Mini Thoughts

Hello, all!

Big thanks to Netgalley for the copies!

Pub Date: 1-19-21
Adult - Contemporary

Enjoy the View- Sarah Morgenthaler:
 River Lane was once a Hollywood darling, but her career has taken a nose dive. She's decided what she needs is a fresh start, and agrees to help produce and star in a documentary about Moose Springs, Alaska. It sounds simple enough, but River and her team soon find out the townspeople of this small town are less than accommodating. River is determined to get the shots she needs, even if that means climbing to the top of a mountain by herself. Easton Lockett is no stranger to the wilderness and has taken many groups up into Mount Veil, but none as troublesome as River and crew. Between the weather, a furry companion, and the crew's inability to follow directions, it'll take all of Easton's skill to keep everyone in one piece. As they trek higher and temperatures drop, Easton and River can't deny the heat growing between them, but can their budding romance survive the harsh terrain?


I'm falling harder and harder for this series with each new installment. I've always liked Easton as a side character, so I love that he's the star of this one. He's so charming and sweet. I love how he comes across as this huge intimidating guy, but he's a real softie inside. It took me a while to warm up to River because certain aspects of her personality rubbed me the wrong way, especially her inability to follow instructions and landing in situations that put her and her crew in danger. While she did grow on me by the end, I just found her impulsiveness a little grating. In contrast to the other two books, this one mostly takes place outside of the town in the mountains, which I think was the perfect setting. Easton is so at home in the wild and it was fun to see him interact in that space. It also led to adorable moments between him and a marmot which were hilarious. Overall, while River wasn't my favorite love interest, I still liked watching her and Easton's relationship unfold and this was just another solid addition to what's quickly becoming one of my favorite series. You can read my reviews of the other two books here.

Rating: 4/5

Pub Date: 2-2-21
Adult - Mystery

Killer Content- Olivia Blacke: 
Odessa Dean is used to her small bayou town where the pace is slow and everyone knows one another's business, so when she moves up to her aunt's Brooklyn apartment to cat-sit for a few months, she's like a fish out of water. It's loud, it's crowded, and dear god does it smell, but Odessa is determined to make the best of her time in NYC. She gets a job at a local bookshop/diner and during one of her shifts, another waitress, Bethany, rushes out and never comes back. The next thing Odessa knows is a massive flash mob proposal goes viral when it catches the death of Bethany in the background. The police rule her death as accidental, but Odessa can't shake the feeling that Bethany was murdered. Channeling her inner detective, Odessa will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of the case, but will her digging put her right in the path of a killer?


This was a cute read, but I was hoping for just a little bit more. I like my mysteries to make me work for it, and I was able to tell who the murderer was within the first few chapters. Another issue I had was the need to go in-depth over minute things. Nothing about what Odessa ate for breakfast or about how hot NYC summers are is crucial to the storyline, so these random details did nothing to move the plot along and instead made it drag. Character-wise, I liked Odessa and found her sarcastic and driven, but as for the others, I could really take or leave them. While I had a few issues with this, I do still think it would be a good book to pick up if you're looking for a filler read or just one you don't have to think too hard on.

Rating: 3/5

Pub Date: 2-9-21
New Adult - Contemporary

Loner-Georgina Young:
  Lona doesn't have much going on in her life. She splits her time between sneaking into the darkroom at her old art college to develop pictures and playing DJ at a roller rink. She's never been in a relationship unless you count the platonic love between her and her best friend, Tab. Lona has spent a great deal of time perfecting her cynical-not caring what others think-attitude, but is that persona stopping her from enjoying everything the world has to offer? As Lona comes into her own and meets new people who open up her world to new possibilities, she'll learn that despite enjoying her own company over others, it's also nice having people to share in the world with.


I was initially drawn in by the cover of this book and then was grabbed by the premise. I think Young did a nice job of making Lona feel very relatable. Almost everyone has some sort of anxiety, so it's easy to see yourself in her and it made her feel more real. The relationships between Lona and Tab, her family, and even her love interests also felt very true to someone in their early twenties. Despite having undertones of serious issues, there's a lightness that's threaded throughout which makes the story so easy to digest. I also enjoyed how short and snappy the chapters were and finished this in almost one sitting. That being said, I did think some of the dialogue and phrasing Young used to be slightly clunky, which was my only issue. Overall, I think this was a nice coming-of-age story and one I think a lot of young people would be able to relate to.

Rating: 3/5

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