Book Review: Luster by Raven Leilani

Author: Raven Leilani

Title: Luster

Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 240

Published: August 4, 2020

Where I got It: My shelf (gift)

Summary: 

Luster sees a young Black woman fall into art and someone else's open marriage. Edie is stumbling her way through her twenties--sharing a subpar apartment in Bushwick, clocking in and out of her admin job, making a series of inappropriate sexual choices. She's also, secretly, haltingly, figuring her way into life as an artist. And then she meets Eric, a digital archivist with a family in New Jersey, including an autopsist wife who has agreed to an open marriage--with rules. As if navigating the constantly shifting landscapes of contemporary sexual manners and racial politics weren't hard enough, Edie finds herself unemployed and falling into Eric's family life, his home. She becomes a hesitant friend to his wife and a de facto role model to his adopted daughter. Edie is the only Black woman who young Akila knows.Razor-sharp, darkly comic, sexually charged, socially disruptive, Luster is a portrait of a young woman trying to make sense of her life in a tumultuous era. It is also a haunting, aching description of how hard it is to believe in your own talent and the unexpected influences that bring us into ourselves along the way.

Review:

I was given this book as a gift, but I have been curious about it. There was a lot of interest when this first came out a few years ago. 

Here, we follow Edie as she tries to make sense of her life. She starts up an affair with a man whose wife is okay with an open marriage...but with strict rules. Edie soon finds herself unemployed and falling face-first into her lover's family life and home. 

I feel like people love or are meh about this book. I don't know where I fully sit on this book. 

There were some things I liked and some things I didn't. 

My biggest issue was the writing style. It felt so...choppy. It didn't flow right and kept taking me out of the story. It felt so jarring! I did like the observations and the inner monologue parts, but the story itself felt so choppy and disjointed. 

I also can't buy this as a romance. It felt so awkward, and I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop at any minute. This really should just be a...not chick lit but something else. I'm blanking on a good genre to shove this in. 

Honestly, I liked reading about Edie and Rebecca the most. I enjoyed seeing that relationship form and morph. I also adored little Akila! 

And the ending....left me feeling nothing. It just ended. 

But yes...some good, but a lot of bad. I'll give this 3 stars. Maybe the audio would've been a hair better!

Book Review: The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

Author: Natalie Jenner

Title: The Jane Austen Society

Series: Jane Austen Society #1

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 304

Published: May 26, 2020

Where I got It: My Shelf (Gift)

Summary: 

Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.

Review:

I love Jane Austen and a lot of her books, so I've been excited to check this out. 

It is just after WWII, and an unusual but like-minded group of people team up to protect Jane Austen's legacy. Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, but, sadly, it is a diminishing estate that needs work to preserve. 

I am feeling tired, so we'll divide and conquer this review (it's been a min since we used this format!):

The Good

- I liked our array of characters. They were different and interesting. 

- Loved how the author brought this time period and town alive. 

- Some nice banter between some of the characters

- Liked the splash of 'Persuasion'. Literally my fave of JA's works. 

The Bad and the Ugly

- Some areas seemed to drag on and on. I would catch my attention slipping sometimes. 

- It took me eons to finish this guy. I would walk away from it for a couple of days and forget about it. I would have to go back and reread the last page or two just to remember what had just happened. 

- Some spots were….I hate to use this word…..dull. 

Conclusion

Maybe I should try the audio version of this story. Richard Armitage does a rendition and I lovvvveeeeee his voice. So...yeah. Maybe I'll try this again. I wanted to love this, but didn't. It was just alright. Some good banter and interesting characters. But some areas? Dull. 

2 stars from me. 

Movie Review: Enola Holmes 3 (2026)

Title: Enola Holmes 3

Length: 1h 45m

Released: 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Action/Adventure, Romance
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:

Detective Enola Holmes heads to Malta, where her aspirations merge in her most complex and dangerous case yet.

Trailer

REVIEW:

Number 3 babbbyyyy!

We are back with Enola and crew. This time they are in Malta, and Enola is about to wed. Gasp. But a kidnapping, murder, and many a mystery land on her shoulders to solve, so the wedding is postponed. 

Like the others, this was fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and neither should the viewer. There is humor and a LOT of fourth wall breaking. 

My biggest issue with the film was the lack of mystery. Yes, it is "there," sure, but the first like 5 mins for sure ruins the mystery. Sure, our fearless detective doesn't know, but we know. I did not like that one bit. Like, come on. 

It was fun to uncover the what and why. Enola was on a clock and 10 steps behind for so long. Plus...fixing what she broke was nice to see. I think he was being a little.....dramatic. But it is what it is. 

Oh! I did like the serious tones near the end. It was nice to keep this from being too campy. 

In the end, I had fun with this. The local was fun, the mission was okay, and there were some nice serious tones attached that helped deepen the story. Yes, yes, I laughed a few times at the funny moments.

3 stars from me. 

Book Review: The Petticoat Letters by Kelly Lyman

Author: Kelly Lyman

Title: The Petticoat Letters

Series: Rebels of the Revolution #1

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 346

Published: November 5, 2017

Where I got It: My shelf (Gift)

Summary: 

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, Nora Bishop’s home is burned to the ground—along with her dreams, plans and all her family members except one. At 20-years-old and still unmarried, she moves to Manhattan to live with her Loyalist uncle, hoping to find her brother who has joined the Patriot cause against her late family’s wishes. But, battle breaks out and she finds herself at the mercy of one American ranger, Alex Foster, who is the only person in a position to bring her to safety.

Her growing feelings toward Alex and his passion for freedom help her reevaluate her stance on the case for independence and makes her question her loyalties further. When she is asked to spy for the rebels, she agrees. But can she partake in the act of treason and do what is asked of her when the sadistic Captain William Roth seems to watch her every move and threatens the life of her brother who has been captured? And how can she grow closer to Alex when the war threatens to tear them apart?

Review:

This seemed like the perfect read for America's 250! It's been a hot min since I read an HR or HF set during the American Revolution. 

Here we have Nora, who pretty much lost it all at the start of the war. Her family home was burned to the ground, and only she and her brother survived. However, the war took her brother away too when he decided to fight with the Rebels. Nora is unwed and living with her loyalist family. She soon finds herself at the mercy of the Rebels and Alex. While in his company, she starts to see what the Rebels see...and maybe there is something between her and Alex. 

This had an extremely slow start. It took me a couple of tries to push through. I was tempted to toss in the white flag of defeat and move on. After my second attempt, I was hooked. There was a scene that made me want more. No spoilers from me!!

But yes, this gets intense in a few spots. War is hell and all. So some triggers for sure. 

Can I be honest? I didn't like Alex or Nora by the end. I started out liking Nora, and then I lost respect for her. Alex? I was always meh, but he annoyed me after a scene. I still kept reading because I was more curious about the war and etc. That was fun! A part of me wishes this wasn't a romance. SHOCKED faces I see, but yes....not all things should be romances. Yes, there can be some love, but this would've fared better as just historical fiction, methinks. 

Don't get me started on the big baddie. He was literally a caricature of a British redcoat baddie. Mmmmmm, but he was scary so I will give him that. 

All-in-all, I was entertained. I liked the spying and war and etc. The romance was meh because I didn't care for our mains. And the baddie was scary, but he was your A-typical redcoat baddie. I'll give this 3 stars. It would be a 2, but I think some of the scenes deserve a little more love, and maybe I'm being overly kind. 

 

Reading Challenges:

- Reading Romance Challenge #17 (Non-Regency)

Audiobook Review: An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Narrator: Kate Handford

Title: An Ordinary Sort of Evil

Series: A Rip Through Time #5

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance

Format: Audiobook 

Published: May 19, 2026

Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Mitchell has grown accustomed to life in Victorian Scotland after travelling 150 years into the past into the body of a housemaid. She’s built a new life for herself. Even though she works as an assistant to forensic-science pioneer Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie, she considers them true friends. And with Gray in particular, perhaps, someday, something more.

Late one night, Gray and Mallory are summoned urgently to the home of Lady Adler, a patron of Gray’s undertaking business, and they assume there's been a death in the household. But instead, they arrive in the midst of a seance with a ghost demanding Gray's presence. The ghost is Lady Adler's former maid, who had gone missing but now requests that Gray investigate her murder. Although Gray and Mallory are skeptical, they agree to look into the matter, whether she's dead or alive. But unsure if there's been a murder or not, unable to call out the medium as a fraud, and concerned for the fate of the young maid, Gray and Mallory are once again drawn into a mystery much more puzzling--and more dangerous--than it first seems

Review:

Been itching to listen to this, but I had a couple of other audios I had planned first. I am loving this series so much. 

We are back with Mallory and the gang! They are called to a seance after a ghost demanded that Gray solve her murder. Problem? Is the former maid ACTUALLY dead or even missing? Even though they are skeptical, they agree to look into the matter. Even if there is no murder, they can call out a medium as a fraud.

EEEEEEE. Big steps are made in the Mallory-Gray love story. I was squealing like a schoolgirl. I won't say anything more, but big leaps have been made. In all the other books and novellas, there have been baby steps and crawls. Maybe a step back here and there, but things are really pushing! 

I NEED MORE!!!! When is the next book??? EEEEE!

All the EEEEEEs with this book. 

This might be one of my favorites of the series so far. The mystery was sooo good. I had zero idea what was going to happen. Who did what and why and when and so forth. All lovely. 

Lots of character growth and fun dialogue. 

And a surprise guest! I will say no more there. 

The narrator is amazing. I hope she continues the series. Her voice is the only voice I hear. 

5 stars 100%. Read the series. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #26

 

Audiobook Review: Murder at Raven's Edge by Louise Marley

Author: Louise Marley

Narrator: Christopher Bonwell
Title: Murder at Raven's Edge

Series: An English Village Mystery #1

Genre: Murder Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Published:  May 7, 2024
Where I Got It: Audible 

Summary: 

When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home of Raven's Edge after eighteen long years away, she finds the perfect English village looks much the same – all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbours, and chintzy teashops full of scones and gossip.

But her nostalgic visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla’s own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realizes this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets.

Handsome, grumpy local policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn’t think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she seems. Why is she really here in Raven’s Edge, and how come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes, causing trouble? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself – or his heart – to the rather distracting Miss Graham?

When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect – from the barmaid at the local pub to Milla Graham herself. It seems that in Raven's Edge, not everybody is as friendly, or as innocent, as they first seem...

Review:

This was my pick for book club!

Here we follow Milla and Ben. Ben is a grouchy policeman who doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn't trust newcomer Milla Graham. Why is she really here in Raven's Edge? How come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes? There is a murder, and she is connected somehow. Milla returns home to Raven's Edge after 18 years. She is here to figure out who really killed her mother and why. When a body shows up that is eerily similar to her mother's...she knows that her life could be in danger. Can she trust Ben? Can she trust herself? 

It took me a minute to get fully into the story. I didn't like Milla. I didn't trust her. Every other word is a lie. I guess I'm a grumpy man like Ben hahahaha. But once we really got past her web of lies to others and to herself, I grew to like her. I wanted the truth to come out. 

Honestly... my biggest takeaway from this book is that if people told the truth, none of this would have happened! Yes, some lies were meant to protect, but in the end...it made things worse. I wanted to shake everyone. THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREEEEEEE!

I enjoyed the mystery and uncovering it. There were times I was super confused, but then by the end it ALL made sense. The ending made me happy. 

The narrator did an okay job. His voices for characters weren't that different, so you really had to pay attention. 

Overall, I did end up liking this story. The beginning and the one main character were a slow start for me, but it was worth it. Nice mystery and interesting charatcers. I know there was a murder there...but can I move to the town? It sounds like an adorable small town. 

4 stars from me. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #24

Book Review: Sight Unseen by Alexis Marie

Author: Alexis Marie

Title: Sight Unseen

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery

Format: ebook

Pages: 393

Published: March 1, 2026

Where I got It: My shelf (Goodreads giveaway)

Summary: 

Veda Thorne is living on borrowed time. After exhausting every magical cure for the fatal curse trapped inside her, she’s accepted her fate. But Veda’s self-imposed isolation begins to crack when she’s asked to tutor Antaris, a child whose pain calls to her own.

Hiram Ellis left his wealthy, prejudiced family years ago. Now unexpectedly thrust into single fatherhood, he returns to his hometown, determined to build a life far from the cold privilege that stifled his own childhood. The last thing he expects is to be drawn to the fiercely protective, sharp-tongued woman helping his son.

When a trail of enchanted spider lilies leads Hiram and Veda to discover their deadly tie to a prolific serial killer, they’re forced to set aside their differences to unearth long-buried secrets. But the truth is as deadly as Veda’s curse, and both come at a devastating cost. As victims mount and motives emerge, their greatest challenge is choosing to trust and love each other.

Review:

Yayy. Another random giveaway book that I won! Weeee! 

Note - even though I was given this in a giveaway, my review will be honest and unbiased. 

In this one, we follow Veda and Hiram. Veda is living on borrowed time because of the curse that was placed on her. She wants to just live and be left alone. However, her isolation cracks when she is asked to tutor a boy whose recent loss resonates with her. Hiram left his wealthy, but prejudiced, family years ago. He wants nothing to do with them or to be like him. Fatherhood is dropped on his lap. He had no idea his ex had a baby, and now that she is passed, he will do his best to give his son the life and upbringing he never had. He hires Veda to help get his son on track, but he didn't expect to fall for her. On top of all this, there is a trail of spider lilies that is pointing to a serial killer. The two will have to put aside their differences and figure out what is going on. 

This book was a roller coaster for me. One moment, I was glued to the pages and couldn't stop reading. The next moment.....I was clock-watching and bored. And then I was itching for more and wanted more. Def all over the board with this one. 

I went back and forth on how I felt about Veda. I liked Hiram. The kid was sweet. Poor angel.

Peter was nice. I would've liked more of him. 

Some of the side characters seemed cool, but we needed more time with them. Some felt a little....2D?

The mystery was interesting enough. It didn't get really good until a tipping point.

The ending was lovely. Nice bow there. 

Honestly, I would've loved more romance. Yes, yes, I did enjoy the enemies-to-lovers aspect, but it took SOOOO long. A hair too long for my liking. Maybe a few more kisses would've been nice. Oh! Maybe a scene or two of them being close to kissing after fighting. 

Overall, this had a lot of potential, and it would make for a nice series, methinks. I would love to explore more of the world and the system. Maybe some side characters can have their moment in the sun. I wanted more out of this, but I did enjoy lots of it. Thus why it was an emotional roller coaster for me. The parts I liked...I LOVED. The parts I didn't like? Meh.

3 stars. 

Reading Challenges:

- Reading Romance Challenge #14 (Published 2026)

Book Review: The Warlord's Captive by Cass Carlton

Author: Cass Carlton

Title: The Warlord’s Captive

Series: Alien Warlord Brides #1

Genre: SciFi, Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 316

Published: July 17, 2022

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

A female spaceship captain? That’s me. I shouldn’t have taken my vessel that route. I’m the captain of my ship. I’m the decision maker. Bad decision. I knew it was bad when the warlord appeared on the comms screen and pretty much said he wanted me to warm his bed. Now I’m avoiding pirates, warlords, and a clan war between alien warlords. Oh, and I’m trying to pay a debt off and save my crew’s life.

I’ve had dreams about her. She shouldn’t exist. This shouldn’t be a thing. But it is. She’s mine. My soul has marked her as such. I’m the captain of a warship. I’m a warlord from another planet. A human cannot be my soulmate. So why is fate bringing us together? Why is an antiquated arrangement used by my kind for eons determining that this human female is my mate. I don’t expect to seize her ship while she’s evading an attack.

Now, I’ve got to convince this fiercely independent sexy human that she’s the one. And try to keep her alive at the same time.

Review:

Picked this up to complete a bingo square on my reading challenge, plus, this didn't sound too bad. Love a fated romance. 

Here we have Valeria and Aedyn. Valeria has not only inherited a ship but she has some debts to pay off as well. This is the last run. Right? Enter in Aedyn. He's been having mate dreams that his species gets about their Fated Mate. The universe is so vast, so it is near impossible to find this Fated Mate. He has to ignore the dreams...he has a job to do. 

*wakes up* Oh? It's over. What did I miss? 

Yes, yes, I pushed through reading this because 1) I had hope that it would turn around and 2) I wanted the credit for my reading challenge...and 3) I love torturing myself I guess. 

I wanted to DNF so many times, but I pushed through. I started skimming the last quarter of the book JUST to be done with it. There was no real tension. No chemistry. No excitement. And the spice? Meh. 

All-in-all, this was not the one for me. Sure, SciFi isn't my favorite genre, but there is usually something that grabs me. Sadly, this wasn't for me. 

1 star. 

Reading Challenges

- Reading Romance Challenge #13 (Alien)

Movie Review: Dracula (2025)

Title: Dracula - A Love Tale

Length: 2h 9m

Released: 2025 (2026 US)

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Romance
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Apple TV

SUMMARY:

When a 15th-century prince denounces God after the loss of his wife he inherits an eternal curse: he becomes Dracula. Condemned to wander the centuries, he defies fate and death, guided by a single hope - to be reunited with his lost love.

Trailer

REVIEW:

I saw this trailer a while back, and I have been waiting and waiting for it to arrive in the US. When it finally did, I dragged Hubby to the couch to make him watch this with me. I looove a good Dracula film!

Here we have Dracula, who was a prince in the 15th-century. He killed and did many bad things in the name of God. The only thing he asked for was protection for his wife. Well...she was murdered and died in his arms, so he turned his back on God, which in turn God gave him an eternal curse. Condemned to never die and to drink blood for survival. He hopes his beloved will be reincarnated since she was of a pure soul. 400 years later...he has found her and no one will stop him from reclaiming his love. 

What a lovely cast. What a lovely story. I really, really enjoyed it. The guy who played Dracula was amazing. 

This rendition certainly played up the love story and made this more of a romance. Still some horror elements, but certainly more romantic. 

That last scene literally broke me. SOO good. SOO perfect.

No issues for me. Hubby said he liked it, but he thought it had some weird elements. I disagree. I liked the change-ups. 

We have the romance and the horror. We also were given splashes of comedy that made me smile. 

I'll give this 5 stars. I want to watch it again!

Movie Review: Wuthering Heights (2026)

Title: Wuthering Heights

Length: 2h 16m

Released: 2026

Genre: Drama, Romance
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Theater

SUMMARY:

A passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.

Trailer

REVIEW:

When I saw the trailer for the first time months ago, I knew I had to go see this. 'Wuthering Heights' is one of my favorite books to date. I read it every few years. I would read it every year, but it is a tragic read for sure. 

Here we have Cathy and Heathcliff. We all know the story. They are toxic, and their love is destructive. He misunderstands her conversation and leaves. She marries Linton. He comes back rich and ready to either have her or destroy everything. 

I will admit....I was nervous about the casting here. Mainly so our Heathcliff. I've seen this acting, and I like him, but I didn't know if he could pull off the dark side of Heathcliff. The youthful and in love version is doable, but the toxic side? I was nervous. HOWEVER, I was proven wrong. He did a delightful job. I wanted to clap. 

The rest of the cast was lovely. They all did a great job making you hate them and/or feel pity for them. I also loved the kid versions they cast. They actually looked like mini versions of our characters. Lovely. 

So, I went with Hubby and our mutual friend. Hubby barely remembered the last version I made him watch, but our mutual friend had never seen or read the book. After the movie ended, he said, "Man. I started off liking them, but I hated them by the end." I replied, "Yep. They are all terrible, terrible humans. Minus Linton, who didn't deserve any of this." And that is why I love this. They are all so toxic to each other. Maybe if everyone just sat down and talked ALL of this drama could've been avoided. So many hurt feelings. So many betrayals. So dang tragic. 

The aesthetic and music choice was interesting. I was a little unsure at first, but I grew to like it a lot. The colors were bold. 

The ending was different from the book. Which is fine. They cut out a whole part of Heathcliff's schemes, but it isn't the first movie adaptation that has done this. 

I was also really annoyed that they didn't include a huge part of Cathy's monologue describing her love for Heathcliff and Linton. It's classic! It is what all of booknerds wanted to hear! Disappointing!

In the end, I did enjoy this. I can see myself watching this again. It was intense and delightful, but in a dark way. They changed the ending, which didn't bug me too much. My biggest complaint is so minuscule, but I LOVE that whole quote. I'll give this 4 stars. 

 

Audiobook Review: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Author: Kendare Blake

Narrator: Amy Landon
Title: Three Dark Crowns

Series: Three Dark Crowns #1

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Published: September 20, 2016
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

When kingdom come, there will be one.

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown.

Review:

First book club book of 2026! Weeeeeee!

Here we follow three sisters. All three are queens and equal heirs to the crown, and all are magical. However, there can only be one queen to rule them all. Mirabella is an elemental. Katharine is a poisoner who can ingest poisons. Arsinoe is a naturalist. This will be a fight to the death on the night of the sisters' 16th birthday. 

How cool is this concept? Def royals meets fantasy meets Hunger Games. Loved the idea and the concept. I wouldn't want to live here, but the powers would be lovely. I guess I would just want to be a civilian. I wouldn't make a good queen. 

The execution of the story was...okay. It was so slow and so dry in the beginning. Yes, we are learning about the sisters and the world and the rules, etc. However, it took forever for anything to really happen. Plus, we had a lot of POVs going on. Not just the queens, but a lot of their friends, etc. Sure, I didn't mind getting a glimpse of the world, but I think I would've liked this more if it were just the queens' POVs. 

Also, I did the audio of this. I wonder if I would've appreciated the multiple POVs if I did the ebook/physical book of it. It would've been easier to follow along. There were a couple of times I was confused about who was saying what. I had to rewind a couple of times. Don't get me wrong, the narrator is good! I have listened to her before, but so many POVs and soooo many characters, it is hard to have a different voice for each person. 

OMG, the end. I need to read book 2. Dayum. 

Oh! There was another scene a few pages back that had me audibly gasp! Holy cannoli batman!

Overall, I did enjoy myself while listening to this. I think I would've liked it more if I did a different format and/or if we have less POVs. I do want to read book 2 because things have HEATED up. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #2

- Library Love #3

Book Review: Wild Scottish Knight by Tricia O'Malley

Author: Tricia O'Malley

Title: Wild Scottish Knight

Series: The Enchanted Highlands #1

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

Format: ebook

Pages: 316

Published: April 4, 2023

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

Opposites attract in this modern-day fairytale when American, Sophie MacKnight, inherits a Scottish castle along with a hot grumpy Scotsman who is tasked with training her to be a magickal knight before the Kelpies wreak havoc on the people of Loren Brae.

The knight was supposed to be a man.

Not me, Sophie MacKnight, a marketing associate from California.

This must be a practical joke that the Scots play on visiting Americans. Because otherwise I’ve inherited a haunted castle in Scotland, along with one irritatingly sexy Scotsman, who would be delighted if I turned tail and ran.

Frankly, I thought I would fly here, sell the heap of bricks, and head back home to a life that I…well, I was comfortable with at the very least. Instead, the people of Loren Brae are in trouble, and it appears that as the new owner of the castle, I’m next in line to reinstate the magickal Order of Caledonia. Which means, first, I have to learn to believe in magick. And secondly, I have to train to become a knight.

And my trainer? None other than Lachlan Campbell, the grumpiest man I’ve ever had the annoyance of meeting. It’s a toss-up who is pricklier, Lachlan, or his kilted Chihuahua, Sir Buster. Not only does Lachlan think that I can’t hack it, but he also resents my claim on his castle.

If only he didn’t look so devastatingly hot in his kilt.

Now, I’m stuck proving myself to him, all while trying to figure out how to help my new friends in Loren Brae.

Sparks fly as our swords meet, and we battle our rising attraction for each other.

Who will win in this (Highland) game of love?

Review:

I adore this author, so I had to check this one out. 

Sophie has inherited a Scottish castle from her beloved uncle. When she arrives, there is alot more than just having a castle to renovate....there are Kelpies out to destroy the village, she is a Knight, she has to learn magic, there are ghosts, and there is a grumpy man who doesn't seem to want her there. 

This was a hoot. I had a lot of fun with our characters and the situation. Poor Sophie. That is a lot to take on, but she needed this adventure. She was stuck in a life she didn't truly want. 

This was def a "light" fantasy, and I appreciated that. I didn't want to get too deep into the weeds of the magical world. Sure, there are real threats and some fights and dramatic moments, but it was cozy in a way. 

One thing that annoyed me was that I struggled with the chemistry between these two until near the end. Maybe he was too grumpy? I loveeeee grumpy, but maybe he was just too closed off for me to buy it. Maybe they were slightly overshadowed because of the chemistry between two side characters. Their banter was on fire. Can we see them finally fall in love? IDK. I just didn't really feel their chemistry at first. 

Other than that, I had a lot of fun with this story. This felt more like a fantasy chick lit tbh. 

4 stars. 

Audiobook Review: Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce

Author: Kristy Boyce

Narrator: Abigail Reno
Title: Dating and Dragons

Series: Gaming and Romance #2

Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook
Published: December 31, 2024
Where I Got It: My shelf (gift)

Summary: 

Quinn Norton is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D&D game will be the trick to making friends. The plan sounds even better when she’s invited into a group that includes Logan Weber, the cute and charming guy she met on her first day of class. But this isn’t your average D&D campaign— this group livestreams their games and enforces strict rules: no phones allowed, and no dating other group members.

Quinn is willing to accept the rules, even if it makes Logan off-limits. And she quickly learns that doing so won’t be a problem, since Logan goes from charismatic to insufferable as soon as she agrees to join. As their bickering—and bantering—intensifies inside and outside the game, Quinn can’t help wondering: Is Logan’s infuriating behavior a smokescreen for hidden feelings? Quinn is risking it all, and the twenty-sided dice are rolling!

Review:

I was given this as a giftie because I had really loved book 1. It was so fun.

Here we have Quinn and Logan. Quinn is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D&D game will be the trick to starting this new life with new friends. This sounds like a perfect plan when she notices that Logan is part of the group. He was nothing but smiles and kindness on her first day. This group has special and strict rules since they live stream their sessions: no phones and no dating other group members. She quickly learns the no-dating rule won't be a problem since Logan went from charming to insufferable as soon as he finds out she is joining the group. As their bickering and bantering intensify, Quinn can't help but wonder....is Logan's jerk behavior a smokescreen to hidden feelings? Would it be worth Quinn finding out?

This can be read as a standalone. This doesn't really tie into the other book. Different group and different school. There are some cameos, but you can read this one without the other one. Bummer, but oh well. 

This was very sweet, and I loved everyone. I especially loved Quinn's granny. She was hilarious and fun! She had me in stitches. I want to be her when I grow up!!!!!

Quinn was sweet. The girl needs some therapy, though. Her last group of friends was TOXIC with a capital T. 

Logan, once you see past the asshole-ness, is very sweet as well. Very charming. No wonder he plays a bard so well. 

There were a couple of little plot "twists" that were added. Sure, I get WHY...drama baby, drama...but it just bogged down the story a bit for my liking. I do not think it was necessary to add more fuel to the angst and pining for these two. Gah. Poor Quinn.

The narrator did a good job. All her teen boy voices were very similar, so you really have to focus and listen. But other than that - I liked her. She did well. 

In the end, I enjoyed this a lot. A nice new group of teens finding love in D&D and finding love at the table. The "live streaming" was a nice element. I hope we see them in the next book. Even a cameo would be nice. 

4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #1

Book Review: The Christmas Stocking by Fern Michaels

Author: Fern Michaels

Title: The Christmas Stocking

Genre: Chick Lit, Short story, Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 85

Published: October 27, 2020

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Amy Baran is determined to raise money for a new seniors’ center by harvesting Christmas trees from the small-town Virginia farm she remembers from her childhood. Trouble is, Gus Moss has his own ideas about saving the farm his father has neglected. Neither wants to give up, but when attraction turns to romance, they just might have to give in . . .

Review:

Whoops. Meant to type this review a couple of days ago....whoopsies. We'll see how much I remember. 

A nice short story set during Christmas. Amy is determined to raise money for a new seniors' center. She wants to do this by harvesting Christmas trees from the small-town Virginia farm from her childhood. Trouble walks in when Gus has his own ideas about saving the farm. It belongs to his family, and his father has neglected it. Neither wants to give up, but something is brewing in the air between them. 

Honestly...I started this before the New Year and right before Christmas, but it fell away, and I forgot about it. And then I got the reminder that the book was due back soon. Eeek. Thank goodness this is a short story!

This was entertaining enough. I like this author, so I thought this would be lovely for the holidays. However, the story and characters felt...overplayed. Maybe I read too many Xmas books lately. Maybe the author just needs more time with the story and the characters to flesh it out a bit? Maybe I am a Grinch with the holidays being over?

So yeaaaaaa....eh. Not bad by any means, it just felt boring. Nothing took me by surprise. 

2 stars from me. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #1 

Book Review: The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

Author: Sara Raasch

Title: The Nightmare Before Kissmass

Series: Royals and Romance #1

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, LGBT

Format: ebook

Pages: 357

Published: October 8, 2024

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Nicholas “Coal” Claus used to love Christmas. Until his father, the reigning Santa, turned the holiday into a PR façade. Coal will do anything to escape the spectacle, including getting tangled in a drunken, supremely hot make- out session with a beautiful man behind a seedy bar one night.

But the heir to Christmas is soon commanded to do his duty: he will marry his best friend, Iris, the Easter Princess and his brother’s not-so-secret crush. A situation that has disaster written all over it.

Things go from bad to worse when a rival arrives to challenge Coal for the princess’s hand…and Coal comes face-to-face with his mysterious behind-the-bar hottie: Hex, the Prince of Halloween.

It’s a fake competition between two holiday princes who can’t keep their hands off each other over a marriage of convenience that no one wants. And it all leads to one of the sweetest, sexiest, messiest, most delightfully unforgettable love stories of the year.

Review:

I was scrolling through some Halloween books on my Libby app and then I stopped dead when I came across this one. I knew I HAD to read it!! 

Coal used to love Christmas until Santa, his dad, turned it into a PR facade. He wants to escape it and avoid even, but he is the heir to Christmas. However, duty calls and now duty is making him marry his best friend and the love of his brother's life....the Easter Princess. Things get even worse when a rival arrives to challenge Coal for the princess' hand.......the prince of Halloween, Hex. Funnily enough this is the same mystery man that kissed him years ago at some seedy bar. This fake competition between the two holiday princes will lead to a messy, but sexy holiday season. 

This was really amusing. I had a good time following Coal around. He is a hot mess but a hot mess with a big heart. Hex was dark and smexy.

This concept was a lot of fun and I loved how holidays are pretty much like countries. So refreshing and different!!

I enjoyed every bit of this story, but I really cringed at the text exchanges. They were aiming to be funny and modern, but it didn't vibe with me for some reason. Super awkward attempt at humor for me. 

Other than the texting threads, I had a lot of fun. I loved watching the fake engagement competition. I loved the princess. I loved Kris. So fun.

Minus the cringey texts, I would 100% recommend this. It was entertaining and you can't help but root for this adorable couple. 

4 stars from me. 

 Challenge(s):

- Library Love #29

- Romance Reading #22 (MC is a royal)