Copy received from Netgalley for an honest review

The blurb caught my interest as I was flicking through Netgalley one day.

I did like the difference in their family dynamics and how they deal with them. They really are both so different, but I think that was what fired their attraction, even when they didn't want it to.

I liked the different ways they dealt with losses from the past, even when they are holding them back from their future.

I liked the way they brought out the best in each other, when they are at their worst.

I did enjoy Lyall and Nick's story, however I did feel everything was a bit rushed - though the start was a little slow, if that makes sense.

I know, I know, I am contradicting myself here. This book just had me all over the place with things.

I loved the Australian setting (yay, more Aussies for me to read), and this was my first Daniel De Lorne read. I will be going back to read more in the future.

t has been a while since I have read the Chaos series, so I didn't remember our leading lady Rosie at all - I don't think you could really dive into this 1001 nights as a stand alone at all, but this could just be me.

I did love getting back to the Chaos compound - though there wasn't enough of my Joker imo.

It took me a while to warm up to Rosie - she did feel a bit like a club tramp at the beginning, however as the story progressed she wasn't.

Snapper was all kinds of wonderful, and it was hard not to fall for the guy.

I felt the narration was good, and drew me right back into Denver. Even though this was a short story, Kristen Ashley's words did not disappoint. The story was well rounded, did not found rushed.

Now I need to go back and reread the whole Chaos series to get my fix.

3.5 stars

The Kiss Quotient was one of the breakout books of 2018 for me, and I was really looking forward to The Bride Test.

However, unfortunately for me it didn't have the oomph that The Kiss Quotient had.

Esme and Khai just didn't have that extra something that Stella and Michael had, I just didn't fell the connection with them. At All. It wasn't until the very end that I felt much more than meh for Khai.

I did love the diversity of the story, I love that this series has characters on ASD spectrum and the way their quirks are dealt with was great.

You can read this as a stand alone, however there are appearances by characters from The Kiss Quotient that those who have read will enjoy seeing.

Another thing that got to me that might not bother anyone else was the plot device of the green card to get Esme to the USA. I just felt that this did a disservice to Esme in particular, as as the story progressed we can see she is so much more than there "for his money and a green card". Again, the is probably just me.

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy The Bride Test, however I think I had lofty expectations after my enjoyment of The Kiss Quotient.

I did enjoy this enough that I will dive into the 3rd book whenever it arrives.

Audio/ebook review

What the heck did I just read, and why the heck did I enjoy it so much.

I didn't really know what this book was about, however watching a friends audible updates on Facebook made me curious.

And I am glad that I decided to read this.

In its parts, this book shouldn't be good. Space cats, aliens, kink between the two. Nope, this shouldn't work.

But it does, and it does it well.

Amusing, entertaining and just a whole lot of "this doesn't make sense" had me extending my walks so I could listen to just one more chapter. I ran out of time to listen yesterday, so I laid on the couch and read the last 25% instead, as I needed to know what would happen.

I loved the narration (don't I always when it is Joel?)

Now I have a dilemma, do I start book 2 now, or wait until book 3 is out?

Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review

This is my first Nicky Pellegrino read (much to my sister's disgust, she is always pointing them out for me to read) and I really did enjoy it.

I have been been on a run of darker reads and true crime stories, A Dream of Italy was the perfect antidote, with its light story and beautiful scenery.

I live in a small country town, where nearby they have done the $1 houses. I tell you what though, I would skip across the ocean without a life jacket to buy a house in Italy for a euro!

It did take me a while to really connect with any of the characters, however once I did, I was totally wrapped up in them and their stories.


Nicky Pellegrino has written with such beautiful imagery that I could picture myself driving into the town, could see myself wandering the piazza in the afternoon.

And it has made me want to visit Italy.

I will get there one day, I am sure of it.

Now I need to go back and read more of Ms Pellegrino's work whilst I wait for something new.

ARC received for an honest review

I am slack. I have the other Hart's Boardwalk books waiting for me to read them, but I haven't done it yet.

However, this did not affect my enjoyment of Things We Never Said at all.

Oy, what a beautiful yet heartbreaking story is this one. It should come with a "you will need tissues, chocolate and vodka to get through this" warning label!

Dahlia and Michael's story is adorable, and sweet, and emotional and frustrating. I can't say how many times I wanted to scream at both of them to get their sh!t together and to talk things out.

Every time I thought that our lovelies had finally gotten things together, BAM Ms Young had me fighting back the tears as things again went awry.

This really was a slow burn of a story... like an 11 year slow burn! Sheesh, they really did take their time!

There was some great set up for Emery's story too, which I hope we don't have to wait too long for.

Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review

This is only my second Alli Sinclair read, however I know I have to go back and read more.

I live in a small town, so I could understand all the issues Claire had coming into Starlight Creek - heck, I encountered most of them myself when I did the tree change a while back.

Claire and Lena's stories, though so different, are so similar. Both beautiful, strong women, tearing down walls to get to their dreams.

Told in 1950s Hollywood and 1990s small town, the stories of the lives and loves of 2 strong, smart, sassy women changing the world around them. And I couldn't help but adore both of them.

I wanted to find a time machine to go back to the days of the Hollywood starlets, and I wanted to hop in my car and drive to North Queensland to visit Starlight Creek

There is a bit of a twist that I kind of had an inkling about what might have been happeneing, but i wasn't sure if I was right or not. And I liked that I couldn't be certain.

Beautiful writing, wonderful imagery that drew me right into the story. I adored this story, and can't wait to see what Ms Sinclair brings us next.

*audiobook review*

I am waaaay behind when it comes to Daryl Banner's stories, however what I have read/listened to I have really enjoyed.

Football Sundae is one of those books that doesn't have to do anything OTT/drama filled/stupid miscommunications to draw you in.

Sweet and steamy really is the way to describe Football Sundae.

Tucker and Tanner's story had me smiling as I was listening

Sean Crisden is a new narrator to me, and I think I need to listen to more of his works. Sometimes when listening, those southern/cowboy type accents can feel a bit caricaturish - you know, all aw shucks and stuff - but this didn't feel that way.

The story did have me craving cakes though - and that is not good for the diet!

I now need to read more of Daryl Banner's works.

ARC received via author for an honest review

Woohoo - that is always my reaction when I get a new Tara Sivec story on my kindle.

We are back (sorta) to Pumpkin land with Just My Type.

There are so many ways Baker and Ember's story could have gone wrong for them, however they went just right.

I laughed at their first email exchange, and then Ms Sivec had me giggling a lot more.

It is not all fun and games though. There are some sad and poignant moments that made my eyes leak a little bit. And there is one particular person that I want to throat punch (virtually of course) as the story progressed.

After a run of true crime and darker books, Just My Type was a great antidote.

A fun, flirty and enjoyable read. I can't wait to see what Ms Sivec brings us next.

ARC received for an honest review

Oh those Whiskey and Dark Knights, they get me in the heart every single time

I want to move to Peaceful Harbor and be adopted by everyone in this series!

If you have read this series, you have already met our leading lady Josie (in Wicked Whiskey Love, she is Sarah and Scott's sister), and my do I want her to get her HEA.

Josie and Jed (Moon)'s story is full of heartbreak and pain, however also full of heartwarming moment and hope.

And throw in a 5 year old future heartbreaker, and I was done like a dinner.

This is a beautiful second chance story, one that had me run the full gamut of emotions. I didn't know if I wanted to smile or cry half of the time. The Whiskey "family" are the clayton's family (non-Aussies won't get this reference!) - they are the family you have when you don't have a family.

Each and every book, I say that "this is my favourite", and yes, I am claiming that again.

Well, at least until the next one!

I am looking forward to what Ms Foster brings us next.