Tag: Hadley Books

A Court of Thorns and Roses

January 12, 2024

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!!

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!!

A Good Girls Guide to Murder

October 31, 2023

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!

Twisted Games

October 9, 2023

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!!

Twisted Love

October 4, 2023

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.

Hotel Nantucket

July 5, 2023

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.

BearTown

June 14, 2023

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.

The Dating Plan

April 24, 2023

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.

The Nightingale

April 17, 2023

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.