Wednesday, April 15

Book Review: Coffeehouse Confessions by Susanne Ash


Author: Susanne Ash
Title: Coffeehouse Confessions
Series: The Alphabet Sweethearts
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Short Story
Format: ebook
Pages: 58
Published: February 4, 2025
Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 
Maggie Carter loves working at Novel Sips, the coffee shop and bookstore owned by her older brother, Andrew. But when Andrew’s old college roommate, Ethan Ward, shows up with a notebook full of sci-fi stories and a reserved demeanor, Maggie can’t help but be intrigued. He’s broody, brilliant, and completely off-limits—according to her overprotective brother.

Ethan came to Juniper Falls to escape his past and focus on finishing his novel, not to complicate his life by falling for his best friend’s little sister. But Maggie’s warmth and quick wit are impossible to resist, and soon their connection grows from cautious conversations to something much deeper.

When Andrew steps in, determined to keep them apart, insecurities and doubts threaten to tear them down before they even get started. Can Ethan prove he’s more than the sum of his fears—and that he’s worth taking a chance on?

Review:
This series and town are so cute. I love the whole concept of the alphabet and naming each book. 

This time it is time for Maggie to find love. Ethan is in town and she can't but be intrigued. He used to be college roommates with her brother and now he is trying to become the next big writer. The chemistry is off the charts with them and they can't stay away from each other. 

Again, I will use the word cute. Watching them fall for each other and take the risk was adorable. They are soooo meant for each other. 

I actually read this twice that is how much I liked it. It's short and cute. 

Can I please go to his coffeehouse? 

5 stars. 




Tuesday, April 14

Blodeuedd's Tuesday Review: Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett


Series: Emily Wilde (#3)

Format: 368 pages, Paperback

Published: January 14, 2025 by Hachette Australia

Academic fantasy/own



Emily and Wendell has been through a lot, and now he has found his way back to his fairie kingdom. His step mother is gone and he has to take his throne.

But things are not easy in his kingdom. Disgruntled nobles, a curse upon the land, an angry sibling and more. And Emily is a mere mortal .

Wendell is always cheerful and kind. Emily is more thoughtful, and stubborn. I do like them together.

Still, nothing compares to book 1. I was so blown away with that easy read. But now I am finished. It was a good run




Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project studying the inner workings of a faerie realm—as its queen.

Along with her former academic rival—now fiancĂ©—the dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell’s long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures.

Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal How can an unassuming scholar such as herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in, for Wendell’s murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendell’s magic—and Emily’s knowledge of stories—to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.

Saturday, April 11

Movie Review: Hamnet (2025)



Title: Hamnet
Length: 2h 5m
Released: 2025
Genre: Drama, Historical
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Peacock



SUMMARY:
In late 16th-century England, Agnes, a healer sensitive to the world around her, builds a home with William, a local tutor and aspiring playwright. As their lives fracture, they are tested by distance, silence, and grief.





REVIEW:
Eeeeeeeeeeek. Been dying to watch this film. I love some Shakespeare and I remember writing a huge paper on him and his life. Not much is known about his wife, which is sad. 

Here we follow Agnes (Anne) who is a healer and falls for William. He is younger and just a local tutor with dreams of being a playwright. Years go by and things find a nice pace....until their lives are fractured and everything is tested when their beloved son passes away. 

I cried. 

I cried A LOT. 

This film was beautiful. This film hit all the emotions. There was some humor but this was a tragedy. 

That last scene? I was in awe. Beautiful. The way that we got to see forgiveness and love without a single word. This took some powerful actors and this was a lovely cast.

You do not need to be a huge 'Hamlet' or Shakespeare fan to enjoy this film. It was a lovely people story. 

5 stars. 



Friday, April 10

Audiobook Review: The Reunion by Meghan Quinn

Author: Meghan Quinn
Narrator: Lidia Dornet, Teddy Hamilton, Laurie West, Rock Engle, CJ Bloom, & Stephen Borne
Title: The Reunion
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit
Format: Audiobook
Published: February 22, 2022
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)


Summary: 
Martin and Peggy Chance believe love should last a lifetime. With their fiftieth wedding anniversary on the horizon, they’ve modeled a beautiful relationship for their three grown children. But to their dismay, that lesson hasn’t quite caught on—the three siblings just can’t seem to take a chance and find love in their own lives.

There’s Ford, the eldest, devoted to his work and resistant to romance…or so he claims. Cooper, the middle child, can’t get past his divorce—until he reconnects with a feisty baker from his past. And Palmer, the baby of the family, is the free-spirited world traveler who always pictured herself with someone other than a handsome small-town family doctor.

When the Chance siblings come together to plan the ultimate anniversary party for their parents, they’ll have to navigate romantic entanglements, sibling rivalries, and the definitive end of their childhood. Whatever happens, The Reunion promises to be a fun, flirty, wild ride.


Review:
Eeeek. Another review I have delayed in writing. I finished this a couple of days ago. Can life slow down for two seconds?

The family is back together for Martin's and Peggy's wedding anniversary. They have led a beautiful life and had a love story to last the ages, but their three grown children seem to be going down a bad path. Ford, the oldest, is too devoted to work and has no time for love. Cooper, the middle one, can't get past his divorce. Palmer, the baby of the family, is a free spirit who travels the world, but can't get over the boy at home. The three have drifted apart, and there is so much resentment. Will the three finally talk and find the love they have for each other and for themselves? Will they allow love with the people they are meant to be?

I would divide and conquer this book, but I have nothing bad to say. I really loved it.

I loved that there is romance and family drama. 

The small town is adorable.

There is a lot going on and a lot of characters running around, but the author did a lovely job keeping a handle on it and never letting the reader get lost. 

The ending had me in tears. 

Can I just say???? I love Martin and Peggy!!!!! I want them to have their own book. I would love to see them fall in loveeee. They are gems.

We had a lot of narrators, and they all did great!  

But yes. No issue. I loved this story so much. 

5 stars. 




Reading Challenges
- Audiobook #12
- Reading Romance Challenge #10 (Small Town romance)