Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
The Lady He Lost- Faye Delacour: Two years ago, Lieutenant Eli Williams was reported dead after a shipwreck. His family and friends mourned him, his brother spent his savings, and his fiancée married someone else. So, he becomes the talk of the ton when he suddenly arrives back in town. After everything he's gone through, Eli wants to get on with this life and reconnect with Jane Bishop, the only person he's cared for. Jane once harbored feelings for Eli, but when he chose her cousin over her, she decided to put him out of her mind. Instead, focusing her attention on gaining financial independence by starting a ladies' gambling club. But with Eli back from the dead and doing all he can to help Jane's endeavors, it's getting harder and harder for her to ignore him or the feelings she stamped down. It's clear that Eli has been keeping secrets about his whereabouts for the past few years, so Jane will have to decide if she's willing to gamble with her heart once more.
I was first drawn in by the cover, but the synopsis kept me. A friends-to-sort-of-enemies-to-lovers-second-chance romance? Sign me up. Delacour's writing style was so easy to fly through that I read this in one sitting. I enjoyed our main character, Jane. One of my favorite things in historical romances is when our heroine is determined to make her way in life through unconventional ways. I liked watching her push societal norms and go against her traditional, meddling family. The romance between her and Eli was sweet. I understood why she guarded her heart from him, so watching her lower her defenses was gratifying. I wasn't super invested in the plot, but I enjoyed it and would continue with the series.
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| Pub Date: 5-21-24 YA - Contemporary |
Wild About You- Kaitlyn Hill: Natalie Hart is not what you would call "outdoorsy." She prefers doing her intense skincare routine in the comforts of her own home, not in the middle of the Appalachian Trail. So what made her sign up for the wilderness reality show Wild Adventures? Natalie recently lost her merit scholarship for college after being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which caused her grades to plummet, so she's desperate for the $100,000 prize money. But there's a twist to this year's game-- each player will be paired with another player of the show's choosing. Enter Finn Markum, who could make a grizzly bear seem friendly. The pair immediately start things off on the wrong foot, and Natalie is worried it'll affect her chances in the competition. But the more time they spend trekking through the woods, the more they can't deny that something is brewing between them that might be worth more than the prize money.
Like the main character, Natalie, I'm not one for outdoor activities, but the premise sounded too fun to pass up. The idea of a bunch of college co-eds participating in this wild adventure through the woods sounded chaotic in the best way. There were some things I liked, mostly Finn. He was broody, but beneath his gruff exterior was a soft, gooey inside. Watching him open up to Natalie and be vulnerable about his past was so sweet. I also liked the Appalachian Trail setting. I didn't love the writing style. I was a little bored and never fully invested in what was happening. I also really didn't like Natalie; I found her so annoying. She was supposed to be in college, but she read so much younger. This had a lot of promise but fell a little short of my expectations.
Like the main character, Natalie, I'm not one for outdoor activities, but the premise sounded too fun to pass up. The idea of a bunch of college co-eds participating in this wild adventure through the woods sounded chaotic in the best way. There were some things I liked, mostly Finn. He was broody, but beneath his gruff exterior was a soft, gooey inside. Watching him open up to Natalie and be vulnerable about his past was so sweet. I also liked the Appalachian Trail setting. I didn't love the writing style. I was a little bored and never fully invested in what was happening. I also really didn't like Natalie; I found her so annoying. She was supposed to be in college, but she read so much younger. This had a lot of promise but fell a little short of my expectations.
Rating: 2/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 3-28-23 Adult - Fiction |
The (Mostly) True Story of Tanner and Louise- Colleen Oakley: Instead of going back to finish up her degree at Northwestern, twenty-one-year-old Tanner Quimby is playing video games in her parents' basement for hours in stained sweatpants. After an accident broke her leg, ruining any hopes of a soccer career, Tanner feels lost. She has no job and nothing to occupy her thoughts. So when a caretaking opportunity drops in her lap, Tanner has no choice but to take it. Louise Wilt may have broken her hip, but she can still care for herself, so when her daughter forces a live-in nanny on her, Louise is none too pleased. Tanner and Louise are content to ignore each other unless necessary, but Tanner starts noticing weird things about the house-- how Louise's shed is locked up tighter than a prison and how the local news is talking about an old jewelry theft where the suspect bears an uncanny resemblance to Louise. So when Louise turns up in Tanner's doorway at 1 am, demanding they leave immediately, Tanner knows she's in for the adventure of a lifetime.
I haven't heard anyone talk about this book, which is a shame because it was so good! It was so fun and charming. Tanner and Louise were a little prickly, and watching them form a friendship was adorable. I love the idea of these two people at completely different points in life coming together and forming an unlikely bond. They each helped the other grow, and it was heartwarming. The best thing about this was their wild road trip adventure. Tanner is so convinced she's breaking the law and on the run from the cops with a jewel thief, and it's hilarious. There were so many scenes that had me laughing out loud. If you're looking for a feel-good read, I highly recommend it.
I haven't heard anyone talk about this book, which is a shame because it was so good! It was so fun and charming. Tanner and Louise were a little prickly, and watching them form a friendship was adorable. I love the idea of these two people at completely different points in life coming together and forming an unlikely bond. They each helped the other grow, and it was heartwarming. The best thing about this was their wild road trip adventure. Tanner is so convinced she's breaking the law and on the run from the cops with a jewel thief, and it's hilarious. There were so many scenes that had me laughing out loud. If you're looking for a feel-good read, I highly recommend it.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 4-2-24 Adult - Historical Romance |
The Lady He Lost- Faye Delacour: Two years ago, Lieutenant Eli Williams was reported dead after a shipwreck. His family and friends mourned him, his brother spent his savings, and his fiancée married someone else. So, he becomes the talk of the ton when he suddenly arrives back in town. After everything he's gone through, Eli wants to get on with this life and reconnect with Jane Bishop, the only person he's cared for. Jane once harbored feelings for Eli, but when he chose her cousin over her, she decided to put him out of her mind. Instead, focusing her attention on gaining financial independence by starting a ladies' gambling club. But with Eli back from the dead and doing all he can to help Jane's endeavors, it's getting harder and harder for her to ignore him or the feelings she stamped down. It's clear that Eli has been keeping secrets about his whereabouts for the past few years, so Jane will have to decide if she's willing to gamble with her heart once more.
I was first drawn in by the cover, but the synopsis kept me. A friends-to-sort-of-enemies-to-lovers-second-chance romance? Sign me up. Delacour's writing style was so easy to fly through that I read this in one sitting. I enjoyed our main character, Jane. One of my favorite things in historical romances is when our heroine is determined to make her way in life through unconventional ways. I liked watching her push societal norms and go against her traditional, meddling family. The romance between her and Eli was sweet. I understood why she guarded her heart from him, so watching her lower her defenses was gratifying. I wasn't super invested in the plot, but I enjoyed it and would continue with the series.
Rating: 3/5
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