Tag: The Best Leaders are Readers

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.

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.

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.

Husband Material

February 24, 2023

Love, Weddings and Commitment are three words that come to my mind after reading “Husband Material” written by Alexis Hall, a conclusion to the Boyfriend Material Series.

With several weddings to attend in short amount of time, one Luc’s best friend and another Luc’s ex boyfriend’s, it has left Luc and Oliver thinking about their future together as a couple. And that brings up whether they are both willing to commit to marriage or just being together as a couple.

If I am being honest, I enjoyed “Boyfriend Material” more than “Husband Material” I felt has if it was a bit too long for what needed to be done. There were some parts that were reparative and unnecessary, but it was still a sweet ending to a love story I have been committed to.

Big Little Lies

January 30, 2023

Lies, Secrets and Drama are the three words that came to my mind after reading “Big Little Lies” written by Liane Moriarty. A captivating story of Desperate Housewives meets a murder-mystery thriller.

When Jane moves to Sydney Northern Beaches and enrolls her young son Ziggy into a private school there, she soon finds herself in the middle of all of the drama and secrets of the school moms. All the while maybe holding onto the biggest secret of all to herself. And when the school fundraiser threatens to expose her secret, not every comes out alive.

Liane Moriarty is my new favorite for drama and thrillers. She does a great job creating characters that you As a big fan of Desperate Housewives type of show, Big Little Lies and Liane Moriarty does not disappoint.

The Stand In

November 17, 2022

Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity? What would you do if given the opportunity to fill in for that celebrity twin of yours?

That is exactly what happened in “The Stand In” written by Lily Chu. When Gracie Reed got the opportunity at right time in her life. Right when she was debating whether she was going to quit her job because of her boss or whether to suck it up because she needs the money to get her ailing mother into the top nursing home in town. She was ambushed by the talented Chinese actress Wei Fangli on a walk and asked to step in for her at events while she is filming a movie in Canada.

Will Gracie be able to full fill her duty without being recognized or caught? What will happen between her and Wei Fangli right hand man and friend Sam Yao? And what will happen to the relationship between Wei and Gracie when Gracie finds out they maybe closer than they might have original thought?

“The Stand In” is that guilty rom com of a story that will leave you with your own question of “what if I was given an opportunity of a life time by my own celebrity look alike?”

One to Watch

February 18, 2021

Love, Diversity and Reality Television are 3 themes that come to my mind after reading “One to Watch” A book about viewing love in all different forms. A love story that we did not think we needed but we really did!

Bea was riding a high on instant social media fame with her blog about overweight fashion. When the executive producer of the hit reality television show “Main Squeeze” about finding love on nation TV approached her about being the lead on the upcoming season. At first Bea is very hesitant because she did not know how people would perceive her and she did not want to become a laughingstock of national television.   However, when Lauren the executive producer, convinces her that it will help grow her platform. Bea is in!

This book takes us through the trials and tribulations of Bea’s journey of love. This book just like the reality is full of crying, love and above all drama! Will Bea finally be able to believe in the process and she be able to find love?

Diversity was the biggest topic in this book and is the biggest problem in the Batchelor Nation franchise as well. Even though the franchise have made steps in the right direction with casting the leads Rachel Lindsay, Tayshia Adams, the first black bachelor Matt James and two incredibly great diverse casts on contestants. On the heels on the events that have occurred in the franchise this past week, it shows the franchise has a long way to go! As a long-time fan of the franchise I look forward to seeing the progress take place!