TMST: Three Words

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

3/5/24: Describe yourself in three words

JUST THREE WORDS? I don't know................

mmmmmmm................

- Thoughtful

- Imaginative

- Awkward 

B's Monday Review: The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Narrated by: Brian Nishii, Natalie Naudus

Series: The Kiss Quotient Series, Book 3

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Release date: 09-02-21

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Fiction romance /storytel.fi

This was not a contemporary romance. Yes there is romance, but also so much more and with a focus on Anna falling into darkness.

Anna fell apart after a viral video and she feels like she cant play the violin anymore. Then her boyfriend says he wants an open relationship. Her shrink tells her she thinks Anna is on the spectrum. And she just goes all I will have a hook up and that will be it.

But a hook up is not as easy as it sounds. Quan has his own demons after having had surgery. He is starting to fall for Anna and the hook up that never happens. Anna is torn between her failed relationship, her strained relationship with her family and this new budding feeling for Quan who is just so right.

And there is like I said so much more. Anna´s depression, her feelings of having to say yes to everyone and everything. To sacrifice herself for family as something happens. She is falling to pieces and that is there it goes from contemporary romance to something else. Very deep and sad, and with some real issues.

I liked it a lot and I rooted for these two even in the darkest hours. Quan was lovely and I really wanted Anna to put herself first.

Great narration. I am not sure if I have listened to these two before, but they were both good. Each told their POVs well and I liked how it all worked together.

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better. 

That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex - he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself. 

However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family, she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. 

Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

Audiobook Review: The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

Author: Tessa Dare

Narrator: Mary Jane Wells

Title: The Wallflower Wager

Series: Girl Meets Duke #3

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: Audiobook

Published: August 13, 2019

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

They call him the Duke of Ruin.

To an undaunted wallflower, he's just the beast next door.

Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even.

Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart.

When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes.

Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens?

And a two-legged dog.

And a foul-mouthed parrot.

And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . .

Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him.

Review:

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Adorable

More Dare! *fist pump*

He is the Duke of Ruin and she is an undaunted wallflower with a heart of gold. Lady Penelope never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn't take in and smother in love. Gabriel Duke has clawed his way from the bottom and he enjoys destroying those rich when he can. Penelope is tasked by her aunt and Gabriel to clear out and find homes for all of her animals. Gabriel promises to help. How hard can it be? 

This was adorable. Absolutely adorable. 

Penelope is a darling. It made me sad learning what happened to her when she was young!!!!! Sobs!

Gabriel is all gruffy and angry, but all he needs is love and someone to be patient with him. He had a terrible and poor childhood. The coin thing...when he explained....broke my wee heart. 

So many animals!

So many laughs!

So many conversations!

And so much love. I loved watching them go from neighbors...to partners....to friends with lust....then to lovers. They are perfect for each other. He is honest and down-to-earth. She has the heart the size of the world. 

There was little drama...just a spat and what was done was done out of love and misunderstanding. I'm glad it was a simple convo and that made me happy.

The narrator was fantastic. I'm glad it was the same person. She is utterly perfect. I hope she does the last book!

In the end, I really enjoyed this. I loved this couple and watching them fall in love. Another winner for Dare. 5 stars. 

Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #12

- Library Love #8

- Romance Reading Challenge #8 (Audio) 

Best of February

Feb flew by! Here are our bests of last month!

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd -  Nadda this month

"I am not gonna give a best book. Because they were all good, but none of them was better than the rest."

Carole - The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

"Dare is always so much fun. This was extra fun. Loved it so much."

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - A Haunting in Venice (2023)

"Gotta love a good mystery. This was a mystery in everyway. Loved it! I want more of these movies!"

Blodeuedd - The Abyss (2023)

"I watched this one and it worked in places, but all I am saying the Swedes can not bring the emotions the Norwegians can. Pretty boring at times too."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Bluey (s1-s2)

"Pretty sure I finished something, but eh. I watched a lot of Blue, without watching, but at every third watch of an ep. Yeah I know them."

Carole - Brooklyn Nine-Nine

"Decided to re-watch all of this after the actor, Andre Braugher, passed away. He was my favorite on this show so I felt like I needed to re-watch. Such a good show. Def binge-worthy."

Best Cover of the Month:

Carole's pick

Blodeuedd's pick