Friday 11 August 2023

Bad Luck Charm by Julie Johnson



GWENDOLYN GOODE LIVES A CHARMED LIFE.

As owner of an occult shop in downtown Salem, Massachusetts she’s accustomed to all things odd and otherworldly. But when a bloody animal sacrifice is left as a warning outside her place of business, the police seem to think Gwen might be the target of some truly evil-doers. Suddenly, her sunny existence is riddled with danger in the form of crazed pagans, rogue employees, and nefarious henchmen. And there’s only one man who can protect her until the storm passes...

GRAHAM GRAVES HAS NO TIME FOR WITCHY NONSENSE.

Not in his love life, and definitely not in his line of work. Despite the ever-present oddities of his hometown, the private investigator and acclaimed police consultant prides himself on staying objective in every case that comes across his desk. That all changes when Gwendolyn — a woman who gets under his skin like no other — finds herself in the crosshairs of dangerous criminals. Graham is determined to make her safe, even if her presence tests his steely resolve. But as their mutual dislike sizzles into unexpected attraction… he becomes even more determined to make her something else:

HIS.



3.5/5 Stars

Bad Luck Charm is a quirky romantic suspense / mystery set against a magical backdrop that left me confused as to whether or not magic is supposed to actually be real in this world or not... Either way, one thing is for sure, if magic is actually a thing in this world, Gwen doesn't possess it. What she DOES possess, however, is her grandmother's witchy shop in Salem alongside super savvy business acumen which (when combined with her sass) was enough for me to like her.

The whole book focuses around a series of weird ritualistic sacrifices which puts Gwen at the top of the intended victim list and throws her into the protective clutches of her childhood crush turned adulthood "enemy" Graham.

The push/pull between Gwen and Graham was initially delicious (how Gwen didn't know the snark between them was foreplay, I'll never know!) but it went on for so long that it got exhausting before they finally got it together... And just when you think all is good on that front Gwen is a pain in the ass again. But! Once together *together* there is no third act break up which was great as I really wouldn't have survived anymore drama/acrimony between those two...

The story was engaging but it would have read a lot better had it not been quite so long! 500 odd pages was a bit excessive considering a lot of it was relationship drama (that I've already mentioned was exhausting) and the story really wasn't that complex. That said, I didn't work out who the killer was until embarrassingly late in the story so that was genuinely fun!

I absolutely loved the setting, the witchy vibes, the history, Salem... Johnson really brought the environment to life... Plus, Graham gave me serious Henry Cavill vibes from his description and the supporting characters were interesting enough that I'm up for reading the next book in this series.

All in all, a good addition to the spooky season reading list, I'd say!


❓ 
I know it's only August but I don't care... Who is getting excited for autumn/spooky season already?!

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Monday 31 July 2023

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez



A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match.

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.



This is one of three Abby Jimenez books I own and despite some niggles I'm ready to jump straight into another one!

Yours Truly captured my attention and held it from the first chapter to the last. A full day reading binge and I regret nothing.

Jacob and Briana were awesome together! They get off to such a rocky start full of misunderstandings but then the letters start and you just fall in love with them together...

I loved the banter, the getting to know you elements, and the hospital setting.

The first half was awesome and definitely heading towards a sparkly 5 stars from me... Then the second half hit and Briana's issues started to irritate me. The angst, stress and annoyance caused by the lack of communication (mostly on Briana's side but not exclusively) drove me demented... And just when I thought that the worst was over, and she was going to stop torturing the sweet gorgeous cinnamon roll that is Jacob, Briana lost her fckn mind! Like... what the actual hell?! 😣 I almost hurled the kindle across the room. (Vague, I know, but... spoilers.)

I understand the trauma she'd shoved down and ignored but she was so wilfully, ridiculously, stupidly illogical in thinking that Jacob could ever be anything like her crapbag ex or her worthless father. Just... Ugh. I wanted to shake her. Shout at her. Make her STOP sabotaging her life and happiness (and Jacobs too!!) But alas... All I could do is keep reading and eventually get to the happy ever after that mostly made up for the drama-based headache the second half of the book caused.

All in all, I appreciated the fact the book covered physical and mental health issues in a realistic manner and despite being an integral part of the story they didn't make the story too heavy or hard to read.



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Tuesday 25 July 2023

TMST: What is your favourite thing about summer?

 

What is your favourite thing about summer?

When it ends.
Seriously, I'm not joking. 
Summer brings me sadness.

Why?

It's hot.
(This should be self-explanatory.)

There are bugs. Flying bugs that just want to fly into orifices and lay eggs! 
(Okay, that might be an irrational fear of mine but the fear is REAL. I really hate bugs!) 

The clothes are not my preferred clothes.
(I'm a jeans, jumpers and boots gal. F-off with short shorts, dresses and flip-flops!)

I get sunburn. 
(Yes, I wear sunscreen. Yes,  I STILL burn. I'm pale, Scottish and pretty much a red-head...)

My migraine frequency increases by a factor of 10.
(I'm not joking.)

The food.
(Everybody is all, "ooh, it's hot let's have a bbq! Let's have a salad! Let's have ice-cream!" No! I want food that is cooked indoors. I only eat salads on the side of a proper meal. Ice-cream is great but is it sticky toffee pudding with custard? No. Stick your cold teas, cold coffees and lack of hot-chocolate somewhere uncomfortable!)

It doesn't get dark until really late.
(I like pulling the curtains closed, ignoring the world, cuddling under a blanket and reading with hot beverages. Can you do those things when it's never dark and always flipping sunny and warm?! No. 
Plus, everyone is all, "it's a lovely day! let's go outside!" Like, no! Leave me alone in my cave!! I don't like outside! There are people there!)

It doesn't rain enough.
(I like rain. Actually, I love rain. You don't get enough wet stuff when the hot thing is blazing.)

The colours.
(Blues, greens, yellows, pink... Bright, bold, and cheerful. Gag.)

The duration of school holidays.
(Look, I'm in the UK so I know I get insane amounts of leave compared to my counterparts across the pond but seriously?!! How is any parent supposed to cover all the school holidays whilst working FT and maybe, just maybe, having a day here or there for themselves? It's deranged! I love my kid and think he's hilarious but after 7.5 weeks of summer  - just summer! not even all the others - I'm re-considering all my fkn life choices!)

So... yeah. Anybody got some counter points? What do people actually like about summer? 



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Tuesday 18 July 2023

TMST: Have you found a way to cut back significantly on your TBR pile?



Have you found a way to cut back significantly on your TBR pile?

Bahahahahhahaha!!!!! 
(Do excuse me while I try not to die laughing over here...)

Cut back on my TBR pile? Cut back?!!! I lost my mind earlier this year and COUNTED how many books I actually had on my TBR pile - physical, audio and ebook - and it was over 1400 books. 
Since then, I've added... More. So many more. 
(Ebook sales! They're the devil, I tell ya!)

Then I went to RARE London and added even more books...


And I have RARE Florence in September... Don't be mistaken in thinking that the plane ride and baggage limitations will stop me! 
At this point, I don't think anything can... I have an addiction. 

Suffice to say, I have no way to cut back on the TBR pile. 

Well, that's not entirely true... I could stop acquiring books and spend the next 10-12 years just reading books I own but let's be realistic... That ain't going to happen!

So... How about you? Any tips/tricks for cutting back on the TBR pile? 👀



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Wednesday 5 July 2023

The Modern Girl's Guide To Magic by Linsey Hall




So here’s the deal—I’m a magical disaster. A witch from a family of witches, and the only one whose magic blows up in her face. Which is why I came up with my rules… 1. Never get involved with magic 2. If you must, do not enter a competition to win the biggest magical fortune in England 3. And definitely don't fall for Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage who you've hated for years So how the heck do I end up in a situation that promises to break all those rules? It's the only way to save Seaside Spells, my family’s magical potion shop. But it’s cool. When I go back home to Charming Cove—a village of ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars—I will totally ignore Witch Weekly’s Sexiest Man of the Year. I’ll win the competition, and if I’m lucky, I won’t turn myself into a toad in the process. This'll be fine. It’ll all be fine. Riiiight.

The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic is a fun, light romantic comedy full of laughter, love, and magical hijinks. It’s the first in a series of stand alone romances set in the seaside village of Charming Cove.



OMG, guys! This book was absolutely delightful!!

It has humour, family/found family, romance and magical shenanigans!
It was so easy to read that I barely noticed time passing and before I knew it I was done!

It was a perfect, feel-good, cosy book.
It's not complicated and it's not deep. It lacks drama and there are no surprises. It was so soothing!

I'm a little disappointed that future books won't be about Aria and Callan but I look forward to reading more about the people of Charming Cove! Plus, I'm sure Aria and Callan will feature so we'll get an update.

If you're looking for a heart warming read with a sprinkle of magic then look no further!
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Monday 26 June 2023

Chick Magnet by Emma Barry

 


From Emma Barry comes a clever romance about a hot veterinarian and a chicken-loving influencer who can’t help but ruffle each other’s feathers. 

Nicole Jones needs a fresh start. “Chick Nic” to millions of internet fans, the social media star and her flock of chickens bask in the spotlight—until she’s publicly dumped by a YouTuber for clout. 

She has no choice but to round up her birds and move on. But when one of her hens has an emergency, Nic gets her first taste of her new stomping grounds—and it isn’t good. 

Veterinarian Will Lund is wildly attractive, yes, but he’s also surly. In fact, he comes right out and calls her a menace for parading her chickens on social media. 

As neighbors, Nic and Will can’t exactly avoid each other. Then again, maybe they don’t want to. The two can’t deny their smoldering attraction, and it isn’t long before late-night confessions lead to backyard shenanigans. 

Is this the start of a neighborly relationship—or could something more be hatching?


Chick Magnet is one of those quirky, cute and wholesome books that make you happy, smile and feel cosy inside whilst still dealing with some pretty serious issues.

(Issues including the impact of Covid-19 on small businesses, situational depression, coercive and manipulative exes, and asshole family members.)

I really enjoyed it! 

It's light but not fluffy. Fun and flirty whilst also serious. Nic and Will are adults and act like adults and they're both extremely likeable. Their attraction is pretty instantaneous but their relationship evolves slowly.

 The story unfurls in a way that felt authentic but still managed to work out well for them and their future.

All in all, if you like contemporary romance (with med-low spice) then definitely give this one a try!

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Saturday 17 June 2023

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood



Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom.

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she's an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it's a pretty sweet gig - until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favourite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor's career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And he's the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but... those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she's with him? Will falling into an experimentalist's orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?


First off, this isn't a standard "fake dating" book. Elsie fake dates people as part of a service as she's broke and needs the income to make ends meet. At no point does she fake-date Jack and the "twist" that's not really a twist is that Jack's brother is one of her fake dating clients... That's why I dislike calling this book fake-dating as it's really not.

Apart from the "fake dating" marketing, this book is another Ali Hazelwood winner for me! She seriously doesn't seem capable of writing a book that doesn't chime with me. 
The characters are well written, the relationship is awesome, the humour throughout the book is spot on and the drama is pretty minimal.
They are the perfect brain-soothing, soul hugging, novel a gal needs when the world is kicking her in the face.

A criticism I often see levelled at the author is that everything in her books is too "samey" and while I can see where people are coming from, I don't care. Not one little bit.
However, with Love, Theoretically I don't think the characters/plot is "samey" at all. It focuses on the more political aspects of STEM academia and that's quite different to her other books. 
Elsie is different from Bee (Love on the Brain) and Olive (The Love Hypothesis) with the only similarity being her obliviousness to the guy right in front of her! And even on that point, she's nowhere near as clueless as Olive and Bee were.
Jack is a big, bulky, well rounded guy much like Levi (Love on the Brain) and Adam (The Love Hypothesis) but that's where his similarities end. He's more argumentative, his past is sluttier, he goes after what he wants (aka Elsie) and doesn't hide it. (Oh, and he has tattoos which... Yeah. They tick my boxes!)
It was a new dynamic that still held all the magic and tension of the other books. 

All that's left to say is I really hope the next book from Hazelwood (after her NA entry later this year) focuses on Elsie's roommate Cece and the mysterious Kirk! I mean... He's STEM. It would fit the theme... But he's also rich from science (new) and Cece isn't STEM but a Lit PhD! (Also new...)
C'mon, Hazelwood... Make it happen!

Have you read this? What were your thoughts?




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Friday 31 March 2023

Gracie and The Grump by Mariana Zapata



Of all the things that could have landed in her yard… it had to be him.
For most people, finding a half-naked superbeing in their yard might be a dream come true.
Unfortunately for Gracie Castro, it’s the exact opposite.
Especially when he’s grouchy, rude, and shows no signs of leaving anytime soon.
But when a hero of mankind needs you, you do what you have to.
Even if it compromises everything you know.
And totally changes your life.


Mariana Zapata has been a favourite of mine for a long time but some of her books just fail to hit the mark. Gracie and The Grump is definitely a book that people are going to love or hate.
I personally enjoyed it but I'm not going to lie and say it wasn't a slog to get through the first half. 
OMG, it was so slow - even by MZ standards!!
It took forever for the story to go anywhere! Then it went somewhere I really wasn't expecting - or enjoying much - before swinging in a slightly different - but very much related - direction that I absolutely loved and could have read about forever... So yeah. A mixed bag for sure!

I liked the character of Gracie but found her a little too self-sacrificing which was annoying. 
I really liked Alex the more we got to know him but sweet baby J in the first half of the story he was even more uncommunicative and grunty than MZ's fellas usually are! Seriously, he was defensive, grumpy and almost mute for the entire first half of the book!

And that's the thing, this book really is a book of two halves. The first half is painful in so many ways but the second? Oh, I loved it. We got answers, we got communication, we got other characters and connections and all the good things that MZ can bring to a story.
The second half saved this book.
I ended up adoring Alex, liking Gracie and absolutely loving them together. 
I loved the superhero premise and I always enjoy grumpy x sunshine pairings so... Overall, it was a win for me. Although if I ever re-read I'll be skimming/skipping huge chunks at the beginning.


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Wednesday 29 March 2023

Under One Roof, Stuck With You and Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood


Three Ali Hazelwood novellas = three lovely escapes from reality!
PS - Calling them the "STEMinst" novellas had me giggling for no reason at all beyond being a woman working in the world of STEM and permanently adding the word to my vocabulary. 

Confession time:
I first listened to these on audio (the narrators were excellent), and then I added them to kindle as they popped up on sale... Then I bought them when they were released in a paperback collection. 
I'd say that I think I'm crazy but that's more of a fact at this point!

Under One Roof


Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn….

As an environmental engineer, Mara knows all about the delicate nature of ecosystems. They require balance. And leaving the thermostat alone. And not stealing someone else’s food. And other rules Liam, her detestable big-oil lawyer of a roommate, knows nothing about. Okay, sure, technically she’s the interloper. Liam was already entrenched in his aunt’s house like some glowering grumpy giant when Mara moved in, with his big muscles and kissable mouth just sitting there on the couch tempting respectable scientists to the dark side…but Helena was her mentor and Mara’s not about to move out and give up her inheritance without a fight.

The problem is, living with someone means getting to know them. And the more Mara finds out about Liam, the harder it is to loathe him…and the easier it is to love him.



The first of the novellas to release and my favorite of the three! I absolutely loved it. 
Two people forced to share a house together on account of each inheriting half of the property.
The initial friction and brattiness was delightfully infuriating and evil. The big freeze and the slow thaw... beautifully done. The cluelessness. The clumsy, oblivious denial of where their relationship had evolved to... The ending. Happy sigh.
I smiled, I laughed and I wanted to start it over the second I finished it.
Ali Hazelwood's humour just hits the spot for me. Her characters are likeable and relatable. 
I can't get enough!

Stuck With You


Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn…

Logically, Sadie knows that civil engineers are supposed to build bridges. However, as a woman of STEM she also understands that variables can change, and when you are stuck for hours in a tiny New York elevator with the man who broke your heart, you earn the right to burn that brawny, blond bridge to the ground. Erik can apologize all he wants, but to quote her rebel leader—she’d just as soon kiss a Wookiee.

Not even the most sophisticated of Sadie’s superstitious rituals could have predicted such a disastrous reunion. But while she refuses to acknowledge the siren call of Erik’s steely forearms or the way his voice softens when he offers her his sweater, Sadie can’t help but wonder if there might be more layers to her cold-hearted nemesis than meet the eye. Maybe, possibly, even burned bridges can still be crossed….


A second chance romance all thanks to little bit of forced proximity courtesy of a busted elevator = win!
I really enjoyed Stuck With You. Not as much as I enjoyed Under One Roof but I enjoyed it. 
I enjoyed how Sadie was pricklier than the others. Fierce and loving towards her friends. A hard worker... But that she had a soft centre. I was rabidly curious as to what happened between her and her Scandinavian hunk. And I adored Erik! I was smitten with how obviously taken with Sadie he was from the first... But what happened between them?!! It all plays out - past and present interwoven- and is delicious... But what left me frustrated with this story was that it all could have been resolved back in the beginning without Sadie ghosting Erik if she's just yelled/talked to him about his "betrayal." 
Yes, I understood why she felt betrayed and believed the worst - I would have too! - but come on! Conversation people!
That said, I'll be reading it again. 
In fact, I've listened to it several times and now my paperback is here so I'll be reading it again soon!

Below Zero


It will take the frosty terrain of the Arctic to show these rival scientists that their chemistry burns hot.

Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn…

Hannah’s got a bad feeling about this. Not only has the NASA aerospace engineer found herself injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station—but the one person willing to undertake the hazardous rescue mission is her longtime rival.

Ian has been many things to Hannah: the villain who tried to veto her expedition and ruin her career, the man who stars in her most deliciously lurid dreams…but he’s never played the hero. So why is he risking everything to be here? And why does his presence seem just as dangerous to her heart as the coming snowstorm?


I enjoyed this novella but I think it was my least favourite of the three... Despite my rating it the same as Stuck With You. 
It's hard to put my finger on why but I think it's probably because I found Hannah harder for me to "click" with than Sadie and Mara... But I loved Ian! Oh, the big grumpy bear of a man... He was yummy.
I loved how Hannah and Ian's first encounter unfolded. I hated how Hannah's shitty attitude regarding relationships got in the way of them. I wasn't fond of the cold and snow and general Norway expedition setting... And despite Ian being a big protective rescue bear, I was nervous for him. Part of me just didn't trust Hannah with this adorable man... But it worked out okay in the end. She pulled her head out her ass and the Sadie and Mara appearance - along with their men - made me happy. 

Paperback Bonus Chapter!!

Ah... This put all my nerves to bed! I love epilogues but I especially love epilogues set years in the future. I love they're all still friends. I loved seeing how their lives were unfolding and I was happy that Hannah and Ian were all good.
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Monday 27 March 2023

Fated Blades & Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews

 

Fated Blades = Audiobook = 4hrs 52min
Narrated by: Aaron Shedlock

Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews


An uneasy alliance between warring families gets heated in this otherworldly novella from bestselling author Ilona Andrews.

At first glance, the planet Rada seems like a lush paradise. But the ruling families, all boasting genetically enhanced abilities, are in constant competition for power―and none more so than the Adlers and the Baenas. For generations, the powerful families have pushed and pulled each other in a dance for dominance.

Until a catastrophic betrayal from within changes everything.

Now, deadly, disciplined, and solitary leaders Ramona Adler and Matias Baena must put aside their enmity and work together in secret to prevent sinister forces from exploiting universe-altering technology. Expecting to suffer through their uneasy alliance, Ramona and Matias instead discover that they understand each other as no one in their families can―and that their combined skills may eclipse the risks of their forbidden alliance.

As the two warriors risk their lives to save their families, they must decide whether to resist or embrace the passion simmering between them. For now, the dance between their families continues―but just one misstep could spell the end of them both.


The Kinsmen series is the only Ilona Andrews series that I'd never read and based on this one I've been missing out! 
Fated Blades has everything I've come to expect from an Ilona Andrews novel... Humour, amazing chemistry, world building, relationship building and a fast-paced adventure full of action!
This world is sci-fi/fantasy with enhanced humans, space colonisation and space battles. 
A devious, murderous, plot that needs to be unravelled and a couple who were perfect for each other despite being from warring families. 

It was novella length, addictive and perfectly satisfying.


Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews


Ilona Andrews invites you back to the #1 New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels series in this exciting new long novella featuring Kate, Curran and Conlan, some familiar faces, some new friends, and all the special brand of chaos they create!

Kate, Curran and their son, Conlan have left Atlanta, vowing to keep a low profile, and are settling into a new city and new house…but some things never change! Magical mayhem is about to erupt when Kate undertakes the rescue of a kidnapped youth, while Curran guards the homefront.

It should be a simple retrieval, but with monsters on land and sea, Kate’s got her work cut out for her. Still, she's never let her blade dull or her purpose falter. And that low profile? It’s about to wash away with the raging tides!


How I squealed and danced when I found out that Ilona Andrews was returning to Kate and Curran! 
The Kate Daniels series is, and probably always will be, one of my favourite series and I was gutted when it ended. Yes, the authors have revisited the world with spin-off series but it's not Kate and Curran, you know? But now... Now it IS! 

Magic Tides is the first story in a new Kate and Curran series. Novella length and detailing their lives as they make a fresh start away from Atlanta. 
It had everything that I fell in love with in the original KD series... Someone in need of rescue, a mythological beastie needing put down, Kate and Curran's banter, a crew of badass side kicks (new ones!) plus the joy of seeing their 10 yo son kick ass alongside his parents... Little Conlan really is going to be something insanely special seeing as he has the combined ability of his parents.

It was awesome and made me very happy.

Obviously, this is not the place for new readers to begin but for fans of the original series? I'd definitely jump up and down telling them to read it.




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Thursday 23 March 2023

Love At First Psych by Cara Bastone

 

Audiobook - 4hrs 35min
Narrated by: 
Santino Fontana, Stephanie Einstein, Mary Ann Jacobs, William Merryn Hill, Emily Bauer, Matt Boren, Piper Goodeve, Gabra Zackman, Mia Jenness, Elliott Fullam, Petrea Burchard, Ralph Lister, Jack de Golia



This Psych 312 assignment just might send me off the deep end. Determining whether love at first sight really exists with Robbie Moravian as my project partner of all people?

He’s the sappiest man alive, so upbeat I could scream, and clearly rooting for happy endings at every turn. How does he not learn from experience considering our own meet-cute last semester almost got us expelled?

But we both need to pass this course to graduate. So we’re interviewing five random couples about their meet-cutes and relationships and spending all this time together. Which is certainly...educational.

Because it turns out Robbie isn’t just the charming golden boy I thought I knew. There’s some actual depth beneath all those lame dad jokes and the ‘70s-inspired thrift wardrobe (even if he does look ridiculously great in a flared collar). Next thing I know he’s walking me back to my office on the regular and finishing all my sentences and protecting me from freak storms, and...

Wait. Could Robbie be right? Can happy endings really come from unhappy beginnings? Is he about to change my entire world view?

Group projects are the worst.


This book was a nice, quick and easy listen that I found utterly adorable... After a little while, anyway for it definitely wasn't love at first "sight" for me with this book. 
Chapter one, I found Marigold a little too cynical and grumpy while simultaneously finding Robbie too enthusiastic and cheerful... He was like an over-excited puppy that vomits sunshine and rainbows and I wanted to tie him up and gag him.
However, the stories of the relationships that unfolded throughout their interviews were enchanting, sad and interesting and the more time Robbie and Marigold spent together - and the longer I listened - the less annoying Robbie became, the less grumpy Marigold became and I found myself completely charmed. I enjoyed their back-and-forth banter, the humour, and their obvious attraction and I was so excited for them to realise that they belonged together. 
The moment of truth, however, was oddly unsatisfying. Their story - the first time they met and how they ended up where they were - had me smiling but they jumped from not even having held hands to I love yous! The I love yous are tied up in their past, so I understand it but... It was so PG and anti-climatic. An oatmeal and raisin cookie when you really wanted a double chocolate s'more. 
Not bad just... not ooey gooey sugary goodness.




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Wednesday 22 March 2023

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and Signal Moon by Kate Quinn!

 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig


Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets? A novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived.

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.


This book was an interesting read for me... Not because it's outside of my normal reading - which it is - but because I listened to it whilst struggling to keep my head above the proverbial water whilst battling through a particularly vicious depressive episode. Reading a book where the character's life is really a bit shit so she decides to unalive herself could have been a step too far for many in my position but, for me, it was beautifully eye-opening. 

It is obvious that the author knows depression. He's been there... He's stared into the abyss and, one way or another, he's come out the other side of it. It's right there in how he writes Nora. Writes the librarian. In how he tells Nora's story... And it's so compelling. 

I loved the concept of a library in between life and death. Of being able to experience the lives you could have lived if you changed just one thing... The ultimate game of what if... Of facing down all those regrets and seeing what would have happened if you had just done/not done something... And then having to make a choice. To stay. To go. To try again. 

The book is sad but also hopeful. A thoughtful, thought-provoking, story that makes you examine things through a different lens and gently, empathically, urges you to never give up. 

It was definitely one of the most beautifully written and unique books I've read in a very, very, long time. 

My only complaint is that we didn't get to see how life ended up for Nora! Yes, we know what her choice was but... Was she happy in the end?

The audiobook version is narrated by Carey Mulligan and she was spectacular. She really brought the story to life. She poured so much heart into Nora... I really recommend the audio.

Signal Moon by Kate Quinn


A short story about an impossible connection across two centuries that could make the difference between peace or war.

Yorkshire, 1943. Lily Baines, a bright young debutante increasingly ground down by an endless war, has traded in her white gloves for a set of headphones. It’s her job to intercept enemy naval communications and send them to Bletchley Park for decryption.

One night, she picks up a transmission that isn’t code at all—it’s a cry for help.

An American ship is taking heavy fire in the North Atlantic—but no one else has reported an attack, and the information relayed by the young US officer, Matt Jackson, seems all wrong. The contact that Lily has made on the other end of the radio channel says it’s… 2023.

Across an eighty-year gap, Lily and Matt must find a way to help each other: Matt to convince her that the war she’s fighting can still be won, and Lily to help him stave off the war to come. As their connection grows stronger, they both know there’s no telling when time will run out on their inexplicable link.


Another book that isn't my usual fare but I absolutely loved it! My husband loved it and my son loved it... We listened to the audio while on a car journey and it covered off the "to and from" trip perfectly as it was under 2hrs long.

The story is a little bit of historical fiction mixed with... I have no idea! Speculative fiction? Science fiction? It really doesn't matter as whatever it is is blended perfectly together.

A signal anomaly leads to Lily, a WWII communications officer at Bletchley, intercepting signals from what she thinks is an American ship getting destroyed by the Nazis. She listens as the signals officer - Matt - keeps transmitting to the end. It's horrifying, emotional and utterly gripping.
When Lily puts the impossible facts together and realises that this is something happening in the future she hatches a plan to help that signal operator save his ship... A plan that will take 80 years to come to fruition.

Lily and Matt's connection is fantastic. You really feel the bond between them stretching across time. 
Kate Quinn is insanely talented. She pulls you into this story, hijacks your emotions, and makes you feel like you know these characters - really know them. In a short story, that's almost impossible to achieve but she has a way with words that is magical. 

The story left me feeling so many things... So many illogical things. I genuinely felt like I'd lost something! An overwhelming sadness that Matt never got to meet Lily. Relief that, when all was said and done, they got to speak one last time before the signal anomaly closed.
There were tears when he visited Bletchley... 
It was bonkers. 

This is a story that will stay with me forever. I've been recommending it to everyone. 
It's just perfect.

PS - The audiobook was very well done! The narrators were spot on and conveyed all the emotion, built the tension, and put the cherry on top of the story cake!


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Wednesday 15 March 2023

Love on The Brain and The Hating Game

 

Love On The Brain by Ali Hazelwood


From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a new STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis—with explosive results.

Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project - a literal dream come true - Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school - archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas... devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing.

But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there's only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?



I had been desperate to get my hands on this since I read the preview chapter at the end of The Love Hypothesis... The book is set at NASA but you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to work out who the second personality behind the twitter personas (featured in chapter one) was going to be and I couldn't wait to see how Bee and Levi's story unfolded... I was not disappointed.

I adored Levi and Bee! 
Yes, Bee could be a little bit over the top sometimes but Levi was just adorable! A pining, brilliant, sexy, adorable dude who was perfect for all that was Bee.
I loved them together! 
I loved the ridiculous situations they got into. I enjoyed the secondary characters, the cats and even the "bad guy twist" at the end. 
Basically, it's a slightly over-the-top rom-com, with two characters who were made for each other, set in a STEM environment, that made me laugh a lot, and as soon as I'd finished I wanted to read it again.

I recommend it to anyone who loves a swoony, funny, story with a perfect sprinkling of steam.
Ali Hazelwood is 5 stories in and she's yet to disappoint! 

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne



Nemesis (n.)
1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome;
2) A person’s undoing;
3) Joshua Templeman.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.

Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.



Okay, I am incredibly late to the party when it comes to this book but I don't care. I am so glad I picked it up for I freaking adored it! It amused me from beginning to end!
The petty behaviour, on-point banter, and obvious chemistry between Lucy and Joshua was just awesome!
Lucy is so clueless about Josh and it was so funny... He was such a sweetie pie surprise! Slightly damaged and completely adorable.
It was just... Rom-com perfection. 
I inhaled it. I recommend it. I will 100% be reading it again. 



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Monday 13 March 2023

Of Love and Forge by Carly Spade




The god of the forge…

Life was good in the Neosphere District. I’d made a name for myself as a renowned supernatural bounty hunter, holding the record for most harpies slayed. But the best part about living in the future? Avoiding the other Olympian gods. Banishing a guy from Olympus because he was “imperfect” tends to make one hold a grudge. Go figure. And no other god possessed the means to time travel. But I did. Thanks to the portal hopping device I forged.

Yup. Life. Was. Grand.

Until a bounty popped up on a certain love goddess. Aphrodite and I had been friends since we were wee gods. I’d be lying to myself if I never thought our “innocent” flirting banter were real on occasion—kidding myself if I said I never wanted things to go beyond platonic. Hence, why I recently kept my distance. For my own sanity. So, of course, I made the grave mistake of taking the godsdamned bounty.

The goddess of love…

Since reconciling with my son Eros, after centuries of bad mojo, I’d decided it was time to clean up my act. Ride the straight and narrow. My companion service, Sans Solo, became just the ticket I needed. And it allowed me to use my powers in disguise in modern California under the name Vena Milo.

With the aid of my best friends, and fellow goddesses, the Graces, we ran a legitimate business. All was right in the world.

Until the volcano god showed up. Hephaistos. Heph—a lifelong friend who never failed to confuse me mind, body, and soul. Especially when he showed up with a magical pair of handcuffs. His audacity pissed me off, but the mere sight of him, the smell of him, made my stomach flutter. That…I couldn’t deny. And when Heph's plan goes to Tartarus things got even dicier and we became...the hunted.


Cyberpunk mashed up with Greek Mythology... What could go wrong?!
The concept worked so well and I loved the author's spin on the gods and the reimagining of their myths.

Heph was hilarious. Aphrodite was likeable, and not annoying, which makes a nice change from how she is usually portrayed. The romance was sweet - mythological friends to lovers - and the sex was hot.
The plot was simple enough but it's obviously building to something bigger in future books.

I enjoyed the futuristic setting, the interactions with other Gods and mythological characters, as well as the banter that flowed throughout the book. 
However, I'm not going to lie, the pacing of the book felt off and the plot dragged on way too long. 
If the book had been tighter I would have rated it higher as the concept really is like catnip to a cat for me.
I'll definitely read other books from the author featuring other Gods and I'll continue reading this series as I think it's worth reading if mythology, humour and romance, interspersed with action, is your bag (and it definitely is mine!)



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