Mini Thoughts

Hello, all!

Big thanks to the publishers for these copies!

Pub Date: 11-8-22
Adult - Contemporary

Better than Fiction- Alexa Martin: Drew Young is a self-proclaimed book hater, so the last thing she expected was to inherit her late grandmother's bookstore, the Book Nook. She'd much rather experience things firsthand with her camera than through the pages of a book. Drew knows she's in way over her head, and to make matters worse, a group of elderly book clubbers is intent upon meddling in her love life. Jasper Williams is a best-selling author and hopeless romantic. While at a signing at the Book Nook, Jasper is immediately taken with Drew and determined to show her the wonders of reading. So the pair decide to strike up a bargain: Jasper will curate a list of books perfect for Drew, and she'll show him around Denver to get inspiration for his newest work. With every date, Drew begins to open up more and starts to think that maybe happy endings aren't just fictional.

I've never read anything by Martin before, but this sounded too cute to pass up. There were a lot of things I enjoyed about it. I liked the cozy bookshop and wished it was a real place I could visit. The dates she and Jasper went on were cute. I also liked seeing Drew grow and learn to handle her grief with the help of Jasper and her friends. Despite all that, I never found myself getting too invested in the story, and I think it had to do with Jasper. I need to be able to root for the love interest in romances to feel invested in the story, and he felt a little too one-dimensional for me. Overall, it was sweet but not that memorable.

Rating: 3/5

Pub Date: 11-8-22
Adult - Historical Romance

Never Rescue a Rogue- Virginia Heath: From the moment they met, Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair have been at odds. They tolerate each other for the sake of their loved ones, but if it were up to them, they'd never even look in the other's direction. But, of course, everyone believes their verbal jabs are a ploy to hide their mutual pining. Diana is far too independent and has worked too hard to climb up the ranks as a journalist to be tied down, and Giles is harboring a dark secret that could ruin him. When Giles's father unexpectedly dies, Giles inherits a dukedom, and it doesn't take long for someone to sniff out the truth behind his birth. Desperate to uncover his parentage before anyone else, Giles enlists the investigative help of Diana. But as they dive into his past, it's clear the tension between them is more than animosity. Not only are their livelihoods at stake, but their hearts as well.

The whole time I was reading the first book in this series, I was dying over the tension between Diana and Giles, so I was so excited to dive into this one. They have such playful, teasing banter that I adore. It's so fun watching them rattle each other. Both know what buttons to push to work the other up, and every interaction has you going, "Ok, now kiss." The romance was the standout here. It was lovely watching them open up and share the most vulnerable parts of themselves. Diana is such a force to be reckoned with, and I love how Giles not only accepts her the way she is but encourages her to be as bold as she wants. That said, the actual plot of this was a bit boring. Nothing really happens until about the 60% mark, and while the secret of Diana's job and Giles's background was a little interesting, I never found myself invested in either storyline. I still enjoyed Heath's writing style and the secondary characters (once again, we have a sassy butler who steals the show), and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Rating: 3/5

Pub Date: 11-8-22
Adult - Historical Romance

Some Dukes Have All the Luck- Christina Britton: Much to her parent's dismay, Bronwyn Pickering cares more about insects than finding a husband. After being burned in the past, Bronwyn has finally accepted that she'll never marry for love, but that doesn't stop her parents from threatening her into finding a suitable match. Ash Hawkins, Duke of Buckley can think of a hundred other things he'd rather do than get married. Despite his status, being part-owner of a gambling hell has lowered his chances of a happy marriage. But he's in dire need of someone who can help with raising his three rebellious wards. What Ash needs is a marriage of convenience, and when he stumbles upon Bronwyn, it seems the answer to both their problems is simple. Bronwyn will be able to get out from under her parent's thumb and study her precious insects, and Ash will have someone logical and steadfast to look after his wards. But when feelings begin to stir, the pair realize they've got more than they bargained for.

This was my first book by Britton, and I enjoyed it a lot. I'm always a sucker for a marriage of convenience trope, and I thought this executed well. I loved how Britton made use of the found family trope as well with Ash's wards. Who doesn't love a bunch of kids running around causing chaos in their wake? I enjoyed the relationship between Ash and Bronwyn and how it gradually grew into something more. There were moments of miscommunication that always bother me, but it comes with the territory. I liked seeing the yearning moments between the pair, and while I liked their chemistry, I think it could've been ramped up even more. One of my favorite parts of this was watching how supportive Ash was of Bronwyn and her dream of becoming an entomologist. It was so sweet how he never once believed she didn't have it in her to achieve her goals. Overall, I thought it was a fun time, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next in the series.

Rating: 3/5

Comments

  1. Ahh first and foremost, I love the new blog design!! Better than Fiction sounds really cute!

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