Posted on

A Good Girls Guide to Murder

Crime, Investigation, and Small Town are the three words that came to my mind after reading “A Good Girls Guide to Murder” written by Holly Jackson. When Pippa Fitz-Amboli sets out to have her Senior Capstone project be about solving the murder of 15-year-old Adie Bell. It brings the whole town on a rollercoaster ride.

Pippa planned on doing this project and investigation on her own. However, when the suspected killer’s brother finds out what she is doing, they team up to prove his brother’s innocence.

“A Good Girls Guide to Murder” is just that a guide through Pippa’s entire investigation. Filled with transcripts of interviews, and manuscripts of her paper full of her thoughts, opinions, and facts gathered in the case. You could feel the pressure that Pippa felt trying not only to do well on her paper and keep relationships with the people that she is closest with, who are attached to the case. All the while trying to help prove a dead man’s innocence. At times it could be a lot more than Pippa had thought it would be. Both physically and emotionally.

I was captivated from start to finish with this one. As a fan of true crime, this book had everything I was looking for and more. From the personal connection to the crime, to how Pippa laid everything out there to get the job done and prove everyone wrong!

Posted on

Twisted Hate

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.

Posted on

Twisted Games

Royals, love and protection are just three of many things that came to my mind after reading “Twisted Games” written by Ana Huang. When Princess Bridget is unexpectedly next in line for the throne but is in love with someone who is not of royal blood, what will she do?

When Rhys started protected Princess Bridget he had two rules 1.) Protect his clients at all costs and 2.) Do not become emotionally involved ever. Princess Bridget knew that she was in line to the throne after her brother becomes King. This meant she got to enjoy the benefits of the royal family but never really the strict protocols of actively living in the castle. Bridget and Rhys both realize that both plans are about to go out the window. Because they find themselves sneaking around and falling in love with each other. While her own brother abdicates for love himself and the current king and her grandfather steps down, she finds herself preparing to become Queen.

This book with its mixture of Royals, steamy sex scenes and love story, I knew that I was going to instantly love it. I am happy to say that Ana Huang did not disappoint. With the powerfully buy yet caring and down to earth bodyguard and the forbidden romance who wouldn’t love it. I also enjoyed Ana Huang added in Princess Bridget taking on Parliament in the name of love part as well. Such a power move considering all that is going on the current royal climate!

“Twisted Games” is the 2nd book in the Twisted series and it has certainly got me out to buy the last two in the series!! I love this cast of characters!!

Posted on

Twisted Love

Trauma, Steamy Romance and Intense Relationships are just three of many things that have come to my mind after reading “Twisted Love” written by Ana Huang. When Alex is left to watch over his best friend’s sister for an extended period of time anything can happen.

Ana Chen and Alex Volkov have this hate/love relationship, but they tolerate each other because Alex’s best friend is Ana’s older brother. And Ana and Josh are extremely close with each other because of their upbringing. However, when Josh accepts a study abroad program, he decides to leave Josh to watch over Ana even though she is a grown adult. You can imagine their bond growing into an intense relationship during this time. However, Alex reason for their closest is not what it seems.

If I could describe this book one way, it would be a tamer 50 Shades of Grey. With the mixture of intense sex scenes and the power dynamic. However, there was a story of true love with a mixture of intense family drama and secrets that will leave you speechless at times. This book is full of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. That’s why it is such a great passionate love storys.

Posted on

October TBR

1.) Twisted Hate ~ Ana Huang

2.) A Good Girl Guide to Murder ~ Holly Jackson

3.) All Dangerous Things ~ Stacy Willingham

Posted on

Girls Like Girls

Love, Betrayal and Acceptance are just 3 of many words that have come to my mind after reading “Girls Like Girls” written by Hayley Kiyoko. A journey of two girls just trying to go through life while trying to come to terms for their true feelings for each other.

When Coley is left picking up the pieces after her mother’s death and is now left to live with her father who left her at the age of 3, Coley is lost and lonely. She unexpectedly meets Sonja and immediately gets hit with emotions she has never had to deal with before. Now the two girls become inseparable, mixed signals are given and boundaries are crossed. The two girls are left wondering whether their feelings are worth everything that there is to lose like not their love being accepted or even loosing each other.

My first thought after reading this book was how I wished this book was around when I was in middle school. This book was just a pure representation of how pure love is love is. This book message of how everyone just wants to be loved and accepted should be all that matters in this world. It shouldn’t matter your gender, sexual orientation or anything else.

Hayley Kiyoko was just the right person to right this book. As she is such a great role model for the younger generation in the LGBT Plus community. I grew up watching her in Disney Channel Movies like “Lemonade Mouth”, with guest appearances on “Wizards of Waverly Place”and of course her roles on “Scooby Doo” as well. Being able to see her be her true authentic self through her whole career and embracing her sexuality her fans gave her the nickname “Lesbian Jesus”

In a world where it seems as if we are going back in time. Teaching children that you can’t be yourself and you can’t love who you love. Where we are banning books because they expand our minds and help us learn from our past. I think it is more important than ever for people likeh Hayley Kiyoko and books like “Girls Like Girls” to heard and to be shared with the world! Because after all love is love! It’s as simple as that! ❤️

Posted on

Hotel Nantucket

Hospitality, ghosts and relationships are the 3 things that came to my mind after reading “The Hotel Nantucket” written by Elin Hilderbrand. What happens when a group of complete strangers come together to work at this renovated but yet a haunted Hotel Nantucket.

Xavier is an investor who bought the abandon hotel with quite a haunted reputation, with the mission of having it become the first hotel that the famous hotel reviewer gives five keys to.

Along with Lizabeth who he hires as the new hotels General Manager, she hires a whole cast of characters to run the hotel alongside her.

But when the hotel has had a history of being haunted it takes a while for people to book rooms.

A common compliant is when there are too many characters to follow. I would say that if it is done right, it can turnout fantastic. However, I believe this book might have had one too many characters. I understand the point was to show how many people it takes to run a hotel, but when you also try to give everyone a backstory as well, it just becomes a little overwhelming and hard to follow.

One character’s story I could have probably live without was Lizabeth herself. Yes, she is the main character and the General Manager of the hotel, and she is trying to rebuild her live after a rough breakup. But I just felt that as though she had no personality, no charisma.

On the other hand, Grace was a character that I loved. She was a part of the original history of the hotel, and she now gets to see it renovated and brought back to life. I love how she also sends little signals to the guests as well.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, but I thought it could be dry at times and just not that impactful. It lacks things but gave too much at the same time.

P.S. It does make me want to go to Nantucket and stay at the hotel this story was based on. So, I guess it did its intended job.

Posted on

BearTown

Small town, hockey and the truth are three words that come to my mind after reading “BearTown” by Fredrik Backman. When the truth comes about a terrible incident the small hockey town will never be the same.

BearTown has always lived and breath hockey. It is the type of town that treats their athletes as stars around town. They can do no wrong.  It is also time for the team to really buckle down and win the Simi-finals. However, when a terrible incident occurs at a party, leave Maya absolutely devasted, she is left picking up the pieces and the burn of deciding to tell the truth or hold the truth to protect the only thing the town has ever known. And when the truth finally does come out, who will people believe? Will Maya finally be able to begin the healing process or will the burn just be too much for her?

This story is a story of consent, truth, and strength. A story that brings a very necessary storyline to light. The power that society and especially a small town gives their athletes can lead to devasting results one way or another. The truth is no one is above law no matter if you can make basket, shoot a goal, run for a touchdown, or even led a country. The truth is if we all care for each other, listen to one another, and respect one another, there just might be just little less hurt in this world.

Fredrik Backman’s way of storytelling is one of my favorites. He has a way of bringing his characters to life in such a way that the reader really gets invested into their lives and story. His books are full of emotion, depth and will always have an important message hidden inside. They have always left an impact on me, and I hope they will leave an impact on you.

Posted on

The Dating Plan

Love, family drama and fake relationships are the three things that came to my mind after reading “The Dating Plan” written by Sara Desai. When old flames reunited unexpectedly and start to fake dating, what could possibly go wrong?

Daisy Patel and Liam Murphy are old high school flames, whose relationship ended after Liam never showed up to take Daisy to her senior prom and left town for good.

Now ten years later Daisy and Liam unexpectedly run into each other at a tech conference and to fix their own individual family situations they hatch a plan to start fake dating. However, when the old feelings for each other come flooding back but the truth of that last night is revealed. What will happen to these once high school lovers, turned heartbreakers and now fake fiancés?

Let me first start out by saying I love the fake relationship tropes. They sometimes are corny and predictable. But with Sara Desai adding in these characters families, back stories and reasons behind the fake relationships, it really laid out the high stakes out this relationship was for Liam and Daisy.

Overall, I really enjoyed and appreciated all the little things and big things this book had to offer.

Posted on

The Nightingale

Survival, War and Love are three words that comes to my mind after reading “The Nightingale” written by Kristin Hannah. When two sisters are living in the same war but react in two different ways, will their sisterly bond uphold and how will they come out on the other side.

The Germans have invaded France and Isabella and Vianne Mauriac are faced with having two different perspectives on the war. While Vianne wanted to watch the war run its course and just survive with her family, Isabella wanted to fight and join the resistance of the war.

The truth is I have never been able to fully appreciate and take in a book about WW2 because of the all the war talk. However, “The Nightingale” and Kristin Hannah’s ability to tell a story about the women of war is quite special. Both Isabella and Vianna were characters that I was able to root for through out the whole book. Their growth throughout the story was my favorite part.

I would recommend “The Nightingale” to anyone who is looking for a war focus with women empowerment story that will keep you captivated and the turning the pages to the every end.