My Thoughts I somehow missed reading this book earlier this year! It was great to see Helena, Jayden, Colt and all of the key character for one final iMy Thoughts I somehow missed reading this book earlier this year! It was great to see Helena, Jayden, Colt and all of the key character for one final installment. The mystery kept me guessing and I had a few chuckles over Helena's antics. All in all, this made for a fun read! I listened to the audiobook and thought that Johanna Parker did an excellent job with this story.
My Thoughts This was good! I tend to enjoy the fake dating trope so I was pretty excited to read this book and I was not disappointed. Emma and Sean weMy Thoughts This was good! I tend to enjoy the fake dating trope so I was pretty excited to read this book and I was not disappointed. Emma and Sean were great together and I loved getting the chance to check in on characters from previous installments in the series. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a great job with the story.
My Thoughts This is the third piece of the story. I hate that they broke this up into 3 parts, but it is what it is. Panther and Solo are a couple at tMy Thoughts This is the third piece of the story. I hate that they broke this up into 3 parts, but it is what it is. Panther and Solo are a couple at this point, and they are worried about what will happen after graduation. They have a couple of obstacles and some feelings to work through. I listened to the audiobook and thought both narrators did a great job with the story.
My Thoughts I feel like we got to know Panther and Solo much better in this book and I am somewhat invested in their relationship. This trilogy should My Thoughts I feel like we got to know Panther and Solo much better in this book and I am somewhat invested in their relationship. This trilogy should have been issued as one book, but the story seems to take off from here. (pun intended) I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators did a fantastic job with the story.
My Thoughts Nothing earth-shattering here. This was a somewhat entertaining spicy gay Top Gun retelling. The parts of the story that reminded me of theMy Thoughts Nothing earth-shattering here. This was a somewhat entertaining spicy gay Top Gun retelling. The parts of the story that reminded me of the movie were fun. I didn't really feel like we got to know these characters all that well so I wasn't too invested. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators did a great job with the story.
This was fantastic! I might even like Molly better in this installment than I did in thThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! I might even like Molly better in this installment than I did in the first (and I liked her a lot in that book!). I love how much Molly has grown as a character and I was happy to see that things were going well in her life. Well, things are going great until there is another death at the hotel and Molly finds herself in the middle of another investigation.
The mystery in this installment kept me guessing, and I enjoyed the flashbacks to the past that were worked into the story. It was really interesting to me that Molly had a connection to the deceased author even though he didn’t seem to remember. Molly looks at the world a little differently and I thought that some of her insights into this case were very interesting. There were a few things that I was able to figure out but I found the book entertaining overall.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Lauren Ambrose did an amazing job with the story. She did such a great job of bringing Molly and the rest of the cast of characters to life. I found her voice to be very pleasant and thought that she added just the right amount of emotion to her reading. I am certain that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. This is the second book in the Molly the Maid series and I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible since the events from the first book are discussed in this installment. I found this mystery to be delightful and I hope that we see many more stories featuring Molly the maid.
I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Random House Audio....more
Initial Thoughts This was a really interesting read! Annie is a robot designed to be a companion to her owner, Doug. I liked Annie and thought that herInitial Thoughts This was a really interesting read! Annie is a robot designed to be a companion to her owner, Doug. I liked Annie and thought that her point of view was an interesting one. Doug was not always as likable as Annie. As Annie grows and learns, the way that she sees the world changes which raises some important questions. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a great job with this story.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon....more
This was so much fun! I am a reader who is always looking for something a little differThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was so much fun! I am a reader who is always looking for something a little different that doesn’t fit nicely into a single genre. As soon as I heard that this was a serial killer rom-com, I knew that I needed to read it. It was gory, sexy, laugh-out-loud funny, and rather romantic. All the things that I love. Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t get it out of my head until I had reached the end.
I liked Sloane and Rowan and thought that they were perfect for each other. They were both killers and seemed to understand each other. Plus they were able to enjoy their hobby and even made it into a game that they play once a year. Some scenes are pretty intense so this may not be the right choice for every reader but I loved the way that the author was able to weave humor into the story along with the gory bits. The chemistry between the pair was incredibly well done and I wanted to see them work things out.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Joe Arden and Lucy Rivers took the story to the next level. They were able to bring Sloane and Rowan to life through their narration. I loved the slight accent that Joe Arden used for Rowan’s character. I thought that the narrators’ voices complimented each other very nicely and I had no problem listening to this book for hours at a time. Their performances added a lot to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I found it to be a really well-done and rather unique story. I found myself rooting for this pair of killers and I loved that there were some pretty big surprises worked into the story. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book in this trilogy!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Zando....more
This was wonderful! I am about the same age as the characters in this book, so I loved This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was wonderful! I am about the same age as the characters in this book, so I loved taking a peek back at the not-so-distant past. I have fond memories of life before everyone was tethered to a cell phone and enjoyed reading a romance set in the same period when I was young and going on dates myself. I found this story to be incredibly entertaining and had a very hard time putting it down once I got started with it.
Luke, a former child star, has come to town to work as a producing director on a television show. He does not drive anymore and wants to relearn the skill. Dani is certain that she does not want children after helping to care for her numerous siblings growing up. She cannot find a doctor willing to perform a tubal ligation because she is young and unmarried. The pair decide to help each other get what they want and grow closer than they expected in the process. I liked Luke and Dani and thought they were perfect together. The chemistry between them was incredibly well written and I loved how they were able to help each other through a few things.
I listened to the audiobook and thought Alastair Haynesbridge and Amy McFadden did a great job with this story. I found both of their voices to be very pleasant and thought that they complimented each other’s voices very well. I enjoyed the fact that both narrators were able to bring a lot of emotion to their reading which helped to bring the story to life. I had no problem listening to this audiobook for hours at a time and am certain that their performance added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to others. This is the third book in the Carolina Classics series but works perfectly well as a stand-alone. I had a great time getting to know this pair of characters and couldn’t wait to see them find their happily ever after. I am a fan of Karen Grey’s writing and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from the author....more
I really wanted to love this book, but it was just kind of okay for me. I decided to giThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really wanted to love this book, but it was just kind of okay for me. I decided to give it a try after seeing quite a few positive reviews and the fact that it has been named Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year and Amazon’s Best Book of 2023. I saw the book described as a murder mystery and I expected a murder mystery. It would be a stretch to call this book any kind of mystery so my expectations were a bit off.
The story is very well-written. The bulk of the book is set in a small area of Pennsylvania called Chicken Hill during the 1930’s. This area is home to a quirky cast of Black and Jewish residents. Throughout this novel, we meet many characters and learn their backstory. It was interesting to see how interconnected this community was. I liked some characters more than others but I found something interesting in each of their stories.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Dominic Hoffman did a fabulous job with this story. I believe that this is the first time that I have had a chance to listen to this narrator’s work and I was very impressed. He handled the vast cast of characters quite well which helped maintain my interest. I am certain that his performance is a big reason why I liked this book as much as I did, and I hate to admit that I am not sure that I would have finished without his narration.
This book is going to work a lot better for many readers than it did for me. I spent most of the book waiting for someone to die so we could explain the bones found at the very beginning. Unfortunatly, the author doesn’t circle back to those bones until the very end of the story and by then I didn’t care anymore.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Riverhead Books and Penguin Random House Audio....more
Initial Thoughts This was another great installment! Eve is on the case of a murdered cop. She doesn't know the victim personally but it still has an iInitial Thoughts This was another great installment! Eve is on the case of a murdered cop. She doesn't know the victim personally but it still has an impact because of the brutality of the death. She is determined to get to the bottom of things and gets a little bit of help from Roark, Peabody, and McNab. I love that this mystery kept me guessing until the end. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a great job with the story once again.
Initial Thoughts So what started out as a novella, ended up being a 20+ hour audiobook. I don't believe that any contemporary romance needs to be this Initial Thoughts So what started out as a novella, ended up being a 20+ hour audiobook. I don't believe that any contemporary romance needs to be this long. Just saying. The novella was a steamy MF story which led into something that felt very different. This MMFM tale is very spicy. I liked some characters more than others and by the time I reached the end, I felt like I had been on quite the journey. I thought that the narrators did a very good job with the story.
Initial Thoughts This novella had a lot going for it. It was sexy with characters that were easy to like. I thought that the chemistry between the charInitial Thoughts This novella had a lot going for it. It was sexy with characters that were easy to like. I thought that the chemistry between the character was off the charts. The audiobook narration took everything to the next level. My only complaint is that I didn't feel like there was any closure. I did seek out the next book in the series to find out the rest of the story. I had been looking for a short romance and ended up with over 20 hours of listening to get the complete story.
Initial Thoughts This was great! I cannot believe that this series is almost over. It seems like there is so much for Charley and her friends to wrap uInitial Thoughts This was great! I cannot believe that this series is almost over. It seems like there is so much for Charley and her friends to wrap up. Things between Charley and Reyes are tense in this installment and I had no idea what might happen next. I love that this series has kept me guessing and still surprises me 12 books in. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a great job with the story.
I enjoyed this one! The book started rather slow for me but after a few chapters thingsThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this one! The book started rather slow for me but after a few chapters things picked up. I liked Harrow and Raith. Their instant connection felt very real and I couldn’t wait to see how things would develop. This book was a bit spicer than I expected, which wasn’t a bad thing, just unexpected. Overall, I found this to be an entertaining read.
Harrow has spent the last 50 years telling fortunes with the traveling circus, keeping the fact that she is the world’s last Seer a secret. When she sees Raith, she is drawn to him and knows that they need to leave the circus to keep him safe. Raith has no memories of his past but he feels the connection to Harrow and wants to keep her safe. There were a few twists and turns that I could guess pretty early on but that didn’t impact my enjoyment.
I thought that the chemistry between Harrow and Raith was well done. They both felt a connection to each other and I thought that it felt very real. They both go through a lot in this book and I liked that we get quite a bit of excitement before the story wraps up. I thought it was interesting to learn more about each character’s past as we worked our way through this story.
I would recommend this book to others. It wasn’t a perfect story but I found it to be a lot of fun in the end. I liked a few of the secondary characters quite a bit and hope we see more of them in future installments in this series.
I received a review copy of this book from Red Tower Books....more
This was fabulous! I have loved everything that I have read from this author so far so This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fabulous! I have loved everything that I have read from this author so far so I went into this book with some pretty high expectations and I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. The writing was gorgeous and the characters were very likable. The story hooked me quickly and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Effy and Preston.
Effy is a first-year architecture student. She would love to study literature instead but women are not allowed in the program. When she sees the chance to possibly work on designing the home her favorite author’s home she jumps at the chance. Once she arrives, she finds the home is in further disrepair than she imagined and there is another student doing work in the home. Preston is there as a literature student. As they look into things, they discover that they have even more questions than they thought.
I loved the characters in this book. It was obvious early on that Effy had an interesting history and I loved the way that the author gave us that background a little at a time throughout the story. Effy and Preston were a great match and I enjoyed watching them connect over the course of the story. The dark gothic setting was so well-developed that it almost came alive on the page.
I paired the audiobook with a digital copy and thought that Saskia Maarlevald did a phenomenal job with the narration. I have been a fan of her narration work in the past so I was excited to see that she was reading this story. She did a wonderful job with the various character voices which helped to bring the story to life. I am certain that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story. Overall, I thought that this was a wonderful book that will be going on my keeper shelf and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Harper Teen.
This was fabulous! I have loved everything that I have read from this author so far so I went into this book with some pretty high expectations and I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. The writing was gorgeous and the characters were very likable. The story hooked me quickly and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Effy and Preston.
Effy is a first-year architecture student. She would love to study literature instead but women are not allowed in the program. When she sees the chance to possibly work on designing the home her favorite author’s home she jumps at the chance. Once she arrives, she finds the home is in further disrepair than she imagined and there is another student doing work in the home. Preston is there as a literature student. As they look into things, they discover that they have even more questions than they thought.
I loved the characters in this book. It was obvious early on that Effy had an interesting history and I loved the way that the author gave us that background a little at a time throughout the story. Effy and Preston were a great match and I enjoyed watching them connect over the course of the story. The dark gothic setting was so well-developed that it almost came alive on the page.
I paired the audiobook with a digital copy and thought that Saskia Maarlevald did a phenomenal job with the narration. I have been a fan of her narration work in the past so I was excited to see that she was reading this story. She did a wonderful job with the various character voices which helped to bring the story to life. I am certain that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story. Overall, I thought that this was a wonderful book that will be going on my keeper shelf and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Harper Teen....more
I loved this book! Garrett Graham was a stand-out character for me in the Off-Campus seThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this book! Garrett Graham was a stand-out character for me in the Off-Campus series so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a book featuring his daughter, Gigi. While this book kicks off the new Campus Diaries series, I had a lot of fun seeing my favorite characters from the Off-Campus series make an appearance in this book. This book would work well as a stand-alone but I think that readers of the other books set in this world may get just a bit more out of the novel.
Gigi and Ryder were fantastic together and I loved the fact that they had hockey in common. Gigi and Ryder were both excellent in the sport and understood each other’s dedication and were able to help one another. I thought that they had wonderful chemistry together and there was enough spice to keep things very interesting. I loved the humor that was worked into the story and found myself laughing out loud more than once while listening to this story which rarely happens.
CJ Bloom and Teddy Hamilton did an amazing job of bringing this story to life. I thought that both of the narrators were able to add just the right amount of emotion to their reading to take the book to the next level. The humor of the story really shined during the performance which added a lot to the experience for me. I loved every moment of this audiobook and found it very hard to set aside. I am certain that the narration added to my overall enjoyment of this delightful novel.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I have realized that I have a soft spot for hockey romances and the humor in this story took my enjoyment to the next level. I cannot wait to read more of this entertaining series!
I really enjoyed this book! This is the third book in the Blood Fae Druid series and I This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really enjoyed this book! This is the third book in the Blood Fae Druid series and I feel like I have been on quite the journey with Lane, her sisters, and Teddy. This is a series that should definitely be read in order since the characters’ growth over the course of the series is important to the plot. This book had all of the action and excitement that I have come to expect from this entertaining series.
This book opens with a bang when Lane finds herself dealing with a werewolf that appears to have been moonbit. She feels like she needs to get to the bottom of what is really going on. I loved seeing her work with her grandfather and it was fun to see her making a few new connections as well. I especially enjoyed the scenes that Lane shared with Teddy. Their relationship is really solid and I loved the way they were able to support one another. The story definitely kept me guessing and there was plenty of excitement along the way.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. This has been a very entertaining series featuring some pretty kick-ass characters that I have grown to love over the series. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work.
I received a review copy of this book from City Owl Press....more
Initial Thoughts Eve and Roarke just can't catch a break! On a night out to go see a play, things go horribly wrong on the stage and Eve is thrown intoInitial Thoughts Eve and Roarke just can't catch a break! On a night out to go see a play, things go horribly wrong on the stage and Eve is thrown into the center of another case. Eve and Roarke witness the murder but who was really responsible? There were a lot of twists and turns as Eve worked through all the leads and learned more about her victim than she probably wanted to. Key characters from the series made an appearance in this installment and Roarke proved to the be perfect once again. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a great job with the story.