Mini Thoughts

Hello, all!

Pub Date: 8-25-20
YA - Horror

Clown in a Cornfield- Adam Cesare: After the death of her mother, Quinn Maybrook and her father are looking for a fresh start, so they move to the small town of Kettle Springs. But this town isn't like the quaint, sleepy towns you see on TV. Ever since the Baypen Corn Syrup Factory shut down, the residents of Kettle Springs have been divided. The older generation believes tradition should be upheld and will do whatever it takes to make their town great again, while the younger generation wants to have fun and get out as soon as possible. These clashing views soon turn deadly when Frendo the clown, the Baypen mascot, shows up at a party in the fields and starts culling the teenage crop.

What a wild ride this was. I had heard this read like a slasher movie, so I knew I had to pick it up. I was entertained the entire time. Was it a perfect book? Not by any means. But was it fun? Absolutely. It was so fast-paced, and the slasher elements were a lot better than I was expecting. There were times I thought the writing skewed a little too YA for my tastes (I think it's so lame when characters use internet lingo in actual conversations), and the characters did come off as way too childish. You could tell quite quickly who was responsible for the murders, but there was one twist I wasn't anticipating, which I thought was a nice touch. If you're a fan of '90s campy horror movies, then I recommend checking this out, and I'm excited to pick up the next book.

Rating: 3.5/5

Pub Date: 9-29-20
Adult - Historical Romance

Beauty Temps the Beast- Lorraine Heath: Althea Stanwick was once a lady whose biggest decision revolved around which duke to marry, but when her father is hanged for treason, she and her family are left disgraced. Althea lost everything-- her home, her title, her friends. But she has a plan. Althea will learn the ways of seduction and enter back into society on her own terms, and she knows just the man to teach her. Benedict "Beast" Trewlove gained a reputation on the streets of Whitechapel as someone not to mess with. He's quick to use his fists to help those in need and always willing to offer his protection to those who ask, but he's never had someone come to him with a proposition as wild as Althea's. Against his better judgment, Beast agrees, but only if Althea helps him polish up the girls living in a brothel he oversees so they can get better employment. As the pair spend their days together, they're unable to stop the growing attraction, but when Beast uncovers the truth of his past, will Althea still have a place by his side?

I recently read The Earl Takes a Fancy and fell in love with these characters, so now I'm binging the series, and this one was just as good! I love the Trewlove family. I can't get enough of their dynamic, and they always manage to make me chuckle or smile with their banter. I was curious about Beast from the previous book with how little we saw of him, so I was excited to read his story. I thought he and Althea were perfectly matched, despite their differing backgrounds. They were both strong-willed and a little stubborn, and I liked watching them open up and be vulnerable. I wish the lessons between them lasted a little longer to draw out the tension, but it was still enjoyable. I also didn't love the third-act conflict, but it wrapped up nicely, and I enjoyed how the epilogue tied up everything.

Rating: 4/5

Pub Date: 5-3-22
Adult - Contemporary

The Missed Connection- Denise Williams: Gia loves her job as a professor, but she doesn't love receiving feedback from her reclusive academic rival who has made it a point to nitpick her work. When Gia learns she'll have to go on a work trip with the said rival, she is less than pleased. But when the pair finally meet in person, Gia is shocked to discover she's met him before. He's the same attractive stranger Gia spent a dreamy New Years Eve with at an airport sharing nachos and kisses. Felix couldn't be more different from Gia. He's quiet and likes things ordered, whereas she's loud and quick to laugh. Despite their differences, neither can deny the attraction that still lingers between them. Can they keep things between them professional or will they give in to temptation?

I liked the first novella in this series, so I wanted to give this one a go, and it was okay. It was a cute premise, and I liked the academic-rivals-to-lovers vibe it had going on, but it was kind of boring. Gia and Felix were decent characters, but there was no chemistry. I don't usually mind opposites attract trope, but it needs to be believable, and I wasn't buying it here. They had fun banter, but for me, they came across more as friends than lovers. I also felt the pacing was a bit off which didn't help. If you're a fan of Williams or the previous novella, I still think it's worth it to pick up, but it won't be super memorable for me.

Rating: 3/5