Mini Thoughts

Hello, all!

Pub Date: 4-11-23
Adult - Contemporary

The Nanny- Lana Ferguson: After losing her job, grad school student, Cassie Evans, needs a break. She has two options: either find a good paying job fast or reactivate her OnlyFans account, and she would rather not do the latter after what happened the last time. Luckily for Cassie, she finds a position as a live-in nanny with a more than generous salary. Between his job as an executive chef and his strong-willed nine-year-old daughter, Aiden Reid is stretched thin. When he meets Cassie, he basically begs her to take the job. The only problem? Cassie and Aiden technically met before when he was subscribed to her channel. As the weeks pass, the attraction between the pair only escalates. Cassie knows she has to tell Aiden the truth, but is she willing to risk losing the only happiness she's ever had?

I picked this up on a whim, and it was so fun. It was a different take on the workplace romance trope with a sprinkling of forced proximity and, of course, the single dad tropes. I loved the dynamic between Cassie and Aiden's daughter, Sophie. She was such an adorably feisty little kid. Watching her interact with Cassie's elderly neighbor, Wanda, was probably my favorite part. The two of them were hilarious. I liked Cassie and Aiden, but I don't feel I really got to know them. Everything about them felt very surface-level. The same goes for their relationship. It seemed like it was all steam and no substance. I wanted a bit more depth there. Despite that, it was still entertaining, and I flew through it in one sitting, so I'd recommend it if you're a fan of any of those tropes.

Rating: 3/5

Pub Date: 3-7-23
Adult - Mystery

The Golden Spoon- Jessa Maxwell: Six amateur bakers get the opportunity of a lifetime when they're offered a slot competing on the popular reality show, Bake Week. Each are ready to do whatever it takes to win the coveted Golden Spoon trophy. But when they arrive at Grafton Manor, the filming location and the home of judge, Betsy Martin, they realize they may be in over their heads. Filming is rigorous and no one in the group anticipated how stressful baking in the famous tent would be. To add to their stress, it seems someone is sabotaging the contestant's bakes. For Betsy, Bake Week is her legacy and the only thing helping her keep her family's home afloat, so it's imperative that the season goes off without a hitch. But when the body of her annoying new co-host is found, it's clear to everyone that someone is willing to kill to get to the prize.

I'm such a huge fan of The Great British Bake-Off, so I couldn't wait to pick this up. I saw it categorized as a thriller, but I would say it's more of a cozy mystery. The stakes are very low, and it takes a while for anything to happen. The first half of the book introduces you to all the characters (most of whom aren't very likeable) and heavily focuses on the baking aspects. The murder plot doesn't kick off until the end and then it's wrapped up quickly. I also found it easy to figure out who did it. If you're a fan of baking shows and enjoy a more subdued take on murder mysteries, I'd recommend checking it out.

Rating: 3/5

Pub Date: 5-16-23
Adult - Contemporary

The True Love Experiment- Christina Lauren: Beloved romance novelist, Fizzy Chen, fears she's lost her mojo. She hasn't been able to write in ages. She hasn't even had any wild hook-ups, which is cause for concern. When she gets an opportunity to star in a new dating show, Fizzy decides she's got nothing to lose. Fizzy has never been in love, lust sure, but she's never felt that can't-eat-can't-sleep feeling, and she hopes this will help kickstart her heart. Connor Prince is a single dad who'd rather spend his time working on nature documentaries than produce a dating reality show. But when he meets Fizzy and her ridiculous list of demands, he realizes she's unlike anyone he's ever met. Connor knows that with Fizzy at the helm, the show will be an instant success, but he hadn't considered what watching her fall in love with other men would do to him.

I enjoyed The Soulmate Equation but thought Fizzy stole the show, so I was thrilled to find out she was getting a book. She's a larger-than-life character who isn't afraid to speak her mind, even if it's a little raunchy. She has a tough exterior, but it hides such a sensitive heart, and I'm glad we got to see more of that here. I loved the relationship between her and Connor. They complemented one another well, and the chemistry was off the charts. I also liked seeing Connor's relationship with his daughter, which was so cute. My only gripe with it was that it was a little too long. I kept going, "All this has happened, but there are still XX pages left?" But that's also because I don't think romances need to be over 400 pages. Despite that, it was still a pretty quick read, and I loved it so much.

Rating: 4/5