thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

After absolutely loving Villa’s previous title, Ander & Santi Were Here, my expectations for this title were high. Those expectations were met and then some. Canto Contigo focuses on Rafael, a rising mariachi star, and his experiences when he has to transfer schools during his senior year. This title tackles so many important topics like Machismo culture, Mariachi traditions, and the Mexican-American identity. Jonny Garza Villa is an auto-read author for me and their work deserves a place in every YA collection. 

(PUB DATE: 04/09/2024)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I can always count on Danan to bring the heat!! Do Your Worst is an incredibly adorable and steamy romance set in a small Scottish town. If you get over the fact that one of the love interests is a curse breaker, yes that is her actual job, this title is a gift that keeps on giving. It is well-written, fun, and has such a sweet conclusion. Romance readers should add this one to their list!

(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)

(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

 The Waitress was a quick, suspenseful read. Unfortunately, I found the storyline to be predictable and the protagonist, Anne Marie, to be insufferable. While Anne Marie is in a tough position throughout the novel, her choices and actions made little to no sense. I do not recommend this title. 

(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

A Night At The Tropicana packs a punch. This novella had striking descriptions of Cuba in the 1930s and served as an escape from my current snowy reality. Natalie’s excitement about being in Cuba and at the opening of the Tropicana nightclub was infectious and I really enjoyed this short story. I would like to pick up a full-length title written by Cleeton in the near future as I admire her writing style and am interested in learning more about Cuban culture. 
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

We finally get to really meet Dex, the playboy in a kilt, in this addition to the Well Met series. However, as you can probably guess, the hunk is more than his reputation. I wanted to like this title, but thought that the story was repetitive. I wish readers were able to get to know Dex and Lulu, the love interests, better as it would have given us a reason to care about the progression of their relationship. While this wasn’t my favorite book of the series, I will definitely be reading the next book in the series once it is published as I have fallen in love with the cast of characters and the magic that can be found at the Willow Creek Renaissance Faire! 

I have been won back over by DeLuca. After not being impressed with the second book in this series, I am happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this title! Both Mitch and April, the love interests, were so well-rounded and loveable in their own ways. Well Matched is an adorable “opposites attract” romance that can be read either as part of the Well Met series or as a standalone. 

As the second book in the Well Met series, DeLuca continues to show us more of the magic that goes into Renaissance Faires. However, as a romance book, Well Played, was just okay. I found the “surprise” to be predictable and did not buy into the relationship highlighted in this book as much as I did in its predecessor. 

I had a lot of fun reading this short story. The number of twists and turns Hurst was able fit into a novella just over fifty pages was impressive. There were many moments that caught me by surprise and I would recommend this title to psychological thriller fans looking for a title they can read in one sitting! 

I enjoyed reading Kerry Washington’s memoir and appreciated her vulnerability throughout the story. She was able to share stories from her personal and professional lives while still maintaining privacy for her loved ones. The most memorable part of this title is when she compares and contrasts herself to Olivia Pope, arguably the biggest role that she has played in Hollywood. Too often audiences assume that the actors who play their favorite characters are just as confident/badass/(insert a positive adjective here) as they come across on the screen. Washington describes the pressure actors can feel based on these assumptions in such an eloquent way that made me consider how I perceive actors who have played my favorite characters and parasocial relationships in general. 

Andie and Kit get a second chance at love in a “Married At First Sight” inspired romance. While they expected to marry a complete stranger for a reality television show, college sweethearts are surprised to have been put together by the expert matchmakers. Both Andie and Kit were extremely well-rounded characters and I was rooting for them to make their relationship work this time around. For a debut novel, Not You Again was splendid and I look forward to reading more from Pierce in the future.

(PUB DATE: 07/09/2024)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)