Category: Romance

Just Us

June 30, 2025
Young Love, Coming of Age, and Past vs. Present are the themes that came to my mind after reading “Just Us,” written by Heather White Driscoll. When a freshman and a very popular senior get together, it doesn’t just change their lives, but it changes the whole high school at the same time.

Harper Whitemoore was a type A type of girl with her whole freshman year planned out before she stepped out of her mother’s car on the first day of freshman year. This including getting good grades, join the varsity soccer team as a freshman, and unlike her best friend Leigh she wanted to wait until her college years to find the right guy to settle down with and get serious with. Well life had different plans starting on the first day, when she ran into the popular senior Scott Peirce. Everything change and nothing was ever the same after that.

“Just Us” follows Harper and Scott has they navigate this young love and all the challenges that go along with it. For one the age gap and the fact that Scott was a senior with a questionable past that at times got in the way of the true love in front of them.

I absolutely loved this young love story from the beginning to the very end. However, there were times when I wanted to yell at both of these teenagers at the different points throughout the story. This story was very necessary to show that even though there was an age gap and challenges that Harper and Scott both face, if there is honesty, loyalty and empathy love should win out above all.

Haunting Adeline

January 20, 2025
Disturbing, Haunting and captivating are three things that came to my mind after reading “Haunting Adeline” by H.D Carlton. A Haunting tale of a victim falling in love with her hypocrite of a stalker.

 Zade Meadows saves victims of human trafficking. All the while stalking Adeline. Adeline has inherited her Great-Grandmother haunted house. And is on a mission to solve the murder on her great-grandmother that had occurred in that house decades earlier.

This book takes you on a journey of having empathy for victims, hatred for the criminals and confusion towards the love story.

This book comes packed with triggers warnings and I am typically a reader who ignores trigger warning, I would highly recommend you read and investigate the warnings before dividing into this book. Even though this book has important aspects to discuss and a captivating, compelling story. This story isn’t for everyone and the topic and several scene can be hard to read about and take in.

There are just those authors out there that make me wonder what is going through their heads while writing. I am 100% adding H.D Carlton to that list.

Swan Song

July 12, 2024

Do enjoy reading about a missing person mystery thriller? Would you like to read about a drama on the island of Nantucket? Well, do I have a story for you? “Swan Song” It was the finale to her well know Nantucket Series.

When the Richards landed on the island of Nantucket for the summer, they took the island by storm. They quickly became the “It” couple of the island, befriending the island natives, and being invited to all of the big events on top of throwing major rager of parties, at their multi-million dollar coast-side home and on their boat. One party in particular ended in a house fire and their house-helper disappearing.

Honestly, this has been my least favorite of Elin Hilderbrand books and for a book that has been hyped up so much over the last few weeks, I was less than impressed. I believe this has to do with my expectations of the book and the book not fulfilling those expectations. This book is a duel timeline of an investigation of the house assistant going missing during a party on the Richards boat and the backstory and buildup to the party itself. It was the lack of investigation care for the house assistant and all of the hype that was surrounding the Richards in general that got me. Also, the end was rushed, and it felt as though Elin was just trying to wrap things up as quickly as possible without much meaning behind things.

Overall, this story was fine, it was a good summer read that would put the reader in the summer elements of Cape Cod. But it certainly lacked the shocking elements that some of her other books contained.

The Kiss Quotient

June 17, 2024

Have you never had trouble admitting you needed assistance with something, have you ever tried online dating before? Well do I have a story for you. When Stella needs help in the bedroom, she turns to online dating apps for assistance and what could possibly go wrong with that.

Stella who has Asperger’s and has never really dated anyone and had slept with 3 men in her past. Really only for them and never to her satisfaction. So she figured that she turned to online dating/escorting sites for guidance. She made it quite clear she only wanted practice and never a relationship. That’s because she already had someone in mind. She just needed to build confidence. That’s was of course she met Michael. The escort from online.

Michael it turns out was the most down-to-earth patient man for the job. He accepted the fact that Stella had a checklist and that this was only going to be a one time thing. However, he shortly realized that things were going to go slow and that Stella was going to need more than one night to be comfortable.

Like I said in the past, it is the characters that make a story for me and it was no different with this one. Truthfully I wasn’t totally sold on the plot of the story at first. However, once I was introduced to Stella and Michael and got to learn more and more about them, I was sold!

One thing I truly appreciate about Helen Hoang is that she writes about characters with neurological disorders in such a bright light. So many times we read about these people in a bad light. And in Helen Hoang stories they get to shine and I absolutely love that! In this story both Michael and Stella had flaws and stars and they were treated all the same!!

Iron Flame

May 6, 2024

Are you a big fan of Iron Fame? Have you been wondering what Violet and Xaden have been up to since we last left them? Well do I have a book for you! “Iron Flame” written by Rebecca Yarros Iron Flame is a continuation of the Fourth Wring Saga.

 

In the 2nd installment of the series, Violet is now in her second year at the war college of Basgiath War College and is now is charge of watching the first years. When she comes across the younger sister of one of friends that passed away the previous year, she now has to earn her trust with the sister who blames Violet for her brothers death.

 

Never mind trying to get through school at Basgiath, she also has to go against her mother wishes and goes to the front line of the war to defend her homeland.

 

Even though I enjoyed Fourth Wing more for the world building and character building, I did enjoy Iron Flame as well. I appreciated the family dynamics between Violet and her siblings. My other favorite part was that she was finally able to stand up for herself against her mother.

I must say that I did get lost at some points throughout the story with everything that was going on. However, I believe at Rebecca Yarros has hit gold with these characters, plot lines and world building. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

King of Pride

April 10, 2024

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.

King of Wrath

January 31, 2024

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!!

One Day In December

December 18, 2023

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.

Twisted Lies

November 21, 2023

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!!

Twisted Hate

October 13, 2023

Romance, Drama, and Revenge are three themes that have come to my mind after reading “Twisted Hate” ~ Ana Huang. This is not your average best friend-brother troop.

Since Jules Ambrose met her college roommate Ava Chen’s brother Josh, they seemed to be budding heads. Both believed they knew what was right for Ava. They never thought they would find themselves working for the same clinic and starting a wild affair. An affair that consisted of wild sex, lies, and sneaking around behind not just Ava’s back but around each other as well.

I got to be honest Josh has been my least favorite male character in this series so far. However, I am a sucker for the best friend brother troop. and the sweet, sweet revenge that took place in this book, it was well worth it.

I took great sympathy and liking to Jules. Her growth from wanting to deal with the past on her own, to telling the full truth to Josh. It was growth from putting her traumatic past behind her and to really diving full force into her furture.

Although this book has been my least favorite of the series so far. I still enjoyed the storyline. The way that Ana brings all the characters together at the end, reminds me of an episode of Friends. Just maybe a little bit more PG 13.