Book Review: The Princess and the Pea by Victoria Alexander

Author: Victoria Alexander

Title: The Princess & the Pea

Genre: Historical Romance, Fairy Tale retelling

Format: Paperback

Pages: 354 

Published: January 1, 2009 

Where I got It: My shelf (Used book store)

Summary: 

A true American princess, Cecily White stood to inherit her father’s business empire. And with the twentieth century right around the corner, the independent beauty had no intention of marrying some foreign nobleman seeking her money. Then on a trip to England, Cece fell under the spell of a dashing peer who had more to recommend him than the length of his title and the size of his countinghouse. But Cece wouldn’t surrender her heart to the virile Earl of Graystone until he proved that the only treasure he wanted was her love.

Review:

I picked this up forever ago, and it has just been collecting dust on my bookshelf. Yayy for reading challenges to get me to pick up these dusty books!!

Here we follow Cecily and Jared. Cecily is a true American princess who stands to inherit her father's business empire. She is everything society wants: beautiful, rich, and polite. However, she is independent and has no desire but to marry for love. Especially those poor English peers that only have a title and debt in their pockets. However, there is something about Jared, the Earl of Graystone, that she can't resist. 

This story started off swell. I really enjoyed it. Cece was a gem, and I liked Jared. They were perfect for each other, but they literally "fell in love" like immediately. Luckily, there were a lot of issues, and Cece isn't an empty-headed fool. He needs to earn her and really show he loves her. GOOD. He's a fortune-hunter...no better than the girls of the ton. 

I think my biggest issue was how modern everyone felt. I get being "ahead of the times" and oddities, but sometimes it was a bit much. 

And the MIL? Omg. SURE she loves her son and wants the best, BUUUUT YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE IN THE POORHOUSE. Let him marry whomever he wants. Gah. I wanted to kick her. 

Plus the side romances drove me insane. I love when side characters find love too, don't get me wrong, but it was too much. It really bled into the story sometimes. 

Even with the issues, I did enjoy the journey of these two. 

I'll stamp this with 2 stars. 

 Challenge(s):

- TBR #11 (Change of Plans)

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden

Series: The Housemaid (#3)

Format: 383 pages, Paperback

Published: June 11, 2024 by Sourcebooks

Thriller/own

This one took some time to finish, because frankly it was boring. The Housemaid should have stayed with 2 books.

I did not feel any twists or turns.

It has been several years and Millie and Enzo are married with 2 kids and move to the suburbs. One neighbor is noisy, another woman is flirting too much. And then noooothing happens. Just Millie wondering if Enzo is cheating on her.

Then when something FINALLY happens, well I do not really care, and when the twists come, eh. Not twisty enough, and the second one, well made no sense when I think of it.

It was ok. But stay with the first 2.

“You must be our new neighbors!” Mrs. Lowell gushes and waves across the picket fence. I clutch my daughter’s hand and smile back: but the second Mrs. Lowell sees my husband a strange expression crosses her face. In that moment I make a promise. We finally have a family home. My past is far, far behind us. And I’ll do anything to keep it that way…

I used to clean other people’s houses—now, I can’t believe this home is actually mine. The charming kitchen, the quiet cul-de-sac, the huge yard where my kids can play. My husband and I saved for years to give our children the life they deserve.

Even though I’m wary of our new neighbor Mrs. Lowell, when she invites us over for dinner it’s our chance to make friends. Her maid opens the door wearing a white apron, her hair in a tight bun. I know exactly what it’s like to be in her shoes. But her cold stare gives me chills…

The Lowells’ maid isn’t the only strange thing on our street. I’m sure I see a shadowy figure watching us. My husband leaves the house late at night. And when I meet a woman who lives across the way, her words chill me to the bone: Be careful of your neighbors.

Did I make a terrible mistake moving my family here?

I thought I’d left my darkest secrets behind. But could this quiet suburban street be the most dangerous place of all?

Book Review: Frosting and Fairies by Danielle Garrett

Author: Danielle Garrett

Title: Frosting and Fairie

Series: Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries #4

Genre: Paranormal, Mystery, Fantasy, Cozy Mystery

Format: Ebook

Pages: 256 

Published: January 2, 2025

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

Small-town journalism isn’t exactly a thrill ride. Between PTA meetings and bake sale bulletins, I was drowning in monotony. But when I begged my editor for a juicier assignment, I should’ve been careful what I wished for.

Enter the Summer Lovin’ Book Festival. BOGO deals on paperbacks with a side of beefcake, as five hunky models vie to become the next Captain Riker Bones, the shirtless swashbuckler adorning Grandma Rose’s favorite bodice-rippers.

Sure, a little eye candy never hurt anyone, but ten minutes of watching grown women cry over washboard abs has me wishing I’d volunteered to write up the waste management ordinances instead.

But when one of our would-be pirates turns up dead in his hotel room, my puff piece transforms into a full-blown murder mystery. And the plot thickens faster than my family’s famous buttercream when a poison-laced cupcake from Sugar Shack is found at the scene.

Now I’m racing against time to catch a killer, clear my family’s name, and keep Grandma Rose from sailing into the sunset with one of the wannabe pirates. Someone pass the rum.

Review:

We forge forward with our gal.

Ella's new role as the small-town journalist hasn't been a thrill ride. Between PTA meetings and bake sales, she has been dying of the monotony. When she asks her editor for a juicier assignment....she gets what she asks for in spades. The Summer Lovin' Book Festival is in town, along with five of their hunky models. When one of them turns up dead in the hotel after eating a cupcake from her family's business. Now she will have to find the killer and clear her family's name.

Yayy for the next book. Plus, Orion is here too! Yayy! Don't get me wrong, I do adore Ella running around doing her thing, but I think they make a better team together. I hope he gets to stick around for a while or at least for these mysteries.

But yes, we have two mysteries at play here. One, our poor dead hunk. Two, the main mystery of finding out who is causing mayhem using magical creatures. However, the mystery of the dead hunk takes over when her family's business is besmirched. NOT THE CUPCAKES NOOOO.

Now...some realness....I did struggle a bit with this. Not sure why. Maybe I've been spoiled with the narration. The narrator is one of my favorites, and I love her. I read the ebook this time because I saw it as a freebie on my Kindle Unlimited. Maybe I'll go back and do the narrator someday.

But yes, I did struggle in the middle. The beginning was fun, and the last third was intense and caught my attention again. What an ending!!!! Again, I'm not sure why I had some struggles.

Other than my issues with the middle part and missing my narrator......I did enjoy our gang and the backdrop of the Book Festival.

I'll stamp this with 3 stars.  

Audiobook Review: When We Were Friends by Jane Green

Author: Jane Green

Narrator: Lucy Rayner
Title: When We Were Friends

Genre: Short Story, Novella, Chick Lit
Format: Audiobook
Published: 1, 2024
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

By all accounts, Lucy’s handled her divorce well. She’s finally in the cozy, plant-filled house of her dreams. And although she doesn’t fit in with the other divorcées—all busy looking for their next ex—she’s excited to get down to earth and savor the small joys of life.

When Lucy meets Elle, a hip younger woman who shares her same passions, their connection is instant. Taking a chance on kismet, Lucy forges a friendship that fills her days with meaning. She and Elle are inseparable, from sunup to sundown, enjoying the immediate ease and familiarity of each other’s company.

But as Lucy introduces Elle to her circle, a new side of her friend appears. And try as she might, Lucy can’t ignore her misgivings. Who is Elle really? And can their all-consuming friendship survive closer inspection?

Review:

I've enjoyed this author before and so why not try out this one? Plus I needed a nice short anyway. 

Here we follow Lucy who has dealt with her divorce well-enough. She lost herself during her marriage and now that it is over, she is trying to find herself again. One day during an event she didn't really want to attend, stumbles upon Elle. They seem to connect so easily and fit together so nicely. Maybe this is the sister and friend she has been looking for all her life. However, when Lucy introduces Elle to her circle, Elle doesn't seem like the Elle she knew. A whole new side appears and can their friendship survive?

This one made me terribly sad. I hate how it ended. I get WHY it ended the way that it did and Lucy had to do what she had to do. But I hated it. 

I enjoyed the story well-enough and there are some lessons to be had. I get that, but man. :/ And I'm sure we all have had a friend like Elle or have been the Elle. Life is about lessons and Lucy (and Elle) learn some tough lessons about life and friendships. 

The narrator did well. I enjoyed her accents and voices. 

Maybe we will get some sort of sequel with Elle. 

Rating? Oh boy. Ummmmmmm..........errrr..........3 stars methinks. 

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #57