Today I want to talk about a book I was always interested in, but for some reason it was never the right time to give it a shot. I guess the right time came and guys, the book was sooooooooo good.
Birthday Girl was first published on April 15th 2018 and it has 349 pages.
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS /
He took me in when I had nowhere else to go. He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.
I have to stop this. It can’t happen.
Review:
I had a feeling I would like this book, and I was right. In a matter of fact, this was even better than I expected it to be.
With all the drama surrounding this taboo main theme of the book, with all the characters and their connection it could be compared to Turkish drama (those are pretty popular in my country).
The small town setting gave even more quality. Every character had a sole and purpose. Everyone contributed to the story.
They all were developed pretty well, especially our main character Jordan. It makes so much sense why she fell for older guy, as she grew up in a household which was anything but healthy. With her drunk father and mother who left her, she didn’t have a chance to learn what a healthy family looks like, and there came mummy and daddy issues. It also make sense why she chose violent guys before or why she hang on to a thing that didn’t have a future, as she didn’t have anything else to hang on to.
We could discuss the morality of the story and how Pike wasn’t a good father, even though he and the author herself claimed otherwise. There is no way in the world his choice wouldn’t leave a mark on his son.
Anyway, the story, with all it’s complexity was well done and wrapped up the best way possible.
Today I bring you my review for the third book in the series that I am slowly, but surely getting through. I love this small time romance and although every book can be read as standalone, I think the best reading experience is to read it in order.
Powerless was released on February 10th 2023 and it has 396 pages.
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS /
Two childhood friends. Two broken hearts. One impromptu road trip to get away from everything. That’s all this was supposed to be. Afterall, I’ve been living in the friend zone for years now.
But hockey heartthrob Jasper Gervais isn’t looking at me like a friend anymore. And he isn’t touching me like one either.
To his fans, he’s the handsome, talented athlete on TV. But to me he’s still the lost boy with sad eyes and a heart of gold.
The man I’ve loved in secret for years.
So when my life falls apart on my wedding day, it only makes sense that he’s the one to swoop in and save me. And when his world comes crashing down around him, I’m there to return the favor.
But the more time we spend alone, the more Jasper doesn’t feel like a friend at all. He feels like everything I’ve ever wanted and thought I could never have.
Our feelings aren’t straight forward though. They twist and turn around the pain of his past and the reality of my present.
Jasper Gervais acts like he wants me.
But after years of turning me away, he’s going to need to prove it.
Review:
This was a good book, a third one from a very good book series, but I had a difficult time to be fully invested into the story, as I couldn’t understand the logic characters from this book were lead by. Therefore, this was my least favorite book in the series.
I didn’t have problem with main characters Sloane and Jasper, but the side characters. Who was the least understandable to me were Sloane’s parents: father who would take her awful ex’ side or her mother who was there but it was like she wasn’t there really. I just couldn’t believe them.
As for the other aspects of the story, I loved the small town all the books take place in. Road trip parts I didn’t enjoy.
Jasper and Sloane’s story is specific and little bit controversial because he got his eyes on her when she was practically illegal, and even though he didn’t act on it, it still felt little uncomfortable to read about it.
Later, when they were older and had beautiful connection, it was hard for me to understand why they didn’t act on their feelings sooner. I mean, I get that this was a forbidden love (even though I still don’t understand why because Jasper is a catch, he is a sportsman and has money), but they were adults.
Anyway, this was a good fill in book and I am looking forward to read the fourth book in the series.
After starting on a not so good foot, in the other half of January me and my girls picked another book to read together, and this time we were even less thrilled. I was excited to read another book by Gillian McAllister as I liked some of her novels in the past, but unfortunately Just Another Missing Person didn’t do it for me. You can read my review bellow.
This novel was first time published on August 1st 2023 and it has 384 pages.
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS /
22-year-old Olivia has been missing for one day…and counting. She was last seen on CCTV, entering a dead-end alley. And not coming back out again.
Julia, the detective heading up the search for Olivia, thinks she knows what to expect. A desperate family, a ticking clock, and long hours away from her husband and daughter. But she has no idea just how close to home this case is going to get.
Because the criminal at the heart of the disappearance has something she never expected. His weapon isn’t a gun, or a knife: it’s a secret. Her worst one. And her family’s safety depends on one thing: Julia must NOT find out what happened to Olivia – and must frame somebody else for her murder.
If you find her, you will lose everything. What would you do?
This clever and endlessly surprising thriller is laced with a smart look at family and motherhood, and cements Gillian McAllister as a major talent in the world of suspense and a master of creating ethical dilemmas that show just how murky the distinction between right and wrong can be.
Review:
This was a book club pick for January. I was excited to read this author again, as I previously loved her other two books, and because in the meantime her career skyrocketed (or so it seems to me).
Unfortunately, reading Just Another Missing Person was not a good choice by me and my friends. Out of five of us, only three of us managed to finish it, and not one of us gave it a rating higher than 2. So I think in this case it’s a book, not us.
The biggest turn down was the way it was written. Some chapters were written in third person, some in second, with so many characters that it was hard to get into the book. I couldn’t connect to anyone really, but I didn’t have trouble to judge that mum who threw her son to the wolves and I am still not sure if she was even aware of that. Since that was the only case when I felt at least something, I will hang on it if anyone ask me how I feel about this book.
Also, I have to mention that the father of a missing girl sounded like a creep and gave me chills. It was like reading from perspective of an adult who is romantically in love with his daughter.
I couldn’t care about the missing girl as the author didn’t do anything to make us connect with her. The only character I can say I was intrigued about was that young guy who dated the missing girl.
Unfortunately, this was a big let down for me and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
I made a mistake for not picking up Wrong Place, Wrong Time instead, but now, after finishing Just Another Missing Person, I lost the will to give it a try.
As you probably already know, I am a member of a book club where four of us girls (plus from February one guy as a new member) pick a book or two and read it together, while discuss it all along as we read. 2024 didn’t start on a good note, as both books we read in January weren’t that good.
Today I bring you my review for a book that got lot of hype at one point in 2023. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of it, but at least my FOMO was cured.
The Last Word was published on April 25th 2023 and it has 340 pages.
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS /
After posting a negative book review, a woman living in a remote location begins to wonder if the author is a little touchy—or very, very dangerous—in this pulse-pounding novel of psychological suspense and terror from the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and Hairpin Bridge.
Emma Carpenter lives in isolation with her golden retriever Laika, house-sitting an old beachfront home on the rainy Washington coast. Her only human contact is her enigmatic old neighbor, Deek, and (via text) the house’s owner, Jules.
One day, she reads a poorly written—but gruesome—horror novel by the author H. G. Kane, and posts a one-star review that drags her into an online argument with none other than the author himself. Soon after, disturbing incidents start to occur at night. To Emma, this can’t just be a coincidence. It was strange enough for this author to bicker with her online about a lousy review; could he be stalking her, too?
As Emma digs into Kane’s life and work, she learns he has published sixteen other novels, all similarly sadistic tales of stalking and murder. But who is he? How did he find her? And what else is he capable of?
Review:
This was a January pick for our book club and unfortunately 2024 didn’t start well. The Last Word was a mess, and the book we read after this one was even worse.
I would like to say that this novel started promising. The writing style was good, slow but interesting, and it was easy for me to connect with Emma. She was a loner, clearly suffering with depression after a tragic event in her life. I could understand why she chose solitude and comfort in this new, boring way of living (if you can call it that).
However, with part 2 being written in a different way, all the connection I had for the story and our MC slowly but surely fell down the drain.
It’s not even about the choices Emma made, it was mainly the writing style. All of the sudden beautiful prose was replaced with harsh storytelling, with more action that in Terminator movies. At one point so much was going on that it made puree in my brain, it was too much to handle. Especially as I didn’t enjoy the story anyway, nor did I like the characters enough.
The closer to the end we were, my connection to the story was less and less there, until it faded completely.
The last few chapters were pure torture and I couldn’t wait to be done with it and move on. The only reason I decided to finish The Last Word is because my FOMO activated, just like it does every time I take part in buddy reads.
If anyone asks me, this book got more hype then it deserved.
My book review for a holiday romance Snowed In by Catherine Walsh.
After the longest pause from blogging, with new year I decided to apply new rules on my little corner of the internet, so I am posting reviews of books I read one moth after I finished the. In other words, books I read in January will be live in Fabruary. Also, posts will be scheduled for days that are part of the weekend. That way, I won’t stress myself and now when I finally found the way to love the reading the way I did before I started reviewing books, I think I found the way to bring you my reviews in a way that won’t put the pressure on me. Also, I decided to read only book I want to read in a moment (in other words, I don’t receive review copies anymore).
It is my pleasure to open the season with a book I loved the most this festive season (I didn’t have much luck or will this year when it comes to holidays…
Snowed In was published on November 1st 2023 and it has 384 pages. It is the second book in the series called Fitzpatrick Christmas.
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS /
Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the village pariah, the she-devil who left local golden boy Isaac at the altar four years ago and ran away to the big city. She could really do without the drama. Particularly as he’s engaged again, and she’s just been dumped for the fourth time this year.
Christian’s fed up of being on his own every Christmas. He doesn’t mind being alone , but he hates his family’s sad eyes and soft tones as they sit around coupled up. Because he’s actually, totally, fine.
So when Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season. They’re going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever .
Rules are drawn up, a contract is signed on a wine-stained napkin. They will sit through each other’s family gatherings and be outrageously in love until freed from their annual obligations. After all, it’s only for a few weeks.
But with everyone home for the holidays, two big families to deal with alongside old friends, old flames and old feelings, things are bound to get messy. And when a snowed-in cabin and a little Christmas magic are added to the mix, anything could happen…
A swoonworthy and utterly gorgeous romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud and fall completely in love. Fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella and Abby Jimenez won’t be able to put this down!
Review:
This holiday season some kind of weird reading slump caught me and I only read 3 festive romances of whom I didn’t particularly like any. So basically, maybe the fact that the books I grabbed were more boring than romantic or funny, my mind decided to go for horrors and thrillers (and I have to stress out I read only a few of them too, as I was in some weird reading slump).
However, the last book I decided to read, the book I decided to close this weak festive season with made up for all those dull stories I read before, and I had a blast reading Megan and Christian’s story.
First of all, I immediately clicked with Catherine Walsh’s writing. It was simple, attention grabbing ,easy to fly through and what I appreciate the most, it was fun.
Reading Walsh’s words felt like having a coffee time with my friend, catching up with all the news in her life. It was a loooooong time since I enjoyed the book in such a comfortable way, so it is not a surprise that I finished the novel in only 2 days (in case you didn’t know, I am a slow reader and if I finish a book in 5 days I tap myself on the back congratulating for such a fast job done).
This is the second book in the series and while it can be read as standalone, it also is continuation on the first book, Holiday romance, as we do get updates on Molly and Andrew, who are main characters of that story. Because updates are not just tell and glimpse, but actual part of the plot, I suggest you all to read the books in Fitzpatrick Christmas in order. I didn’t do it, but I will definitely read Holiday Romance soon.
I got attached to these characters, so having another book with them in it makes me happy.
I enjoyed Snowed in, and loved, loved the characters, but the only thing that took me time to accept was how Megan was portrait as some kind of victim when in reality she was the one who ran away from her wedding, embarrassing her then fiance in front of everyone. With time I accepted her reasons, but still I wasn’t a fan how her ex was portrait as a bad guy.
There are some steamy scenes, but only few, which was just the right dose if anyone asks me.
Overall, this was the best holiday romance I read this year. It was like a hot chocolate on a snowy day and I will definitely read the other book in this series.
GIFTED / Today I decided to talk about a book that I have finished recently. It is a historical romance with book-to-lovers and marriage of convenience tropes.
Something in the Heir was published on September 20th 2022 by St. Martin Griffin’s and it has 352 pages. I want to thank publicist Sara from St. Martin Press for inviting me to read and review this book via Netgalley.
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS /
Emmeline and William Pershing have enjoyed a perfectly convenient marriage for eight years. Their relationship is a seamless blend of their talents and goals. They’ve settled into separate, well-ordered lives beneath the same roof, and are content to stay that way—or so Emmeline thinks. And if William has secretly longed for a bit more from the woman he adores, he’s managed to be content with her supreme skills as a hostess and planner, which has helped him advance his career.
Then when Emmeline’s grandfather, the reclusive Duke of Welshire, summons them both for his birthday celebration and demands they bring their two little angelic children, William is stunned to discover that his very proper wife invented not one, but two heirs to fulfill the agreement for living at Winnover. But surely if Emmeline and William team up and borrow two cherubs to call their own, what could go wrong? Enter George, age 8, and Rose, 5—the two most unruly orphans in Britain.
As the insanity unfolds, their careful, professional arrangement takes some surprisingly intimate turns as well. Perhaps it takes a bit of madness to create the perfect happily ever after.
Review:
Not long after I readNever Rescue a Rogue by Virginia HeathI found myself craving for more historical romance (and that crave is still active) so Something in the Heir came to my life in just about the right time.
Suzanne Enoch is pretty popular in my country and now when I finished her book I can see why. Her writing style is witty and I can imagine myself grabbing her work when I need something to make me feel better.
However, although I enjoyed author’s writing style, the story she created this time around didn’t win my heart. I did enjoy it to some degree, but I signed up for a romance, and in reality I got a family comedy with somewhat shallow protagonists.
The story has tropes that are popular in romance books: marriage of convenience and friends-to-lovers, but the reason I simply reject to call this a romance are children who took the spot from main characters, their chemistry and everything in between.
This story was more about orphan children coming to lives of our two main characters (for a reason that can put a bad taste in readers mouths I am sure) and them winning the hearts of said protagonists than about Emma and Will‘s path to find love with each other. I mean, there was not even one scene where the reader would witness the chemistry between them or root for them. It was all predictable in a way, which I don’t mind, but I wish I was swept away by at least one or two moments of love in this story.
So overall, this book was fun but it read like historical fiction because it lacked when it comes to romance.
Today I bring you my review for a book I read with my girls in our book club. We all expected thriller and were left little disappointed. Still, it was a good reading experience. After all, the joy of book clubs is in the discussions and other talks that come out inspired by the happenings from the books.
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS /
he best of friends keep the deadliest secrets…
Jo is my best friend. From high school to adulthood, we’ve gone through everything together. Even when I made a foolish mistake and betrayed her in the worst way, she forgave me. She’s godmother to my son and our lives are intertwined. We want the best for each other, always.
I hope she approves of my new boyfriend Noah. How could she not? Noah is kind, attentive and loves me for who I am. But when I introduce them over dinner one evening, Jo doesn’t look happy. She’s always been protective of me and as Noah clutches my hand, I force her reaction to the back of my mind.
But later Jo tells me that someone is threatening her and she fears for her life. And all too soon, the threats land at my door too. At first it’s small things: my precious roses destroyed, my mail sabotaged. But when I receive a note saying, “I want your life,” I’m terrified.
Someone wants to cause me harm. They’re prepared to take everything I love. But are they closer to me than I could have ever imagined?
Review:
This was October pick in our book club and the five of us were looking forward to read it. In the end, only three of us managed to finish it, which speaks on it’s own.
By the synopsis, we expected a thriller when in reality we got women’s fiction going all out of it’s way to kookoo land by the end, with thriller aspects at the very epiloque. Just like my friend Ani stated, if nothing, it read like villain original story or however you call that genre.
The book was written in first person following two friends’ perspectives: Abi‘s and Jo‘s.
This novel had interesting but also awful set of characters, where all the people were toxic to each other and for some reason kept staying together. They reminded me why my policy is “no friends are better than fake friends”.🙃 The only somewhat normal character was Abi’s son Rob, but the author managed to ruin him too with some of his comments (also, he was gone for most part of the story).
Abi was my least favourite of them all. She was spoiled to death and didn’t even realized her actions and Jo I liked until the very end when the author decided to kill all of her potential and ruin her completely.
I wish Nicola Marsh didn’t decide to jump on that “thrillers are popular” train and wrote coming of age end for Jo.
As for the writing, it was good and it was very similar to Jane Fallon’s. My friend Amanda and I agree: it felt like we were reading Fallon’s work.
Overall, it was a good book to pass time and I am glad I read it along with my friends because that way I enjoyed it more then I would if I was reading it on my own.
Yesterday I decided to have a movie night on my own and watch a horror (because that is how I usually prefer to watch horrors: alone and in the dark). Hellhole was the one suggesed to me because it was new on Netflix, and when I saw it was European (Polish, to be precise) I knew I wanted to give it a try.
I don’t think there is much to say about this film. It was definitely worth of time. It wasn’t anything mindblowing, but it was good. At times it felt like I was watching a drama, but then again, with all the paranormal things going on, it was definitely horror.
I liked how it took a different look on sanatory and overall it was a good, short movie to pass time. I liked it and although I think the end was a bit dry, I still enjoyed it.
GIFTED / Today I bring you my review for a book that I have read twice already. Once before it was released, and second time recently (read: this summer). I enjoyed it both times which is not surprise since Kasie West is one of my all time favourite authors.
Sunkissed was published on May 4th 2021 by Delacorte Press and it has 304 pages. I want to say thank you to Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS /
Avery has always used music as an escape. But after her best friend betrays her, even her perfectly curated playlists can’t help her forget what happened. To make matters worse, her parents have dragged her and her social-media-obsessed sister to a remote family camp for two months of “fun.” Just when Avery is ready to give up on the summer altogether, she meets Brooks—mysterious, frustratingly charming Brooks—who just happens to be on staff—which means he’s off-limits.
What starts as a disaster turns into . . . something else. As the outside world falls away, Avery embarks on a journey of self-discovery. And when Brooks offers her the chance of a lifetime, she must figure out how far is she willing to go to find out what she wants and who she wants to be.
Review:
Kasie West is my go to author when it comes to ya contemporaries. For years she’s been my favourite and by now I know with her books I can’t go wrong.
Sunkissed was entertaining, fun, fluffy at times and perfect pick to spend a relaxing day with. I read it twice and enjoyed it both times.
The book was written in first person which made it so easy to flew through. Avery was a good narrator to follow and I have to say, she has good sense of humour. You know who has even better sense of humour? Her sister. I enjoyed conversations between them and liked their relationship even more than Avery’s and Brooks (who is the love interest).
If you like music and happen to like music making, this story could be the one for you because it features the band and all the things that go along with it: writing, rehearsals, member fights, live gigs…
I wish we got to see more of family camp Avery visited with her family, and if the author decided to include at least one or two camp visitors as well, but overall it was a good book that I would recommend to ya contemporary summer reads.
GIFTED / Today I bring you my review for a book that I have read some time ago. It is part of the series and my suggestion is to read Waiting for Tom Hanks first. I enjoyed reading Not LIke the Movies so I hope my review will give it some spotlight so more people would give it a chance.
Not Like the Movies was published on July 7th 2020 by Berkley and it has 320 pages. I want to say thank you to Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS /
Chloe Sanderson is an optimist, and not because her life is easy. As the sole caregiver for her father, who has early onset Alzheimer’s, she’s pretty much responsible for everything. She has no time—or interest—in getting swept up in some dazzling romance. Not like her best friend Annie, who literally wrote a rom-com that’s about to premiere in theaters across America…and happens to be inspired by Chloe and Nick Velez, Chloe’s cute but no-nonsense boss.
As the buzz for the movie grows, Chloe reads one too many listicles about why Nick is the perfect man, and now she can’t see him as anything but Reason #2: The Scruffy-Bearded Hunk Who’s Always There When You Need Him. But unlike the romance Annie has written for them, Chloe isn’t so sure her own story will end in a Happily Ever After.
Review:
I got into Not Like the Movie without knowing it was a part of the series. How foolish of me for not doing my research. When it comes to romance genre, with every book following different main characters, they can usually all be read as standalones. This one can also be considered as easy to understand on it’s own, to some point, but since main characters from the first book appear more then few times, and it is constantly mentioned what happened in that story, bringing and creating problems for characters in this, second novel, I would suggest to read the first book first. I felt like I was missing out and it kind of ruined my reading experience.
The story follows a woman who has hots for her boss. And while I usually like that trope (or the idea of it because I haven’t read many books following it) in this novel Chloe acted too unprofessional to me with her constant comments but then when Nick would try something she would be all like “Oh no, we can’t. Bla bla bla, but you still have cute but and strong muscles and also, you smell like an old hot grampa”. Yes, I know. I guess this is also age gap romance because Chloe had some comments about Nick being old, but it was never stated how old was he.
I didn’t like all the drama and characters finding excuses not to be with each other just so we can rute for them to finally get together.
Chloe’s relationahip with her bestie was also strange and it didn’t sound too healthy.
I could relate to Chloe who took care of her dementing father and having to deal with her absent brother. Their relationship with their mother was so complicated and I totally understand how it would scar them both.
The writing style was solid and the book reads quikly.
I would recommend Not Like the Movie but I would also advice to start with Waiting on Tom Hanks first.
Book Dust Magic 