Review: The Governess Affair

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a lovely novella! a wonderful way to set up the stage for the series and a fantastic story. I liked that it wasn't a titled nobleman and a governess but a man of affairs and a governess. Hugo is a wonderful character and so is Serena. I enjoyed their honesty to each other and how they bring the best of one another.
I look forward to read the rest of the series.

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Review: Smooth Moves

Smooth Moves by Marie Harte
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book follows former military Cash and Jordan, that are now co-workers in a moving company (Vets on the Go!) as they navigate the attraction they have for each other and reconcile their backstories and wounds from the past with the present.
It's a fun novel that features two strong main characters that are not afraid of each other and understand the idea of teaming up and stay with each other through thick and thin. I loved Jordan's relationship with her brother and how much Cash is in this for the long haul.
A strong book in a series that promises a lot!

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Review: The Seduction Expert

The Seduction Expert by Saya Lopez Ortega
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The blurb of this book says, and I quote: "One of the most anticipated romance books of 2019."
And This.Is.Not.A.Romance. I'm sorry, you can't spin that one in any way. There is no love story., there is no main couple, and shockingly (not) there is not happy ending.
We don't even know the name of the main lead, she's self-referred at The Baroness and while she claims to be a seduction expert, she's just a narcissistic and selfish woman that puts down and looks down to all other women on her rise to the top of world and fame. I have zero problems with career-driven characters and I have always vouched for the needs of more unlikeable heroines that get happy endings because it goes against the fundamental vision that women have to be perfect to deserve love.
But this was not the case. This is written in first person PoV and she's so awful towards others that I had to put the book down several times because being in her head (and she's a bully, plain and simple) was incredibly triggering.
While executed decently (the author can write) I can't give this book other rating than this one. Please stop advertising this as a romance novel when it's nothing as such. It's deceitful to readers.

And finally, if you are going to set your story in Paris, do some research. The entire first few chapters are set on Monday, May 1st, as the main character goes to work, lunch, sees clients and gets a massage at the spa. I had to double check the date 4 times because I couldn't believe. May 1st is International Worker's Day, a holiday celebrated in over 100+ countries in the world and a simple google/wikipedia page will tell you that:
"In France, 1 May is a public holiday. It is, in fact, the only day of the year when employees are legally obliged to be given leave, save professions that cannot be interrupted due to their nature (such as workers in hospitals and public transport). Demonstrations and marches are a Labour Day tradition in France, where trade unions organize parades in major cities to defend workers' rights."
I can't honestly respect this book after that.
*I received an ARC copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

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Review: The Seduction Expert

The Seduction Expert by Saya Lopez Ortega
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The blurb of this book says, and I quote: "One of the most anticipated romance books of 2019."
And This.Is.Not.A.Romance. I'm sorry, you can't spin that one in any way. There is no love story., there is no main couple, and shockingly (not) there is not happy ending.
We don't even know the name of the main lead, she's self-referred at The Baroness and while she claims to be a seduction expert, she's just a narcissistic and selfish woman that puts down and looks down to all other women on her rise to the top of world and fame. I have zero problems with career-driven characters and I have always vouched for the needs of more unlikeable heroines that get happy endings because it goes against the fundamental vision that women have to be perfect to deserve love.
But this was not the case. This is written in first person PoV and she's so awful towards others that I had to put the book down several times because being in her head (and she's a bully, plain and simple) was incredibly triggering.
While executed decently (the author can write) I can't give this book other rating than this one. Please stop advertising this as a romance novel when it's nothing as such. It's deceitful to readers.

And finally, if you are going to set your story in Paris, do some research. The entire first few chapters are set on Monday, May 1st, as the main character goes to work, lunch, sees clients and gets a massage at the spa. I had to double check the date 4 times because I couldn't believe. May 1st is International Worker's Day, a holiday celebrated in over 100+ countries in the world and a simple google/wikipedia page will tell you that:
"In France, 1 May is a public holiday. It is, in fact, the only day of the year when employees are legally obliged to be given leave, save professions that cannot be interrupted due to their nature (such as workers in hospitals and public transport). Demonstrations and marches are a Labour Day tradition in France, where trade unions organize parades in major cities to defend workers' rights."
I can't honestly respect this book after that,

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Review: The Difference Between Us

The Difference Between Us by Rachel Higginson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved it!

3.5 stars! I really liked Ezra so much and how oblivious Molly is was endearing!!!! This author's narrative style is wonderful

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Review: Just One of the Groomsmen

Just One of the Groomsmen by Cindi Madsen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars!
A small town, one girl, four boys. Only that the girls and the boys have been thick-as-thieves friends for decades. When Tucker comes back to town - tired of the city and a job that doesn't fulfill him - for his friend wedding, he never expects to see Addison in a different light. They've been friends forever. There isn't a memory of his childhood that hasn't her on it. And yet he can't help to notice her in a different way. And neither can she.
In this small town riveting novel, we get to see how Addie and Tucker navigate going from friends to lovers and how they both have a few other bumps in the road to deal with.
I loved the main characters and the supporting characters are also a delight (I can't wait for Ford's book).. I enjoyed this book and I think it was well executed, the conflict is there but is not over the top and the resolution is cute. I did struggle a little with the over the top small town life, but it didn't hinder the book for me.
A joyful read!

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Review: One Night of Passion

One Night of Passion by Erica Ridley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thaddeus is ready to fall in love and live happily ever after. He just needs to find the bride that will want him for himself, because he has not title and while he lives comfortably, he's not rich. A chance encounter with Priscilla Weatherby and her absolute refusal to even dance with him leaves him baffled.
It's not like Priscilla doesn't like Thaddeus... he actually seems perfect if you want a husband. But she doesn't. She's months away from finally inheriting her money and set sails to find her adventurous father and grandfather and be with them. It's all she ever wanted. To never be left behind again.
a wonderful novella of two characters that were meant to be and how they fell in love and got there.
I really enjoyed it!

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Review: One Night of Surrender

One Night of Surrender by Darcy Burke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars!
A second chance romance of two people that were too young to understand that have fallen in love with each other and now meet again.
Isabelle and Val shared one night ten years ago and then each moved onto their designated lives. Ten years later, both are widowed and carrying scars from the past. In this novella, sparks fly again and two wounded souls learn to love (again).
I enjoyed this novella a lot, as it wasn't that one left the other years ago but that they simply didn't think they could be together and moved on. A good novella in what seems to be a delightful series!
*I was given an ARC on NetGalley*

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Review: The Bride Test

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars!
Such a captivating and riveting novel! Both main characters are flawed but wonderful and the author does a fantastic job walking us through the reasoning behind each action and decision they made, so we can understand where they are coming from and where they are headed.
My is determined to have a better life for her and her family and to escape from poverty and circumstances that she'd do almost anything to achieve it.
Khai is determined not to let anyone close for fear of hurting them.
When pushed together, it's a back and forth of angst and want; it's one step forward and two steps behind, it's them talking and communicating, even though it's a patchwork of words and feelings.
I enjoyed both of them and the story of how they fall in love slowly and the thoroughness the author puts into giving us this story.
*I was given an ARC on Edelweiss under to obligation*

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Review: The Austen Playbook

The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a wonderful read! This was a new to me author and while this is the fourth book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone.
We follow the story of Freddy and Griff, an actress and a critic that end up tangled together in one summer that involves plays, family secrets and a lot of wonderful moments.
Both main characters are likeable - even Griff who is a grumpy sarcastic character sometimes - and you can see how they both care very much for their families and how that is reflected different according to their personalities. I like that there are no back and forths with them, they recognize an attraction and they decide to explore it. I liked the honesty on their relationship and how the conflict comes from all the external sources you can imagine but they shepherd it through.
There are several plot twists, in lieu of the spirit of Austen novels and there is so many endearing supporting characters that you can't wait to meet again.
Wonderful, light-hearted, easy to read along (in the best way possible), a definite winner!

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Review: The Opposite of You

The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I truly enjoyed this book. Great banter, awesome descriptions of food, wonderful characters that lift each other up and a beautiful myriad of supporting characters that I can't wait to read more about!

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Review: The Bluestocking

The Bluestocking by Christi Caldwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have SO many feelings about this book and I don't even know where to begin. This books can work as a standalone, but it would be a disservice to it not to read all the previous ones that lead into it. From the series, we've learned to love all the Killorans, and to understand the tragic pasts and suffering that have led to their lives and their mistakes. I expected to love and defend Gertrude fiercely (and I do) but I didn't expect to land myself so strongly on Edwin's corner for this book.
The conflict between them seems insurmountable. It really does. Albeit unknowingly, her family is responsible of his pain and suffering and there is an angry little boy caught in the middle. And yet Christi does a magnificent job navigating all of those feelings and validating both character's perspectives. Even when there is a fallout, there are no rights or wrongs. I appreciate that the hero was as wounded as the heroine and his feelings were validated and justified as well. I really admire how craftily the author is able to give us a happy ending to a love story that seemed doomed from the start.
And Stephen is just a delightful, multidimensional little boy that gets to have his entire family back.

Once again, a wonderful love story from an author that doesn't disappoint!

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