Book Review: The Charm School by Susan Wiggs

Author: Susan Wiggs

Title: The Charm School

Series: The Calhoun Chronicles #1

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 384

Published: April 1, 1999

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

As the ballrooms of 1800s America glitter, romance is afoot...

Boston and Rio de Janeiro, 1851

An awkward misfit in an accomplished family, Isadora Peabody yearns to escape her life as a wallflower in Boston society. Fate intervenes when she learns that a ship bound for Rio de Janeiro is in need of an interpreter—a pursuit she very much enjoys. The only problem? The surly and handsome captain is adamantly opposed to a woman taking the role.

Sea captain Ryan Calhoun used to have a good family name. But he’d purposely walked away from everything it afforded him, driven by his quest to right an old wrong. When he finds himself falling for the meek young woman who comes aboard his ship, he’s determined to stay away from her—if only to keep her out of his secretive, dangerous plans.

As the tides of attraction flow between them, Ryan and Isadora must risk it all for love. For a true lady must learn to speak her mind, and Isadora is ready to put her newfound charms to the test.

Review:

This was voted for our DNF 2nd Chance challenge. I try to do this challenge twice a year, because sometimes a book (like some people) deserves a second chance. 

Isadora is awkward and a misfit in an accomplished family. She is nothing but a wallflower in the society of Boston. Fate has a funny way of intervening, and she finds herself on a ship bound to Rio de Janeiro as an interpreter. Everything seems golden.....except for the surly and handsome captain. Ryan used to have a good family name, but he walked away to right an old wrong. Isadora is something he wants to avoid so he can keep his secretive and dangerous plan...well...a secret. Attraction and lust have other plans for them though. 

I still don't get what the title means. There is no school. Ryan doesn't do much to teach her. Is it the boat? Is it the sea? Is Isadora self-teaching? Beh. 

Ryan is meh. 

Isadora is meh. 

Their chemistry seems forced and I just can't buy it even at the end. I did enjoy some of their quips though. I actually chuckled a bit.

The locations are the best part of the story! So refreshing, but sadly I still didn't warm up to these two as a couple. 

I managed to get to the end just so I could see the hows and whys. Morbid curiosity I guess.

All-in-all, I DID finish this so I can safely say it is a slight win for the DNF 2nd Chance challenge. However, my opinion barely changed. I'll give it a bonus star for the locations and the quips. 2 stars from me.  

Favorite Character(s): the boat

Least Favorite Character(s): Isadora's family.

 Challenge(s):

- Library love #10

DNF: The Charm School by Susan Wiggs

Author: Susan Wiggs

Title: The Charm School

Series: The Calhoun Chronicles #1

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 384

Published: April 1, 1999

Where I Got It: Borrowed from the library

Summary: 

An awkward misfit in an accomplished family, Isadora Peabody yearns to escape her life as a wallflower in Boston society. Fate intervenes when she learns that a ship bound for Rio de Janeiro is in need of an interpreter—a pursuit she very much enjoys. The only problem? The surly and handsome captain is adamantly opposed to a woman taking the role.

Sea captain Ryan Calhoun used to have a good family name. But he’d purposely walked away from everything it afforded him, driven by his quest to right an old wrong. When he finds himself falling for the meek young woman who comes aboard his ship, he’s determined to stay away from her—if only to keep her out of his secretive, dangerous plans.

As the tides of attraction flow between them, Ryan and Isadora must risk it all for love. For a true lady must learn to speak her mind, and Isadora is ready to put her newfound charms to the test.

Review:

Randomly saw this while looking for something else in the ebook section at the library. Seemed interesting enough so I grabbed it and downloaded it. 

I got to about page 102. I struggled to even get there, so I did what I normally do....I stepped away for a couple of days and tried to return with fresh eyes and a fresh brain. I I read a page or two and stopped. 

To be honest...I can't really point at WHY I didn't care. Ryan seems like the type I normally drool over and Isadora seems like a fun heroine. However, I just couldn't buy anything or care what was going to happen next. 

Sadly, I am returning this to the library early and unfinished. I have enjoyed this author in the past so I am bummed. However, you can't be charmed by everything.

DNF. 

Book Review: From Fame to Ruin by Jina S Bazzar

Author: Jina S. Bazzar

Title: From Fame to Ruin

Genre: Thriller, Romantic Suspense, Second Chances

Format: ebook

Pages: 321 

Published: December 21st 2021

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

What if surviving a murder attempt, a heartbreak, and the loss of the family business wasn’t the hardest thing you ever faced?

Carol is the sole heir to a broken empire, Ricardo the newest celebrity in the rock world.

When they came together, their fire blazed. When their past caught up, they were left burned, scorched to the ground.

When a psychopath decides it’s payback time, Carol is faced with an impossible choice – save her son or sell her life.

Ricardo wants nothing to do with the woman who played him for a fool, but finds himself moored by circumstances, half-truths, and memories of the past.

They say time can heal anything. So far, time's brought nothing but complications.

This is a standalone romantic thriller told in alternating timelines and point of views. Warnings include character overdose and mentions of child abuse

Review:

The first book of the year!! And what a way to start the year off!

Here we follow Carol and Ricardo. Carol is the sole heir to a broken empire and Ricardo is the newest and hottest celebrity in the rock world. They met years earlier and their passion hit hard and heavy. However, their past catches up to them and destroys their love. Some years have gone by and when a psychopath decides it is payback time, Carol is faced with an impossible choice....save her son or sell her life. She goes to Ricardo for help. He doesn't want anything to do with her, but he finds himself agreeing.

This book had me at page one. Honestly, I could hardly put this down!! I had to know what was going to happen next!! That ending???? Fantastic. 

I did love the jumping back and forth in time. I get nervous it throws off the pace of the story and plot, but the author did a good jump with the jumping around. It added to the suspense aspect for sure. It made me want to read faster.

Carol and Ricardo had a lot of issues. You could see that from their first meeting in the past, but they are good souls and I really wanted them to work it out. It took years and a terrible situation to happen, but it does happen and I have hope for them. I liked both of them and I loved how complex they were. I really, really wanted to give both of them a shake here! Especially when Ricardo wouldn't even give her a minute to try and explain. UGH. 

The biggest part of the story is the suspense aspect. I loved the romance, but I'm glad it didn't take over the suspense aspect of the story. It was a nice balance. 

I know I said it before...but ooooo that ending and reveal was so good.

In the end, I really enjoyed this. I loved the characters and watching them redeem themselves, move on from the past, find their love again, and save her son.  What a great way to start the year. I'll give this 4 stars! 

Reading Challenge(s): 

- 1 down! Second chances. 

Book Review: Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber

Author: Debbie Macomber

Title: Jingle All the Way

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit
Format: ebook

Pages: 272 

Published:  October 13th 2020

Where I Got It: My shelf (Netgalley)

Summary: 

Everly Lancaster always dreamed of leaving her hometown in rural Illinois. Now she helps run a burgeoning startup in Chicago, where her professional goals leave little time for friends...or a vacation.

When a massive snowstorm hits, Everly's mother urges her to come home for Christmas, but she hesitates to return to the life she's worked so hard to escape. Searching for other holiday plans, Everly tasks her assistant with booking her a cruise--the perfect getaway. Embarking on a weeklong tour of the Amazon guided by charming naturalist Asher Adams, Everly slowly but surely begins to realize that relationships are more important than work--and just might decide to journey home just in time for Christmas Day.

Review:

Couldn't resist one. Look at that pup on the cover! Plus a romance that starts on an Amazon cruise? Okay. No choice but to read this. 

The story follows Everly/Daisy. She was always the odd man out amongst her large family. She now runs a huge company in Chicago where she has made work her life. She barely has time for friends, family, or even a moment to take a vacation. On the urging of her co-owner, she decides to give her terrible assistant one more chance and lets her book her a couple week vacation. Well....turns out she is about to face the wilds of the Amazon with no Wifi and a being lead by a charming naturalist Asher Adams. 

This would make the cutest Hallmark movie ever. LOL

Poor Everly. I would be mad because her assistant sucks and her co-owner sucks and now she is stuck in Brazil on a "cruise" with no wifi and your showers are limited. Boo! I am with Everly...I am a modern woman...I need modern things thankssss especially for a 2 week trip!!!! A few days...okay, 2 weeks? Girl no. Give me a pool and a shower and TV. 

BUT Asher is a hunk and it might be worth it ;) He is charming and oh-so sweet especially when Everly was sick. Bless his hunky heart. 

I loved the adventure Everly was forced to take and I'm glad she had fun even though she is not meant for the wilds. She is klutzy and her luck sucks. I can relate to her for sure on all of that. 

I am also glad that this was not 100% all about romance. Sure that was 90%, but we did get to see Everly find herself and reconnect with her big ol' lovable family. That was very sweet. 

Ooooo and that ending/epilogue was good. Very sweet. I didn't really expect that at all. 

My only issue....the puppy. There is no puppy in this D: !!!!! WAH? Teased me for sure with that. 

Oh and another issue I had was how quickly these two fell for each other. Yes, yes, insta-love. It bothered me at first...but it wasn't an easy love for sure so it balanced out in the end. So I was able to look past this little issue I had. 

Overall, this was a very sweet romance and a very sweet Xmas book that you can cuddle up with next to a fire. Yesss I am using the word "sweet" a lot in this review, but it is the perfect word for this novel. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Book Review: Hello, World by L.M. Barrett

Author: L.M. Barrett

Title: Hello, World
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Format: ebook

Published:  October 25th 2020 

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

When trekking in the Amazon rainforest, most normal people must overcome their fears of the unknown such as dangerous animals and not returning home in one piece. For city girl Grace Brooks, she must overcome her fears of no makeup and going to the loo. And can she survive two weeks without her hairdryer?

When Grace is offered the chance of a lifetime, to test out brand new camping equipment in the rainforest - she finds it easy to turn down. After all, who in their right mind would want to trek around the muddy rainforest for two weeks in a tent? But when the offer becomes too good to be true and even her friends and family doubt her ability she finds herself determined to prove them wrong.

And who knows - there’s always the chance of love when it’s just her and a hunky Brazilian guide. Except, he’s not quite what she expects and when she becomes hopelessly lost, life becomes a little hairy.

When Patrick Kirk’s holiday is interrupted to complete the most absurd mission of his life - to rescue some bimbo lost in the rainforest, he’s less than impressed and determined to despise the silly woman for ruining his holiday. But as he closes in on her and thanks to his new tech, he catches transmissions of her daily ramblings. Ramblings she has no idea are being aired. As she talks about life, death, feelings and lack of sex, he finds himself drawn to the woman - especially when she announces she’s going to sleep with the first man she sees.

When he finally catches up with her, Grace is less than impressed with her neanderthal rescuer. Patrick too, is less than impressed with the high-maintenance whiner. Stuck together for at least a week, can they learn to get on or are they destined to kill each other?

Review:

I couldn't resist this when I read the summary! I want this to be a movie!

The story follows Grace Brooks who is offered a deal of a lifetime that could change her financial situation for life. All she has to do is spend 2 weeks in the Amazon with guide to test out new camping equipment. How could one say no? However, things go wrong and now she is lost, her guide gone, and she has no idea how to survive. Here enters in Patrick Kirk. He was on holiday but he is dragged in to save Grace.

Oh Grace. I don't blame you for doing this journey...especially because you thought you would be nice and safe with your guide. But I would have to turn it down. I love camping...but for like a couple of days. No thank you. I guess you can call me a shallow modern woman. 

It took a minute for me to like Patrick but after a certain scene I loved him! He was an asshat at first, but can you blame him? I would be mad too if I had to go save some dumb girl. 

This was funny but I was worried for our girl. The wilderness can be scary! But yes - this was funny and I just wanted Patrick and Grace to fall in love. There was lust and the love took a while. Which worked for them. They are complete opposites!

The ending had me on edge. I had no idea how everything was going to work out! Eeeee. I would be so tempted to sue that dang computer. Grr.

My only issue with our story is that it was too short. I wanted more time with Grace and Patrick. I felt like we didn't get to see them together as much.

Overall, I really liked this book. I do wish that it was longer so we could have more time with Grace and Patrick, BUT I enjoyed the entire story overall. They were fun together! I could totally see this being a movie. I would watch that! I'll give this 4 stars.