Author: hadleybooks

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King of Pride

Do you enjoy reading about forbidden romance? How about work drama with a little bit of blackmail? Well, I have a book for you! “King of Pride” written by Ana Huang. When a bartender at an exclusive club falls for a club member anything can happen.

Isabella Valencia and Kai Young are not supposed to be together by the club rules. However, their chemistry and passions are undeniable. Kai Young is in a tough time because he is in the middle of a campaign to win the CEO vote of his family business run by his mother. Isabella is trying to prove to her own family that she isn’t wasting her life away living in New York, working as a bartender, and trying to write her book.

I felt that a certain times throughout the story I could relate to Isabella. Especially when she is trying to prove the importance of her passion for writing her book to her family. When all they thought was that it was just a silly little hobby. She believed she had a story to tell and a willingness and a passion to get it down on paper. This is also a passion of mine and I believe that one day I will get to complete this goal.

I enjoy Ana Huang stories because of their forbidden love stories and drama-packed storylines. They might not be the most meaningful or impactful, but they are definitely a guilty pleasure of mine.

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Happy Place

Do you have a happy place? Do you believe in 2nd chance love stories? Well do I have a story for you! “Happy Place” by Emily Henry when a group of college friends get together one last time anything could happen.

Harriet and Wyn met in college, fell in love and got engaged. Life got in the way, they grew apart and broke up. However, they have to reunite for the last annual friends week away up in Maine and the thing is no one knows they broke up! So they have to out on happy faces in their happy place!

I related two things in this story. 1.) the fact that Maine was their Happy Place. I also consider Maine one of my happy places. My family and I love to have day trips up to Maine, to have a nice seafood dinner, a little shopping and then a nice walk on the beach. In fact, Maine was the location that we chose to have our last large family vacation right before my dad past away. For that reason alone Maine will always hold a special place in my heart!

And 2.) I related to the fact that Harriet believed that she was going to disappoint her parents when she tells them she doesn’t want to be a Doctor anymore. I am currently working in the financial industry and it is something that my parents have been incredibly proud of. And disappointing them will always be my biggest fear. However, it has left me with anxiety, stress and a severe case of the Sunday scaries. I just feel as though I will never be enough for the institution because I simply don’t have the passion for it.

I have always dreamed of doing something in Journalism, writing a book, talking about books and that is the reason why I started this blog in the first place. As a place to start working on my passion.

I would highly recommend “Happy Place” by Emily Henry if you want a feel good, story that will have you crying, smiling and laughing all the way through! ❤️

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The Maid

Have you ever read about a hotel maid, Murder and Deception? Well do I have a book for you! “The Maid” written by Nita Prose is a story of a very trustworthy, loveable maid and a murder that takes you on a wild ride.

Molly Gray loves her job and the consistency that it brings being a maid at the well-known Regency Hotel. Especially with the death of her beloved grandmother. Being able to work at the hotel has helped Molly cope with her loss. However, when Molly finds a high-class and long-term guest Mr.Black dead in his hotel room, she could have never predicted what could have transpired next.

Molly has been one of my favorite characters in a book in a long time. She is the most considerate, kind, and trustworthy person. However, with her hard time understanding people and understanding social cues, on top of her trustworthy nature, she finds herself in a troubling position.

I enjoyed this book from the very first page to the very last page. All of the characters had important roles in the storyline whether they were loveable or not. I would highly recommend this story for anyone who enjoys a good mystery book!!

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Daisy Jones & The Six

Do you enjoy reading about sex, drugs, and rock & Roll, do you enjoy reading about bands in the 60’s? Well, I have a book for you!! “Daisy Jones and the Six “written by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It is a story of the struggles of an up-and-coming band in the 1960s.

Daisy Jones dreamed of becoming a singer and the Dunne brothers dreamed of creating a world-famous band. So when their manager was looking for someone to do a duet with them and he heard Daisy Jones perform he knew she had something special. When Daisy Jones and the Dunne brothers band finally joined forces they created magic and quickly shot to the top of the charts.

This story is loosely based on the creation of the Fleetwood band, an American-British band formed in 1967. And the ups and downs of their success.

I enjoyed this book very much. Taylor Jenkins Reid does a great job of depicting the lives of musicians and the challenges that they face in the industry. By creating characters that might have that rough and tough, rock and roll persona but at the same time have a down-to-earth side, Taylor was able to show what goes on behind the scenes and the dynamic that the different bandmates have with each other both professionally and personally. It was a really sweet story of what was, what is, and what it could have continued to be!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves reading about the music industry!

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King of Wrath

Do you enjoy books that involve arranged marriages? How about books about blackmailing and how about reading about high society? If you said yes to any of these, oh how I have a book for you!! “King of Wrath” written by Ana Huang. When plans don’t go has planned, Vivian finds herself in an arranged marriage that once again doesn’t go as planned.

In Vivian’s family, if you are not married and having a family with a man who has been approved by the parents, by a certain age, you will be forced into an arranged marriage. That is exactly what happened to Vivian. Now she finds herself in an arranged relationship with a well-known member of high society Dante Russo. However, Dante is hiding a secret that could hold the potential of ruining everything.

The first thing you must know is that I am a sucker for any books that involve high society, a strong-headed female and a powerful, with a dash of a puppy-like heart for a male character!! And let me tell you, this book had everything!! Including a mixture of a dark and sneaky past from at least one of the main characters!! Between the Twisted Series and now this book, I know that Ana Huang as become one of my go to authors for a good guiltily pleasure romance book!!

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Ninth House

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Society Life, Mystery and Magic are just a few of many words that have come to my mind after reading “Ninth House” written by Leigh Bardugo. When Alex Stern gets adopted into a Magic based society at Yale University anything could happen.

Alex Stern was not just your average college drop out living in California. She was hiding a traumatic pass and a hidden power. After another traumatic accident she finds herself in the hospital bed facing a second chance. The second chance is to go to Yale University on a free ride and with a mission to monitor the secret societies on campus. This take Alex on a wild ride of magic rituals and solving murders

One thing I enjoyed from this book is storytelling of the society and what was happening right in front of everyone, and what was also happening behind closed doors. I also appreciated the murder mystery aspect of this story as well.

However, I did find myself having difficulty following along with story. For example, I had a hard time figuring out how some of the characters were connected. Also trying to figure out what the true mission the characters were trying to accomplish.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses

World Building, Relationships and Challenges are just 3 of many words that have come to my mind after reading “A Court of Thorns and Roses” Written by Sarah J Maas. A wild journey of Faeries, Magic and Challenges that all started with a a simple hunting trip.

When Feyre killed a wolf to simply feed her family, she could have never impinged what would happen. A beast came bursting through her cottage and told her that because she killed the wolf, she had broken the trendy between his land and the human land. Now she must go live with him in his land.

Feyre quickly learns to adapt to her new surroundings and develops a new life with The Beast Tamlin and his trusty side-kick Lucien. She soon realizes that is it not her captors, that she has to worry about but the magical and yet dangerous creatures that are living around the lands. She doesn’t what kind of challenges are ahead for her but she knows that there is a reason behind everything. Even being taken away from her family to go live with Tamlin and Lucien.

One thing I enjoy most about fantasy books is the world building, character development and the action pact nature of that this books can often bring. Let me tell you, Sarah J. Maas did not disappoint with the first book in the well know “A Court of Thorns and Roses” Series. I found myself inthralled with the different lands history, rooting for the characters and at the edge of my seat to the very end!

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy books!! I can’t wait to get my hands on the other books in the series!!

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One Day In December

Romance, Christmas and forbidden romance are three themes that have come to my mind after reading “One Day in December” written by Josie Silver. Imagine falling in love at first sight at the bus station, to find out that, the mystery man is your best friend’s boyfriend.

One day Laurie was getting on the bus when she spotted the most beautiful man she had ever seen. They locked eyes and fell in love without even talking to each other. A year later she finds out the new boyfriend of her roommate and best was the guy from the bus station and the man she had been searching for, for the best year. Laurie decided it was in the best interest of both their friendship and the new relationship not to bring the fact that Jack was the mystery long along.

Even though the concept of this story was great. The execution was just not there.

One of my favorite things about this book was the friendship between the female main character Laurie and her best friend Sarah. They became roommates out of need but became best friends by choice.

One thing I disliked about this book was the male main characters. Besides Luke, Jack and Oliver only really seemed to think of themselves. Jack lied to Laurie just to save a relationship that was going nowhere and he was a crybaby when it came to the accident. Oliver only was a hero on vacation. When it came to reality his job was the only thing that mattered to him. He did not care about what Laurie wanted. He wanted a trophy wife.

Another thing I disliked about this story was the length. Even though this book spans multiple years, it did not need to be as long as it was. There was a lot of unnecessary fluff that made the book drag on.

Overall I would give this book a 3-star rating. It was a cute story that could have ended halfway through.

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Fourth Wing

War, Enemies, and of course Dragons are just 3 of many things that came to my mind after reading “Fourth Wing” written by Rebecca Yarros. When Violet is forced into the rider quadrant by her mother, when she has other things in mind. It becomes a matter of life and death for Violet in more ways than one.

The students at Basgiath War College are forced to break into different quadrants to help their home of Navarre in the war to defend their land. All of Violet Sorrengail’s life she wanted to be in the Scribe Quadrant where she got to be the first with the knowledge of what was happening in the war without being in the danger of fighting the war. Which was held for the members of the Riders Quadrant. However, her mother is the General and whatever she says goes. Therefore, her mother wanted her in the Rider’s Quadrant so she was placed in the Rider’s Quadrant.  This is one of the many lessons she learns along the way: Being able to find trust in your lifelong enemy is tough but if they are your only line of defense, you will soon realize you have a lot more in common than you once thought.  

Fourth Wing was a fantasy masterpiece!! This book had something for everyone, from worldbuilding, war, fighting with dragons, and even managing to mix in a bit of romance in between the pages of action. The book ends on a cliffhanger and I will most definenly picking up the next one called “Iron Gate”.

Rebecca has done a fantastic job making such a long book such a page turnover and such a captivating read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and romance. And even if you don’t go give this book a try! It will not disappoint!

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Twisted Lies

Fake Relationships, Lies, and Intense Passion are just three things of many that have come to my mind after reading “Twisted Lies” by Ana Huang. When this landlord and tenant find themselves in a fake relationship, it could only end in disastrous means when the The Twisted Lies come out.

When Stella’s best friend Jules moves out of their joint apartment, it leaves Stella in a tough spot. So she makes a deal with the landlord Christian to help him with his plants and he promises to lower the rent. They soon realize that they could both benefit from being in a fake relationship with each other for their own personal and professional gain.

However, just like every other great fake relationship trope they begin to actually fall for each other. This is until the secret that Christian has been holding onto since the day they met threatens to destroy them both.

Just like all the others in the Twisted Series, Ana Huang did not disappoint with Twisted Lies ,in the steamy, passion and deep relationships and captivated characters and storylines. This entire series was wrapped up perfectly this with a book with following up with the friends and previous couples, from the other books and their storylines. This is certainly a great finish to a great series!!