stephsbooktalk's Reviews (915)

Mini Audiobook Review: Thank you so much to Berkley #partner for the free book!

Last year I had read The Neighbor Favor and I know I enjoyed it but wasn't too memorable. But this one, Kristina knocked it out of the park!

Violet and Xavier were once high school sweethearts and were now reunited in Vegas. Things get carried away and they *almost* got married. But when Violet accidentally spills to a news outlet that she was married, Xavier and her had no choice but to give in to the rouse of them being married.

I love a fake dating trope and this one was so good! The tension between Violet and Xavier was done so well! Them being in a relationship previously and knowing each other made it all better. Violet injuries her foot which forces her to be back in her hometown a lot longer than anticipated. And since they are telling people they are married, they now have to share a space in his apartment where the sparks begin. They both just fell back into their orbit which made them getting into a real relationship easy peasy. Xavier was so sweet and was attentive to Violet. I did get nervous when she had gone back to work and Violet was really busy with her career. But they were able to figure out what worked best for them.

I thought the narrators for this were excellent. Benjamin Charles had such a deep tone that just made me melt while listening to him. Aure Nash was such a fresh voice and had just enough sweetness for Violet.

Angel and Lyric were introduced in this book (if they were in the first, I'm sorry I forgot) which is a great segway into the next book in the series!

Thank you so much to Putnam for the advance copy!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary ALC!

This book will be out on Feb 11th.

Listen I love Falon Ballard. I will never call her a guilty pleasure. I just simply love her books! They are cute, unserious and just a fun time! Because sometimes that is what you need. And this one was just that.

I have to be honest though this might be the first FMC of hers that was really unlikeable. Immediately Campbell Andrews turned me off! I know that was the point so we can see the character growth throughout the book. Now did Campbell fully get there? I wouldn't say she made a full 100% turn around but she got pretty close.

I will say that this book premise is what I thought another contemporary book that came out in the last year was going to be. I love the fact that we get swept into an alternate universe where Campbell wakes up with perfect hair and makeup, closet filled with pretty dresses, everything she could need ready for her. But she is not alone, her neighbor is none other than Ben, her date from the night before. Cam has no interest in relationships or love. She is work centric and set in her ways. Going to this alternate universe she is forced to be without work, her cell phone all the things she was attached to. Ben and Cam's date the night before was pretty bad but the (magical) waitress Mimi saw something in them that neither of them saw in each other. Mimi is also a character that is in the alternate universe and is the key to them getting back home.

Ben is honestly just too good for Cam. He is just so patient with her. And for some reason he is attracted to Cam. They connected as friends and Cam looked to him as be a constant. She was attracted to him but as the book goes on she just looks to him to be a sounding board. They both are in this situation and need each other to get out of their situation.

I paired my reading with the audio. Carly Robins was able to take the dialogue and really make Cam come across as unlikeable. The book felt like it went fast and I think that was because of the audio and how easy was listening to her.

Was this my favorite Falon book? No (that belongs to Right on Cue) but I was intrigued and got sucked into the story. I think if you are looking for an unlikeable character in a fluffy romance set in an alternate universe - give this a read!

PS: Sweetheart count 68 times

Mini Audiobook Review: This book initially was not on my radar until a few people in one of my chats were talking about it and I thought why not!  

I wanted this book to grab me more but often times I felt like I was drifting off and not really caring about the characters. I was really interested in the beginning and then middle is where it lost me. This could very much have been a bad timing/me issue. The two characters Farzan and David worked well together and that made the intimate scenes extra spicy!!! There was a moment in the beginning where some flatulence occurred and I had to chuckle because of the normalcy of that in relationships.  

David was singularly focused on passing his master sommelier test and moving to another state. Which didn't leave him much room to start any sort of relationship with Farzan. But ultimately they just could not stay away from each other

Once again, this very much could have been me but I kept getting the two characters confused. I don't know how it happened but my brain just couldn't get the two straight. I am not sure why my brain couldn't but for a good while it took me a bit to align who was David and who was Farzan. 

Please review other ones because there are so many glowing reviews for this! I would check out other books by this author as I really think it was just bad timing for me. 

 

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for an advance copy of this book!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary ALC!

This book will be out Feb 11, 2025.

This is my 2nd book by BK and after reading the first Lovelight Farm book, I wasn't sure if BK's writing style was for me. But other reader friends boosted about how great her books are including this one and I thought let me give her another try.

Well I am happy to report that I absolutely loved this one!!! Growing up I used to listen to syndicated talk shows so this felt very nostalgic and makes me wonder if these types of shows still exist. Its been a while since I've watched Sleepless in Seattle but I know that this was a retelling of the movie which honestly I love any call back to the 90s with a modern flair.

"Do you think I'll get my magic?"
"Nah, Lucie. I think you're the magic."

This is more of a slow burn but the kind of slow burn that at least for me that I enjoy. You get these little moments leading up to the big moment that keeps you fed.

Aiden was smitten from Lucie right from the beginning and was trying so hard to suppress those feelings. Don't worry you do learn why he feels the way he feels and what he does to overcome it. I love that we got to see his slightly jealous side any time Lucie would go on dates. And then how protective he would become when those dates would ultimately be sour. Lucie was attractive to Aiden from the start but didn't think he was ever the option since he was so gung ho on not ever wanting to find love. I love Lucie's relationship with her daughter Maya as well as to her best friend/daughter's father Greyson. They work so well as a blended family. I was glad that Greyson and his husband Mateo especially was a part of the whole process. Aiden & Lucie just worked so well together! One of my favorite moments happened early on during one of her dates that ultimately never happened and Aiden shows up. *SWOOOOOOOON*

The book was on the longer side but I felt like it still flowed really well. I paired my reading with the audio and thought the audio production was great. There are these vignettes between chapters where its from the radio show and in the audio it sounded like it was on the radio.
E.J. Bingham and Hathaway Lee were spectacular as our MMC and FMC. I love Hathaway's deep sultry sounding voice which honestly is perfect for radio so it worked so well for this narration. This appears to be E.J.'s first audiobook and I would certainly listen to future books narrated by them.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series! I recommend this if you love Sleepless in Seattle and just love a feel good romance that will make you laugh and smile.

Mini Audiobook Review: I heard about this book from a podcast and the host talked it up so much that I had to read it. 

While this was an interesting listen, it just didn't grab me the way that I thought it would. I kept waiting for something big to happen and then it just fell flat for me. The format of the book was different compared to other books I read. I do want to check the book out at a store or library to see how it translated from audio to page as the point of views would change in the same chapter. It is told from Juliet's POV (past and present) and Michael's diary. 

I thought the concept was interesting and seeing what life would be like on a boat for a long trip. And how it mentally and physically takes a toll on your body as well as your relationship. It had the potential to be something really great but just failed to get there. 

This didn't work for me but perhaps it will work for you. I would check out other reviews to see if it is something for you. 

Thank you so much to Kayla Grosse for the advanced copy!!

This book will be out on Feb 6th, 2025.

This is my first Kayla book that I read but I do own two of her other books which I decided will be consumed this year.

I have never read a professor x student book before (unless you want to count Vladimir & My Dark Vanessa) so I was engrossed in how this story was going to play out.

What I thought Kayla did great was her description of the action. I felt like I was a part of the chase.
I could picture Finley and Ryker in the thrust (wink) of the tornado and how scary and yet thrilling it all was.

I knew Kayla was a SPICY writer and she delivered just as I imagine! I was definitely blushing while reading! Ryker was so attractive to Finley from the moment she walked into his classroom and loved her body. And I liked how Kayla didn’t ignore the power dynamic of the two and what it could mean for both of them if they pursue the relationship. I was very nervous on how it would all play out so you will just have to read it to see how it all worked out!

Another shining light to this story was the sidekick Joey! I was really hoping that this would have turned into a spin off between him and Hawk but sadly for us it seemed to wrap up nicely for all the characters. But hey it could still happen – maybe? Pretty please?

If you are looking for a quick, spicy, action filled book with a plus size heroine and a Tornado Daddy, give this one a read!

Thank you so much to Hambright PR & Max Monroe for an advance copy of this book!

This book will be out on Feb 7th, 2025.

Whewwww! I have been very lucky lately with the romances I have been reading. They have been knocking me out. And this one kept me up until the wee hours of the night because I just couldn't stop. Did I slide into the authors DM expressing this? Of course I did!

This is a second in the series but is written completely as a stand alone. The only part that I did get a little lost in was everyone in Lexi's family (a family tree would be helpful LOL). The authors warned that this book would be "laugh out loud" and "the best banter" and they seriously delivered!

"And if you win, you can spend the night at my place."
"And if I lose?"
"You won't lose."

I was completely enthralled into this storyline from start to finish. Blake was HEAD OVER HEELS for Lexi prior to them interacting. He always had a crush on her from afar and being invited into a secret society where she is the President threw him into her orbit. He was cocky in the best way because he knew he could get her to give him a chance. And lord he was a patient man!! Lexi has autism and is super intelligent, she knew that her brain worked differently. She was convinced that there was no way she could be/love someone due to this. But eventually with Blake she wanted to try.

I just love their relationship and I was kicking my feet and internally screaming through a good chunk of this book. I didn't like that she wanted to keep him a secret even though I understood her reasoning but their clandestine meetups (THE BANK) were just so sexy! Blake never wanted to do things that Lexi wasn't comfortable with. And even when Lexi did want to do something, he turned her down. Lexi thinks with equations and experiments and she looked at this relationship from the start as just that. But she had no clue how much she was actually falling for him. There was a moment towards the end where something had happened and they saw each other at a party and GAH I could feel it all through the pages!

It is very clear who the next book is going to be about and I will be there to watch Ace and Julia's story unfold!

I just loved this one so much and I hope you all consider reading it as well!!

Thank you so much to @Lonelypagesbooktour, @nkumarwrites & @dellromance for having me on this tour!!
Thank you to @PRHAudio for the complimentary audio!

This book is out now!

I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of Naina's debut Say You'll Be Mine last year and absolutely loved it! I remember hearing Naina talk about the premise of this one last year and was completely invested by that alone.

I love the way that Naina wrote Meena and Nikhil's relationship throughout this book. Obviously this is set in present time but we get these glimpse into the past and how their relationship once was until it went sour. They both had so much time apart that they had that time to grow and to figure themselves out. And yet because they never really talked about their feelings and why they separated, it all comes bubbling out.

The setting. I thought it was so unique to have a barreling hurricane coming through Texas forcing them to shelter together at the house that they once lived together in. I thought the part where they canoed over to his friend's house to rescue him and had a run in with a not so happy animal was a fun time!

One element that was missing for me and it's so small but I really enjoyed it in Naina's first book was learning more about the Indian cultural. Wasn't a deal breaker while reading and it’s certainly not something she has to include in her writings.

The book had a mix of humor as well as more serious tones as they got into what went wrong. Even though it book took them a bit to get it out of each of them to verbally say what they want. He seemed so hopeful in their recoupling whereas she set up this life in DC and wasn't sure if being back in Texas was what she wanted.

One again queen narrator Soneela Nankani was the perfect narrator for this book! I love listening to books from her. She has such a great talent with her inflections and tone. Also the way she does Nikhil's voice - SWOON!

I highly recommend this book with your eyes or ears if you are interested in a second chance romance (think Sweet Home Alabama) with forced proximity!

Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media for the complimentary audio!
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the free book!

This book is out now!

I was initially drawn to this book based off the title and the bright colorful cover. I did read a little bit of the synopsis and to know that it took place in the 1930s and that it was a romance. And from those factors alone, I was sold!

This is a second chance romance about Arlene/Lena and Don who were childhood friends that both made it in the entertainment world. Don left as soon as he could for Broadway whereas Lena stayed in California and worked in Hollywood. I love how the author made her already an Oscar winner (I believe this all came up in the first book) and put her in the prestigious position of director for her next role. Especially for that time frame, having a female director was not very common (still isn't).

The characters went through a lot throughout the book. More so Don who got himself wrapped up with a gangster. And he tries SO hard to keep Lena out of his mess but in the end she comes to the rescue. Lena always had a crush on Don but it took a little awhile for Don to catch up to her. I did think it was cute that the running theme of his lucky penny (from Lena) was brought up throughout the book.

I was really interested in the story but felt that it just kept going. Anytime I thought we would be wrapping up, I looked and still had time left. And as I mentioned there was just so much that happened in the book!

Queen Patti Murin was the narrator of this book and I always love the books I listen from her! She was able to change her voice for all the characters we encounter. It made listening very easy and following the story easy.

If you are looking for a sweet romance, childhood to coworkers to friends to lovers set against the golden age of Hollywood with a mob subplot - check this out!

Mini Book Review: Everyone is reading this book so I don't need to write a super in depth review. I saw a lot of people giving this book not so nice reviews. I don't remember much of the first two so starting this one felt like a brand new experience.  I struggle with following all the high action moments and the politics in this world but the parts I enjoyed the most were of course the romance and anytime the students were together (Chap 15 was my favorite from start to finish). 

I absolutely loved Ridoc in this and I'm sure I think this after every book but my goodness he is funny! "I am either completely in love with your boyfriend or utterly terrified of him."

Violet and Xaden. Sigh. I just love them so much! They are so in love with one another and there were so many swoony quotes that I noted. The way that they are just perfect for one another. And I love how their love doesn't seem to be slowing down. It is nearly impossible for me to pick a favorite moment between the two but I did love when Xaden just couldn't take it anymore (iykyk).  "I am yours and you are mine, and there's no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that"

Did I necessarily know everything that was happening at the given moment? Nope. 
But did I still have a good time and was invested? Yes
Did I feel like the book took forever? Yes 
Am I excited for the next one whenever that may be? Yes
Am I going to remember what happened? Probably not