Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
No Place Like You- Jillian Meadows: Fable Oaks was once going places. She was a star student and an ace soccer player, determined to make her mark on the world. Now, she's in her late twenties, working at a hardware store, and living in her late grandfather's dilapidated A-frame in her parents' backyard. Directionless and listless, the only spark of joy Fable has lately is sparring with her ex-best friend-turned rival, Theo Nikolaou. Theo doesn't have the best memories of growing up in Fern River, but he can't deny it’s home. He knows that he's let people down in the past, so he'll do anything to prove that he's here to stay. Theo comes up with an idea that he and Fable should pretend to date; he can prove to his boss that he's settling down here, and in exchange, he'll help Fable fix up her home. The pair have always had complicated feelings towards one another, and it doesn't take long before their fake relationship starts feeling anything but.
This was one of those books where I started reading, and I was like, "Ok, yeah, it's cute," and by the end, I was obsessed. I loved Fable and Theo so much. I liked how much history they had. They went from being best friends as children to butting heads as teens to pushing each other's buttons as adults. I love when characters have teasing banter, and theirs was perfect. There was so much about both characters I could relate to, from Fable feeling like she's behind in life to Theo's familial anxieties. They felt like fully fleshed-out people to me. I love a fake dating scenario, so I, of course, ate that aspect up (but can you still call it fake dating when pretty much everyone was in on it?) There were so many moments that had me giddy and kicking my little feet. Once I finished, I immediately went back to the beginning and re-read everything I highlighted because I loved it so much. If you're a fan of B.K. Borison, especially Business Casual, I think you'd love this one.
 |
| Pub Date: 3-10-26 Adult - Romance |
This was one of those books where I started reading, and I was like, "Ok, yeah, it's cute," and by the end, I was obsessed. I loved Fable and Theo so much. I liked how much history they had. They went from being best friends as children to butting heads as teens to pushing each other's buttons as adults. I love when characters have teasing banter, and theirs was perfect. There was so much about both characters I could relate to, from Fable feeling like she's behind in life to Theo's familial anxieties. They felt like fully fleshed-out people to me. I love a fake dating scenario, so I, of course, ate that aspect up (but can you still call it fake dating when pretty much everyone was in on it?) There were so many moments that had me giddy and kicking my little feet. Once I finished, I immediately went back to the beginning and re-read everything I highlighted because I loved it so much. If you're a fan of B.K. Borison, especially Business Casual, I think you'd love this one.
Rating: 4/5
GoodReads | Bookshop.org
GoodReads | Bookshop.org
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
The premise of this book sounded so fun. I loved the idea of this rambunctious teenager deciding she was done with taking care of her brothers, so she schemes a way to marry them off without their knowledge. I enjoyed Maddy as a main character. I thought she was headstrong and a little feisty. Her interactions with Junebug kept me highly entertained. I also thought Kit was tooth-achingly sweet. My only complaint was that, for a romance book, there was very little romance in it. The barest flicker of sparks doesn't even begin until we're way past the halfway mark, and even then, it wasn't anything to write home about. It was a fine read, but bland, and I don't think I'm all that interested in continuing the series.
The cover caught my eye as I scrolled through Kindle Unlimited, hoping to break a reading slump. I love historical mysteries, and since it was short, I thought it would be perfect. It wasn't the most mind-blowing book, but it kept me hooked, so it got the job done. I liked our two main characters: Leo was bold and intelligent, unconcerned with acting properly, while Jasper was focused and rough around the edges. There's clearly more to both their stories, which intrigues me. Aside from the characters, the mystery element was also well done. I had no idea where Devlin was going, but I was along for the ride. There wasn't a lot of unnecessary moments, and it made the story feel very streamlined. I recommend it if you're looking for a quick mystery to read, and I'll most likely be continuing the series.
 |
| Pub Date: 8-23-22 Adult - Historical Romance |
Kit McBride Gets a Wife- Amy Barry: As the youngest and only girl out of her siblings, Junebug McBride is sick to death of taking care of all the womanly chores by herself. She decides that she needs help, and what better way than to post an ad looking for a wife for one of her brothers, Kit. Maddy Mooney emigrated from Ireland in search of a fresh start, but found herself employed by a poor, selfish widow. When her employer answers a matrimony ad, Maddy finds herself heading to Montana. Along the way, Maddy is abandoned and, after a mishap, assumes the widow's name. As if Maddy's luck couldn't get worse, she begins falling for Kit, but will their relationship last once he finds out Maddy's true identity?
The premise of this book sounded so fun. I loved the idea of this rambunctious teenager deciding she was done with taking care of her brothers, so she schemes a way to marry them off without their knowledge. I enjoyed Maddy as a main character. I thought she was headstrong and a little feisty. Her interactions with Junebug kept me highly entertained. I also thought Kit was tooth-achingly sweet. My only complaint was that, for a romance book, there was very little romance in it. The barest flicker of sparks doesn't even begin until we're way past the halfway mark, and even then, it wasn't anything to write home about. It was a fine read, but bland, and I don't think I'm all that interested in continuing the series.
Rating: 3/5
 |
| Pub Date: 1-25-25 Adult - Historical Mystery |
Shadow at the Morgue- Cara Devlin: Leonora Spencer is no stranger to death. After surviving the unsolved murder of her family fifteen years ago, Leo now spends her days working as an assistant at her uncle's morgue, using her photographic memory to catalog the coroner's reports. Leo isn't afraid to get her hands dirty, and one night while stitching up their latest cadaver, a thief breaks in and steals a necklace off one of the corpses. Leo is determined to uncover why, even if that means going against the wishes of Detective Inspector Jasper Reid. Jasper is desperately trying to leave his murky past behind and prove himself in the police department, and he refuses to let Leo muck up his chances. Jasper is well acquainted with Leo's specific brand of eccentricity but when she starts uncovering clues, he reluctantly agrees to work together. As the pair investigate, they begin to suspect someone is watching them and isn't afraid to do whatever it takes to stop them from learning the truth.
The cover caught my eye as I scrolled through Kindle Unlimited, hoping to break a reading slump. I love historical mysteries, and since it was short, I thought it would be perfect. It wasn't the most mind-blowing book, but it kept me hooked, so it got the job done. I liked our two main characters: Leo was bold and intelligent, unconcerned with acting properly, while Jasper was focused and rough around the edges. There's clearly more to both their stories, which intrigues me. Aside from the characters, the mystery element was also well done. I had no idea where Devlin was going, but I was along for the ride. There wasn't a lot of unnecessary moments, and it made the story feel very streamlined. I recommend it if you're looking for a quick mystery to read, and I'll most likely be continuing the series.
Rating: 3/5
*This post contains affiliate links.
Comments
Post a Comment