Before You Say I Do by Marina Hanna
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a quick read for me. The characters were fun and had decent chemistry. I thought the plot was good and it fit well into the genre. I liked how pieces were relatable. I would definitely read others by this author.
Stars in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a quick read for me. It was a bit predictable but had some good connectable points despite its YA target audience. I enjoyed the characters and the overall plot. It was engaging and I felt that the story did have a nice overall flow. This would definitely hit better in the target audience than it did for me.
Charming Chapter : A Later-in-Life Just Kisses Romance by Lori Haas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this story. I enjoyed that it was a later in life romance as opposed to the ones about younger people. As a woman approaching 40, it was nice to read about relatable things when you’re in a cozier stage of life. I thought the characters in this book were well developed and the book club friends were fun. I would recommend this book and read others by this author!
Fearless Love by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a quick read for me. The authors plot lines are familiar and this story flowed nicely as her others. The characters were well crafted and there were elements I could connect with. It fit the trope well and I’m a sucker for small town romance. It can be read as a standalone.
Family Ties Family Lies by Jacqueline Boulden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read. I particularly connected with how life unfolds as you are facing down turning 40. This was an emotional book packed with lots of things that trigger tears. The amount of depth the author put into creating a woven plot without being cumbersome was impressive. I enjoyed the characters and felt their relationships to be authentic.
Bailey and the CEO: A Corporate Love Story by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a cute story. I enjoyed Fox and Bailey’s development. Both characters had growth they needed to make in order to move forward. I liked that the characters were older and easier for my demographic to connect with than twentysomethings. It was cozy and a quick read.
Deceptively Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was an ok read for me. I thought the overall story was good but it just didn’t hit all the way for me. I liked Gabriel’s character development more than Harper but feel that Harper wasn’t as developed as a character the way I felt he was. I would have liked to see more for Harper. I also feel like the details in his development made you want to really hate him. It was a little too dark for my comfort.
Murder She Meowed by Ruth J. Hartman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was so cozy and cute! First of all, I loved the name of the bookstore Words to Read By. I really love the characters and all of the ways they try to solve the mystery. I definitely smiled when I read some of the scenarios and enjoy that cats are a big piece of the story. It was definitely a great second piece to the series as I enjoyed the first book as well!
Fashionably Fake by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book. I always love a fake romance that actually blossoms into a relationship. Jackson and Ros worked well together and had good chemistry. This author does a good job weaving the plot and making each book feel different within the genre. I look forward to more by this author.
Savage Lies by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a good first book in the series. It carried over from the prequel nicely. I thought that the characters were good. The bullies to romance trope isn’t one of my favorites but it fit the genre well. I thought that the plot moved along smoothly and there was a good amount of angst. I like the writing style of this author and do look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Savage Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a quick read for me. I thought the characters were good and it set up the upcoming books in the series. I am not a huge fan of bully and con tropes but this was a decent read. I didn’t connect with the story but am optimistic for the series as a whole. I do like the author’s writing style.
Master Botosoni by Sylvia Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was ok for me. It was easy to follow along and the characters worked well. I found some of the story predictable which is fine. I think for readers invested in this series they would appreciate it. I do like this author.
Betrayal of the Gods by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a fun book. There were some interesting plot lines. I also found the weaving of mythology well done. I liked the characters but wasn’t as in invested in them as I would have liked. I feel like I should probably read the others in the series.
The Human Mating Site Box Set 1 : A Steamy, Dating Humour Novella’s 1-4 by B.L. Wilde
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
These were quick reads for me. I found the stories enjoyable and the characters fun. The chemistry between the couples was good. The plots were a little predictable for me. The last book, Mr. Kinky, was my favorite in the set of novellas. I thought it was the most fun of the set.
Good Enough — The Deadman’s Tribe Book 1: A Protector Romance / Romantic Suspense by Nicole Craig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read. I really enjoyed the team very much and thought they had good group chemistry. I liked the characters in the book and felt that they kept you interested in the plot. The banter between the characters felt organic and not overly done in a way that didn’t feel authentic. I would definitely recommend this book.
Sweet Dreams by Claire by Nanette Littlestone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a sweet, cute story. I was drawn by the setting being in Ireland. I absolutely loved the romance between Claire and Finn. I also thought that the bakery was a good addition which added to the plot. It was a perfect and cozy story for the season.
Children of the Wild by Krysta Tawlks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a good story. I picked it because it was advertised as something similar to Tuck Everlasting which to this day is one of my favorite stories of all time. This book had similar themes it just was a little slow moving for me. I liked the journal entries because I always feel like these give a little more personal insight and voice. This would be a book I would recommend to students who are interested in this genre.
Seraphina by Brooke May
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a cute story! I liked the cupid angle and thought it was a little different. The plot did fit the genre and I did like Seth. I liked Seraphina’s spunk and thought she fit well with Seth’s personality. This was a quick read and I did enjoy it.
Quick Affirmations for Children: A to Z of Easy Motivations for Creating Better days – Positive Affirmations for Happy Children by Kim Ann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This would be a beautiful tool for kids. As a teacher and a mother, there are great lessons and affirmations for useful conversations with kids. I find that kids need reminders of positivity since they are sponges of environmental factors. I think this would be something of importance in developing children with empathy and high self esteem.
Finding Your Heart: A Journal for Discovering Your Heart by Nadia Han
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m not sure how to review this as it is a journal. I did not yet go through and complete the pages but looked at each. I’m waiting to begin when I can give it my attention. Life has been hectic and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to devote the energy it deserves. I love books like these. I’m a sucker for a journal and this one is beautiful. I enjoy this author so I knew it would be something beautiful.
Almost and Forever by Angela K. Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read. I did. The story was balanced with deep and light tones. I thought the characters were well developed and matched. I liked the fountain detail in the story. It was relatable and engaging.
Arriving Home by Chelsea Lauren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a really sweet book. I love holiday themed romance books and this one did not disappoint. I am not usually invested in MM romances because I do not connect with them. I found their relationship was very sweet but did develop quickly. The spicy scenes were not for me but for someone who can connect with them it would appeal to them. I appreciated the overall holiday tones though.
Reckless Love: A Small Town Slow-Burn Forbidden Love Romance by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this installment of this book series. It was good to have Becky be the focus. I appreciated Glen and thought he tried to make things right in life. There were certain tones that I found easy to connect with which helped the storyline. This was a good installment to the series and could be read as a standalone.
The Man In Black by L.R. Liverpool
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was ok for me. I’m not really into the western themes or some of the other themes of the book. I thought the story was engaging but I didn’t connect with it. It was a little long for me and I did have a hard time getting through it. If you are someone that is into this genre, you would probably enjoy it. The characters are well done.
Beyond Friendship by Marlyn Love
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a quick read. I enjoyed the story and thought the characters were well designed. The chemistry between Brian and Amanda is good and develops nicely throughout the story. The author’s writing style is engaging and this book can definitely be read as a standalone. I would read others by this author.
Cruel Truths by T. Christensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a quick read for me. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers an thought it fit the genre. I always like when the male character knows instantly that the woman is meant to be his. I did feel like the broody sense between them was a little drawn out for me but it didn’t impact me too much. I enjoyed the writing by this author and would read other books of theirs.
Mr Wimp by B.L. Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thought this book a fun one! It was a quick read and relatable. Bella was a good character and her exploration after divorce was something I could connect to. I look forward to reading others by this story. It was definitely a nice breather from the other books I’ve been reading.
Murder at the Wedding by Christine Knapp
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a quick read for me. I liked the story but had trouble connecting with the plot which made it difficult for me to appreciate Maeve as much as I probably should. There was some fun humor woven into the story to balance some of the more delicate tones. Overall, a nice story.
Faking the Fall: A Buckeye Falls Novel by Libby Kay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a cute story! I love a cozy read and enjoy this series. I found the characters sweet and liked the lightness to them. I found Alice one of my favorite female characters in the series. If you are looking for something light and sweet to read- this is a good book for you.
Heart’s Rescue by Meredith Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book. I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy lately and this was a good addition to the list. I enjoyed the build between Rowan and Arryn. I thought the plot was good and would like to see what is next. I would read more by this author.
