Book Review: On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

Author: Julia Quinn

Title: On the Way to the Wedding

Series: Bridgertons #8

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: paperback

Pages: 384

Published: June 27, 2006

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

A funny thing happened...

Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except...

She wasn't the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except...

Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar...

Review:

Been holding off on finishing this series! It takes so long between each season of the show that I've been slowly making my way through the series. I finally decided to finish the main books of the series and read Gregory's tale. I still need to read the short story about Violet. 

Gregory is not your A-typical guy of the ton. He believes in love and wants to find love. He wants what all his other siblings have. He wants it badly. When he comes across Hermione, he fancies himself in love. She HAS to be the one? Right? ...Right? Enter in Hermione's best friend, Lucy, who likes Gregory. He seems like the best of suitors, so she decides to try to help him win the girl. Lucy is engaged, and there is no way out of it, so why not let her best friend find love? 

So I loved that Gregory truly wanted to be happy and find his own person. He sees how happy everyone in his family is, and he is the last unmarried sibling. He wants it so bad that he finds himself in love with the wrong person. It isn't love...no spoiler. Lucy is his person. He is just a dumb-dumb to not see it. Same with Lucy, but I get why she is blinded to it. She's technically engaged anyway. Not by choice, but family duties and whatnot. 

I struggled really bad for the first...mmm....45% of the book? Gregory's infatuation with Hermione grated on my nerves. Sure. That is the whole story. He eventually wakes up after an event and realizes he never loved her. He loved the idea of being in love. Why SOOOO long? Why not shave that off a bit? Maybe only being in love like....30% of the book? And then fighting to get the real girl. I would've liked to see more time with Gregory yearning for Lucy and making her feel wanted. 

Other than that block. I loved the story. It was dramatic and crazy and just plain fun. Gregory has a huge heart, and he's a big dumbdumb. Silly. 

Lucy was sweet. 

I liked one character a lot (I won't spoil anything). I was really hoping he found an HEA. Maybe the show will flush his story our more *fingers crossed*

In the end, this was a lovely series. I can see myself re-reading this someday. I loved all the siblings, even though they frustrated me sometimes. I'm so glad Netflix is making these books into a show. I would love to see more books like this find the limelight. But yes, totally worth reading the whole series. I had a little issue with this one, but by the end, I ended up having fun. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Reading Challenges

-  Reading Romance Challenge #2 (Wedding)

Audiobook Review: Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman

Author: Matt Dinniman

Narrator: Jeff Hays
Title: Carl's Doomsday Scenario

Series: Dungeon Crawler Carl #2

Genre: SciFi, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Audiobook
Published: January 6, 2021
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

"The training levels have concluded. Now the games may truly begin."

The ratings and views are off the chart. The fans just can't get enough. The dungeon gets more dangerous each day. But in a grinder designed to chew up and spit out crawlers by the millions, Carl and Princess Donut need to work harder than ever just to survive.

They call it the Over City. A sprawling, once-thriving metropolis devastated by a mysterious calamity. But these streets are far from abandoned. An undead circus trawls the ruins. Murdered prostitutes rain from the sky. An ancient spell is finally ready to reveal its dark purpose.

Carl still has no pants.

They call it Dungeon Crawler World. For Carl and Donut, it's anything but a game.

Review:

Been itching to read book 2 for a hot min, but I had so many other books to dive through first. Finally got my chance! 

We continue down the Dungeon with Carl and Donut. They have made it through the "Training" levels, and they will need to work harder than ever to progress. Between leveling up, they come across a couple of quests they have no choice but to take on. Even worse? Carl still has no pants. 

We are really getting into it now. They have survived the beginning and now get to have some "fun". I loved watching them pick their classes and skills. They even got to change their race if they wanted. Spoiler, they stayed a cat and a human. Thank goodness. I love watching Donut being a talking cat, ordering around poor Carl. 

Mango is adorable. Especially after a certain scene! OMG, I would destroy the world for that lil guy. 

Not only is there action and adventure. But we got to see some political drama unfold as well. That was a hoot BUT I do worry for our team. 

That ending???? Holy cannoli!!! I need to read book 3 asap. 

The narrator was fantastic. I love the sound effects we get throughout the story. It really boosts the storytelling. 

Overall, I def recommend this series. You need to read book 1 first, but it's such a fun and refreshing story. So cool. I wouldn't want to be a part of this, but it's fun to watch them stumble around. Am I as bad as the viewers? *ponders* Nawwwwww. 

5 stars from me. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #4

Book Review: Candy Apples and Clairvoyants by Danielle Garrett

Author: Danielle Garrett

Title: Candy Apples and Clairvoyants

Series: Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries #4.5

Genre: Fantasy, Cozy mystery, Paranormal, short story

Format: ebook

Pages: 53

Published: October 29, 2024

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

It’s Halloween night and I’ve got everything I need for a spooky good time. And by that, I mean copious amounts of chocolate and sugar, and a pile of scary movies.

But when the pumpkins have been carved and the trick-or-treaters have all gone home to count their loot, I find there’s still a spirit stirring, with a reminder from a Halloween I’d almost forgotten.

And frankly, no horror flick can top the spine-chilling prospect of time-traveling back to my high school days.

Let’s just hope I wake up in time to grab a half-price bag of peanut butter cups.

Review:

This series is just so fun. I know this is fall-y and maybe I should've waited, but I have zero patience. LOL

Here, we follow a young Ella. This is her back in High School. Young and still so naive. But still so willing to help!

Boo, there will be no more of this series after this one. I wish there were more! I love Ella and her friends/family!!! I love watching her muddle her way through! Maybe she'll be in more later? I believe there is a spin-off in this world, so I may have to dive into that. 

But this was super cute. I loved seeing a young Ella running amok. 

Booooooooo Chloe! Hate her face. 

This was sweet, and the conclusion? It made me sad for that person. I kinda feel bad. Poor thing. 

I ended up reading this one instead of the audio. I really missed the voice, but it did fine as an ebook. 

All-in-all, this was a nice taste. Short and sweet. I want more though!!!!!! 5 from me. 

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

Narrated by: Jennifer Pickens

Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins

Release date: 08-19-25

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Fantasy/spotify

I do like Kingfisher, and here we got a story of a healer who has studied poisons since she was a child. Or as she tells it, she studies how antidotes, but really it is poisons.

Then the King comes calling. He thinks some one is poisoning his child Snow, and you can not say no to a King. She is taken on a journey and soon meets Snow.

Something is strange is going on in that house. Something is wrong. The child is not healthy, but why and how? She is always watched.

I liked Anja. She likes what she does, she finds it interesting and when things does not work out she wants to know why. She befriends some people at the estate and tries her best to solve this problem. But something bigger is going on.

A good story, a fairytale that Kingfisher does so well.

The only bad part was that I listened to spotify, and my hours ended 1 hour! before the end. And I had to wait 10 days for more. Ugh, stupid spotify. Yes I know you can buy more, but for 1 hour, nah.

Great story. Great narration. I have so many more Kingfisher books before me and I do enjoy that.

Healer Anja regularly drinks poison. Not to die, but to save—seeking cures for those everyone else has given up on. But a summons from the King interrupts her quiet, herb-obsessed life. His daughter, Snow, is dying, and he hopes Anja’s unorthodox methods can save her.

Aided by a taciturn guard, a narcissistic cat, and a passion for the scientific method, Anja rushes to treat Snow, but nothing seems to work. That is, until she finds a secret world, hidden inside a magic mirror. This dark realm may hold the key to what is making Snow sick.

Or it might be the thing that kills them all.