story and Ware leaves you guessing until the very end!

There’s a reason they call Ruth Ware the modern day Agatha Christie. I devoured this book, like I have with all of her books that I’ve read so far. This one definitely had And Then There Were None vibes. A work retreat in the snowy French Alps for a new tech start up called Snoop. A luxurious ski vacation for 8 coworkers hosted by a gourmet chef and professional housekeeper. The Chalet seems like a dream. But nothing is quite as it seems with this group. Tensions run high and a devastating avalanche leaves them cut off from the rest of the world and left to their own devices. What’s even worse, is one of their group doesn’t make it back before the avalanche hits. And their numbers begin to dwindle one by one. Alternating chapters between dual perspectives created a narrative that kept you guessing. A brilliant whodunit. 

Anyone interested in True Crime has heard the story of 6 year old pageant princess, JonBenet Ramsey. Her tragic death captivated the nation. But one question has always remained. Who killed JonBenet? This book was written by one of the lead detectives on the case and gives you an inside look at the police investigation. I found it very insightful and it’s helped shaped my own thoughts on what really happened. 

Things get steamy when a message from a random number turns into an anonymous relationship in this hilarious rom-com. 

Olivia is known as a total screw up among her family. Bad luck just seems to follow her everywhere she goes. A “What are you wearing?” text from a wrong number ends up turning into an entertaining (and spicy) relationship with a complete stranger. 

Colin has always viewed Olivia as his best friends annoying little sister. When she moves in with them after yet another round of bad luck, the worst yet, he begins to see her in a different light. He tries to keep his distance, but when he discovers she the person behind his random Miss Misdial that he’s been talking to for weeks, he now has to decide whether to turn up the heat or ghost her completely before things get messy. 

LOVED it! It was a fun and fast read. It kept me laughing until the very end. I couldn’t put it down!