Jane's bookshelf: all en-US Fri, 04 Apr 2025 21:36:27 -0700 60 Jane's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Escape Plan (Only Magic in the Building)]]> 228518870 When there’s no escaping the plans life has for you�

Beckett McCarthy’s beloved Gran always taught him to find magic in mundane, everyday things. But since she died, he no longer feels any magic.

In fact, he feels nothing at all.

So, when he has an opportunity to spend a summer abroad in Serendipity Springs, he’s expecting little more than a change in scenery.

Until Keeley Roberts�quite literally—falls into his life.

From their first chaotic encounter in a stuck elevator, Beckett and Keeley can’t seem to stay apart.

Not that Becks is complaining. He’s enchanted by his beautiful, feisty new neighbor; drawn to her in a way he can’t explain... until they discover an invisible string that’s been connecting them all this time.

It’s as if fate itself has conspired to bring them together.

But with Beckett soon returning to Ireland and Keeley’s dream job hanging by a thread, is fate enough to keep their love alive� or will they need a little magic?

The Escape Plan is a standalone book in the Only Magic in the Building series. These closed door, whimsical romance books are all set in the same historic building, which has a habit of playing matchmaker with its residents. There are light magical elements, but no spells, shifters, or dark magic of any kind. ]]> Katie Bailey Jane 0 to-read 5.00 The Escape Plan (Only Magic in the Building)
author: Katie Bailey
name: Jane
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Recipe for Rivals (Arcadia Creek, #3)]]> 203315250 She thought she could steer clear of romance in a town full of cowboys, but then she met the fireman.

After signing divorce papers and leaving her New York life behind, Nova Walker needs a refuge. She finds it in small town Texas with her Aunt Gigi, along with the opportunity to earn her keep working in Gigi’s diner. Since she’s going to Arcadia Creek, Nova expects the cowboys, but she doesn’t expect the extremely attractive firefighter who—living up to his fiery title—seems to butt heads with her at every turn.

With his charm and cocky attitude, Dusty Hayes—as hickish as they come in this backwater place—has a knack for pushing Nova's buttons and propelling her competitiveness into overdrive. Friendly battling with Dusty gives her a break from her insurmountable trials, but though his antics soon change from teasing to flirting, Nova can’t allow her walls to crumble. Because the last time they did, she lost everything.

And with two small kids depending on her, Nova will never allow that to happen again.

Book three in the Arcadia Creek romance series, Recipe for Rivals is a competition-based enemies-to-lovers story with a single mom, a fire fighter, and plenty of banter. This modern romance will continue the saga in Arcadia Creek, Texas and show you just how cozy it can be.]]> 0 Kasey Stockton 1952429587 Jane 5
Absolutely loved Nova and Dusty! Loved their banter. Loved their rivalry. Loved their love. The way they both fall for each other so quickly is so beautiful. And I love how they build each other up and help each other see their value and worth. Dusty cares for Nova in the sweetest ways and I loved how he protects and cherishes both her and her kids. Nova is a fantastic single mom protagonist. I loved getting to know her and admired her strength, patience and incredible work ethic for her kids. Her motherhood is authentic and beautiful.

There are some heavier topics in this one including a manipulative husband, discussions of drug addiction and overdose and domestic abuse. All of these are incorporated into the story with grace and tact. Kasey does a beautiful job including difficult topics without having them overpower her story. And I loved the beautiful messages of faith and hope throughout this one.

One of my favorites I’ve read by Kasey!!]]> 4.23 Recipe for Rivals (Arcadia Creek, #3)
author: Kasey Stockton
name: Jane
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: 2025, beautiful-romance, single-parent-romcom, rom-com
review:
I adored this third book in the Arcadia Creek series! Please write more books in this series, Kasey! I don’t want it to end!

Absolutely loved Nova and Dusty! Loved their banter. Loved their rivalry. Loved their love. The way they both fall for each other so quickly is so beautiful. And I love how they build each other up and help each other see their value and worth. Dusty cares for Nova in the sweetest ways and I loved how he protects and cherishes both her and her kids. Nova is a fantastic single mom protagonist. I loved getting to know her and admired her strength, patience and incredible work ethic for her kids. Her motherhood is authentic and beautiful.

There are some heavier topics in this one including a manipulative husband, discussions of drug addiction and overdose and domestic abuse. All of these are incorporated into the story with grace and tact. Kasey does a beautiful job including difficult topics without having them overpower her story. And I loved the beautiful messages of faith and hope throughout this one.

One of my favorites I’ve read by Kasey!!
]]> <![CDATA[Off the Wall (Only Magic in the Building)]]> 228199240 She’s in search of her soulmate. He avoids love at all costs. These neighbors are a total mismatch � until serendipity steps in.

Nori Sinclair has two goals in find the husband of her dreams, and purchase the beloved tea shop in her hometown, Serendipity Springs.

So when Nori finds herself short on funds to land a business loan, she joins a dating app that pays her to be their featured single in a month-long ad campaign.

Per her contract, all men are off-limits, except those matched for her by Swipe Rite.

This seems simple enough... until she keeps seeing herself in every mirror holding hands with Cash Briggs.

AKA her aloof, unavailable neighbor.

After a career-ending injury, ex-baseball player Cash is on a mission to help others who’ve been shattered like he was, inside and out. With his sights firmly set on a job in Los Angeles, he doesn’t have time for family or friends, let alone a relationship where he’d only get burned. Again.

Continually having to rescue Nori—his flustered neighbor, who seems desperate to avoid him—was not part of his plan.

While Cash and Nori fight their growing attraction, magnetic elements in their magical building draw them together, until they're forced to choose between breaking all the rules or breaking both their hearts …]]> 328 Julie Christianson Jane 0 4.70 2025 Off the Wall (Only Magic in the Building)
author: Julie Christianson
name: Jane
average rating: 4.70
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: currently-reading, 2025, arc, beautiful-romance, rom-com
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Love on Deck (Arcadia Creek, #1)]]> 196997326 314 Kasey Stockton 1952429404 Jane 4
Lauren was such a great character to get to know. She has a difficult and complicated past. She’s had to grow up faster than kids should. And she is now successful. But is she happy? I loved seeing her open up to Jack and realize her own worth and value. I loved seeing how easily she fits into Jacks family and how much meaning she finds in her life once she is connected to him and to Arcadia Creek.

Jack was probably my favorite character in the book (besides his daring mom!). I loved how he isn’t the enemy Lauren thinks he is. His side of the story from their disastrous first date was the first step in really getting to know him. He is kind, loyal and tender hearted. I loved watching him take care of Lauren and show her how amazing she is. I loved the scenes on the cruise when he tucks her in (for the first time in her life!), helps her after a panic attack, and helps her relax. They are so great together!

Lauren and Jack are surrounded by such a fun cast of characters. I loved Jacks small town Texas family especially his sweet mom and his relationships with his brothers (already started Tuckers story!). I also enjoyed getting to know Lauren’s sister and her husband (who is also Jacks best friend). Seeing those sisters, who have been through so much, really understand each other and build a stronger relationship was so lovely. Some of Amelia’s friends were sure toxic though.

I love a fake dating story and this is such a fun one! From their initial agreement, it’s obvious they both feel the tension and chemistry. I loved how quickly the fake dating becomes real. Their banter is fantastic. And I loved how they help each other find true purpose in their lives and fulfillment in their work. Their love story is so beautiful!]]> 3.66 2023 Love on Deck (Arcadia Creek, #1)
author: Kasey Stockton
name: Jane
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/29
shelves: 2025, beautiful-romance, enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, rom-com
review:
I really enjoyed this first book in Kasey’s Arcadia Creek series. An enemies to lovers meets forced proximity meets fake dating Rom com that has me so excited to read the full series!

Lauren was such a great character to get to know. She has a difficult and complicated past. She’s had to grow up faster than kids should. And she is now successful. But is she happy? I loved seeing her open up to Jack and realize her own worth and value. I loved seeing how easily she fits into Jacks family and how much meaning she finds in her life once she is connected to him and to Arcadia Creek.

Jack was probably my favorite character in the book (besides his daring mom!). I loved how he isn’t the enemy Lauren thinks he is. His side of the story from their disastrous first date was the first step in really getting to know him. He is kind, loyal and tender hearted. I loved watching him take care of Lauren and show her how amazing she is. I loved the scenes on the cruise when he tucks her in (for the first time in her life!), helps her after a panic attack, and helps her relax. They are so great together!

Lauren and Jack are surrounded by such a fun cast of characters. I loved Jacks small town Texas family especially his sweet mom and his relationships with his brothers (already started Tuckers story!). I also enjoyed getting to know Lauren’s sister and her husband (who is also Jacks best friend). Seeing those sisters, who have been through so much, really understand each other and build a stronger relationship was so lovely. Some of Amelia’s friends were sure toxic though.

I love a fake dating story and this is such a fun one! From their initial agreement, it’s obvious they both feel the tension and chemistry. I loved how quickly the fake dating becomes real. Their banter is fantastic. And I loved how they help each other find true purpose in their lives and fulfillment in their work. Their love story is so beautiful!
]]> <![CDATA[Falling in Line (Arcadia Creek, #2)]]> 196738271 Break my heart once, shame on you. Break my heart twice? Nope. Not gonna let that happen.Tucker’s heart was broken, stomped on, chewed up and spit back out. But that was five years ago. He’s had time and space to come to terms with being left behind, to heal his heart.
It’s helped that June has stayed away from Arcadia Creek.
Except now . . . she’s back.
She says she's here to stay. But old wounds don't heal as smoothly the second time.
And Tucker isn't about to trust June again.
No matter how hard she tries.]]> 338 Kasey Stockton 1952429439 Jane 5
The characters are so lovely in this series. Well rounded, complex, relatable and easy to cheer for. I was invested in June and Tucker and their love story from the first pages of this one. Loved the characters surrounding them too -- June's dad (stubborn, healing in more ways than one and so loyal), Nellie (mother figure, feisty, second chance on love for her too), Tucker's family especially his mom who I love (loved seeing her work through forgiveness and grace in this one) also I would love a book for Colt -- the baby brother!! Loved seeing Lauren and Jack in this one and seeing how happy and content they are in their future.

I just adore this small town of Arcadia Creek! Love the quirks and the endearing moments in this small town. Especially loved Bakers Books and June's journey with the book store. I want to join her book club and come in for a drink while I browse their collections.

Loved the second chance romance between June and Tucker! They both made mistakes and are healing together. Seeing them give their love a chance again and fight for their love was so beautiful!

So excited for Dusty's story!!!]]> 4.08 Falling in Line (Arcadia Creek, #2)
author: Kasey Stockton
name: Jane
average rating: 4.08
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/29
shelves: 2025, beautiful-romance, rom-com, second-chance
review:
Loved this darling second chance romance!

The characters are so lovely in this series. Well rounded, complex, relatable and easy to cheer for. I was invested in June and Tucker and their love story from the first pages of this one. Loved the characters surrounding them too -- June's dad (stubborn, healing in more ways than one and so loyal), Nellie (mother figure, feisty, second chance on love for her too), Tucker's family especially his mom who I love (loved seeing her work through forgiveness and grace in this one) also I would love a book for Colt -- the baby brother!! Loved seeing Lauren and Jack in this one and seeing how happy and content they are in their future.

I just adore this small town of Arcadia Creek! Love the quirks and the endearing moments in this small town. Especially loved Bakers Books and June's journey with the book store. I want to join her book club and come in for a drink while I browse their collections.

Loved the second chance romance between June and Tucker! They both made mistakes and are healing together. Seeing them give their love a chance again and fight for their love was so beautiful!

So excited for Dusty's story!!!
]]> <![CDATA[Petals and Plot Twists (Only Magic in the Building)]]> 227996930 Unlucky in love Sophie Stewart might need a miracle to find her one true love…or maybe just a little bit of magic.

Sophie Stewart knows a lot about plants. The rooftop garden she tends and beautifies is ample evidence of that. What she doesn’t know is anything about love, not with her long track record of always picking the wrong guy.

But then a mystery flower pops up in her garden—a flower that only blooms in the presence of true love.

Never one to shy away from a little magic, Sophie convinces her best friend, Peter, to help her use the flower to find her soulmate.

But after an unexpected kiss with the one man she never thought she’d fall for, Sophie starts to wonder if she’s looking for love in all the wrong places.

The flower has a plan, but only Sophie can decide if she wants to trust it or take fate into her own hands.

Best friends turn to lovers in this heartwarming romantic comedy about love and choice and making your own destiny.]]> 260 Jenny Proctor Jane 4
The magic flower is so fun in this story. Loved the subtle ways the magic works and how Peter and Sophie react so differently to it. The ending with the flower is so sweet!

Sophie is easy to love. I enjoyed getting to know her better after meeting her in The Serendipity. And seeing Archer and Willa was a treat as well! Sophie is so warm and friendly. I loved how she brings people together in the garden and how she loves flowers and plants. Seeing her relationship with Peter grow to something more was so satisfying.

Peter was so endearing and easy to cheer for. He’s the classic best friend who has been pinning after Sophie basically the whole time they’ve known each other. I enjoyed getting to know him and learning what brought him and Sophie together. He takes care of her so well!! I appreciated that he wanted to tell her how he felt from the start of this story. And seeing them get there happily ever after was so sweet!


Best friends to lovers isn’t my favorite trope. And there were definitely moments that were frustrating in this one as they didn’t communicate or fought their obvious feelings and great chemistry. But the ending is truly beautiful and I loved how they fought for each other and how their friendship could grow into a beautiful love story.

Can’t wait for more in this series!!]]> 4.35 2025 Petals and Plot Twists (Only Magic in the Building)
author: Jenny Proctor
name: Jane
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: 2025, beautiful-romance, best-friends-to-more
review:
A darling addition to my new favorite series!

The magic flower is so fun in this story. Loved the subtle ways the magic works and how Peter and Sophie react so differently to it. The ending with the flower is so sweet!

Sophie is easy to love. I enjoyed getting to know her better after meeting her in The Serendipity. And seeing Archer and Willa was a treat as well! Sophie is so warm and friendly. I loved how she brings people together in the garden and how she loves flowers and plants. Seeing her relationship with Peter grow to something more was so satisfying.

Peter was so endearing and easy to cheer for. He’s the classic best friend who has been pinning after Sophie basically the whole time they’ve known each other. I enjoyed getting to know him and learning what brought him and Sophie together. He takes care of her so well!! I appreciated that he wanted to tell her how he felt from the start of this story. And seeing them get there happily ever after was so sweet!


Best friends to lovers isn’t my favorite trope. And there were definitely moments that were frustrating in this one as they didn’t communicate or fought their obvious feelings and great chemistry. But the ending is truly beautiful and I loved how they fought for each other and how their friendship could grow into a beautiful love story.

Can’t wait for more in this series!!
]]> <![CDATA[The Lost Stone (The Kingdom of Wrenly, #1)]]> 18049013
Meet Lucas, the eight year-old prince, and Clara, the daughter of the queen's seamstress. Lucas is an only child who longs to make friends and go on adventures. Clara knows the kingdom well, so she and Lucas team up and explore the lands of Wrenly!

In The Lost Stone, Lucas and Clara search for Queen Tasha's missing emerald. On their exciting adventure, they travel to all the main attractions of Wrenly: Primlox (the island of fairies), Burth (the island of trolls), Crestwood (the island of dragons), Hobsgrove (the island of wizards), and the beautiful Mermaid's Cove. King Caleb has promised to reward the person who finds the precious stone, and Lucas and Clara are determined to search the entire kingdom until they find it!

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Kingdom of Wrenly chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.]]> 63 Jordan Quinn 1442496924 Jane 0 to-read 3.99 2014 The Lost Stone (The Kingdom of Wrenly, #1)
author: Jordan Quinn
name: Jane
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Living with Jane Austen 220708050 246 Janet Todd 1009569317 Jane 3
At times a bit heavy and a bit boring. But I enjoyed the many quotes from Austen's works and the descriptions of her characters. I would have liked more connections to the author's own experiences. Sometimes, it got heavy on this history of Austen's time.

Overall, a worthwhile read especially this year in celebration of Austen's 250th birthday.]]> 4.18 Living with Jane Austen
author: Janet Todd
name: Jane
average rating: 4.18
book published:
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves: 2025, austen-inspired, nonfiction, memoir, arc
review:
This is a poignant and well written memoir meets academic paper. The connections and opinions about Austen and her novels were plentiful and specific. Janet obviously knows her Austen and that knowledge shines throughout the work. This book screams Austen and I loved that.

At times a bit heavy and a bit boring. But I enjoyed the many quotes from Austen's works and the descriptions of her characters. I would have liked more connections to the author's own experiences. Sometimes, it got heavy on this history of Austen's time.

Overall, a worthwhile read especially this year in celebration of Austen's 250th birthday.
]]> <![CDATA[The Cupid Chronicles (Only Magic in the Building)]]> 228039565 Some love stories are written . . . this one is magically delivered.

Iris Ellington isn’t looking for love. Not even a little bit. With a long list of failed relationships behind her, she’s decided to reinvent herself as a person who doesn’t fall head over heels on the first date.

New town, new job, new Iris.

But someone—or something—has other plans.

When her neighbor’s newspaper lands in front of her door, Iris has no choice but to return it. And when she does, she comes face to face with a ridiculously handsome but very grumpy chef who all but slams the door in her face.

Matteo Morgan just wants to be left alone. He’s loved and lost and has zero interest in ever doing that again. Which is why it makes no sense that The Serendipity’s magical newspaper has decided to turn him into an unwilling Cupid. Matchmaking is hardly in his wheelhouse.

And yet, for the last three years, that’s exactly what he’s done. And he’s always done it alone.

Until now.

When the newspaper pulls his bubbly neighbor into its matchmaking schemes, Matteo has no choice but to go along with it, hoping that maybe—finally—he can pass Cupid’s bow and arrow on to her.

Thrown together by fate, they must navigate the newspaper's increasingly absurd demands while trying to resist the undeniable spark between them.

Will Iris melt the ice around Matteo's heart and embrace the magic? Or will Matteo scare her off with his grumpy demeanor and ruin any chance of happiness? In a building where anything is possible, Iris and Matteo might just find that the greatest magic of all is finding love when they least expect it.]]> 318 Courtney Walsh Jane 5
I just loved Iris. I loved her optimism, her loyalty, her determination, her humor, and all her "not-too-much-for-the-right-person-ness". She was so fun to get to know. She certainly has experienced difficult things with her parents' divorce and feeling like she's never fit in. But I love how she still has such optimism and compassion and love for people. Seeing her interact with the people the newspaper puts in her path was a delight. And seeing her fall for Matteo and bring joy and connection to his world was so beautiful.

Matteo is a fantastic MMC. First, he can cook! My mouth was watering reading about his homemade pasta dishes, the fanciest french toast, and everything he made (and his kitchen staff created!) at his restaurant. He is a classic grump with a heart of gold. It was so fun to see his true self begin to come back. I loved getting inside his head and behind the brick walls he has built around his heart. He has known unspeakable pain and loss. And for many years, that has been what defines him. Seeing Iris help him live and laugh and enjoy life again was so beautiful. I loved how she brought him back to life and how he falls for her.

The magical elements are so fun and clever. The newspaper feels like its own character and I enjoyed seeing how it brought Matteo and Iris together to help their neighbors. Seeing the connections they make with others and the ways they help them were so sweet. Often it was helping people find love, but the newspaper also helped them create friendships, serve others, and give people second chances. I loved this whimsical and unique way of bringing Iris and Matteo together.

Can't wait to read more in the series!]]> 4.51 2025 The Cupid Chronicles (Only Magic in the Building)
author: Courtney Walsh
name: Jane
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/19
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves: 2025, beautiful-romance, rom-com, grumpy-sunshine
review:
Another absolute classic from Courtney Walsh! I knew I would love this book. A multiple author series starting with two of my absolute favorites?! Yes, please!

I just loved Iris. I loved her optimism, her loyalty, her determination, her humor, and all her "not-too-much-for-the-right-person-ness". She was so fun to get to know. She certainly has experienced difficult things with her parents' divorce and feeling like she's never fit in. But I love how she still has such optimism and compassion and love for people. Seeing her interact with the people the newspaper puts in her path was a delight. And seeing her fall for Matteo and bring joy and connection to his world was so beautiful.

Matteo is a fantastic MMC. First, he can cook! My mouth was watering reading about his homemade pasta dishes, the fanciest french toast, and everything he made (and his kitchen staff created!) at his restaurant. He is a classic grump with a heart of gold. It was so fun to see his true self begin to come back. I loved getting inside his head and behind the brick walls he has built around his heart. He has known unspeakable pain and loss. And for many years, that has been what defines him. Seeing Iris help him live and laugh and enjoy life again was so beautiful. I loved how she brought him back to life and how he falls for her.

The magical elements are so fun and clever. The newspaper feels like its own character and I enjoyed seeing how it brought Matteo and Iris together to help their neighbors. Seeing the connections they make with others and the ways they help them were so sweet. Often it was helping people find love, but the newspaper also helped them create friendships, serve others, and give people second chances. I loved this whimsical and unique way of bringing Iris and Matteo together.

Can't wait to read more in the series!
]]> <![CDATA[The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The Chronicles of Narnia, #3)]]> 444329
The Dawn Treader is the first ship Narnia has seen in centuries. King Caspian has built it for his voyage to find the seven lords, good men whom his evil uncle Miraz banished when he usurped the throne. The journey takes Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace to the Eastern Islands, beyond the Silver Sea, toward Aslan's country at the End of the World.]]> 272 C.S. Lewis 0064471071 Jane 5
I forgot so much of what happens in this novel and I had the inaccurate film in my head so I felt like I was reading this for the first time.

Favorite characters: Lucy, Edmund, Caspian, Reeicheep, and even Eustace. And of course Aslan.

Favorite scenes: the last part of the journey to the edge of the world, overcoming the darkness island, Lucy and the magician, Eustace the dragon

Great adventure story with the different islands and magical elements. Loved the Christian allegorical elements (lamb and lion, Aslan's country, life vs death, overcoming darkness with light)

Can't wait to read more!]]> 4.05 1952 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The Chronicles of Narnia, #3)
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Jane
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1952
rating: 5
read at: 2019/01/23
date added: 2025/03/19
shelves: 2019, childrens-fiction, fun-fantasy, great-book-series, currently-reading, 2025, audiobook, favorite-settings
review:
I am loving this reread of the Chronicles of Narnia!

I forgot so much of what happens in this novel and I had the inaccurate film in my head so I felt like I was reading this for the first time.

Favorite characters: Lucy, Edmund, Caspian, Reeicheep, and even Eustace. And of course Aslan.

Favorite scenes: the last part of the journey to the edge of the world, overcoming the darkness island, Lucy and the magician, Eustace the dragon

Great adventure story with the different islands and magical elements. Loved the Christian allegorical elements (lamb and lion, Aslan's country, life vs death, overcoming darkness with light)

Can't wait to read more!
]]> <![CDATA[Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia, #2)]]> 121749
Narnia . . . where animals talk . . . where trees walk . . . where a battle is about to begin.

A prince denied his rightful throne gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.

Prince CaspianĚýis the fourth book in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, a series that has become part of the canon of classic literature, drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over fifty years. This is a stand-alone novel, but if you would like to see more of Lucy and Edmund’s adventures, readĚýThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the fifth book in The Chronicles of Narnia.]]> 240 C.S. Lewis 000720230X Jane 5
I love that it feels like a continuation of the first novel and we pick right back up with the Pevensies. I really liked Lucy and Edmund in this novel. Lucy because of her faith and innocence. Edmund because he shows how much he's changed from the very first time he came to Narnia.

I also love Reepicheep, Caspian, Trufflehunter, and Trumpkin. And of course Aslan. I found the different beliefs of the characters fascinating. We have those who believe in the old Narnia and in Aslan, those who are seduced by dark magic, and those who are figuring out their beliefs somewhere in the middle. I love how faith and loyalty come into play.

I am continually surprised by the short length of these novels. No wonder Lewis wanted them read as a full story because they are small on their own.

I enjoyed the battle sequence and the way Aslan wakes up the trees and takes back Narnia.

Time is an interesting part of this story as time moves differently in our world and in Narnia. Also the way time has left a mark on Narnia and how Aslan can change it back in a way.

I am loving my CS Lewis journey so far this year!]]> 3.99 1951 Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia, #2)
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Jane
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1951
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves: 2019, childrens-fiction, fun-fantasy, great-book-series, great-storytelling, 2025, audiobook
review:
I reread this book as part of my reread of Narnia in publication order this year. I think this book is underappreciated.

I love that it feels like a continuation of the first novel and we pick right back up with the Pevensies. I really liked Lucy and Edmund in this novel. Lucy because of her faith and innocence. Edmund because he shows how much he's changed from the very first time he came to Narnia.

I also love Reepicheep, Caspian, Trufflehunter, and Trumpkin. And of course Aslan. I found the different beliefs of the characters fascinating. We have those who believe in the old Narnia and in Aslan, those who are seduced by dark magic, and those who are figuring out their beliefs somewhere in the middle. I love how faith and loyalty come into play.

I am continually surprised by the short length of these novels. No wonder Lewis wanted them read as a full story because they are small on their own.

I enjoyed the battle sequence and the way Aslan wakes up the trees and takes back Narnia.

Time is an interesting part of this story as time moves differently in our world and in Narnia. Also the way time has left a mark on Narnia and how Aslan can change it back in a way.

I am loving my CS Lewis journey so far this year!
]]> <![CDATA[Miles Bailey Gets Down On One Knee (Another Bailey Brother #3)]]> 209954907 I am Delaney Jones, courageous enough to defy my mother, fearless enough to leave my successful rock band, and daring enough to propose to a perfect stranger.
Delaney:
Miles wasn’t planned.
Which kind of made him perfect.

Sure, I’d just said no—to a load of handsome men on a reality show designed to find me a husband, but I didn’t want any of them.

I don’t want Miles either—at least, I think I don’t. It’s the perfect scenario because, unlike all those guys on that show, he doesn’t want me either. No broken hearts.

Can’t we all just play nice? A convenient, image-building marriage without all the bitter rejection? That’s all I’m asking.

Yep, Miles is perfect for the job.
Or at least he would be if my heart would stop betraying me every time he walked into the room.

Miles:
She gave me one job.
One.
Don’t fall in love with her.

That’s all I have to do and my stagnant career is going to take off, like a rocket.
As long as I follow the rules.

But Delaney never mentioned how very difficult those rules would be to follow. She makes them difficult. If I’d known I wasn’t just entering a marriage of convenience, but a DEFCON two marriage, I may have thought twice before slipping that gold band on her finger.

Marry the girl. Check.
Be seen with the girl. Check.
Don’t fall in love with the girl. Crap.]]> 294 Jen Atkinson Jane 5
Love this series!]]> 4.45 Miles Bailey Gets Down On One Knee (Another Bailey Brother #3)
author: Jen Atkinson
name: Jane
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/24
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: 2025, celebrity-romcom, marriage-of-convenience, rom-com
review:
Absolutely loved this one! The marriage of convenience is so beautifully done. Love how Miles takes care of her. Love their love. Love her celebrity identity and how he helps her feel valued for her. Delaney is such a fantastic character alongside Miles. They compliment each other so well.

Love this series!
]]> <![CDATA[Peter and the Starcatchers (Peter and the Starcatchers, #1)]]> 34262 Peter Pan. Peter and the Starcatchers is brimming with richly developed characters, from the scary but somehow familiar Black Stache and ferocious Mister Grin to the sweet but sophisticated Molly and fearless Peter. Page after page of riveting adventures take readers of all ages on a voyage from a filthy, crime-ridden port in old England across the turbulent sea. Aboard the Neverland is a trunk that hold the “greatest treasure on earth� —but is it gold, jewels, or something far more mysterious and dangerous?

Roiling waves and raging storms; skullduggery and pirate treachery provide the backdrop for battles at sea. Bone-crushing breakers eventually land our characters on Mollusk Island—where the action really heats up.

This impossible-to-put-down tale leads readers on an unforgettable journey—fraught with danger yet filled with mystical and magical moments.]]> 452 Dave Barry 078684907X Jane 0 to-read 4.05 2004 Peter and the Starcatchers (Peter and the Starcatchers, #1)
author: Dave Barry
name: Jane
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Some Like It Scot 216052869 An American travel writer who has never found a place to belong and a reclusive Scot with a surprising secret find a shocking connection when she enters a Highlands manor house that has been turned into a three-week long Edwardian experience.

Katie Campbell has traveled her entire life. As the daughter of an army chaplain, changing homes--or even countries--was commonplace, so when her wild childhood storytelling turned into a lucrative career as a travel writer, she thought she'd found her perfect match. But as she's nearly thirty with no real place to settle down, she's starting to wonder where "home" actually is. Her own family hadn't felt like home since her sister's death left them all limping through life.

When a lengthy project in Scotland promises to not only give her travel fodder for months but also a shot at a coveted editing position, she accepts and is sent to spend three weeks in the newly created Craighill House, a Scottish home redesigned to offer guests an Edwardian experience. But her entrance to Craighill introduces her to a quirky group of characters and a surly Scot who is helping refurbish the magnificent woodwork of the estate house.

As Katie attempts to live "Edwardian," she learns that all that glitters does not a comfortable lifestyle make . . . and surly Scots may turn out to be dashing and creative uncles raising their orphaned nephews. When a few escapades from the Downton era lead Katie on hunts for mermaids and dragons or to a fireside chat with a family who has grown stronger through tragedy, Katie begins to wonder if "home" looks a whole lot like rolling green hills, magnificent braighs, and a few extra "ayes" thrown in for good measure. But can her world-traveling lifestyle fit in with a Scot whose heart is double-knotted to home?]]> 384 Pepper Basham 0840716745 Jane 5
One of my favorite parts of this and all Pepper novels is the beautiful, clever writing and storytelling. I always feel transported into her stories through her words. The Scottish setting in this novel is breathtaking and full of history and legend. I find myself longing to experience it for myself now! Her imagery is exquisite and her descriptions of the people are witty and profound. There is just something about the way she builds her story and describes these places and people. Reading this book was such a cozy experience. I love the way she writes. I laugh, I smile, and I may have shed a few tears in this story. The beautiful themes of family, grief, finding joy, finding God, and love were simply captivating.

Katie is such a delightful protagonist. I loved getting to know the different layers that make up the person she is -- social media superstar, loyal sister and friend, true connoisseur of stories, and a beautiful woman inside and out. She is someone you can't help but love and want to be friends with. I enjoyed reading about her (mis)adventures from her run in with the highland cow to learning to dance and cozy moments in Graeme's world. She makes life an adventure. I also enjoyed the complexities of her character. She holds deep grief alongside easy friendship for all sorts of people. She treats others with kindness first and is fiercely loyal to those she loves. I loved seeing that loyalty extend to Graeme and his family. Seeing her find home with him was so beautiful.

Graeme is everything you want to see in an ideal Scottish hero. He is certainly attractive. But he is also talented, hard working, and so very kind. I loved seeing his relationship with his nephew, Lachlan and with his mother (who are both fantastic characters as well). He has also known deep grief in his life. And seeing how that has affected him is both tragic and hopeful. Graeme comes to understand his past and his potential so much more clearly in this story. I loved seeing him open up to Katie and allowing her into his home and heart. The ways he protects her and is drawn to her and saves her are simply beautiful.

Pepper does it again! I loved this beautiful story for so many reasons. A beautiful Scottish setting. Fantastic characters that find a place in your heart. A lovely, slow burn romance that showcases enemies to lovers and grumpy sunshine vibes with truly swoony kisses. And beautiful writing that shows how love, grief, loyalty, friendship, adventure, and joy all make up life and relationships. A truly fantastic novel!]]> 4.00 2025 Some Like It Scot
author: Pepper Basham
name: Jane
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/11
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: 2025, arc, enemies-to-lovers, rom-com, beautiful-romance, favorite-settings, grumpy-sunshine, lovely-language, single-parent-romcom
review:
I absolutely loved this story from Pepper. I've become a big fan of her books in the last year and this is such a beautiful addition to her collection. I loved the Scottish setting and the clever story filled with endearing and imperfect characters. Set in a clever "Edwardian Experience" (think living inside the world of Downton Abbey for 3 weeks), this story of an American travel writer who meets a grumpy Scot is full of beautiful scenery, clever (mis)adventures, and a collection of witty puns.

One of my favorite parts of this and all Pepper novels is the beautiful, clever writing and storytelling. I always feel transported into her stories through her words. The Scottish setting in this novel is breathtaking and full of history and legend. I find myself longing to experience it for myself now! Her imagery is exquisite and her descriptions of the people are witty and profound. There is just something about the way she builds her story and describes these places and people. Reading this book was such a cozy experience. I love the way she writes. I laugh, I smile, and I may have shed a few tears in this story. The beautiful themes of family, grief, finding joy, finding God, and love were simply captivating.

Katie is such a delightful protagonist. I loved getting to know the different layers that make up the person she is -- social media superstar, loyal sister and friend, true connoisseur of stories, and a beautiful woman inside and out. She is someone you can't help but love and want to be friends with. I enjoyed reading about her (mis)adventures from her run in with the highland cow to learning to dance and cozy moments in Graeme's world. She makes life an adventure. I also enjoyed the complexities of her character. She holds deep grief alongside easy friendship for all sorts of people. She treats others with kindness first and is fiercely loyal to those she loves. I loved seeing that loyalty extend to Graeme and his family. Seeing her find home with him was so beautiful.

Graeme is everything you want to see in an ideal Scottish hero. He is certainly attractive. But he is also talented, hard working, and so very kind. I loved seeing his relationship with his nephew, Lachlan and with his mother (who are both fantastic characters as well). He has also known deep grief in his life. And seeing how that has affected him is both tragic and hopeful. Graeme comes to understand his past and his potential so much more clearly in this story. I loved seeing him open up to Katie and allowing her into his home and heart. The ways he protects her and is drawn to her and saves her are simply beautiful.

Pepper does it again! I loved this beautiful story for so many reasons. A beautiful Scottish setting. Fantastic characters that find a place in your heart. A lovely, slow burn romance that showcases enemies to lovers and grumpy sunshine vibes with truly swoony kisses. And beautiful writing that shows how love, grief, loyalty, friendship, adventure, and joy all make up life and relationships. A truly fantastic novel!
]]> <![CDATA[Better Together (Heartwood Hotel, #3)]]> 35397781 Spring has sprung and the animal staff of the Heartwood Hotel gear up for another busy season in the next installment of this adorable illustrated chapter book series.

Spring has come to Fernwood Forest, and the Heartwood Hotel is all a-bustle. With Mr. Heartwood off on vacation, it’s up to Mona and the rest of the staff to keep everything running smoothly. When rumors buzz of a rival hotel, Gilles is determined to prove that the Heartwood is the very best with the splashiest Spring Splash the forest has ever seen. Guests check in from near and far to compete for the Cutest Egg, the Tiniest Talent, and the Best Blossom. Newcomer Henry is all too happy to help out, making Mona start to feel unsure of her place. Does the Heartwood really need her as much as she thought? But soon there’s more to worry about than whose egg has the sweetest speckles. Some decidedly uninvited guests have been drawn to the festivities. Can Mona find a way to bring everyone together in time to save them all from danger?

Readers will cheer for these kind, brave, beloved characters as they embark on their next adventure in the third book of the charmingly illustrated Heartwood Hotel series.]]> 168 Kallie George 1484732359 Jane 4
There is something so nostalgic and sweet about the Heartwood Hotel. Loved this book for its sweet moments and its difficult ones. I liked seeing a different side of Mona in this story. I liked that she got frustrated and upset and jealous. It makes her more real.

Lots of fun characters around her as always -- Henry, Tilly, Giles, the Robinsons and their egg, and more.

The climax is more intense in this one. But the ending is lovely!

Loved reading this one aloud to my kids.]]> 4.36 2018 Better Together (Heartwood Hotel, #3)
author: Kallie George
name: Jane
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/12
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: 2025, childrens-fiction, read-aloud
review:
Such a cute addition to this series!

There is something so nostalgic and sweet about the Heartwood Hotel. Loved this book for its sweet moments and its difficult ones. I liked seeing a different side of Mona in this story. I liked that she got frustrated and upset and jealous. It makes her more real.

Lots of fun characters around her as always -- Henry, Tilly, Giles, the Robinsons and their egg, and more.

The climax is more intense in this one. But the ending is lovely!

Loved reading this one aloud to my kids.
]]> <![CDATA[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)]]> 100915
Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first her brothers and sister don't believe her when she tells of her visit to the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund, then Peter and Susan step through the wardrobe themselves. In Narnia they find a country buried under the evil enchantment of the White Witch. When they meet the Lion Aslan, they realize they've been called to a great adventure and bravely join the battle to free Narnia from the Witch's sinister spell.]]> 206 C.S. Lewis Jane 5
This reread was quick and lovely.

I love the simplicity of this story and the truth that is layered throughout.

Favorite characters this time were Edmund, Lucy, Tumnus and Aslan.

This is a quick read which I read in just over a day. Can't wait to read the aloud to my kids one day!

I'm rereading the Narnia books in publication order this year and this is my first stop. It really does read as the first work in the series. I'm excited to reread more!]]> 4.24 1950 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Jane
average rating: 4.24
book published: 1950
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/08
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: 2016, great-book-series, favorites, fun-fantasy, 2019, great-storytelling, childrens-fiction, 2025, audiobook, christianity, read-aloud
review:
2025 update: I love this story so much!! Loved the audiobook that I listened to this time. Great narration. Love the beautiful Christian themes, the lovely world building and storytelling and the engaging characters. A simple story and a timeless one. So excited to be rereading again!

This reread was quick and lovely.

I love the simplicity of this story and the truth that is layered throughout.

Favorite characters this time were Edmund, Lucy, Tumnus and Aslan.

This is a quick read which I read in just over a day. Can't wait to read the aloud to my kids one day!

I'm rereading the Narnia books in publication order this year and this is my first stop. It really does read as the first work in the series. I'm excited to reread more!
]]> <![CDATA[Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, #2)]]> 83346 228 Lewis Carroll 0688120490 Jane 4
I think this is the first time I have read this sequel to Alice in Wonderland but I was surprised by how much I recognized in the story. The Disney movie brings some of these parts into their adaptation like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Walrus and the Carpenter, talking flowers and more. Also the Jabberwocky was familiar -- I didn't realize it was in this story.

Alice is a fun protagonist. I enjoy following her adventures a second time. The adventures themselves are a bit crazy at times. Like the first one, this story has all sorts of little anecdotes and mini stories within the larger story. She meets a colorful cast of characters like Humpty Dumpty, the red and white queens, a knitting sheep, a unicorn and more. They are not often connected or building on each other. They simply exist. And the stories flow into each other with very little obvious connection. And they end much like the first one as well.

I enjoyed the audiobook I listened to. A fun narration of the story. ]]> 4.05 1871 Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, #2)
author: Lewis Carroll
name: Jane
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1871
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/07
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: 2025, audiobook, classics, classics-club-2
review:
This little story is everything I would expect from Lewis Carroll -- silly, witty and sometimes just strange.

I think this is the first time I have read this sequel to Alice in Wonderland but I was surprised by how much I recognized in the story. The Disney movie brings some of these parts into their adaptation like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Walrus and the Carpenter, talking flowers and more. Also the Jabberwocky was familiar -- I didn't realize it was in this story.

Alice is a fun protagonist. I enjoy following her adventures a second time. The adventures themselves are a bit crazy at times. Like the first one, this story has all sorts of little anecdotes and mini stories within the larger story. She meets a colorful cast of characters like Humpty Dumpty, the red and white queens, a knitting sheep, a unicorn and more. They are not often connected or building on each other. They simply exist. And the stories flow into each other with very little obvious connection. And they end much like the first one as well.

I enjoyed the audiobook I listened to. A fun narration of the story.
]]> Caraval (Caraval, #1) 27883214 A legendary competition.
A mesmerizing romance.
An unbreakable bond
between two sisters.

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.]]> 407 Stephanie Garber 1250095255 Jane 0 3.97 2016 Caraval (Caraval, #1)
author: Stephanie Garber
name: Jane
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/08
shelves: currently-reading, 2025, book-club, fun-fantasy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Serendipity (Only Magic in the Building)]]> 227916359 He’s a no-nonsense businessman. She’s a free-spirited baker. But the magical building they live in seems to think they’re a perfect match�

When billionaire Archer Gaines needs to escape his father’s corrupt shadow and a related scandal, he purchases The Serendipity, a historic apartment building far from New York City.

He believes in bottom lines and big business deals, definitely not in the local folklore surrounding the town of Serendipity Springs. So he’s eager to move forward with plans to flip the building into luxury lofts.

But The Serendipity doesn’t particularly care what Archer believes, and the building has plans of its own.

Willa never believed in the rumors about her “magical� building. But that was before she walked into her closet looking for a sweater and found herself in another apartment altogether—in the penthouse closet of the grumpy and unfortunately attractive new building owner.

This is less of a meet cute than a meet ugly, and things only go downhill from there.

When Archer announces sweeping changes that include a rent increase, he becomes public enemy number one for the residents. And by charging Willa for use of the commercial kitchen, he puts her fledgling baking business at risk.

With his progress being (magically) blocked at every turn, Archer grows desperate for help.

But the bewitching woman he found hiding in his closet seems to present both the answer and a larger because Archer never planned to fall in love or stay in Serendipity Springs forever…]]> 296 Emma St. Clair Jane 5
I loved this whimsical romance about Archer and Willa -- a surprisingly magical meet cute that leads to fantastic enemies to lovers banter and ultimately to love.

Willa is such a delight. I loved getting to know her and understanding her challenges and dreams. She has dealt with some hard things especially with her mental health. But I loved how she is vibrant, positive, and fun not despite those challenges but alongside them. Her relationship with Sophie is so fun. I am dying to try her cookies! And her banter with everyone around her (especially Archer) is absolute gold. From her first magical meeting with Archer, I was rooting for her to be the one to get beyond his intense exterior. I loved seeing their romance unfold.

Archer is basically the ideal billionaire next door. He's broody but also witty and has a heart of gold beneath his serious, suit wearing exterior. I love seeing Willa surprise him and how she brings out his kind and witty side. Seeing him support her in awkward situations was so sweet. And I absolutely loved their first kiss and the climactic whimsical moment they share at the end. Most of all, I love that Willa helps Archer feel important and seen. They support each other and love each other fiercely. I loved seeing their happily ever after unfold.

This book gave this series so much potential! I am so excited to read more of the books in the series and be transported back to The Serendipity again and again. The whimsical, magical elements are such a fun part of the story. They add to the story and give this romcom a unique and fun twist. What a delight!]]> 4.20 2025 The Serendipity (Only Magic in the Building)
author: Emma St. Clair
name: Jane
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: 2025, grumpy-sunshine, rom-com, arc
review:
Such a delightful start to a new series that I can't wait to experience every single book in! Emma St Clair continues to be one of my favorite authors period. Her wit, her characters, her love stories. They are all fantastic. And no one writes a surprisingly hilarious and horrific encounter with an animal like Emma. I laughed out loud and cringed at the same time ;)

I loved this whimsical romance about Archer and Willa -- a surprisingly magical meet cute that leads to fantastic enemies to lovers banter and ultimately to love.

Willa is such a delight. I loved getting to know her and understanding her challenges and dreams. She has dealt with some hard things especially with her mental health. But I loved how she is vibrant, positive, and fun not despite those challenges but alongside them. Her relationship with Sophie is so fun. I am dying to try her cookies! And her banter with everyone around her (especially Archer) is absolute gold. From her first magical meeting with Archer, I was rooting for her to be the one to get beyond his intense exterior. I loved seeing their romance unfold.

Archer is basically the ideal billionaire next door. He's broody but also witty and has a heart of gold beneath his serious, suit wearing exterior. I love seeing Willa surprise him and how she brings out his kind and witty side. Seeing him support her in awkward situations was so sweet. And I absolutely loved their first kiss and the climactic whimsical moment they share at the end. Most of all, I love that Willa helps Archer feel important and seen. They support each other and love each other fiercely. I loved seeing their happily ever after unfold.

This book gave this series so much potential! I am so excited to read more of the books in the series and be transported back to The Serendipity again and again. The whimsical, magical elements are such a fun part of the story. They add to the story and give this romcom a unique and fun twist. What a delight!
]]> <![CDATA[The Borrowers (The Borrowers, #1)]]> 348573 180 Mary Norton 0152047379 Jane 0 4.04 1952 The Borrowers (The Borrowers, #1)
author: Mary Norton
name: Jane
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1952
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: currently-reading, 2025, childrens-fiction, read-aloud
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Signed, Sealed, and Smitten (Only Magic in the Building)]]> 228238912 The last thing she needs is another off-limits work romance. He’s fine playing the friendly flirt . . . until he falls for real.

Embarrassing breakups at work cost you promotions. Phoebe learned that the hard way. So when a patron’s will names her as the director of a new museum in Serendipity Springs, she jumps at the chance to prove her professionalism.

Her new focus on work. Ignore distractions. Definitely ignore men. Easy peasy.

But then the mailbox in Phoebe’s quirky apartment building starts delivering a series of old love letters written between strangers…sixty years ago.

She can’t afford the distraction, but she also can’t ignore the letters, so she enlists the help of Jay, the flirty heir to her benefactor’s fortune, to help her solve the mystery of who they belong to.

Jay is exactly the history pro she needs, but he’s also the kind of handsome charmer Phoebe always falls for, and since he’s on the museum board, she’s not about to risk her recovering reputation. Despite their sizzling chemistry, she quickly sends Jay to the friend zone.

Until the mysterious letters from the past lead them to surprising discoveries in the present, and serendipity steps in with an irresistible nudge and a memorable, magical kiss.

Signed, Sealed, and Smitten is a standalone book in the Only Magic in the Building series. These closed door, whimsical romance books are all set in the same historic building, which has a habit of playing matchmaker with its residents. There are light magical elements, but no spells, shifters, or dark magic of any kind. ]]> Melanie Jacobson Jane 0 to-read 5.00 Signed, Sealed, and Smitten (Only Magic in the Building)
author: Melanie Jacobson
name: Jane
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Clean Out of Luck (Only Magic in the Building)]]> 228122061 Six months to find love. One overprotective menace (who’s way too handsome for his own good). And a building that might have the final say.

Scarlett Fernsby holds the world record for shortest relationships. Mostly thanks to overprotective parents and an interfering brother, every attempt at dating has been a disaster.

When her whole family is out of town for six glorious months, she knows it's time to find love.

What she didn't count on was Wade Hendrix. Her older brother's best friend.

He's even worse than her brother. He's soon crashing every date of hers, and Scarlett's beginning to wonder if he's made it his life's mission to annoy her.

Wade is a firefighter with a hero complex; she doesn't want to be his pity problem. Especially when she's starting to misinterpret those fiery looks of his.

Scarlett doesn't know what to do with this newfound attraction to him, and though she'd like to scrub him out of her life, the building she lives in has a very different plan.

Wade Hendrix has a problem. His best friend asked him to keep an eye on his little sister. But Wade has trouble keeping his eyes off of her.

What starts out as a favor for his best friend soon turns into pure torture: watching Scarlett date other men right in front of him.

Wade would love to tell her how he feels—but he knows she doesn't feel the same.

Or does she?

After an especially disastrous date that Wade ruins—and with the help of a very special mop that likes to grant wishes—Scarlett tells Wade that he owes her a goodnight kiss.

But one kiss isn’t enough. Wade wants forever. Now he just has to convince Scarlett that just maybe, love has been right in front of her all along.]]> 264 Carina Taylor Jane 0 to-read 4.20 2025 Clean Out of Luck (Only Magic in the Building)
author: Carina Taylor
name: Jane
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Misfortune and Mr. Right (Only Magic in the Building)]]> 228094310 When your nemesis is your next-door neighbor, falling for him is not part of the plan � but fate may have other ideas.

Olivia Pennington has spent her whole life competing with Logan Alexander—and losing. From spelling bees to science fairs, he’s always been one step ahead, snagging the trophies, titles, accolades, and now � he’s after the promotion she desperately wanted. As if that’s not bad enough, Logan also moved into the apartment she had her heart set on.

Logan’s been secretly falling in love with Olivia since the third grade. His strategy? Stay close, win her over. But, the more he foisted himself on her, the bigger mess he made. Now Logan’s back in town, and he’s determined to settle the score. He’s over his crush, so he thinks. And he just wants to bury the hatchet, preferably not by Olivia chucking it at him.

When a string of mysterious fortune cookies starts appearing, hinting at a match between Logan and Olivia, Logan’s all in. Olivia? Not so much.

But in this building, fate isn’t merely a suggestion—it’s practically written on the walls. If you thought Mr. Darcy had a hard time convincing Elizabeth of his good intentions, just wait until you watch Logan attempt to win Olivia’s heart—one stubborn, banter-filled battle at a time.

Enemies-to-lovers meets a sprinkle of magic in this laugh-out-loud, heartfelt romcom with a Pride and Prejudice vibe.]]> 334 Savannah Scott Jane 0 to-read 4.31 2025 Misfortune and Mr. Right (Only Magic in the Building)
author: Savannah Scott
name: Jane
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Cooper Bailey is a Cinnamon Roll (Another Bailey Brother, #4)]]> 223360881 I’ve hated Cooper Bailey since high school. So why would a few years, a set of swoon-worthy forearms, and one shiny new law degree change anything?

Leah Bradford’s never been a fan of the spotlight—not years ago at her high school prom and definitely not now with the drama her ex-boyfriend is causing. Running her cinnamon roll shop is all she needs, thank you very much.

Cooper Bailey’s had it all—looks, brains, an ideal life. But one career-defining case gone wrong and that favored life is spiraling. He’s back home and determined to do better. He’ll be a helpful son, a dependable brother, and the best uncle ever, all while clawing his way back to a respectful place in his career.

Enter Leah. She’d rather run a marathon in high heels than be in the same room as Cooper Bailey. One problem–she’s broke with an idiot ex who happens to be suing her. Cooper is willing to take payment in sweet rolls–that is if he can convince her to take a chance on him.

Is Cooper still that cocky jock from high school or will he be Leah’s cinnamon roll hero?

Cooper Bailey is a Cinnamon Roll is a laugh out loud, kissing only, enemies to lovers romcom. It’s perfect for anyone who ever had a cute high school nemesis or anyone who secretly wanted one.
]]> 312 Jen Atkinson Jane 5
I absolutely loved this enemies to lovers romance. The characters are fantastic. The cinnamon rolls and the pecan rolls and the orange rolls make my mouth water. The romance is slow burn and second chance and so delightful. I loved how this story brings everyone in the Bailey family together. What an ending to this series.

Cooper absolutely is a cinnamon roll. He's thoughtful, sweet, and caring. I loved seeing him with his nieces and nephew and seeing how he can sense when someone needs support or simply a listening ear. He works hard and although life has thrown him a few curve balls, he continues to try to make the world better. His connections with his family are my favorite and I loved the idea of "vulnerable together." I loved his obvious attraction to Leah and how he works to repair and deepen their relationship. Their shared history makes their happily ever after all the sweeter.

Leah is such a fantastic protagonist. I loved getting to know her and seeing her allow herself to fall in love. Leah's Sweet Swirls shop is the stuff of dreams. I want to visit and try all the rolls! I appreciated her journey and how she starts to see the past differently while making the future what she wants it to be. She's tough and witty but also sweet and deeply attached to those she loves; I loved that combination. Seeing her fall for Cooper and allow him to show her how good she can be treated was a true treat. I loved their romance from Alice's matchmaking to their hilarious shared experience with the gusset to their tender declarations of love. I was here for all of it!

Such a beautiful ending to the series! And I loved the bonus epilogue too!]]> 4.50 Cooper Bailey is a Cinnamon Roll (Another Bailey Brother, #4)
author: Jen Atkinson
name: Jane
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/21
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: 2025, beautiful-romance, enemies-to-lovers, rom-com
review:
Cooper just might be my favorite Bailey brother. Except it's impossible to actually only choose one!

I absolutely loved this enemies to lovers romance. The characters are fantastic. The cinnamon rolls and the pecan rolls and the orange rolls make my mouth water. The romance is slow burn and second chance and so delightful. I loved how this story brings everyone in the Bailey family together. What an ending to this series.

Cooper absolutely is a cinnamon roll. He's thoughtful, sweet, and caring. I loved seeing him with his nieces and nephew and seeing how he can sense when someone needs support or simply a listening ear. He works hard and although life has thrown him a few curve balls, he continues to try to make the world better. His connections with his family are my favorite and I loved the idea of "vulnerable together." I loved his obvious attraction to Leah and how he works to repair and deepen their relationship. Their shared history makes their happily ever after all the sweeter.

Leah is such a fantastic protagonist. I loved getting to know her and seeing her allow herself to fall in love. Leah's Sweet Swirls shop is the stuff of dreams. I want to visit and try all the rolls! I appreciated her journey and how she starts to see the past differently while making the future what she wants it to be. She's tough and witty but also sweet and deeply attached to those she loves; I loved that combination. Seeing her fall for Cooper and allow him to show her how good she can be treated was a true treat. I loved their romance from Alice's matchmaking to their hilarious shared experience with the gusset to their tender declarations of love. I was here for all of it!

Such a beautiful ending to the series! And I loved the bonus epilogue too!
]]> <![CDATA[Just Add Water: My Swimming Life]]> 203931794 A candid and inspiring memoir from Olympic gold medalist, world champion, and one of the best swimmers ever to compete: Katie Ledecky.

Katie Ledecky has won more individual Olympic races than any female swimmer in history. She is a three-time Olympian, a seven-time gold medalist, a twenty-one-time world champion, eight-time NCAA Champion, and a world record-holder in individual swimming events. Time and again, the question is posed to her family, her coaches, and to her—what makes her a champion? Now, for the first time, she shares what it takes to compete at an elite level.

Again and again, Ledecky has broken records: those of others and, increasingly, her own. She is both consistent and innovative—consistent at setting goals and shattering them, and innovative in the way she approaches her training. A true competitor, she sets her goals by choosing the ones that feel the scariest. But, crucially, she never sacrifices the joy of competition, even in the face of adversity. Her positive mental outlook and a great support system provides the springboard to her success.

Just Add Water charts Ledecky’s life in swimming. It details her start in Bethesda, Maryland, where she played sharks and minnows and first discovered the joy of the pool; her early foray into the Olympics at the tender age of fifteen where, as the youngest member of the American team, she stunned everyone by winning her first gold medal; her time balancing competition and her education at Stanford University; how she developed a champion’s mindset that has allowed her to persevere through so many meets, even under intense pressure; and how she has maintained her dominance in a sport where success depends on milliseconds. You learn how every element of her life—from the support of her family to the tutelage of her coaches, from her childhood spent in summer league swimming to the bright lights of Olympic pools in London, Rio, and Tokyo—set her up to become the champion she is.

In the end, Katie’s story is about testing yourself against the difficult, and seeing who you become on the other side.]]> 256 Katie Ledecky 1668060205 Jane 4 2025, audiobook, memoir
I am a big Olympics fan. I love watching as many sports as we can during the games. Katie Ledecky has been a favorite at our house for years. I loved getting her swimming and life story.

I loved all her anecdotes from her experiences in swimming especially at the Olympics. Hearing her recount her first gold medal in London was one of my favorite parts of the whole book. She sets the stage so well and gives such vivid details to that and her other races. I actually went back and watched some of her old races on youtube after hearing the background to her experiences. The behind the scenes descriptions of life as a member of Team USA were so fun. I loved how she makes these celebrities feel like regular people and seeing how much they bond and cheer for each other.

I also really loved all her family background. Learning about her close bonds with her parents and her brother was so neat. And I loved the stories about her grandparents and how her heritage shaped the person that she is. It seems that her close family relationships have really kept her grouped amidst her rise to international fame as an incredible swimmer. I love her perspectives on life and how swimming is part of her life rather than her whole life.

A fun memoir! Loved getting to know Katie better!]]> 4.13 2024 Just Add Water: My Swimming Life
author: Katie Ledecky
name: Jane
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/19
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: 2025, audiobook, memoir
review:
I enjoyed this audiobook memoir read by Katie herself!

I am a big Olympics fan. I love watching as many sports as we can during the games. Katie Ledecky has been a favorite at our house for years. I loved getting her swimming and life story.

I loved all her anecdotes from her experiences in swimming especially at the Olympics. Hearing her recount her first gold medal in London was one of my favorite parts of the whole book. She sets the stage so well and gives such vivid details to that and her other races. I actually went back and watched some of her old races on youtube after hearing the background to her experiences. The behind the scenes descriptions of life as a member of Team USA were so fun. I loved how she makes these celebrities feel like regular people and seeing how much they bond and cheer for each other.

I also really loved all her family background. Learning about her close bonds with her parents and her brother was so neat. And I loved the stories about her grandparents and how her heritage shaped the person that she is. It seems that her close family relationships have really kept her grouped amidst her rise to international fame as an incredible swimmer. I love her perspectives on life and how swimming is part of her life rather than her whole life.

A fun memoir! Loved getting to know Katie better!
]]> <![CDATA[Discovering Dahlia (The Blue Orchid Society #5)]]> 216338329 The Aurora, a luxury ocean liner that promises to revolutionize travel. The invitation list is Dahlia’s closest friends—the Blue Orchid Society—as well as a few influential individuals from her old life, whose presence will ensure the success of her endeavor. Unfortunately, not all have the best interests of Dahlia or her shipping line at heart.ĚýLord Meredith has loved Dahlia since their first meeting. But after her fall from grace, she has evaded his every attempt to see her—until she extends an invitation to join her on The Aurora. Once aboard, Lord Meredith and Dahlia’s tentative rekindling of their friendship is interrupted when things begin to go terribly wrong. Mischievous dealings take on an ominous tone, and it’s clear that someone is intent on humiliating Dahlia again or worse—but she will not be sunk so easily.ĚýWith Lord Meredith at her side, Dahlia is determined to discover the culprit. So intent, in fact, that she doesn’t recognize another threat looming until it’s too she’s in danger of losing her heart.]]> Jennifer Moore Jane 5
I have been anticipating Dahlia's story since the beginning of the series and loved getting to know her. In many ways, Dahlia is the reason the Blue Orchid Society comes into existence. When a public announcement of a betrothal does not go as planned, she seeks solitude but finds life altering friendship. Now, she is the president of her family shipping business and has orchestrated a first of it's kind pleasure cruise on the SS Aurora with her friends and members of the ton. I loved seeing Dahlia thrive as the leader of her company and seeing how she connects with her crew and guests. She has a gift for connection and that is on full display in this novel. I admire her strength, patience, and loyalty. Seeing her let Miles back into her life was also beautiful.

Miles has loved Dahlia longer than anyone has known and I loved the support he is able to give her. He sees her more clearly than Ruben or the Darling Debs or even the Blue Orchid Society sees her. To Miles, Dahlia is capable, independent, beautiful, and inspiring. I loved seeing how he seeks to reconnect with her and understand how to help her. While their romance feels impossible at times, Miles and Dahlia are truly right for each other. I loved their first kiss on the castle tower, their embrace in the cave, and how their love shines through when things go unexpectedly and repeatably wrong.

One of my favorite elements in this series is the unique time period that allows for such fascinating stories of women in new roles and careers. The Victorian Era offered so many new opportunities for women and I love seeing those on display in this story. Dahlia is the new president of her company because of a new law that allowed women to inherit such titles. I loved seeing her thrive in this role and see her dear Blue Orchid friends on the cruise. Their skills are needed from medical care to investigative journalism. This story (like the others in this series) is exciting and surprising. The mystery surrounding the mishaps on the cruise is engaging; I felt very invested in the story and in figuring out who was sabotaging the cruise. The twists and turns that reveal who is responsible are well developed and surprising. Just when I thought I figured it all out, a new twist surprised me!

Overall, a beautiful novel to finish a beautiful series about achieving big dreams and the power of true friendship.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.]]> 4.63 Discovering Dahlia (The Blue Orchid Society #5)
author: Jennifer Moore
name: Jane
average rating: 4.63
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: 2025, arc, great-book-series, historical-fiction
review:
It has been such a treat to read The Blue Orchid Society and experience these beautiful stories as an ARC reader. I have absolutely loved getting to know these five best friends and seeing them fall in love and become pioneering women in their respective fields.

I have been anticipating Dahlia's story since the beginning of the series and loved getting to know her. In many ways, Dahlia is the reason the Blue Orchid Society comes into existence. When a public announcement of a betrothal does not go as planned, she seeks solitude but finds life altering friendship. Now, she is the president of her family shipping business and has orchestrated a first of it's kind pleasure cruise on the SS Aurora with her friends and members of the ton. I loved seeing Dahlia thrive as the leader of her company and seeing how she connects with her crew and guests. She has a gift for connection and that is on full display in this novel. I admire her strength, patience, and loyalty. Seeing her let Miles back into her life was also beautiful.

Miles has loved Dahlia longer than anyone has known and I loved the support he is able to give her. He sees her more clearly than Ruben or the Darling Debs or even the Blue Orchid Society sees her. To Miles, Dahlia is capable, independent, beautiful, and inspiring. I loved seeing how he seeks to reconnect with her and understand how to help her. While their romance feels impossible at times, Miles and Dahlia are truly right for each other. I loved their first kiss on the castle tower, their embrace in the cave, and how their love shines through when things go unexpectedly and repeatably wrong.

One of my favorite elements in this series is the unique time period that allows for such fascinating stories of women in new roles and careers. The Victorian Era offered so many new opportunities for women and I love seeing those on display in this story. Dahlia is the new president of her company because of a new law that allowed women to inherit such titles. I loved seeing her thrive in this role and see her dear Blue Orchid friends on the cruise. Their skills are needed from medical care to investigative journalism. This story (like the others in this series) is exciting and surprising. The mystery surrounding the mishaps on the cruise is engaging; I felt very invested in the story and in figuring out who was sabotaging the cruise. The twists and turns that reveal who is responsible are well developed and surprising. Just when I thought I figured it all out, a new twist surprised me!

Overall, a beautiful novel to finish a beautiful series about achieving big dreams and the power of true friendship.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
]]> <![CDATA[Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #1)]]> 55987278 How far would you go for happily ever after?

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings... until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy...]]> 408 Stephanie Garber 1250268397 Jane 0 to-read 4.06 2021 Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #1)
author: Stephanie Garber
name: Jane
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)]]> 6 734 J.K. Rowling 0439139597 Jane 5 4.56 2000 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Jane
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2000
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/17
date added: 2025/02/17
shelves: great-book-series, 2016, fun-fantasy, 2024, read-aloud, 2025
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith]]> 123266529 224 Sydney McLaughlin 0785297995 Jane 0 to-read 4.35 Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith
author: Sydney McLaughlin
name: Jane
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives]]> 22875069 The true story of an all-American girl and a boy from an impoverished city in Zimbabwe and the letter that changed both of their lives forever.

It started as an assignment. Everyone in Caitlin's class wrote to an unknown student somewhere in a distant place. All the other kids picked countries like France or Germany, but when Caitlin saw Zimbabwe written on the board, it sounded like the most exotic place she had ever heard of--so she chose it.
Martin was lucky to even receive a pen pal letter. There were only ten letters, and forty kids in his class. But he was the top student, so he got the first one.

That letter was the beginning of a correspondence that spanned six years and changed two lives.

In this compelling dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became best friends --and better people--through letters. Their story will inspire readers to look beyond their own lives and wonder about the world at large and their place in it.]]> 392 Caitlin Alifirenka 0316241318 Jane 0 to-read 4.36 2015 I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives
author: Caitlin Alifirenka
name: Jane
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Pride and Prejudice 1885 Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780679783268]]> 279 Jane Austen 1441341706 Jane 5
Austen is at her absolute best in this novel. I admire her beautiful writing and gorgeous character development. I like to think of myself as Elizabeth Bennett and think she is on of the best female characters in literature. Love the beautiful romance between her and Darcy.

I've seen adaptations of this novel dozens of times (love the 6 hr version with Colin firth.) but I was surprised on rereading the novel how many more details we get in the text and how beautiful the language is.

this is a novel that fills my soul and warms my heart. an all time favorite for sure ]]> 4.28 1813 Pride and Prejudice
author: Jane Austen
name: Jane
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1813
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/12
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves: 2017, beautiful-romance, classics-club-1, favorites, lovely-language, 2025, audiobook, classics
review:
Everytime I read this book, I remember how much I love it. there is something so special about the characters, the settings, the language.

Austen is at her absolute best in this novel. I admire her beautiful writing and gorgeous character development. I like to think of myself as Elizabeth Bennett and think she is on of the best female characters in literature. Love the beautiful romance between her and Darcy.

I've seen adaptations of this novel dozens of times (love the 6 hr version with Colin firth.) but I was surprised on rereading the novel how many more details we get in the text and how beautiful the language is.

this is a novel that fills my soul and warms my heart. an all time favorite for sure
]]> Waiting for Gilbert 219297235
Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up! If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn't bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.

Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?

"17. Finish unpacking
18. Drink coffee
19. Ask Gilbert to marry me."]]> 254 Tasha Hackett 1965778011 Jane 4 2025, rom-com
Cordelia is named for Anne Shirley (if you know, you know). And I just loved her. She is vibrant, silly, witty, hardworking and so loyal. I loved getting to know her and seeing her depth of character. She longs for stability and family in her life. And I loved how she discovers the best ways to find that in her life. Seeing her live just felt vibrant -- from her colorful socks to her delicious pies to her photography and her silliness and her snuggles with her nephews and nieces. She is passionate and always in the middle of everything. I loved seeing her fall for Gilbert and how perfect they are for each other.

Gilbert is such a dreamy protagonist. He is kind, dedicated, strong, patient, and plays the cello (so dreamy!). I loved getting to know him and understanding how his mind works. He obviously has feelings for Cordy early in the story but he fights against them just long enough to make us all want to yell at him to go for it! Luckily he has good friends and family that help him see that she is perfect for him.

Seeing these two form a friendship that becomes more is so much fun. I loved all their witty banter both in person and over text. There were so many moments that made me smile from learning to drive stick shift in the middle of the night to angry card games to pie eating and playing music. I loved their cozy lives at Christmastime.

The writing is so witty and clever. I really enjoyed Tasha's allusions to Anne of Green Gables throughout and the way she describes people in this story. Aunt Jewels is the aunt/friend we all wish we had. Diana's family is the perfect balance between chaotic and loving. Mark is the supportive/intense cousin that we all need. I found the whole cast of characters and the setting so cozy and inviting. This is a town and group of people I would like to meet in real life.

Looking forward to more in the series!]]> 4.45 Waiting for Gilbert
author: Tasha Hackett
name: Jane
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/12
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves: 2025, rom-com
review:
This was such a darling romcom! I absolutely loved all the literary allusions and the witty banter throughout.

Cordelia is named for Anne Shirley (if you know, you know). And I just loved her. She is vibrant, silly, witty, hardworking and so loyal. I loved getting to know her and seeing her depth of character. She longs for stability and family in her life. And I loved how she discovers the best ways to find that in her life. Seeing her live just felt vibrant -- from her colorful socks to her delicious pies to her photography and her silliness and her snuggles with her nephews and nieces. She is passionate and always in the middle of everything. I loved seeing her fall for Gilbert and how perfect they are for each other.

Gilbert is such a dreamy protagonist. He is kind, dedicated, strong, patient, and plays the cello (so dreamy!). I loved getting to know him and understanding how his mind works. He obviously has feelings for Cordy early in the story but he fights against them just long enough to make us all want to yell at him to go for it! Luckily he has good friends and family that help him see that she is perfect for him.

Seeing these two form a friendship that becomes more is so much fun. I loved all their witty banter both in person and over text. There were so many moments that made me smile from learning to drive stick shift in the middle of the night to angry card games to pie eating and playing music. I loved their cozy lives at Christmastime.

The writing is so witty and clever. I really enjoyed Tasha's allusions to Anne of Green Gables throughout and the way she describes people in this story. Aunt Jewels is the aunt/friend we all wish we had. Diana's family is the perfect balance between chaotic and loving. Mark is the supportive/intense cousin that we all need. I found the whole cast of characters and the setting so cozy and inviting. This is a town and group of people I would like to meet in real life.

Looking forward to more in the series!
]]> Faking Christmas 221486633
One little white lie.

That's all it took. Now I'm suddenly having to fake-date my work nemesis to get me through a week at a Vermont Christmas lodge with my family.

The problem? I can't stand Miles Taylor. Not only that, but I don't date people I work with. But I can handle it. I've had practice faking my emotions for years. So it shouldn't matter that Miles never lets me get away with anything. And that he happens to boil my blood hotter than a steaming pot of wassail. So when he throws his annoying grin my way or forces me on dates he knows I'll hate, I'll just grit my teeth and smile.

Or maybe not. Did I mention that Miles is the one person in the world I can't seem to fool?

When my emotions begin feeling less like a sham and his arms feel way too comfortable, it makes me think that maybe Miles had a plan of his own. And I'm starting to like it a lot more than mine.

â� Faking Christmas is a sweet, closed door romance full of sizzle, witty banter, and chemistry, but without explicit content.

â…â…Faking Christmas is part of a holiday series of standalone romantic comedies. Enjoy the other books in this series!

Christmas Baggage by Deborah M. Hathaway
Host for the Holidays by Martha Keyes
Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel
A Newport Christmess by Jess Heileman
A Not-So Holiday Paradise by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Later On We'll Conspire by Kortney Keisel
Cotswolds Holiday by Kasey Stockton]]> 344 Cindy Steel Jane 5
I love Olive and Miles so much. Their fake dating but obviously real dating story is such a delight. From Miles treating Olive so well to his teasing and their shared grief over losses in their pasts, these two were made for each other. When they are reunited after the Christmas break, I might have had tears in my eyes. It's just so beautiful! I absolutely loved their journey and their love story.

The special edition had so many fun details! The cover art is beautiful. Cindy's footnotes about different details in the story are so fun. And I LOVE the bonus scene from Miles' perspective. Absolutely worth every penny and I'm so glad to have it in my home collection.]]> 4.88 2022 Faking Christmas
author: Cindy Steel
name: Jane
average rating: 4.88
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/19
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, christmas, enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, rom-com
review:
I loved rereading this book in this special edition! The story, the characters, the love, the setting are all as fantastic as I remember from my first read. I want to go to the Lodge for Christmas and explore Vermont and experience all the fun holiday traditions like sledding, gingerbread house making, and mistletoe kisses. I think I would avoid the polar plunge though.

I love Olive and Miles so much. Their fake dating but obviously real dating story is such a delight. From Miles treating Olive so well to his teasing and their shared grief over losses in their pasts, these two were made for each other. When they are reunited after the Christmas break, I might have had tears in my eyes. It's just so beautiful! I absolutely loved their journey and their love story.

The special edition had so many fun details! The cover art is beautiful. Cindy's footnotes about different details in the story are so fun. And I LOVE the bonus scene from Miles' perspective. Absolutely worth every penny and I'm so glad to have it in my home collection.
]]> <![CDATA[Songs of Innocence and of Experience]]> 171547 Songs of Innocence and of ExperienceĚýis an collection of poems byĚýWilliam Blake.

Note: For a complete Table of Contents of the included poems, see the 'Questions' section below.

This book appeared in two phases. A few first copies were printed and illuminated by William Blake himself in 1789; five years later he bound these poems with a set of new poems in a volume titledĚýSongs of Innocence and of Experience Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul.

The work compiles two contrasting but directly related books of poetry by William Blake. Songs of Innocence honors and praises the natural world, the natural innocence of children and their close relationship to God. Songs of Experience contains much darker, disillusioned poems, which deal with serious, often political themes. It is believed that the disastrous end to the French Revolution produced this disillusionment in Blake. He does, however, maintain that true innocence is achieved only through experience.]]> 56 William Blake 1420925806 Jane 4 2025, classics-club-2, poetry
These poems are both innocent and wise. They are simple yet complex. They offer simple descriptions of people and places and things in the world. But also offer surprisingly deep ideas about the world. I enjoyed the contrasts between the songs of innocence and of experience. And I was impressed by the ways Blake takes simple ideas to express deep truths.

These were quick reads for me. And I think the stories are easy to follow within the poems. I hope to reread some of my thoughts from previous study and add to this review]]> 4.10 1794 Songs of Innocence and of Experience
author: William Blake
name: Jane
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1794
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/08
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves: 2025, classics-club-2, poetry
review:
I enjoyed my reread of these poems during late night nursing sessions. I studied these in detail in college and I'd like to go find my notes or at least my annotated versions of the poems.

These poems are both innocent and wise. They are simple yet complex. They offer simple descriptions of people and places and things in the world. But also offer surprisingly deep ideas about the world. I enjoyed the contrasts between the songs of innocence and of experience. And I was impressed by the ways Blake takes simple ideas to express deep truths.

These were quick reads for me. And I think the stories are easy to follow within the poems. I hope to reread some of my thoughts from previous study and add to this review
]]> Never Doubt I Love (Calloway) 223229454
Alexander Bailey’s titled family is nothing more than a curse. As the younger brother of the corrupt Duke of Tipton, Alexander is in the distasteful position of complete financial dependence. So when he’s ordered to secure an entrée into the Calloway family, he has no choice but to obey. Scarred by personal loss, Alexander anticipates immunity to Olivia’s charms—but he’s underestimated her. In the company of Olivia and her family, Alexander feels himself coming to life again. And when he realizes his brother’s quarry has claimed his own heart, Alexander finally finds something worth fighting for. Because if anyone is going to marry Olivia, it must be him.]]> 256 Dana LeCheminant 1524428256 Jane 0 to-read 5.00 Never Doubt I Love (Calloway)
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dumbstruck (Starstruck Love Stories)]]> 223504876
June Harper is perfectly happy running her small-town hardware store and avoiding messy relationships. But when a Hollywood film crew descends on her quiet town, she catches the eye of Jonah James, the charming and confident lead actor. The last thing June needs is to become his latest distraction, especially when they couldn’t be more different.

Jonah’s all about making it big in Hollywood—until he meets June. Her sharp wit and fierce independence are like nothing he’s ever seen, and he just can’t resist pushing her buttons. What’s a little harmless flirting while he’s stuck in town?

But when sabotage strikes the film set and June becomes the target, protecting her becomes Jonah’s top priority. As the playful banter fades and the stakes rise, he realizes he’s willing to risk everything to keep her safe—and their feelings for each other are suddenly impossible to ignore.

Can they catch the culprit, or will their own stubborn hearts be the real obstacle?

Dumbstruck is a fun, quick read connected to the Starstruck Love Stories series and can be read as a standalone but overlaps the events of Lovestruck. Readers looking for a bit of mystery mixed with playful banter and lots of swoony tension will love this opposites attract, closed door celebrity romance.]]> 212 Dana LeCheminant 1965106021 Jane 0 to-read 4.56 Dumbstruck (Starstruck Love Stories)
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[For Butter or for Worse (Sweet Coastal Kisses)]]> 209741468 In the quaint coastal town of Willow Cove, Georgie Carpenter returns to take over a bakery, only to discover that the sweet deal comes with an unexpected twist—a husband.

Royal “King� Kingston, overwhelmed with balancing surf lessons and the responsibility of his late uncle’s struggling bakery, is shocked by Georgie’s return from the big city to his little town. Though she’s renowned as a pastry chef and could save the bakery, King can’t shake the memories of her rejection of his proposal a decade ago. Yet faced with the ultimatum of losing his uncle’s legacy or handing it over to the woman who broke his young heart, King reluctantly agrees to her help.

However, there’s a catch—the bakery can only be passed down to family. Georgie suggests a a temporary marriage to facilitate the transfer of ownership. With no strings attached, they can part ways once the paperwork is done. King is reluctant but agrees to the plan out of necessity.

But as their temporary arrangement evolves, both Georgie and King confront unexpected emotions and realize that what they bargained for may be more than they ever imagined. Will their makeshift marriage lead to a second chance at love, or will past insecurities tear them apart once again?]]> 189 Dana LeCheminant Jane 0 to-read 4.17 For Butter or for Worse (Sweet Coastal Kisses)
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[This Above All (The Calloway Series Book 2)]]> 213945213 If Nick can find a wife, that is. Her plan is she will prevent him from forming any attachments and claiming the inheritance that is rightfully hers.

Nick will settle for nothing less than the deepest love—but there’s a catch. He must marry before the year is out if he is to inherit a great fortune. When he meets a lively young woman during his visit to the country, their attraction is immediate. Almost as immediate as his regret when he realizes that the woman is none other than Emma, the one person who could ruin his financial future.As a web of secrets begins to unravel and romantic subterfuge ensues, Nick and Emma find themselves unlikely allies. When Emma learns that she, too, is required to wed before she can claim the inheritance, she sees only one scenario in which everyone gets what they want. But with everything she’s done to get in Nick’s way, the task before her may prove impossible. She must convince him to marry her.]]> 321 Dana LeCheminant 1524425362 Jane 5
Emma and Nick are fantastic characters with hilarious witty banter. I love a good enemies to lovers story and this is top notch. They begin the story as sworn enemies fighting for the same inheritance. The way they go back and forth is clever and funny. They both work to secure their futures against each other. But quickly they discover how right for each other they are. I loved seeing them form a friendship and then more.

Set against the backdrop of Regency London, their love story is beautiful and engaging. I loved this loose retelling of You've Got Mail. Both Emma and Nick fall for each other so gradually, they don't realize they have fallen until they're already in love with each other. I enjoyed seeing them fall for each other -- each interaction (good and bad), each conversation, each witty reply, each letter, each stolen moment was beautiful and sweet. I was rooting for them to fall in love from the first time they meet in the shop.

The story also features a lovely cast of characters surrounding Emma and Nick. I felt invested in everyone's stories and connections. The friendships between Nick and his friends were endearing. I loved how they support each other like brothers. And Emma has so much support from her sister, Tabitha, brother in law, cousin and Grandfather. While they don't always see eye to eye with their families, both Emma and Nick have so much to live for. I loved the relationships throughout the story.

Their happily ever after seems impossible but is all the more satisfying for the journey they must take to get there. The romance is beautiful. The characters are complex. And the story is engaging. I loved this one!]]> 4.42 2024 This Above All (The Calloway Series Book 2)
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/08
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves: 2025, historical-fiction, enemies-to-lovers, beautiful-romance
review:
This was my first historical romance by Dana and it will certainly not be my last! I understand now why I have heard so many good things about this book and series. I absolutely loved this book!

Emma and Nick are fantastic characters with hilarious witty banter. I love a good enemies to lovers story and this is top notch. They begin the story as sworn enemies fighting for the same inheritance. The way they go back and forth is clever and funny. They both work to secure their futures against each other. But quickly they discover how right for each other they are. I loved seeing them form a friendship and then more.

Set against the backdrop of Regency London, their love story is beautiful and engaging. I loved this loose retelling of You've Got Mail. Both Emma and Nick fall for each other so gradually, they don't realize they have fallen until they're already in love with each other. I enjoyed seeing them fall for each other -- each interaction (good and bad), each conversation, each witty reply, each letter, each stolen moment was beautiful and sweet. I was rooting for them to fall in love from the first time they meet in the shop.

The story also features a lovely cast of characters surrounding Emma and Nick. I felt invested in everyone's stories and connections. The friendships between Nick and his friends were endearing. I loved how they support each other like brothers. And Emma has so much support from her sister, Tabitha, brother in law, cousin and Grandfather. While they don't always see eye to eye with their families, both Emma and Nick have so much to live for. I loved the relationships throughout the story.

Their happily ever after seems impossible but is all the more satisfying for the journey they must take to get there. The romance is beautiful. The characters are complex. And the story is engaging. I loved this one!
]]> <![CDATA[Cinder Luna (Once Upon a RomCom, #1)]]> 191197254
Move to the adorable town of Brookhaven? Check.

Get bumped to first class on the train and meet the most gorgeous, considerate man of my life? Check.

Find a job in video game animation and a cozy apartment of my own? Not so much.

So maybe things in Brookhaven aren’t quite as idyllic as my friend promised. My one saving grace is playing video games every evening with my best online friend, MidKnight. Plus, helping him create his own video game helps me escape the drudgery of my demanding twin bosses and a dusty, cramped apartment.

It’s not long before our relationship turns from friendly to…a lot more personal.

Things get complicated when I run into the man from the train again. He couldn’t forget about me either, and he’s been searching for me. I can’t deny the intense physical attraction we have, but I feel like my heart is being pulled in two directions. But there are things that both guys don’t know about me.

Being brave isn’t my strong suit, but maybe it’s time to find some courage.

Cinder Luna is a closed door, romantic comedy retelling of Cinderella with hidden identities and swoony kisses!

Tropes:
Slow burn
Cinnamon roll MMC
Instant attraction
Hidden identities
Girl next door
Closed door/kissing only]]> 318 Marie Soleil Jane 4
I thought the video game elements were clever and a unique take on this classic story. While not a gamer myself, I enjoyed seeing how Luna and Henry connect as Clockstriker and MidKnight and how their friendship builds from their gaming together. Seeing them create and perfect Henry's game was one of my favorite parts of the story because it shows them at their best together. They build a genuine friendship in their gaming personas. Even though they keep the details of their lives hidden from each other. And of course, the reveals of their true identities was a long anticipated and surprising series of moments.

They have about the cutest meet cute I've ever read. Their instant connection on the train was so cute and I loved how obvious their chemistry is from those first moments of meeting each other. Henry's determination to find Luna was so sweet and I loved how well he treated her.

The connections to the original fairy tale were clever and fun. I enjoyed the connections with the "evil" twins, the lost shoe, Luna leaving without Henry learning her name, the ball, and the reveal of her circumstances. This was a fun and engaging love story. I highly recommend it for fairy tale and romcom fans alike!]]> 4.03 Cinder Luna (Once Upon a RomCom, #1)
author: Marie Soleil
name: Jane
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/03
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: 2025, fairy-tale-inspired, rom-com
review:
This was a really cute and clever retelling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella.

I thought the video game elements were clever and a unique take on this classic story. While not a gamer myself, I enjoyed seeing how Luna and Henry connect as Clockstriker and MidKnight and how their friendship builds from their gaming together. Seeing them create and perfect Henry's game was one of my favorite parts of the story because it shows them at their best together. They build a genuine friendship in their gaming personas. Even though they keep the details of their lives hidden from each other. And of course, the reveals of their true identities was a long anticipated and surprising series of moments.

They have about the cutest meet cute I've ever read. Their instant connection on the train was so cute and I loved how obvious their chemistry is from those first moments of meeting each other. Henry's determination to find Luna was so sweet and I loved how well he treated her.

The connections to the original fairy tale were clever and fun. I enjoyed the connections with the "evil" twins, the lost shoe, Luna leaving without Henry learning her name, the ball, and the reveal of her circumstances. This was a fun and engaging love story. I highly recommend it for fairy tale and romcom fans alike!
]]> Christmas with the Queen 199531640
December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue in the tradition of her late father and grandfather’s beloved Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must move with the times, and the Queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change.Ěý

As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, two old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—find themselves reunited for the festivities. A single mother, typist at the BBC, and aspiring reporter, Olive leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, despite self-doubts. When a chance encounter with the Queen presents an exciting opportunity, Olive begins to believe her luck might change.Ěý

Jack, a grief-stricken widowed chef originally from New Orleans, accepts a last-minute chance to cook in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. When he bumps into a long-lost friend, an old spark is reignited.

Despite personal and professional heartache, Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmas seasons and they find themselves growing ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret.Ěý

Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, Olive decides to reveal the shocking truth of her secret, which threatens to tear her and Jack apart forever.ĚýUnless Christmas has one last gift to deliver…Ěý]]> 384 Hazel Gaynor 0063276216 Jane 5
I loved the dual timeline and dual POV. Getting to know Olive and Jack through their shared experiences and memories over several years was a delight. They have both experienced struggles and loss. They both have had life change suddenly and have had to change course amidst intense times. I loved seeing how their lives unfold over many years. The flashbacks to their experiences right after WWII were vibrant and helped create a clearer picture of their characters. Their meetings over several Christmases were beautifully detailed and emotionally charged. I was cheering for these two from the first moments we meet them. And I hoped for them to find their way back to each other despite serious setbacks and the passage of time.

My favorite elements in this story were the connections to the Queen and Prince Philip. I loved seeing them as people, as a couple, as a family that had to overcome unexpected loss in the death of King George VI and Elizabeth's early ascension to the throne. Seeing these historical figures and real historical moments like her Christmas speeches and the royal tours woven into this story created some of my favorite parts of the story. The moments Olive spends giving feedback on the Queen's Christmas speeches were some of my favorite in the novel. They offer a glimpse into the potential private life of the Queen and how she felt during these important and changing times. I admired her before reading this book, and I admire her more now having read some of her speeches and considering how much she loved her people and sought to do her duty for them.

The writing is beautiful, eloquent, and engaging. I fell in love with their writing style in the other book I've read that they co-wrote. This one was just as smooth and engaging. I was invested in these characters from the first chapters. I felt their pains and their grief. I hoped for their confidence and their success. I wanted them to find happiness and love again. What a beautiful story! ]]> 4.00 2024 Christmas with the Queen
author: Hazel Gaynor
name: Jane
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/31
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: 2024, historical-fiction, christmas, 2025
review:
I decided I would love this novel before I even opened the first page. After reading and loving Last Christmas in Paris, I knew I would love this one as well especially because of the connections to Queen Elizabeth II. I adore the British royal family and this was such a treat to rub shoulders with them in this novel.

I loved the dual timeline and dual POV. Getting to know Olive and Jack through their shared experiences and memories over several years was a delight. They have both experienced struggles and loss. They both have had life change suddenly and have had to change course amidst intense times. I loved seeing how their lives unfold over many years. The flashbacks to their experiences right after WWII were vibrant and helped create a clearer picture of their characters. Their meetings over several Christmases were beautifully detailed and emotionally charged. I was cheering for these two from the first moments we meet them. And I hoped for them to find their way back to each other despite serious setbacks and the passage of time.

My favorite elements in this story were the connections to the Queen and Prince Philip. I loved seeing them as people, as a couple, as a family that had to overcome unexpected loss in the death of King George VI and Elizabeth's early ascension to the throne. Seeing these historical figures and real historical moments like her Christmas speeches and the royal tours woven into this story created some of my favorite parts of the story. The moments Olive spends giving feedback on the Queen's Christmas speeches were some of my favorite in the novel. They offer a glimpse into the potential private life of the Queen and how she felt during these important and changing times. I admired her before reading this book, and I admire her more now having read some of her speeches and considering how much she loved her people and sought to do her duty for them.

The writing is beautiful, eloquent, and engaging. I fell in love with their writing style in the other book I've read that they co-wrote. This one was just as smooth and engaging. I was invested in these characters from the first chapters. I felt their pains and their grief. I hoped for their confidence and their success. I wanted them to find happiness and love again. What a beautiful story!
]]> What Dreams May Come 118535014
Simon is suspicious of his lovely future sister-in-law, a woman who seems completely unsuited to his self-important brother. As they wait for William to awake, Simon and Lucy are drawn ever closer together. But danger draws closer too, in the form of her unwanted suitor. Lucy knows that when Simon discovers the truth, he will despise her. Now she must find a way to keep herself safe . . . and avoid falling hopelessly in love with a man she can never have.]]> 272 Dana LeCheminant 1524423084 Jane 0 to-read 4.06 2023 What Dreams May Come
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Two Princesses of Bamarre (The Two Princesses of Bamarre, #1)]]> 183656
But when Meryl falls ill with the dreaded Gray Death, Addie must gather her courage and set off alone on a quest to find the cure and save her beloved sister. Addie takes the seven-league boots and magic spyglass left to her by her mother and the enchanted tablecloth and cloak given to her by Rhys - along with a shy declaration of his love. She prevails in encounters with tricky specters (spiders too) and outwits a wickedly personable dragon in adventures touched with romance and a bittersweet ending.]]> 304 Gail Carson Levine 0060575808 Jane 0 to-read 4.06 2001 The Two Princesses of Bamarre (The Two Princesses of Bamarre, #1)
author: Gail Carson Levine
name: Jane
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2001
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Golden Goal (More Than a Game, #1)]]> 202953473 Shaw Daniels is the bane of my existence.

Always has been. Always will be.

When we were kids, he annoyed me to no end by being good at everything. He didn’t have to study or really even try. Meanwhile, I tried too much and still lost to him.

Then when we were teenagers, our rivalry became twisted. He started sabotaging all my relationships. I retaliated by doing the same to him.

Now, we’re adults and we should be able to move on. But when I become a physical therapist for his professional hockey team, it seems as though we can’t let go of our rival tendencies.

Suddenly, our teasing starts to border on flirting. Bets are made and lines are crossed. The kind of lines that once crossed � you can never go back to the way things were before.

The Golden Goal is a rivals to lovers, brother’s best-friend hockey romcom for fans of sports romance. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the first book in the More Than a Game series, an interconnected standalone series based around four men in four different sports.]]> 283 Annah Conwell Jane 0 to-read 3.86 The Golden Goal (More Than a Game, #1)
author: Annah Conwell
name: Jane
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1)]]> 29093190
Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Gold Ticket from Mr Willy Wonka! I shake you warmly by the hand! Tremendous things are in store for you!

One miraculous moment changes Charlie Bucket's life forever.

A boy who only gets to eat cabbage soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner finds a Golden Ticket that will take him into Willy Wonka's magical chocolate factory.

Joining him on the tour are four horrible

Augustus Gloop - a great big greedy nincompoop, Veruca Salt - a spoiled brat, Violet Beauregarde - a repulsive little gum-chewer and Mike Teavee - a TV addict.

With a chocolate river, crafty squirrels and mysterious Oompa Loompas, Mr Wonka's chocolate factory is the strangest, most magnificent place Charlie has ever seen.

What other surprises are in store for the lucky ticket winners?

Now you can listen to CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry - plus there are added squelchy soundeffects from Pinewood Studios!]]> 196 Roald Dahl 0141365374 Jane 5
Why this is a great read aloud:
*Short chapters easy to read in one sitting
*Great pictures at least one per chapter
*Silly characters that are fun to do different voices for
*Unique setting with places/objects/experiences new to my kids
*Easy to follow story

Characters have such big personalities. Fun to compare them to each other and talk about why they act certain ways and how we would act differently. Mr Wonka was constantly making me laugh because he is so ridiculous and says the silliest things. I love Charlie because he is so good and truly childlike. Grandpa Joe is a great adult character because he still believes in the magic of Wonka but also in the magic of childhood.

Great setting. I always loved the Chocolate room with the chocolate waterfall. My daughters loved the pink candy boat they ride on. And I loved the logic behind Wonka TV this time. If only it was really that easy!

The story is delightful and simple. We watched the classic Gene Wilder movie afterwards and while it's certainly true to the essence of the book, it also complicates things. The subplot about the Slugworth stealing Wonkas ideas and bribing kids and Charlie/Grandpa drinking the fizzy lifting drinks were both added to the movie. My kids didn't quite get that. I think the book is great for a younger audience because the story is so simple. Charlie is simply the last kid on the tour (and by far the kindest and best behaved) so he wins!

We are hoping to read the second book in the series soon. A great excuse to buy it ;)]]> 4.25 1964 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1)
author: Roald Dahl
name: Jane
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1964
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves: read-aloud, childrens-fiction, 2020, favorite-settings, 2025
review:
Such a fun read aloud with my kids! This was our first successful chapter book that we read start to finish together and it was such a joy to read it!

Why this is a great read aloud:
*Short chapters easy to read in one sitting
*Great pictures at least one per chapter
*Silly characters that are fun to do different voices for
*Unique setting with places/objects/experiences new to my kids
*Easy to follow story

Characters have such big personalities. Fun to compare them to each other and talk about why they act certain ways and how we would act differently. Mr Wonka was constantly making me laugh because he is so ridiculous and says the silliest things. I love Charlie because he is so good and truly childlike. Grandpa Joe is a great adult character because he still believes in the magic of Wonka but also in the magic of childhood.

Great setting. I always loved the Chocolate room with the chocolate waterfall. My daughters loved the pink candy boat they ride on. And I loved the logic behind Wonka TV this time. If only it was really that easy!

The story is delightful and simple. We watched the classic Gene Wilder movie afterwards and while it's certainly true to the essence of the book, it also complicates things. The subplot about the Slugworth stealing Wonkas ideas and bribing kids and Charlie/Grandpa drinking the fizzy lifting drinks were both added to the movie. My kids didn't quite get that. I think the book is great for a younger audience because the story is so simple. Charlie is simply the last kid on the tour (and by far the kindest and best behaved) so he wins!

We are hoping to read the second book in the series soon. A great excuse to buy it ;)
]]> <![CDATA[Yuletide Bride (Regency Christmas Brides)]]> 218332093 When a marriage of convenience becomes inconveniently complicated...

Mercy Caldwell, the vicar’s eldest daughter, has watched her younger sisters march down the aisle while she remains resolutely on the shelf. When a chance at matrimony arrives mere hours after her youngest sister’s engagement, Mercy seizes the opportunity—and the man she’s secretly admired for years.

Colin Birchall’s grand estate is crumbling, and his aunt’s generous inheritance comes with one he must be married by Twelfth Night. In Mercy, he finds the perfect candidate to meet his aunt’s exacting standards. It seems an ideal arrangement—until they’re forced to actually live together.

From differing views on marriage to clashing Christmas traditions, Mercy and Colin discover that convenience and compatibility are two very different things. But when Colin’s aunt arrives unannounced demanding proof of their love, they must convince her—and perhaps themselves—that their hastily forged union is more than just a festive facade.

Can Mercy and Colin turn their paper marriage into a love match before Twelfth Night? Or will their convenient arrangement crumble faster than Colin’s ancestral home?

Book three in the Regency Christmas Brides series,Yuletide Bride is a heartwarming holiday romance that proves love often arrives in the most unexpected packages—no bow required.

Other books in the Regency Christmas Brides
A Seasonal Pursuit by Rebecca Connolly
Rules of a Ruse by Laura Beers
Her Mistletoe Match by Anneka R. Walker
]]> 244 Kasey Stockton 1952429560 Jane 5
I loved seeing how they fall in love and the melding of their traditions and dreams.

She is a vibrant and compelling protagonist. I love how she is apologetically herself. She wants to work and be a part of her home. I loved how she wants to create a special Christmas experience with the decorations and the shortbread baking with Aunt Edith. I really loved her family and seeing her interact with her parents and sister. And I appreciate her feelings as an oldest sister wanting to be married! Seeing her fall in love was so beautiful.

It was a delight to see him let down some of his walls and intensity about order. Everything must be just so for him. But seeing him allow her to change how he feels and how he does things was so beautiful. And the climactic ending when he realizes all she means to him was especially beautiful. ]]> 4.35 2024 Yuletide Bride (Regency Christmas Brides)
author: Kasey Stockton
name: Jane
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, christmas, marriage-of-convenience, novella, 2025
review:
I absolutely loved this marriage of convenience Christmas novel! It was such a delight.

I loved seeing how they fall in love and the melding of their traditions and dreams.

She is a vibrant and compelling protagonist. I love how she is apologetically herself. She wants to work and be a part of her home. I loved how she wants to create a special Christmas experience with the decorations and the shortbread baking with Aunt Edith. I really loved her family and seeing her interact with her parents and sister. And I appreciate her feelings as an oldest sister wanting to be married! Seeing her fall in love was so beautiful.

It was a delight to see him let down some of his walls and intensity about order. Everything must be just so for him. But seeing him allow her to change how he feels and how he does things was so beautiful. And the climactic ending when he realizes all she means to him was especially beautiful.
]]> <![CDATA[All's Fair in Love and Christmas]]> 90247001
Jeremy Fletcher's life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year's promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but the raise will help him as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she's his rival, he can't stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he's afraid that if he can't get his head on straight, the job isn't the only thing he'll end up losing to Mackenzie.

'Tis the season for romance, faith, and humor--all wrapped up in this enchanting holiday rom-com from award-winning author Sarah Monzon.]]> 256 Sarah Monzon Jane 0 to-read 3.49 2023 All's Fair in Love and Christmas
author: Sarah Monzon
name: Jane
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Christmas in Dixie (Apple Cart County Christmas #1)]]> 59447239
I really want a ring before subjecting Collins to my redneck relatives. So I’m relieved when he has to work over the holidays.

All I want is a low-key Christmas in Alabama with my family. Well, that and the snow I believe is coming. My perfect holiday is ruined the moment Collins shows up in my mama’s kitchen � escorted by my county sheriff ex-boyfriend.

I can honestly say I haven’t been this surprised since my cousin went to jail.

Collins might be a successful surgeon in Atlanta, but I doubt he can last a few days in the small town of Wisteria, Alabama. However, if our love can withstand my gun-slinging, hog-killing family, then I’m sure we’re destined to be together.

We just have to make it through Christmas.]]> 244 Kaci Lane Jane 0 to-read 4.05 Christmas in Dixie (Apple Cart County Christmas #1)
author: Kaci Lane
name: Jane
average rating: 4.05
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Host for the Holidays (Christmas Escape)]]> 62799144
Madi

After two years and zero proposals, my relationship could use a little spark. Paris during the holidays seems like just the ticket—one perfect, final opportunity for my boyfriend to take things to the next level.

The fact that he’s rented me the tiny servant quarters in the apartment of a very good-looking Frenchman is . . . puzzling. And when he asks that Frenchman to take me around the city while he’s busy at work trainings? Color me confused.

Is this some sort of pre-engagement test? If so, I’m not sure I’m doing too hot.

¸éĂ©łľ˛â

Offering to host my friend’s vacation rental means making sure the first review is five solid, sparkling stars. When the guest who shows up is a beautiful American woman, I’m thinking my task might be more enjoyable than I thought. Until I find out she has a boyfriend. Madi deserves to have an amazing time in Paris, though, so I’m more than happy to oblige when the guy asks me to show her the city.

It’s cool. I’m cool. This is all for that five-star review�


â—� Host for the Holidays is a closed door romance full of fun, chemistry, and a generous dash of the magic of Paris]]> 378 Martha Keyes Jane 4 2024, christmas, rom-com
Remy and Madi have fantastic chemistry and I love how he helps her overcome her fears and see Paris at its best. Loved how they care for each other and do small things for each other. Like buying the baguette and cheese or holding hands on the metro. I loved how fast they fall for each other and how they build each other up in the best ways. Also their first kiss is magical!

Loved their experiences around Paris� going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, visiting a Christmas market, taking pictures in iconic neighborhoods, seeing the Louvre, eating truly French and some not so truly French food. I loved the extended Christmas Eve dinner hosted by his mom and the photography sessions around Paris.

I didn’t love that Madi is in such a bad relationship for the first half of the book. Josh doesn’t treat her right and doesn’t deserve her patience and vibrancy. Glad that finally ended but it took a bit long for me. Also Madi and Remy should have talked way sooner about their feelings. I was dying at times with the lack of communication! But their happily ever after is truly lovely!]]> 4.03 2022 Host for the Holidays (Christmas Escape)
author: Martha Keyes
name: Jane
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/13
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves: 2024, christmas, rom-com
review:
I enjoyed this holiday romcom set in Paris.

Remy and Madi have fantastic chemistry and I love how he helps her overcome her fears and see Paris at its best. Loved how they care for each other and do small things for each other. Like buying the baguette and cheese or holding hands on the metro. I loved how fast they fall for each other and how they build each other up in the best ways. Also their first kiss is magical!

Loved their experiences around Paris� going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, visiting a Christmas market, taking pictures in iconic neighborhoods, seeing the Louvre, eating truly French and some not so truly French food. I loved the extended Christmas Eve dinner hosted by his mom and the photography sessions around Paris.

I didn’t love that Madi is in such a bad relationship for the first half of the book. Josh doesn’t treat her right and doesn’t deserve her patience and vibrancy. Glad that finally ended but it took a bit long for me. Also Madi and Remy should have talked way sooner about their feelings. I was dying at times with the lack of communication! But their happily ever after is truly lovely!
]]> The Four Loves 30633 The Four Loves summarizes four kinds of human love--affection, friendship, erotic love, and the love of God. Masterful without being magisterial, this book's wise, gentle, candid reflections on the virtues and dangers of love draw on sources from Jane Austen to St. Augustine. The chapter on charity (love of God) may be the best thing Lewis ever wrote about Christianity. Consider his reflection on Augustine's teaching that one must love only God, because only God is eternal, and all earthly love will someday pass away:
Who could conceivably begin to love God on such a prudential ground--because the security (so to speak) is better? Who could even include it among the grounds for loving? Would you choose a wife or a Friend--if it comes to that, would you choose a dog--in this spirit? One must be outside the world of love, of all loves, before one thus calculates.
His description of Christianity here is no less forceful and opinionated than in Mere Christianity or The Problem of Pain, but it is far less anxious about its reader's response--and therefore more persuasive than any of his apologetics. When he begins to describe the nature of faith, Lewis writes: "Take it as one man's reverie, almost one man's myth. If anything in it is useful to you, use it; if anything is not, never give it a second thought." --Michael Joseph Gross]]> 170 C.S. Lewis 0006280897 Jane 4
I listened to an audiobook of this collection of essay and it was absolutely fascinating. The essays were read by CS Lewis himself in a one of a kind audio recording. It's my understanding that there are not many recordings of him reading his work so that was a treat!

The commentary on love in these essays is dense and intriguing. It definitely took a lot of concentration to listen to these lectures. I couldn't listen to them all back to back because it was complex and hard to concentrate for extended periods of time. While the commentary is dense, it is also very interesting and I enjoyed learning more about Lewis' way of thinking and how love can be defined in different ways. But I am really glad to have read this one.

Lewis discusses in depth the four types of love in Greek thought -- familial or affectionate love (storge); friendship (philia); romantic love (eros); and spiritual love (agape). He defines each of these loves and offers commentary on how these loves work and how they can be twisted or fragmented. The definitions were interesting and seeing how the loves are all connected was also fascinating. All of this is offered with his Christian world view as a backdrop. There were many moments that really made me think about how I love others, myself and God.

I'd listen to this again perhaps with a hard copy in front of me so I can mark some of the moments that were most intriguing to me. As I was listening, I didn't have the words in front so I couldn't mark what struck me the most.

This definitely makes me want to read more of Lewis' work. I find his commentary fascinating and very relevant.]]> 4.13 1960 The Four Loves
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Jane
average rating: 4.13
book published: 1960
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/26
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves: 2025, audiobook, classics, classics-club-2, nonfiction
review:
What a fascinating commentary on the four types of love from CS Lewis.

I listened to an audiobook of this collection of essay and it was absolutely fascinating. The essays were read by CS Lewis himself in a one of a kind audio recording. It's my understanding that there are not many recordings of him reading his work so that was a treat!

The commentary on love in these essays is dense and intriguing. It definitely took a lot of concentration to listen to these lectures. I couldn't listen to them all back to back because it was complex and hard to concentrate for extended periods of time. While the commentary is dense, it is also very interesting and I enjoyed learning more about Lewis' way of thinking and how love can be defined in different ways. But I am really glad to have read this one.

Lewis discusses in depth the four types of love in Greek thought -- familial or affectionate love (storge); friendship (philia); romantic love (eros); and spiritual love (agape). He defines each of these loves and offers commentary on how these loves work and how they can be twisted or fragmented. The definitions were interesting and seeing how the loves are all connected was also fascinating. All of this is offered with his Christian world view as a backdrop. There were many moments that really made me think about how I love others, myself and God.

I'd listen to this again perhaps with a hard copy in front of me so I can mark some of the moments that were most intriguing to me. As I was listening, I didn't have the words in front so I couldn't mark what struck me the most.

This definitely makes me want to read more of Lewis' work. I find his commentary fascinating and very relevant.
]]> <![CDATA[When Alec Met Evie (Appies, #6)]]> 223634485 Evie told herself not to fall for her pro-hockey crush. But when she sees him holding her baby girl, all bets are off.

When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again.

Number one: Alec is her best friend’s much older brother.
Number two: She’s recently divorced and does not need another man in her life. At least not anytime soon.
Number three: With a four-month-old daughter, she has zero time for dating.

Trouble is, Evie doesn’t know another soul in North Carolina, so when her rental floods before she’s even moved in, her only option is to crash with Alec for a few weeks. When she protests, he insists it’s what he’d do for his sister, and that’s basically what she is to him.

But all these years later, the unexpected chemistry between them definitely says otherwise.

A new relationship is risky when Evie is still licking her wounds from her divorce, and she has no idea if Alec has any desire to be a dad. His sister already warned he isn’t the type to settle down.

But she can’t make herself care about any of that. Not until she’s already fallen, and it might be too late to save herself from another heartbreak.]]> 331 Jenny Proctor Jane 5
Getting to know Alec is a joy and a privilege. I loved being inside his head and seeing the depth and complexity of his character. The difficult decisions that he knows are coming and the way he leads the Appies regardless of those difficulties is inspiring. I admired his leadership and his dedication to the sport and his team. Seeing him fall for Evie (and little Juno) was absolutely beautiful.

Evie was so easy for me to connect with. Perhaps that's because we are both in the early months of postpartum life, breastfeeding babies, and learning how this new phase of motherhood will work for us. I really connected with her as she navigates early motherhood and the many ups and downs of being a mom. But I also admired her strength, her passion for music, and her dedication to building a better life for her and her daughter. Seeing her allow Alec into her world and accepting help from genuine friends was lovely.

Alec and Evie have such a beautiful love story. While they share a long history together since Evie is Alec's sister Megan's best friend, their love story is fresh and new in this story. Their obvious chemistry is apparent from the first time they meet. I love how Alec both loves and wants to take care of Evie and Juno. He steps in where they need him most and embraces the unique aspects of dating with a baby. Seeing him fall for Juno was one of my favorite parts of the story. When she falls asleep on him for the first time, I may have cried. Seeing him show Evie true love, loyalty and support was so beautiful. The way he stands up to her ex is so hilariously protective too! I love their flirty banter, the build-up to their first kiss, and the moment Alec realizes how much they mean to him.

At the end of this series, I just want to shout out this incredible team of brothers. The friendships, the banter, the dream team text thread -- it's all so much fun to read. I have loved getting to know this group of hockey players that are also incredibly decent, loyal and kind men. Seeing them each fall in love has been such a treat. I love seeing them all realize how much family, friendship, and love mean to them and how much life there is outside of hockey. Seeing Felix, Nathan, Van, Camden, Logan and Eli rally around Alec when he needs it most is one of my favorite scenes in the whole series. Thank you, Emma and Jenny for an incredible ride!]]> 4.40 2025 When Alec Met Evie (Appies, #6)
author: Jenny Proctor
name: Jane
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/26
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves: 2025, beautiful-romance, best-friend-s-brother, great-book-series, sports-romcom
review:
What an ending to one of my very favorite romcom series!! I love the Appies so much!

Getting to know Alec is a joy and a privilege. I loved being inside his head and seeing the depth and complexity of his character. The difficult decisions that he knows are coming and the way he leads the Appies regardless of those difficulties is inspiring. I admired his leadership and his dedication to the sport and his team. Seeing him fall for Evie (and little Juno) was absolutely beautiful.

Evie was so easy for me to connect with. Perhaps that's because we are both in the early months of postpartum life, breastfeeding babies, and learning how this new phase of motherhood will work for us. I really connected with her as she navigates early motherhood and the many ups and downs of being a mom. But I also admired her strength, her passion for music, and her dedication to building a better life for her and her daughter. Seeing her allow Alec into her world and accepting help from genuine friends was lovely.

Alec and Evie have such a beautiful love story. While they share a long history together since Evie is Alec's sister Megan's best friend, their love story is fresh and new in this story. Their obvious chemistry is apparent from the first time they meet. I love how Alec both loves and wants to take care of Evie and Juno. He steps in where they need him most and embraces the unique aspects of dating with a baby. Seeing him fall for Juno was one of my favorite parts of the story. When she falls asleep on him for the first time, I may have cried. Seeing him show Evie true love, loyalty and support was so beautiful. The way he stands up to her ex is so hilariously protective too! I love their flirty banter, the build-up to their first kiss, and the moment Alec realizes how much they mean to him.

At the end of this series, I just want to shout out this incredible team of brothers. The friendships, the banter, the dream team text thread -- it's all so much fun to read. I have loved getting to know this group of hockey players that are also incredibly decent, loyal and kind men. Seeing them each fall in love has been such a treat. I love seeing them all realize how much family, friendship, and love mean to them and how much life there is outside of hockey. Seeing Felix, Nathan, Van, Camden, Logan and Eli rally around Alec when he needs it most is one of my favorite scenes in the whole series. Thank you, Emma and Jenny for an incredible ride!
]]> <![CDATA[The Late Mrs. Willoughby (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney, #2)]]> 62926935 The suspenseful sequel to The Murder of Mr. Wickham, which sees Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney reunited, and with another mystery to solve: the dreadful poisoning of theĚýscoundrel Willoughby's new wife.

“An absolute page-turner full of well-plotted mystery and hints of simmering romance. . . . More of the Jane Austen characters we love (as well as those we love to hate).� —Mia P. Manansala, author of Arsenic and Adobo

Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey are not entirely pleased to be sending their eligible young daughter Juliet out into the world again: the last house party she attended, at the home of the Knightleys, involved a murder—which Juliet helped solve. Particularly concerning is that she intends to visit her new friend Marianne Brandon, who's returned home toĚýDevonshire shrouded in fresh scandal—made more potent by the news that her former suitor, the rakish Mr. Willoughby, intends to take up residence at his local estate with his new bride.

Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley are thrilled that their eldest son, Jonathan—who, like his father, has not always been the most socially adept—has been invited to stay with his former schoolmate, John Willoughby. Jonathan himself is decidedly less taken with the notion of having to spend extended time under the roof of his old bully, but that all changes when he finds himself reunited with his fellow amateur sleuth, the radiant Miss Tilney. And when shortly thereafter, Willoughby's new wife—whom he married for her fortune—dies horribly at the party meant to welcome her to town.

With rumors flying and Marianne—known to be both unstable and previously jilted by the dead woman's newly made widower—under increased suspicion, Jonathan and Juliet must team up once more to uncover the murderer. But as they collect clues and close in on suspects, eerie incidents suggest that the killer may strike again, and that the pair are in far graver danger than they or their families could imagine.

A VINTAGE ORIGINAL.]]> 385 Claudia Gray 0593313836 Jane 0 to-read 3.86 2023 The Late Mrs. Willoughby (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney, #2)
author: Claudia Gray
name: Jane
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Rushworth Family Plot (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #4)]]> 219446044 The fourth book in the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery series, which finds the amateur sleuths caught up in the whirlwind of the London Season—and in a murderous scheme involving the family of Edmund and Fanny Bertram.

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney understand each other perfectly; it's a pity their families do not. A series of misunderstandings, misplaced pride, and—indeed—prejudice, has led their parents to deem the pair unsuited to wed. Now, with the Season approaching, Juliet has been sent to London with a new wardrobe and orders to prove herself worthy of someone better than the snobby Darcys.

Meanwhile, Jonathan has been forced to accept an invitation to stay with old friends Edmund and Fanny Bertram at the house of Edmund's brother, Sir Thomas. Oblivious to and undesiring of female attention other than Juliet's, Jonathan is in danger of being ensnared by Caroline Bingley's plans to make herself—or her daughter—mistress of Pemberley.

But when the former husband of Edmund's sister Maria, Mr. Rushworth, is discovered dead, Jonathan and Juliet find themselves with problems far weightier than the marriage market.

In one of the greatest scandals of its day, Maria abandoned her husband for the notorious rake Henry Crawford and, when he wouldn't marry her, was forced to flee to the continent in disgrace. Now Maria is back, with a daughter she claims Mr. Rushworth fathered after their divorce—and who he wrote into his will just before his death.

Now Jonathan and Juliet must unmask a killer before the drama surrounding the Rushworth family fortune claims another victim.]]> Claudia Gray 0735247870 Jane 0 to-read 4.48 The Rushworth Family Plot (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #4)
author: Claudia Gray
name: Jane
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Everything's Coming Up Rosie 221132539 Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things . . .

Rosie Waterman has one to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn't been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does--puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she's been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie's been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?

When she's offered a job as the director of a regional theatre's production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance--even though she's only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she'll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the "regional theatre" is actually in a retirement community, and the "actors" are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.

Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn't turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It's not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?]]> 352 Courtney Walsh 0840713851 Jane 0 to-read 4.39 2025 Everything's Coming Up Rosie
author: Courtney Walsh
name: Jane
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The French Kitchen 221132606 As Paris rebuilds in the aftermath of World War II, one ex-pat uses the skills she learned in French kitchens during the war to bring long-held secrets to light.

Paris, 1952 -- An ex-pat wife living in Paris signs up for a cookery class taught by an American chef with an indomitable wit and decidedly French airs--an instructor by name of Julia Child. Amongst classes of the L'Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, with pots and pans and prim Paris wives learning to sauté in the French way, Kat Fontaine learns much more than she bargained for.

Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, Kat soon finds a simple cookery class unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war and questions about the high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together--and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart--Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .

Rue, 1943 -- Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day--as a French chef at the famous Château du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list--and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter information to agents within the burgeoning OSS, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm--even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.

From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France--and the spy backstory of the world's most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child--The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she'd planned for a perfect future.]]> 384 Kristy Cambron 140034526X Jane 0 to-read 4.59 The French Kitchen
author: Kristy Cambron
name: Jane
average rating: 4.59
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Owen Bailey Needs Advice (Another Bailey Brother #2)]]> 204625788 Dear Ask Annie,
I know my best friend is THE ONE. But how do I tell her that?


Annie Archer has a problem� She can’t get one email—one mind-boggling letter from her advice column out of her head. The one? Does the one even exist?

She should be able to answer this question, just like all the others. Except, she doesn’t have firsthand experience with the one. In fact, except for those few months back in tenth grade when she went temporarily insane and fell for her best friend—she’s never been in love. But then, her advice is based on research and facts, not experience.

So, time to research. Convincing Owen to be her hands-on experiment isn’t too difficult. She’ll set him up, use her guaranteed advice, and find him the girl of his dreams. It’s a foolproof plan� until everyone around them—including half her readers–start asking why she isn’t dating Owen.

Yep—Annie has BIG problems. At the top of the list—falling for her bestie.

Owen Bailey has—you guessed it—a problem. He’s found the one. He fell for his best friend a long time ago, even if she doesn’t know it. He’s been watching Annie go out with guy after guy, only to never be The Guy. And now she wants him to date other women? As in�not her?

He’ll do anything for Annie. But he doesn’t have to like it. Doesn’t she see that they were meant for each other? How can he convince her that he’s the one?

If he’s going to show Annie that it’s time for her to abandon her plans and see what’s right in front of her, he’ll need advice.

Lucky for him, he knows exactly who to ask.


]]> 342 Jen Atkinson Jane 4
The dating experiment was a fun twist on the friends to lovers trope. I enjoyed seeing Annie's advice in action and seeing how they both react to Owen's different dates. Friends to lovers isn't my favorite trope so there was some frustration for me with their inability to communicate about their feelings. Annie seems determined to sabotage their relationship. But I was so happy when they both finally go all in and see all the best in each other and their potential future.

I love the Bailey family! The family interactions and dynamics are just so fun! They stand up for each other. They tease each other. They help each other. They tell each other the truth even when they don't wait to hear it. They meddle and they meddle and they meddle. It's so fun!

Already started book 3 and loving it!!]]> 4.13 Owen Bailey Needs Advice (Another Bailey Brother #2)
author: Jen Atkinson
name: Jane
average rating: 4.13
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: 2025, best-friends-to-more, rom-com
review:
This was a fun addition to this series! I enjoyed getting to know Owen and Annie.

The dating experiment was a fun twist on the friends to lovers trope. I enjoyed seeing Annie's advice in action and seeing how they both react to Owen's different dates. Friends to lovers isn't my favorite trope so there was some frustration for me with their inability to communicate about their feelings. Annie seems determined to sabotage their relationship. But I was so happy when they both finally go all in and see all the best in each other and their potential future.

I love the Bailey family! The family interactions and dynamics are just so fun! They stand up for each other. They tease each other. They help each other. They tell each other the truth even when they don't wait to hear it. They meddle and they meddle and they meddle. It's so fun!

Already started book 3 and loving it!!
]]> Sense and Sensibility 14935 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780141439662

'The more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!'

Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love—and its threatened loss—the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.

This edition includes explanatory notes, textual variants between the first and second editions, and Tony Tanner's introduction to the original Penguin Classic edition.]]> 409 Jane Austen 0141439661 Jane 5
The characters are so iconic and relatable. I loved the contrast between Elinor and Marianne. Their friendship and loyalty to each other above all was so beautiful.

The romance is simply beautiful. While it takes a long time for them to gain their happily ever afters, I appreciated their journeys and how much they learn along the way.

The wit and writing style is so fantastic. It is quintessentially Austen and such a delight. I smiled, I laughed, I cried. There is no one like her.

A fantastic way to start my rereading challenge of all of Austen's novels this year! ]]> 4.10 1811 Sense and Sensibility
author: Jane Austen
name: Jane
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1811
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: classics-club-1, beautiful-romance, 2017, favorites, lovely-language, 2025, classics
review:
I loved rereading this classic! The audiobook I listened to was fantastic and I really enjoyed it.

The characters are so iconic and relatable. I loved the contrast between Elinor and Marianne. Their friendship and loyalty to each other above all was so beautiful.

The romance is simply beautiful. While it takes a long time for them to gain their happily ever afters, I appreciated their journeys and how much they learn along the way.

The wit and writing style is so fantastic. It is quintessentially Austen and such a delight. I smiled, I laughed, I cried. There is no one like her.

A fantastic way to start my rereading challenge of all of Austen's novels this year!
]]> <![CDATA[The War of the Maps (The Vanished Kingdom #3)]]> 217111911 From the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Night GardenerĚýand Sweep, comes an epic middle-grade adventure—companion to Peter Nimble and his Fantastic EyesĚýandĚýSophie Quire and the Last Storyguard—that will take readers to the very ends of the earth . . . and beyond
Ěý
The War of the Maps is a breathtaking fantasy in the vein of His Dark Materials and The Last Battle that dares to give new answers to age-old questions—inviting readers of all ages to sail beyond the edges of the map into a world of magic, myth, and boundless adventure.

Since time before time, two opposing forces have been locked in an endless It is the war between magic and reason—between what if and what is. And the victor will not just shape the future but the very nature of reality.

Peter Nimble and Sophie Quire have spent the last four years fighting to protect a world of magic from the insidious, unstoppable forces of “progress.� But, every day, the wonders that once surrounded them are vanishing. Lurking behind this transformation is a mysterious group called The League of Maps that seems to hold the answers.

As Peter and Sophie fight to untangle this mystery, they find themselves thrown into opposing sides of a vast war that stretches from the very beginning of humanity and into our present age.]]> 448 Jonathan Auxier 1419753940 Jane 0 to-read 4.00 The War of the Maps (The Vanished Kingdom #3)
author: Jonathan Auxier
name: Jane
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Levi Bailey has Butterflies (Another Bailey Brother #1)]]> 199890266
Meredith has plans. Big plans. She is done being safely wrapped in bubble wrap. She is ready to live. That’s what her list is all about—living and experiencing. Is it fate that her list of learning, trying, and experiencing continues to bring her into the path of grumpy Levi Bailey? She isn’t sure—but she doesn’t mind. Levi is just a misunderstood cinnamon roll and Meredith plans to enjoy every second of helping him realize that.

Levi’s life has a routine. He’s been running it for years. Go to work, care for Mom, watch over the siblings. If he’s lucky, he’ll get to play with his niece Alice, before his head hits the pillow at night. It may sound boring, but it’s worked for years. Why mess with a good thing?

Only� it’s not that great. And now that his mother isn’t sick and his siblings are grown, they don’t really need him. Where does that leave Levi? It would seem, in the hands of quirky, unpredictable Meredith Porter and her list. This girl is too young and too innocent for the likes of Levi. He has no business taking her to yoga or teaching her to ride a bike.

He certainly has no business falling for the twenty-three-year-old who has pretty much been living under a rock her entire life. Yep� no business at all, and yet there are a million butterflies disturbing his insides, telling him to kiss the girl, to give this thing with Meredith a chance. Telling him that maybe, just maybe, he is worthy of affection from someone as good and pure as Meredith.

Then again, what do dumb ol� butterflies know anyway?]]> 296 Jen Atkinson Jane 4
Meredith is unlike any character that I've read before and I love her for all her unique, quirky, full living personality. Her focus on experiencing life was so fun and I loved her list. She sees the world in such a positive, hopeful way. Nothing seems to get her down -- not stitches or salty cookies or the difficulties of learning to ride a bike. Seeing her fall for Levi was a delight. I loved how she connects with him when he seems so closed off. Her bubbly personality was so fun and I was cheering for her from the first time we meet her and she spits out her first taste of coffee.

Levi is Meredith's opposite in many ways and the most delightful grump. Underneath his prickly exterior is a cinnamon roll of a man who loves deeply and fiercely. I loved how easily Meredith gets under his skin and how he quickly feels a pull and clear attraction for her. They are such a fun couple with fantastic chemistry and seriously swoony kisses. What drove me crazy is how hard Levi tried to justify not being with Meredith. While he obviously cares for her and wants to protect her from their first meeting, his determination that he isn't the right man for her was frustrating. So glad he had all his meddling family members to smack him on the head and show him how perfect he and Meredith are together.

This is such a fun beginning to this series. I can't wait to get to know all the Bailey brothers!]]> 4.08 Levi Bailey has Butterflies (Another Bailey Brother #1)
author: Jen Atkinson
name: Jane
average rating: 4.08
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/12
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves: 2025, grumpy-sunshine, rom-com, beautiful-romance
review:
Loved this first book in the Another Bailey Brother series! This book is a delight. I enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine romance and all the family banter!

Meredith is unlike any character that I've read before and I love her for all her unique, quirky, full living personality. Her focus on experiencing life was so fun and I loved her list. She sees the world in such a positive, hopeful way. Nothing seems to get her down -- not stitches or salty cookies or the difficulties of learning to ride a bike. Seeing her fall for Levi was a delight. I loved how she connects with him when he seems so closed off. Her bubbly personality was so fun and I was cheering for her from the first time we meet her and she spits out her first taste of coffee.

Levi is Meredith's opposite in many ways and the most delightful grump. Underneath his prickly exterior is a cinnamon roll of a man who loves deeply and fiercely. I loved how easily Meredith gets under his skin and how he quickly feels a pull and clear attraction for her. They are such a fun couple with fantastic chemistry and seriously swoony kisses. What drove me crazy is how hard Levi tried to justify not being with Meredith. While he obviously cares for her and wants to protect her from their first meeting, his determination that he isn't the right man for her was frustrating. So glad he had all his meddling family members to smack him on the head and show him how perfect he and Meredith are together.

This is such a fun beginning to this series. I can't wait to get to know all the Bailey brothers!
]]> <![CDATA[Married by Twelfth Night (Regency Christmas Brides)]]> 218398993 Mr. Richard Graham will do anything to find a wife by Christmas, including calling in a favor from the one woman who despises him.

Richard Graham cannot believe his luck when his great-aunt promises him a fortune if he’s married by Twelfth Night. He can finally clear his father’s debts and save his beloved Belside Manor. Miss Ruth Steele meets all the marriageable requirements his aunt insisted upon, but he’ll need the help of her clever and beautiful sister, Grace, to win the quiet woman over. Not only is Grace a dear friend to his younger sister, with loyalties to his family estate, but she also happens to owe him a generous favor. If she can put aside her dislike for him, his Christmas miracle will be easily attainable by the looming deadline.

Grace Steele never planned to make a bargain with Richard Graham. She cares little for the overly charming man and his penchant for flirtation, and she has spent the last several years establishing this fact. But when Richard offers to scare away an unwanted suitor in exchange for her help, she relents. What harm can arise from a pretend courtship over the holidays? Besides his unsettling effect on her, it allows time for her impossibly shy sister to warm to Richard and sends a clear message to Mr. Dobson that she is unavailable. Once Ruth and Richard are married, she will be forever rid of the much-too-perfect Richard Graham.

And all by Twelfth Night. What could possibly go wrong?

*Love blooms in the least expected place in this witty, kisses only, holiday romance. Read as a stand-alone, or enjoy it as the last book in the Regency Christmas Brides series.

A Seasonal Pursuit by Rebecca Connelly

Rules of a Ruse by Laura Beers

Yuletide Bride by Kasey Stockton

Married by Twelfth Night by Anneka Walker]]> 231 Anneka R. Walker Jane 5
There is so much to love in this story. The banter. The enemies to lovers. The childhood friends to more. The Christmas traditions. The meddling siblings. And the mistletoe kisses. While I did read this after Christmas, it was such a fun Christmas read and perfect for that magical time of year.

I appreciated Richard's depth, loyalty, and vulnerability. His estate is crumbling but he is doing everything he can to save it. I admired his willingness to learn from his more experienced neighbors and to correct his mistakes. He hasn't done everything right after his father's death. But he tries to make amends with his sister and spend time with her. I also loved how he tries to get to know Ruth to save his estate only to discover that he has already fallen for Grace. Their love -- against all odds -- is able to conquer all and their happily ever after is all the sweeter because of it.

Grace is so easy to cheer for! She is fiery, fiercely loyal and delightfully witty. I enjoyed seeing her develop first friendship and then deep love with Richard. While she is practically the opposite of everything Aunt Edith dictates Richard should look for in a wife, she is truly perfect for Richard. I loved watching them get to to know each other and understand the complexities of their actions. As they understand each other better, they fall more in love.

Also shout out to their first mistletoe kiss that is one of my favorite first kisses ever! So swoony and special! ]]> 4.38 Married by Twelfth Night (Regency Christmas Brides)
author: Anneka R. Walker
name: Jane
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/06
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves: christmas, marriage-of-convenience, 2025, beautiful-romance, best-friend-s-brother, enemies-to-lovers
review:
Anneka R Walker has quickly become one of my favorite historical romance authors and this is such a delightful addition to her collection. I adored Richard and Grace and their love story!

There is so much to love in this story. The banter. The enemies to lovers. The childhood friends to more. The Christmas traditions. The meddling siblings. And the mistletoe kisses. While I did read this after Christmas, it was such a fun Christmas read and perfect for that magical time of year.

I appreciated Richard's depth, loyalty, and vulnerability. His estate is crumbling but he is doing everything he can to save it. I admired his willingness to learn from his more experienced neighbors and to correct his mistakes. He hasn't done everything right after his father's death. But he tries to make amends with his sister and spend time with her. I also loved how he tries to get to know Ruth to save his estate only to discover that he has already fallen for Grace. Their love -- against all odds -- is able to conquer all and their happily ever after is all the sweeter because of it.

Grace is so easy to cheer for! She is fiery, fiercely loyal and delightfully witty. I enjoyed seeing her develop first friendship and then deep love with Richard. While she is practically the opposite of everything Aunt Edith dictates Richard should look for in a wife, she is truly perfect for Richard. I loved watching them get to to know each other and understand the complexities of their actions. As they understand each other better, they fall more in love.

Also shout out to their first mistletoe kiss that is one of my favorite first kisses ever! So swoony and special!
]]> Snapdragons (The Gents, #4) 214338523
Penelope has ambitions far beyond being a pampered wife, but they all hinge on finding a husband. There’s not a reputable bank that will assist an unmarried lady in financing her own business, but with the weight of the Greenberry name behind her, she just might stand a chance. So when her betrothed runs away, she follows.

The couple is astonished upon they are indubitably well suited. And when Niles’s friends, the Gents, arrive on the scene, the situation goes from bad to ridiculous as an inexpert courtship ensues. But can two individuals fighting for opposing futures find in each other the happiness they dream of?]]> 272 Sarah M. Eden 1524425648 Jane 5
I absolutely loved getting to know Niles/Puppy. Understanding how he thinks and what is important to him. While he has been a part of the other books in the series, Puppy always takes a voluntary background role. Seeing him at the center of this story was a delight and a surprise. He was not entirely what I expected which made the experience all the sweeter. I loved seeing his strength and kindness shine through. He takes care of people who matter to him, and I loved seeing that protection include Penelope.

Penelope is a lovely contrast to Niles and seems to fit with him from their first interactions. She is bold, strong willed, and committed to fighting for her dreams. I loved seeing how she fits into the Gents world and how the other wives welcome her and build her up. I also appreciated her history and her complexities. Life has not been easy or always kind to Penelope. Her brother and mother are really difficult to interact with. But that doesn't stop her from fighting for her own happiness especially with Niles.

I've never read an arranged marriage story quite like this one which was a fun spin on this endearing trope. When Niles avoids meeting Penelope initially, she follows him determined to actually get to know him. I loved the ways they are able to get to know each other and the obvious chemistry they discover that they share. I love how he protects her. I love how she sees the best in him. I love how they choose to believe in miracles when all hope seems lost. And I love their beautiful happily ever after.

A beautiful addition to this fantastic series! I can't wait to read the next books!]]> 4.26 Snapdragons (The Gents, #4)
author: Sarah M. Eden
name: Jane
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/16
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, historical-fiction, marriage-of-convenience
review:
Being back with the Gents was everything I hoped it would be and more. The banter. The games. The friendship. The nicknames. The surprises. The love story. All of it was as fantastic as I have come to expect from anything Sarah M Eden writes.

I absolutely loved getting to know Niles/Puppy. Understanding how he thinks and what is important to him. While he has been a part of the other books in the series, Puppy always takes a voluntary background role. Seeing him at the center of this story was a delight and a surprise. He was not entirely what I expected which made the experience all the sweeter. I loved seeing his strength and kindness shine through. He takes care of people who matter to him, and I loved seeing that protection include Penelope.

Penelope is a lovely contrast to Niles and seems to fit with him from their first interactions. She is bold, strong willed, and committed to fighting for her dreams. I loved seeing how she fits into the Gents world and how the other wives welcome her and build her up. I also appreciated her history and her complexities. Life has not been easy or always kind to Penelope. Her brother and mother are really difficult to interact with. But that doesn't stop her from fighting for her own happiness especially with Niles.

I've never read an arranged marriage story quite like this one which was a fun spin on this endearing trope. When Niles avoids meeting Penelope initially, she follows him determined to actually get to know him. I loved the ways they are able to get to know each other and the obvious chemistry they discover that they share. I love how he protects her. I love how she sees the best in him. I love how they choose to believe in miracles when all hope seems lost. And I love their beautiful happily ever after.

A beautiful addition to this fantastic series! I can't wait to read the next books!
]]> <![CDATA[Isabelle and the Beast (Once Upon a RomCom, #2)]]> 206025202
I’ve been trying to break into acting for years, and now I’m FINALLY up for a lead role in a romcom movie. It’s a huge step up from barista #3, especially considering who’s supposed to play my love interest—Adam Stone.

Sure, he’s known as the “Hollywood Hothead� and disappeared from the public eye eight months ago after he punched fellow actor Tristan Jackson on the red carpet. But I’m willing to endure some personality issues for the sake of my big break.

When he asks me to come meet him at his family estate to make sure we can work together, I figure it’ll just be a couple hours. Maybe dinner.

But then it starts snowing.

In May.

In Southern California.

Now I’m stranded with Adam for who knows how long. He’s rude, gruff, and I KNOW he’s keeping some crazy secrets. I’m 99% sure it’s not a dead body but…you never know.

The longer I stay, the more determined I am to find out the truth…and the more I realize that Adam has scars below the surface, too.

Maybe things aren’t always what they appear.

Isabelle and the Beast is a closed-door, romantic comedy retelling of Beauty and the Beast with no spice and swoony kisses only! The stories in the Once Upon a Rom-Com series follow the siblings of the Stone family as they find their happily ever afters. The stories are standalone, but if you like continuous stories, I recommend reading them in order.]]> 314 Marie Soleil Jane 0 to-read 4.38 Isabelle and the Beast (Once Upon a RomCom, #2)
author: Marie Soleil
name: Jane
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Gorgon's Fury (Tales of Newel and Doren #1)]]> 216319402 #1 New York Times best-selling author Brandon Mull returns to Fablehaven with a brand-new story starring the comedic satyrs, Newel and Doren, and their battle against a gorgon.

Satyrs Newel and Doren are maturing into more responsible citizens after helping put an end to the dragon rebellion. But the thought of growing out of adolescence has the two goatmen in crisis mode. If that isn’t enough to worry about, a few unlucky inhabitants of Fablehaven have been found petrified, turned to stone, including fellow satyrs. Could this new threat be the workings of a dangerous gorgon?

Newel and Doren become intrigued after an informant divulges information about a legendary Listening Doll—a talisman with the power to reveal the antidote for any magical malady—hidden somewhere in the Florida swamplands. If the mystical doll can solve any problem, maybe she has the answer of how to turn back the clock, so they won’t have to grow up.

Perhaps a trip to Florida is just what Newel and Doren need to get their mojo in time to win the annual Satyr Games. Two new challengers, Barrett and Hoff, are talking smack about dethroning Newel and Doren as perennial champions. And the new opponents have a smartphone!

Finding the Listening Doll and saving Fablehaven is important, sure. But Newel and Doren are also desperate for a smartphone of their own. Let the adventure and the games begin!]]> 192 Brandon Mull 1639933794 Jane 0 to-read 4.18 The Gorgon's Fury (Tales of Newel and Doren #1)
author: Brandon Mull
name: Jane
average rating: 4.18
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Agnes Grey 298230 An alternate cover edition can be found here.

Drawing heavily from personal experience, Anne Brontë wrote Agnes Grey in an effort to represent the many 19th Century women who worked as governesses and suffered daily abuse as a result of their position.

Having lost the family savings on risky investments, Richard Grey removes himself from family life and suffers a bout of depression. Feeling helpless and frustrated, his youngest daughter, Agnes, applies for a job as a governess to the children of a wealthy, upper-class, English family.

Ecstatic at the thought that she has finally gained control and freedom over her own life, Agnes arrives at the Bloomfield mansion armed with confidence and purpose. The cruelty with which the family treat her however, slowly but surely strips the heroine of all dignity and belief in humanity.

A tale of female bravery in the face of isolation and subjugation, Agnes Grey is a masterpiece claimed by Irish writer, George Moore, to be possessed of all the qualities and style of a Jane Austen title. Its simple prosaic style propels the narrative forward in a gentle yet rhythmic manner which continuously leaves the listener wanting to know more.

Anne Brontë, the somewhat lesser known sister, was in fact the first to finish and publish Agnes Grey under the pseudonym of Acton Bell. Charlotte and Emily followed shortly after with Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

As Anne passed away from what is now known to be pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of just 29, she only published one further title; The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. As feminist in nature as Agnes Grey, Anne's brave voice resonates and permeates during one of the most prejudiced and patriarchal times of English history.]]> 226 Anne Brontë 0140432108 Jane 5
Agnes herself is an endearing, intelligent protagonist. I was immediately invested in her story and her success. Her desire to make her own way is admirable and I felt sorry for her many challenges as a governess especially in her first position where the whole family was rather vulgar and ridiculous. She doesn’t give up and is intentional and hard working in her position. I loved getting glimpses throughout the story of how deeply she cares for those she loves and how difficult it was for her to try to change and teach her young charges. Seeing her develop and change during the story was so satisfying. I loved seeing how her story ends.

The writing is simply beautiful and the story equally compelling through the novella. I love the ways Anne describes her characters. We see a variety of characters from spoiled, vulgar children to selfish young adults and varying types of curates. I really enjoyed Agnes� relationship with Rosalie because it has so many layers. Rosalie is certainly an over indulged and spoiled girl who doesn’t consider the feelings of others. And yet, she cares about Agnes and wants her close to her even after her marriage. At least, she seems to want to connect. Her inabilities to truly see outside of herself are not entirely her fault. The varying ways characters see the world based on their class, society and birth were truly compelling.

I loved the ending of this story and felt deeply invested in the future of Agnes and her family.

A truly lovely novella that confirms my love of all things written by Anne Brontë. ]]> 3.71 1847 Agnes Grey
author: Anne Brontë
name: Jane
average rating: 3.71
book published: 1847
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/30
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, classics, classics-club-2
review:
I really enjoyed this novella by Anne Brontë who I think is my favorite of the Brontë sisters. She has such a beautiful writing style and her characters are complex and compelling.

Agnes herself is an endearing, intelligent protagonist. I was immediately invested in her story and her success. Her desire to make her own way is admirable and I felt sorry for her many challenges as a governess especially in her first position where the whole family was rather vulgar and ridiculous. She doesn’t give up and is intentional and hard working in her position. I loved getting glimpses throughout the story of how deeply she cares for those she loves and how difficult it was for her to try to change and teach her young charges. Seeing her develop and change during the story was so satisfying. I loved seeing how her story ends.

The writing is simply beautiful and the story equally compelling through the novella. I love the ways Anne describes her characters. We see a variety of characters from spoiled, vulgar children to selfish young adults and varying types of curates. I really enjoyed Agnes� relationship with Rosalie because it has so many layers. Rosalie is certainly an over indulged and spoiled girl who doesn’t consider the feelings of others. And yet, she cares about Agnes and wants her close to her even after her marriage. At least, she seems to want to connect. Her inabilities to truly see outside of herself are not entirely her fault. The varying ways characters see the world based on their class, society and birth were truly compelling.

I loved the ending of this story and felt deeply invested in the future of Agnes and her family.

A truly lovely novella that confirms my love of all things written by Anne Brontë.
]]> <![CDATA[Rules of a Ruse (Regency Christmas Brides)]]> 218352980 Marriage was supposed to be the solution, but falling in love wasn’t part of the plan.

Mr. Alden Dandridge has received astonishing he is set to inherit a thriving horse farm in a quaint Scottish village. However, there's a formidable catch- he must be married by Twelfth Night. Undeterred, Alden journeys to Scotland, convinced that a marriage of convenience will solve all his problems.

Miss Elinor Sidney has been successfully running the horse farm for the past two years, and she has no intention of relinquishing it to Mr. Dandridge. Adding to the stakes, she learns that if Alden fails to secure a bride by Twelfth Night, the horse farm will legally belong to her. When Alden enlists her help in finding a suitable bride, Elinor agrees, though she has no true intention of aiding him.

As Alden spends more time with Elinor, he comes to realize that she is the perfect solution to his predicament. He just needs to persuade her to marry him. Yet, Elinor yearns for a marriage built on love, not convenience. When someone from Elinor's past reemerges, threatening her peace, Alden knows he must risk everything- including his heart- to protect her.
Love unfolds in unexpected ways in this light-hearted, clean, and wholesome holiday romance. Enjoy it as a stand-alone story or as the second book in the Regency Christmas Brides series.

Other books in the Regency Christmas Brides

A Seasonal Pursuit by Rebecca Connelly

Rules of a Ruse by Laura Beers

Yuletide Bride by Kasey Stockton

Married by Twelfth Night by Anneka Walker]]> 216 Laura Beers Jane 4
Their love story is very sweet and surprising. They have obvious chemistry from their first meetings but they fight against their feelings for a long time. I love how they feel safe and content with each other. And how Alden saves Elinor from her uncle’s horrible plan to force her to do as he wants. Seeing their marriage of convenience quickly become a love match was so lovely.

I enjoyed the Scottish customs and details from the Scottish food to the accents and marriage details. Also enjoyed seeing the ridiculous women Elinor introduces Alden to and his intense reactions to spiders. And Elinor’s aunt playing the bagpipes!!

The Christmas setting was also lovely as Alden and Elinor find new love and happiness in the holiday season. They have both had difficult holiday memories and I liked seeing them overcome those and seek to make happier memories together.

At times, the writing and dialogue felt more modern than historical and that broke the magic of the story for me. But overall, a lovely story. Can’t wait to continue in this series!]]> 4.15 Rules of a Ruse (Regency Christmas Brides)
author: Laura Beers
name: Jane
average rating: 4.15
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/30
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, christmas, enemies-to-lovers, novella
review:
This was a sweet historical romance. I enjoyed the Scottish setting and getting to know Elinor and Alden.

Their love story is very sweet and surprising. They have obvious chemistry from their first meetings but they fight against their feelings for a long time. I love how they feel safe and content with each other. And how Alden saves Elinor from her uncle’s horrible plan to force her to do as he wants. Seeing their marriage of convenience quickly become a love match was so lovely.

I enjoyed the Scottish customs and details from the Scottish food to the accents and marriage details. Also enjoyed seeing the ridiculous women Elinor introduces Alden to and his intense reactions to spiders. And Elinor’s aunt playing the bagpipes!!

The Christmas setting was also lovely as Alden and Elinor find new love and happiness in the holiday season. They have both had difficult holiday memories and I liked seeing them overcome those and seek to make happier memories together.

At times, the writing and dialogue felt more modern than historical and that broke the magic of the story for me. But overall, a lovely story. Can’t wait to continue in this series!
]]> <![CDATA[A Seasonal Pursuit (Regency Christmas Brides)]]> 218358457 **Regency Christmas Four festive tales of romance.
'Twas the month before Christmas, and all through the house, four cousins have been told they all need a spouse...


Have yourself a married little Christmas�

Rose Portman, determined spinster, has a bit of a predicament. Her great aunt has challenged her to get married before Twelfth Night and promised that, if she does, Rose will inherit the perfect country cottage with the funds to maintain it. Rose has always wanted to get away from London and Society, and this could be her chance! But the catch is that Rose has to attend a holiday house party in York and find a husband among the guests. Worst of all� she must marry for love.

Webb Rixton, Lord Downing, is attending a holiday house party hosted by his neighbor, but only because his mother and sister are making him. He knows his young children need a mother, but no one could possibly replace his late wife, so marriage and love are the last things on his mind. Still, he thinks he might have found a friend in the refreshingly frank Miss Portman, and a friend could be just what he needs to return to the land of the living. When she tells him of her situation, and her plot to thwart it, he is determined to help her, setting them both on a path of the most unexpected nature.

Will this season be particularly jolly for Rose and Webb? Or will the weather not be the only thing that is frightful?*Decking the halls has never been quite so jolly in this sweet, snarky, swoonworthy holiday romance. Read as a stand-alone, or enjoy it as the last book in the Regency Christmas Brides series.

A Seasonal Pursuit by Rebecca Connolly

Rules of a Ruse by Laura Beers

Yuletide Bride by Kasey Stockton

Married by Twelfth Night by Anneka Walker]]> 212 Rebecca Connolly Jane 5
Rose is independent, strong and incredibly witty. I enjoyed getting to know her and seeing her open up to Webb. She is snarky and direct which felt refreshing in this Regency setting. While she starts the story focused on gaining more independence with the potential inheritance of the cottage from her Aunt Edith, she soon sees so much more potential in her future. I loved seeing her realize that there is more to life than simple financial independence. And seeing her fall in love was such a delight.

I loved Webb so much! A widower, he has spent the last few years living for his children. I loved how quickly he and Rose connect and their witty banter is truly fantastic. Their friendship is genuine and so endearing. I could see their obvious chemistry long before Aunt Edith's arrival. Webb loves fiercely and is incredibly loyal. It was a treat to see those traits in him connect to Rose and how much he comes to care for her.

The Christmas setting was so delightful. I loved the Christmas traditions like decorating the house and the presents from the children on Christmas. The feasts. The balls. The mistletoe. And the magic. It was such a lovely backdrop to this story of love, hope and beautiful futures.

Already started book 2 and loving it!]]> 4.33 2024 A Seasonal Pursuit (Regency Christmas Brides)
author: Rebecca Connolly
name: Jane
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/24
date added: 2024/12/28
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, christmas, historical-fiction, novella, single-parent-romcom
review:
Such a darling Christmas historical romance! I loved the characters and Christmas setting.

Rose is independent, strong and incredibly witty. I enjoyed getting to know her and seeing her open up to Webb. She is snarky and direct which felt refreshing in this Regency setting. While she starts the story focused on gaining more independence with the potential inheritance of the cottage from her Aunt Edith, she soon sees so much more potential in her future. I loved seeing her realize that there is more to life than simple financial independence. And seeing her fall in love was such a delight.

I loved Webb so much! A widower, he has spent the last few years living for his children. I loved how quickly he and Rose connect and their witty banter is truly fantastic. Their friendship is genuine and so endearing. I could see their obvious chemistry long before Aunt Edith's arrival. Webb loves fiercely and is incredibly loyal. It was a treat to see those traits in him connect to Rose and how much he comes to care for her.

The Christmas setting was so delightful. I loved the Christmas traditions like decorating the house and the presents from the children on Christmas. The feasts. The balls. The mistletoe. And the magic. It was such a lovely backdrop to this story of love, hope and beautiful futures.

Already started book 2 and loving it!
]]> Little Christmas Carol 209495737
In 1843, Charles Dickens penned a story—a classic Christmas tale full of ghosts and the endearing humbug Ebenezer Scrooge. That story—which has captivated readers for over 50 years—is now accompanied by the delightful illustrations of Joe Sutphin. With charming woodland characters and settings that families will adore, readers will be transformed by A Little Christmas Carol. A tale of greed, regret, loneliness, reflection, compassion, hope, and a joyfully changed life, this beautifully illustrated edition will enliven the timeless classic for readers young and old.

For the perfect family read-aloud, make A Little Christmas Carol a part of your family’s Christmas tradition. This new edition makes a wonderful gift.

It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself. —Charles Dickens]]> 144 Charles Dickens 0802432832 Jane 0 to-read 4.80 Little Christmas Carol
author: Charles Dickens
name: Jane
average rating: 4.80
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 12 Days of Mistletoe 220144824 How to end up in Christmas kissing lessons with your downstairs enemy�

Break apartment rules? Guilty.
Send holiday cards to the downstairs neighbor's grandma? Done.
Accidentally become said neighbor's fake girlfriend for a family Christmas photo? Wait, what?

I, Bonnie Miller, am no troublemaker. I’m just an anxious girl trying to keep my emotional support pup in a no-pets apartment building. But my downstairs neighbor is determined to be my personal Grinch and get us both evicted.

Just when I think things can’t get any worse, Elliot Eaton offers me a deal I can’t refuse. Suddenly I’m playing girlfriend and giving mistletoe kisses to my sworn enemy, all to keep my home.

Who knew that breaking one little rule would lead to a fan-mistletoe-tastic holiday?

12 Days of Mistletoe is a closed door, laugh out loud, warm your wintery heart romcom. If you need a book with all the feels, some mistletoe kisses, and lots of holiday spirit, look no further!]]> 328 Jen Atkinson Jane 4
Bonnie and Elliot are a delight. I loved their obvious chemistry and how quickly they fall for each other. They bring out the best in each other and I loved seeing them let down their walls and let each other into their hearts.

Favorite parts of this book...
*Meddling grandma. She is the best! So funny how she works as a matchmaker to get these two together. And everything she makes them do. Also fairy grandmother is fantastic
*Kissing practice. So funny and so awkward and so fantastic!
*All the Christmas traditions and experiences. Cutting down a tree, baking cookies, fancy Christmas Eve party, and more
*Hilarious banter between the characters. Laughed out loud throughout the book!

I appreciate the anxiety rep in this book. But sometimes it came on a bit strong and repetitive for me. I loved how Elliot took care of Bonnie and allowed her to truly feel seen in her most overwhelming moments. That was truly beautiful.

Can't wait to read more by Jen!]]> 4.18 12 Days of Mistletoe
author: Jen Atkinson
name: Jane
average rating: 4.18
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/06
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, christmas, enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, rom-com
review:
This was my first book read by Jen and it was so fun! I would love to read more of her books!

Bonnie and Elliot are a delight. I loved their obvious chemistry and how quickly they fall for each other. They bring out the best in each other and I loved seeing them let down their walls and let each other into their hearts.

Favorite parts of this book...
*Meddling grandma. She is the best! So funny how she works as a matchmaker to get these two together. And everything she makes them do. Also fairy grandmother is fantastic
*Kissing practice. So funny and so awkward and so fantastic!
*All the Christmas traditions and experiences. Cutting down a tree, baking cookies, fancy Christmas Eve party, and more
*Hilarious banter between the characters. Laughed out loud throughout the book!

I appreciate the anxiety rep in this book. But sometimes it came on a bit strong and repetitive for me. I loved how Elliot took care of Bonnie and allowed her to truly feel seen in her most overwhelming moments. That was truly beautiful.

Can't wait to read more by Jen!
]]> <![CDATA[The House at Pooh Corner (Winnie-the-Pooh, #2)]]> 776407 180 A.A. Milne 0525444440 Jane 4 childrens-fiction 4.37 1928 The House at Pooh Corner (Winnie-the-Pooh, #2)
author: A.A. Milne
name: Jane
average rating: 4.37
book published: 1928
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/12/22
shelves: childrens-fiction
review:

]]> Since We've No Place to Go 218470858 329 Kate Watson Jane 5
Leisel and Coop are witty banter gold! Oh my goodness they are so funny and I felt myself smile and laugh throughout the story. They start as enemies with the most hilarious non meet cute at the airport. And quickly that banter turns flirty and their chemistry is fantastic. I loved seeing Coop fall first and how he is willing to do anything for Leisel. I just loved seeing their relationship change from that first meeting and arguing at the team retreat to getting to know each other, getting stuck in a car together and spending Christmas together. I love Leisel and Coop!!

As always, Kate gives her characters such incredible depth as they experience hardships and grief. Leisel has lost her mom and has been avoiding Christmas traditions with her family ever since. Coop has been focused on supporting his mom as she lived with mental illness but that has taken an emotional toll on him for years. I loved the way Kate weaves these heavy and important ideas about grief, traditions, heartache and remembering into this story. Such a beautiful balance with the light, witty banter and romance.

If you haven’t read a Kate Watson book yet � now is a great time to read one! I love how she connects all her stories and we get glimpses of favorite couples and future couples in this story. Like Juliet and Nate and the Janes. Such a fun story with a fantastic cozy Christmas vibe and a beautiful happily ever after. ]]> 4.39 Since We've No Place to Go
author: Kate Watson
name: Jane
average rating: 4.39
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/20
date added: 2024/12/21
shelves: 2024, christmas, enemies-to-lovers, sports-romcom, celebrity-romcom, rom-com, beautiful-romance, forbidden-love
review:
Kate Watson does it again!!! I loved this Christmas enemies to lovers romcom from the queen of witty banter and heartfelt stories.

Leisel and Coop are witty banter gold! Oh my goodness they are so funny and I felt myself smile and laugh throughout the story. They start as enemies with the most hilarious non meet cute at the airport. And quickly that banter turns flirty and their chemistry is fantastic. I loved seeing Coop fall first and how he is willing to do anything for Leisel. I just loved seeing their relationship change from that first meeting and arguing at the team retreat to getting to know each other, getting stuck in a car together and spending Christmas together. I love Leisel and Coop!!

As always, Kate gives her characters such incredible depth as they experience hardships and grief. Leisel has lost her mom and has been avoiding Christmas traditions with her family ever since. Coop has been focused on supporting his mom as she lived with mental illness but that has taken an emotional toll on him for years. I loved the way Kate weaves these heavy and important ideas about grief, traditions, heartache and remembering into this story. Such a beautiful balance with the light, witty banter and romance.

If you haven’t read a Kate Watson book yet � now is a great time to read one! I love how she connects all her stories and we get glimpses of favorite couples and future couples in this story. Like Juliet and Nate and the Janes. Such a fun story with a fantastic cozy Christmas vibe and a beautiful happily ever after.
]]> Lady Susan 91582 180 Jane Austen 0486444074 Jane 4
I enjoyed the epistolary form a lot. It’s always a favorite of mine. Getting the story thru the letters between characters is such a fun and unique way of storytelling. The different tones of the letters were well done and starkly different.

The characters are perhaps not as well rounded as in her later books. It would be so interesting to get more of their backgrounds. Why is Lady Susan the way she is? What was her marriage like? Why did she oppose the match between her brother in law and eventual sister in law? How did she become friends with certain ladies and not others? Why does she tell people one thing but so many see it another way?

I enjoyed the story but also was curious about how further letters could have rounded it out. That being said, it is a novella and an interesting one for sure! I was invested in the story and eager to figure out the truth of Lady Susan’s actions and to see how Mr De Quincy and others would act with her. I also felt very invested in her daughter’s happiness. Poor thing really wasn’t treated well by her overbearing mother! I wish we learned more about her history after the story is over.

I am excited to reread more Austen in the new year. One of my favorite authors! ]]> 3.64 1871 Lady Susan
author: Jane Austen
name: Jane
average rating: 3.64
book published: 1871
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/19
date added: 2024/12/21
shelves: classics, 2024, classics-club-2, epistolary
review:
I am really glad to have read this epistolary novella by Jane Austen. This is an earlier work of hers and I enjoyed seeing how it differs from and reminds me of her classic novels.

I enjoyed the epistolary form a lot. It’s always a favorite of mine. Getting the story thru the letters between characters is such a fun and unique way of storytelling. The different tones of the letters were well done and starkly different.

The characters are perhaps not as well rounded as in her later books. It would be so interesting to get more of their backgrounds. Why is Lady Susan the way she is? What was her marriage like? Why did she oppose the match between her brother in law and eventual sister in law? How did she become friends with certain ladies and not others? Why does she tell people one thing but so many see it another way?

I enjoyed the story but also was curious about how further letters could have rounded it out. That being said, it is a novella and an interesting one for sure! I was invested in the story and eager to figure out the truth of Lady Susan’s actions and to see how Mr De Quincy and others would act with her. I also felt very invested in her daughter’s happiness. Poor thing really wasn’t treated well by her overbearing mother! I wish we learned more about her history after the story is over.

I am excited to reread more Austen in the new year. One of my favorite authors!
]]> Henry V 37526
The authoritative edition of Henry V from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes:

-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play

-Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play

-Scene-by-scene plot summaries

-A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases

-An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language

-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play

-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books

-An annotated guide to further reading]]> 294 William Shakespeare 0743484878 Jane 5 classics-club-2, classics 3.84 1599 Henry V
author: William Shakespeare
name: Jane
average rating: 3.84
book published: 1599
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/12/21
shelves: classics-club-2, classics
review:

]]> The English Masterpiece 218481320
As the recently promoted assistant to the Tate's Modern Collections keeper Diana Gilden, Lily helps plan a world-class Picasso exhibit to honor the passing of the great artist--and she's waited her whole life for this moment. The opening is beyond anyone's expectations--the lighting, the champagne, the glittering crowd, and the international acclaim--until Lily does the unthinkable. She stops in front of a masterpiece and hears her own voice say, "It's a forgery." The gallery falls silent.

Lily's boss, Diana, is polished perfection, schooled in art, and descends from European high society. She's worked hard to become the trusted voice in London's modern art scene and respected across the Continent. The Tate's Picasso Commemorative is to be her crowning achievement, featuring not only the artist's most iconic and intimate works, but a newly discovered painting--one she advised an investor to purchase. But when Lily makes her outrageous declaration, suspicion and scandal threaten everything Diana has achieved, as museums and collectors across Europe, already doubting most post-war acquisitions, fall into chaos and rumors of a world-wide forgery run wild.

All Lily has ever wanted is to follow in Diana's footsteps and take the art world by storm in her own right. Yet one comment puts not only her own career at risk but also her mentor's. Unless . . . Was she right? With the clock ticking and the clues starting to pile up against her, Lily must uncover the truth behind the Picasso before she loses not only the career she's always wanted, but her freedom.

Block off your calendar and lose yourself in The English Masterpiece, a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end from the author who brought you The London House and The Berlin Letters.]]> 10 Katherine Reay Jane 0 to-read 4.08 2025 The English Masterpiece
author: Katherine Reay
name: Jane
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love (Oakley Island, #3.5)]]> 221762855 Getting over your childhood crush is never easy. Especially when your family is full of meddling matchmakers.I’ve tried my whole life to curb my feelings for Liam, who is NOT my cousin, even if our family is like, well, family.

After he brought a girlfriend home for the holidays last year, I decided it was high time for my crush to finally die. And since we haven’t run into each other at all since then, it’s been easy. (If not altogether effective.) Even our family stopped trying to push us together.

But then Liam walks into my office just before Christmas and I find out he’ll be working here as a consultant. Oh—and he got special permission from my boss to have me directly under him.

Then, when my building suddenly (and somewhat suspiciously) has to undergo emergency fumigation and I need a place to stay, Liam offers me his guest bedroom.

Oh, joy and holiday cheer.

But finding out Liam is single and not practically engaged—it changes everything. Is it possible I just might get my longest-held Christmas wish?

Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love is a second-gen novella in the Oakley Island Romcom Series. Books in the series are full of sizzling chemistry and tension with just kisses. ]]> 134 Jenny Proctor Jane 5
Izzy and Liam are fantastic together. I love how they balance each other out. And how they see the best in each other. Seeing how Izzy has pined for Liam for years is sweet but I really loved how Liam realized how long he’s loved Izzy because of how much more he feels for her than other girls.

Their Christmas traditions are sweet and hilarious. Loved them decorating his apt together and their extended family traditions were laugh out loud funny (pajamas with a butt flap!?) loved the Christmas time setting as a backdrop for them reconnecting and falling in love.

The ending is pure hilarious Emma and Jenny magic. It is so funny!! First we have Liam and Izzy pretending to date other people to get back at their meddling family (the fake fumigation tent was hilariously ridiculous!). I love the moment when they reveal all and everyone’s reactions to the news that they are in love.

It’s just a treat to read anything these ladies cowrite. I loved being back on Oakley and want to reread the series now to remember all my favorite parts. And can we get a novel about Naomi (Liam’s mom) and Camden falling in love?? I’d love to see all the series crossovers between this series and the Appies!

Loved this one!]]> 4.22 Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love (Oakley Island, #3.5)
author: Jenny Proctor
name: Jane
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/16
date added: 2024/12/17
shelves: 2024, novella, rom-com, beautiful-romance, best-friends-to-more, christmas
review:
I loved being back on Oakley Island! Seeing Izzy and Liam all grown up was such a treat and I loved the cameos from all my favorite Oakley Island family.

Izzy and Liam are fantastic together. I love how they balance each other out. And how they see the best in each other. Seeing how Izzy has pined for Liam for years is sweet but I really loved how Liam realized how long he’s loved Izzy because of how much more he feels for her than other girls.

Their Christmas traditions are sweet and hilarious. Loved them decorating his apt together and their extended family traditions were laugh out loud funny (pajamas with a butt flap!?) loved the Christmas time setting as a backdrop for them reconnecting and falling in love.

The ending is pure hilarious Emma and Jenny magic. It is so funny!! First we have Liam and Izzy pretending to date other people to get back at their meddling family (the fake fumigation tent was hilariously ridiculous!). I love the moment when they reveal all and everyone’s reactions to the news that they are in love.

It’s just a treat to read anything these ladies cowrite. I loved being back on Oakley and want to reread the series now to remember all my favorite parts. And can we get a novel about Naomi (Liam’s mom) and Camden falling in love?? I’d love to see all the series crossovers between this series and the Appies!

Loved this one!
]]> <![CDATA[A Christmas Spark (Pride and Pranks, #0.5)]]> 205173650
Alone.

So imagine my surprise when I arrived at the cabin during a blizzard, and found it already occupied. By an all too familiar face and a fine pack of chiseled abs. Even though it had been ten years since I’d last seen Chase, he had no problem picking up exactly where we left off.

I had a big problem with it.

It didn’t matter what he threw at me—the old nickname, the teasing, his charming grin, or even those chiseled abs (did I already mention those?), I refused to let him get to me after…the incident. Nope, not me. I was made of stone.

Unfortunately, I’m beginning to understand that when you strike Chase against stone…you get sparks.

Lots of them.]]> 131 Cindy Steel Jane 0 to-read 3.69 2020 A Christmas Spark (Pride and Pranks, #0.5)
author: Cindy Steel
name: Jane
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Heart of the Matter: What 100 Years of Living Have Taught Me]]> 199912475 240 Russell M. Nelson 1639932569 Jane 5
Beautiful compilation of so many meaningful lessons learned throughout his century of living. I recognized much of his teachings from his talks and devotionals and stories through the years. So many beautiful lessons.

Would love to own this one!]]> 4.85 Heart of the Matter: What 100 Years of Living Have Taught Me
author: Russell M. Nelson
name: Jane
average rating: 4.85
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/09
date added: 2024/12/10
shelves: 2024, christianity, memoir, nonfiction, religion
review:
Loved this book by President Nelson.

Beautiful compilation of so many meaningful lessons learned throughout his century of living. I recognized much of his teachings from his talks and devotionals and stories through the years. So many beautiful lessons.

Would love to own this one!
]]> <![CDATA[Christmas Baggage (Christmas Escape)]]> 62235806 If there is one thing she has learned in England, it's that not all Englishmen are created equal.
Because this guy was turning out to be a real pill.

Tired of spending the holidays throwing up on cruises with her parents and, you know, being dumped by ex-boyfriends, Claire Frost is determined to change her luck this Christmas. Taking time off from her flower shop, she follows her friend to London, ready to enjoy all-things England. And boy, does she. The frost-covered flowers. The frozen green hills. The bright red telephone boxes. The festive Christmas markets.

Also the men. Definitely the men.

Except, of course, her friend's cousin. Liam Everhart is super attractive, super swoony, and super English. Too bad he's also a super jerk. A super jerk whom she now has to spend every minute with. What a blessed, blessed relief that his Darcy/Poldark looks are overshadowed by his Darth Vader/Malfoy personality. She had enough Christmas baggage to deal with, so why would she ever add a swoony Englishman to the mix?]]> 304 Deborah M. Hathaway 1956091033 Jane 5
First, it's set in my all time favorite city in the world -- London, England. I absolutely loved reading about Claire's first experiences in London and how she falls in love with the city. I have not been in England at Christmastime but now I really want to go at that time of year! The Christmas Market sounds delightful and seeing The Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall sounds incredible. I loved the details of Claire and Liam sightseeing as they visit palaces, museums, the Tower of London, Christmas Markets and Big Ben. Her experience seeing Big Ben for the first time felt so much like my own! I love that site so much!

Claire and Liam's story is such a delightful and unexpected love story. I enjoyed their enemies to lovers journey. From their first definitely not meet cute, they have fantastic banter and clear chemistry. I loved seeing them realize that they are perfect together and letting down their walls between each other. Seeing how they share their hopes and dreams with each other is beautiful. And I love their obvious chemistry from their almost kisses to their fantastic first kiss that is so London. I love how he treats her with respect and makes her his top priority. Especially because she has rarely felt that kind of importance from other people.

Both of them have experienced hard loss and disappointments in their lives. Between them, they have experienced loss of a parent, parental neglect, loneliness, overworking, poor experiences with past relationships and difficulty feeling enough for others. Seeing how Liam and Claire build each other up and show each other true kindness and love is beautiful.

Such a fun story with a truly fantastic setting!]]> 3.77 2022 Christmas Baggage (Christmas Escape)
author: Deborah M. Hathaway
name: Jane
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/08
date added: 2024/12/10
shelves: 2024, christmas, enemies-to-lovers, beautiful-romance, favorite-settings
review:
This was such a fun, Christmasy read! My first book by Deborah and I really enjoyed it!

First, it's set in my all time favorite city in the world -- London, England. I absolutely loved reading about Claire's first experiences in London and how she falls in love with the city. I have not been in England at Christmastime but now I really want to go at that time of year! The Christmas Market sounds delightful and seeing The Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall sounds incredible. I loved the details of Claire and Liam sightseeing as they visit palaces, museums, the Tower of London, Christmas Markets and Big Ben. Her experience seeing Big Ben for the first time felt so much like my own! I love that site so much!

Claire and Liam's story is such a delightful and unexpected love story. I enjoyed their enemies to lovers journey. From their first definitely not meet cute, they have fantastic banter and clear chemistry. I loved seeing them realize that they are perfect together and letting down their walls between each other. Seeing how they share their hopes and dreams with each other is beautiful. And I love their obvious chemistry from their almost kisses to their fantastic first kiss that is so London. I love how he treats her with respect and makes her his top priority. Especially because she has rarely felt that kind of importance from other people.

Both of them have experienced hard loss and disappointments in their lives. Between them, they have experienced loss of a parent, parental neglect, loneliness, overworking, poor experiences with past relationships and difficulty feeling enough for others. Seeing how Liam and Claire build each other up and show each other true kindness and love is beautiful.

Such a fun story with a truly fantastic setting!
]]> <![CDATA[Mrs. Marley's Christmas Ghost (Men, Mistletoe, and Marriage #4)]]> 215959104
Caroline Marley was no stranger to death. Having lost both of her parents and her husband, and receiving the accompanying inheritance with their passing, she had learned from a young age that loss was often softened by a hefty sum in her pocket.

When she is called back to her small town at the death of her aunt, she expects a quick transaction so that she can return to her life of luxury in London. However, she is met with the stiff stipulations of the old woman's will: stay to host the annual Christmas ball, one that Caroline consistently avoided, or inherit nothing.

But staying in the country means facing the ghosts of her past, including her handsome first love, Robert Cratchit. Will the warmth of Christmas soften her heart before it's too late?

Mrs. Marley's Christmas Ghost is inspired by A Christmas Carol, and is a sweet, closed-door historical romance with swoony kisses and no explicit content.

Books in the Men, Mistletoe, and Marriage series are best enjoyed when read in order:
â� Christmastide in Emerald Falls by Angela E. Johnson
â� A Lovely White Christmastide by Teah Kemp Weight
â� The Merry Mishap of Alfred and Clara by Amanda Panhorst
â� Mrs. Marley's Christmas Ghost by Courtney Willis]]> 266 Courtney Willis Jane 0 to-read 4.51 2024 Mrs. Marley's Christmas Ghost (Men, Mistletoe, and Marriage #4)
author: Courtney Willis
name: Jane
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Girl Meets Grump (Kitt's Harbor #1)]]> 199656867
Sydney Foster has recently returned home to Kitt’s Harbor after a stint in Europe working as a travel blogger. When she finds herself needing a steady job, managing the enchanting cabins at Wildwood feels like the perfect way to satisfy her wanderlust. Too bad the charming haven in the woods comes with a bear of a man who seems doggedly determined to bring out the worst in her.

In this opposites-attract, sweet romantic comedy, Trent and Sydney must join forces to turn the tide for Wildwood while stubbornly trying not to catch feelings for each other along the way.

Girl Meets Grump is a closed-door, sweet romance that delivers on all the swoon without the spice.]]> 325 Hailey Gardiner Jane 5
Sydney is sunshine personified. She sees the good and the potential in everything and everyone around her. I loved how she revitalizes Wildwood and how her vision brings new life into the cabins. Her obvious attraction to Trent was so fun to watch develop into something more.

Trent is the epitome of a grump. Wow, he is so grumpy when we first meet him! As we get to know him, we start to understand why he is so grumpy and it's not really about being mad but being shy. I loved how Sydney is able to peel back his layers and get to know him. And how he protects and takes care of her was beautiful too.

Loved their sweet romance and how they give each other purpose and direction in life. Their first kiss is fantastic too!]]> 4.15 Girl Meets Grump (Kitt's Harbor #1)
author: Hailey Gardiner
name: Jane
average rating: 4.15
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/03
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, rom-com
review:
So fun to be back in Kitt's Harbor! I read these out of order but it was fun to see how Sydney and Trent fall in love because they are so sweet to Nora and Ollie in Home Run Heart.

Sydney is sunshine personified. She sees the good and the potential in everything and everyone around her. I loved how she revitalizes Wildwood and how her vision brings new life into the cabins. Her obvious attraction to Trent was so fun to watch develop into something more.

Trent is the epitome of a grump. Wow, he is so grumpy when we first meet him! As we get to know him, we start to understand why he is so grumpy and it's not really about being mad but being shy. I loved how Sydney is able to peel back his layers and get to know him. And how he protects and takes care of her was beautiful too.

Loved their sweet romance and how they give each other purpose and direction in life. Their first kiss is fantastic too!
]]> <![CDATA[Home Run Heart (Kitt's Harbor #2)]]> 216628549
Returning home in the off-season gives Brooks an opportunity he never thought he’d get a second chance encounter with a now-divorced Nora. Suddenly, the hometown he’s avoided for so long becomes a place to make new memories together. They make a bargain that entails spending five Fridays sharing new experiences in the hopes that Brooks will discover that there's more to life than baseball, while also helping Nora cope with the resulting grief of her divorce and the demands of single motherhood.

In this second chance, sweet romantic comedy, Brooks and Nora must find the courage to discover what makes them happy and learn what it feels like to have their hearts hit a home run.

Home Run Heart is a closed-door, second chance baseball romcom that delivers on all the swoon without the spice. Books in the Kitt’s Harbor series are stand-alone novels but might be best enjoyed if read in order.]]> 300 Hailey Gardiner Jane 5
Nora is such a delight to get to know. Her past has not been easy. I admire her courage and work ethic as she builds a life with her son, Ollie. Now she is a single mom working at the same diner she's worked at since high school. She's content but certainly not as happy as she deserves to be. Then Brooks comes back into her life and everything changes. I love how Brooks builds her up and helps Nora see her potential.

Brooks is such an endearing character. You can't help but cheer for him especially in his quest to win back Nora. He's working through his own set of demons as he seeks to find meaning and purpose in his life beyond baseball. As he works to put aside his perfectionism (so relatable!), he finds more joy in his life. I loved how Nora helps ground him and feel worthy of love.

Their second chance romance is simply beautiful. I loved how easily they reconnect and how well they fit together. And seeing Brooks with Ollie melts my heart. While both Brooks and Nora have a lot of fear about the future, they also find ways to rely on each other and share their fears with each other. I appreciated their communication as they built a new chapter of life together. Also all the swoony kisses and declarations of love are beautiful!

Loved Nora's pottery and seeing her reach for her dreams with her own pottery company.

A beautiful story! Can't wait to read more in the series!]]> 4.34 Home Run Heart (Kitt's Harbor #2)
author: Hailey Gardiner
name: Jane
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/30
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, rom-com, second-chance, single-parent-romcom, sports-romcom, celebrity-romcom, contemporary-fiction
review:
I loved this book!! This was my first book that I've read by Hailey and it will not be my last! I loved the banter, the family dynamics, the relatable characters and the beautiful love story.

Nora is such a delight to get to know. Her past has not been easy. I admire her courage and work ethic as she builds a life with her son, Ollie. Now she is a single mom working at the same diner she's worked at since high school. She's content but certainly not as happy as she deserves to be. Then Brooks comes back into her life and everything changes. I love how Brooks builds her up and helps Nora see her potential.

Brooks is such an endearing character. You can't help but cheer for him especially in his quest to win back Nora. He's working through his own set of demons as he seeks to find meaning and purpose in his life beyond baseball. As he works to put aside his perfectionism (so relatable!), he finds more joy in his life. I loved how Nora helps ground him and feel worthy of love.

Their second chance romance is simply beautiful. I loved how easily they reconnect and how well they fit together. And seeing Brooks with Ollie melts my heart. While both Brooks and Nora have a lot of fear about the future, they also find ways to rely on each other and share their fears with each other. I appreciated their communication as they built a new chapter of life together. Also all the swoony kisses and declarations of love are beautiful!

Loved Nora's pottery and seeing her reach for her dreams with her own pottery company.

A beautiful story! Can't wait to read more in the series!
]]> Christmas With a Crank 220393796 A second chance with your first crush.

Doesn’t happen often.

For Liam Fisher, that first crush was his next door neighbor, Olive Witherby.

Childhood was lazy summers, treehouse stargazing, and endless games of hide and seek at Pine Creek, the Christmas tree farm that’s been in Liam’s family for generations.

When Liam moves away, he and Olive say goodbye the only way they know how—with a fumbling first kiss neither of them will ever forget.

Even though twelve-year olds� promises of keeping in touch feel eternal, time and distance eventually make Olive and Liam practically strangers.

Twenty years later, Liam’s parents announce they’re retiring and selling the tree farm.

Twenty years later, Pine Creek is the last place grown-up Liam wants to be. Inherit this legacy? Not on your life.

And twenty years later, grown-up Olive is stuck.

Her work life is a lot like her love life—floundering. After a humiliating business failure, loads of debt, and one too many laughable first dates, she’s in no hurry to put herself out there again, in business or in romance.

When Olive is hired by Liam’s parents to rekindle the lost magic of the farm one final time before it’s sold, she sets out to make this the last, best Pine Creek Christmas, for the town and for a very cranky, not-so-talkative, surprisingly attractive Liam.

Part of her mission? Convince the crank to fall in love with Christmas.

The other part? Not fall head over heels in the process.

Christmas With a Crank is a grumpy/sunshine, childhood crush, opposites attract romance with plenty of sizzle but none of the steam.]]> 366 Courtney Walsh Jane 5
I love the setting on the Christmas Tree Farm. There is something magical about a Christmas tree farm at Christmastime. Especially if it's the "last-best Christmas." Olive is hired to help coordinate this last Christmas season and it was a delight to see how everything unfolds.

Seeing Olive in her element as she puts together events and adds special details to the farm was so fun. I loved the makers market and the family night and the field trip. Her love for this place was clear and contagious. I wanted to save the farm right alongside her!

Liam was a classic grump but with such a lovely soft spot for Olive. She seems to be the only one that can get him to open up and share what's really on his mind. I loved seeing him fall in love with Olive and with the farm again.

Loved this grumpy-sunshine, second chance love, Christmas romcom. As usual, the characters are vibrant and authentic. I'd love to see future stories with Phoebe (Olive's best friend who definitely doesn't look like an accountant), Liam's sister who is ready to prove she can take over Pine Creek, and his delightful and endearing parents.

If you like Christmas, relatable characters, and beautiful romance, this book is for you!]]> 4.02 2024 Christmas With a Crank
author: Courtney Walsh
name: Jane
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/23
date added: 2024/12/03
shelves: 2024, christmas, contemporary-fiction, grumpy-sunshine, rom-com, second-chance
review:
Any book that Courtney Walsh writes, I will read and love. This is such a sweet addition to her collection of books!

I love the setting on the Christmas Tree Farm. There is something magical about a Christmas tree farm at Christmastime. Especially if it's the "last-best Christmas." Olive is hired to help coordinate this last Christmas season and it was a delight to see how everything unfolds.

Seeing Olive in her element as she puts together events and adds special details to the farm was so fun. I loved the makers market and the family night and the field trip. Her love for this place was clear and contagious. I wanted to save the farm right alongside her!

Liam was a classic grump but with such a lovely soft spot for Olive. She seems to be the only one that can get him to open up and share what's really on his mind. I loved seeing him fall in love with Olive and with the farm again.

Loved this grumpy-sunshine, second chance love, Christmas romcom. As usual, the characters are vibrant and authentic. I'd love to see future stories with Phoebe (Olive's best friend who definitely doesn't look like an accountant), Liam's sister who is ready to prove she can take over Pine Creek, and his delightful and endearing parents.

If you like Christmas, relatable characters, and beautiful romance, this book is for you!
]]> <![CDATA[Snowdrops and Winterberry (The Gents, #1.5)]]> 212130409
Within the serene surroundings of Brier Hill, Adam and Robbie encounter Howard Simpkin, a charismatic gardener whose presence adds a touch of enchantment to their days. Together with the Jonquils, Robbie and Howard embark on a mission to rekindle Adam’s youthful spirit. Through games, toys, and even a whimsical April Christmas celebration, they endeavor to lift the weight of responsibility from the young duke’s shoulders.

ĚýYet as Adam flourishes, Robbie finds herself torn between duty and desire. With Adam growing up all too quickly, Robbie must decide between her budding affection for Howard and her unwavering commitment to Adam’s well-being.

ĚýIn this tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption set against the backdrop of Sarah M. Eden’s well-beloved Gents series, Adam and his caregivers discover that healing and happiness await those who dare to seek them.


Previously published as "The Holly and the Ivy"


“Memories of Christmas� by Chalon Linton


Judith Benson despises Christmas and has no interest in the season’s festivities. But when she catches the attention of a handsome viscount, her holiday humbug is put to the test.


“A Home for the Holidays” by Jennifer Moore


As Captain Edgar Bryant nurses his wounds from his time in the army, he finds unexpected relief in creating Christmas cheer alongside the sparkling Winnie Larsen.


“Lady Walmsley’s Christmas Surprise� by Karen Tuft


The holidays are approaching, and longtime widow Lady Walmsley turns to her staff for company—much to the dismay of her very proper butler, Foster. But what began as friendship just might end in love.ĚýĚý


“A Gretna Green Christmasâ€� by Alene WeckerĚýĚý


Since sharing a bumbling first kiss beneath the mistletoe years ago, Charles and Maria have been star-crossed. But this Christmas, love might finally be within their reach.Ěý]]> 136 Sarah M. Eden 1524427160 Jane 5
The story of Adam, the young Duke of Kielder and his special visit to the home of Lord and Lady Jonquil is so beautiful. I love how they help him be a child and experience some of the magic of Christmas. I love his blossoming relationship with both Lord and Lady Jonquil. They love him for who he is and don't try to change him. But they do help him see more of the good and happiness in the world. I love his relationship with Nurse Robbie and how much she has helped him see his own value in his young life. Seeing him grow up and start to not need her or act differently is so tender. Loved her budding relationship with Howard and how that story climaxes as well. The Christmas celebrations are lovely and I enjoyed seeing the ways they celebrate together and surprise each other.

"Family is who you choose. And we have chosen you." Such a beautiful quote!!!

Love this story and this series!]]> 4.32 Snowdrops and Winterberry (The Gents, #1.5)
author: Sarah M. Eden
name: Jane
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/11
date added: 2024/11/15
shelves: 2024, christmas, historical-fiction, novella
review:
Loved this novella set in the Gents world. I had read it previously in the anthology it was published in and loved it even more this time.

The story of Adam, the young Duke of Kielder and his special visit to the home of Lord and Lady Jonquil is so beautiful. I love how they help him be a child and experience some of the magic of Christmas. I love his blossoming relationship with both Lord and Lady Jonquil. They love him for who he is and don't try to change him. But they do help him see more of the good and happiness in the world. I love his relationship with Nurse Robbie and how much she has helped him see his own value in his young life. Seeing him grow up and start to not need her or act differently is so tender. Loved her budding relationship with Howard and how that story climaxes as well. The Christmas celebrations are lovely and I enjoyed seeing the ways they celebrate together and surprise each other.

"Family is who you choose. And we have chosen you." Such a beautiful quote!!!

Love this story and this series!
]]> <![CDATA[Mindset: The New Psychology of Success]]> 40745 A newer edition of this book can be found here.

After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a fixed mindset � those who believe that abilities are fixed � are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset � those who believe that abilities can be developed. Mindset reveals how great parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to foster outstanding accomplishment.

In this edition, Dweck offers new insights into her now famous and broadly embraced concept. She introduces a phenomenon she calls false growth mindset and guides people toward adopting a deeper, truer growth mindset. She also expands the mindset concept beyond the individual, applying it to the cultures of groups and organizations. With the right mindset, you can motivate those you lead, teach, and love � to transform their lives and your own.]]> 276 Carol S. Dweck Jane 4 2024, nonfiction, self-care
Reread thoughts:
Listened to the audiobook this time and enjoyed the book. Definitely love the idea of fixed versus grown mindset and how those mindsets affect so many aspects of life. I agree with much of what her research and arguments show about effort and hard work and changing our mindsets being helpful to overall success. Love the idea that we can change mindset and help my kids change their mindsets too. Challenges and failures can help us change and progress. Hard things are worth trying. Effort is worth it.

There were a few things I surprisingly disagreed with such as affects of bullying and at times a discussion of how actions seemed dependent on the actions of others rather than the self. I don't think that was the most well developed of sections in the book. And I had trouble really understanding that part.

But overall, still a worthwhile read and one I will return to!]]> 4.09 2006 Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
author: Carol S. Dweck
name: Jane
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/15
date added: 2024/11/15
shelves: 2024, nonfiction, self-care
review:
Love this book. I read it as part of my college mentoring job. This changed the way I see success, work ethic, and talent. A must read for all!

Reread thoughts:
Listened to the audiobook this time and enjoyed the book. Definitely love the idea of fixed versus grown mindset and how those mindsets affect so many aspects of life. I agree with much of what her research and arguments show about effort and hard work and changing our mindsets being helpful to overall success. Love the idea that we can change mindset and help my kids change their mindsets too. Challenges and failures can help us change and progress. Hard things are worth trying. Effort is worth it.

There were a few things I surprisingly disagreed with such as affects of bullying and at times a discussion of how actions seemed dependent on the actions of others rather than the self. I don't think that was the most well developed of sections in the book. And I had trouble really understanding that part.

But overall, still a worthwhile read and one I will return to!
]]> <![CDATA[Thunderstruck (Starstruck Love Stories, #3)]]> 220420297
After a brutal breakup, Carissa is ready for a fresh start—no more dating disasters, no more men she can’t trust. But Cole, with his brooding intensity and hidden big heart, is impossible to ignore. Despite her vow to focus on her career, she’s irresistibly drawn to the muscled rugby player who’s more than just a grumpy face. But falling for a colleague again could be dangerous.

Both nursing old wounds, they agree to stay friends and keep their careers on track. But when the notorious tabloid Hollywood Hot Scoop targets them, their budding connection is blasted into the spotlight. With secrets unraveling and chemistry that’s off the charts, Cole and Carissa must risk everything for love or let their pasts tear them apart.

Thunderstruck is a closed door standalone romance with character connections to the other books in the series.]]> 386 Dana LeCheminant Jane 5
Getting to know Cole was the highlight of the series for me thus far. I really enjoyed getting inside his head and learning about his past, his present, and what makes him tick. He really is a good guy that has dealt with a lot of hard, emotional things in the past several years from his bad breakup to leaving football. He carries so much on his own shoulders and doesn't want to share that load. But he also has such a great support system around him. I loved his relationships with his dad and Gramps (they are hilarious!) and I really enjoyed seeing him bond with his team (new spin off series -- please, Dana!?) Certainly the highlight of the book is his budding relationship with Carissa and how she lights up his life in new and beautiful ways.

Carissa is optimism and light personified. She is so easy to love and cheer for. I love how she brightens everyone's day and sees the good in everyone around her. She also has difficult experiences in her past and is starting over. But I love how she seeks to move forward and connect with the members of the team and especially with Cole.

I loved Cole and Carissa's slow burn romance. So many things to love about their romance -- grumpy sunshine, workplace romance, forbidden love, celebrity romance, and meddling friends/family. I loved seeing Cole let down his walls for Carissa and allowing her to see the real him. I loved how Carissa helps him feel grounded and how Cole makes her feel safe and accepted. Their obvious chemistry is sizzling from the first moment they meet. And the slow burn buildup to their first kiss is almost unbearable. Except their first kiss is absolutely fantastic so it's definitely worth the wait ;)

Add in a delightful ground of rugby players that are as hilarious as they are endearing, and this love story becomes one of my favorite reads of the year. There are the perfect blend of sweet moments, serious moments and surprising moments. Can't recommend this one highly enough!]]> 4.52 Thunderstruck (Starstruck Love Stories, #3)
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 4.52
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/08
date added: 2024/11/09
shelves: 2024, rom-com, sports-romcom, grumpy-sunshine
review:
I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH!! Somehow each book gets better and better. As I get to know each member of this fantastic friend group, I just fall more in love with them all!

Getting to know Cole was the highlight of the series for me thus far. I really enjoyed getting inside his head and learning about his past, his present, and what makes him tick. He really is a good guy that has dealt with a lot of hard, emotional things in the past several years from his bad breakup to leaving football. He carries so much on his own shoulders and doesn't want to share that load. But he also has such a great support system around him. I loved his relationships with his dad and Gramps (they are hilarious!) and I really enjoyed seeing him bond with his team (new spin off series -- please, Dana!?) Certainly the highlight of the book is his budding relationship with Carissa and how she lights up his life in new and beautiful ways.

Carissa is optimism and light personified. She is so easy to love and cheer for. I love how she brightens everyone's day and sees the good in everyone around her. She also has difficult experiences in her past and is starting over. But I love how she seeks to move forward and connect with the members of the team and especially with Cole.

I loved Cole and Carissa's slow burn romance. So many things to love about their romance -- grumpy sunshine, workplace romance, forbidden love, celebrity romance, and meddling friends/family. I loved seeing Cole let down his walls for Carissa and allowing her to see the real him. I loved how Carissa helps him feel grounded and how Cole makes her feel safe and accepted. Their obvious chemistry is sizzling from the first moment they meet. And the slow burn buildup to their first kiss is almost unbearable. Except their first kiss is absolutely fantastic so it's definitely worth the wait ;)

Add in a delightful ground of rugby players that are as hilarious as they are endearing, and this love story becomes one of my favorite reads of the year. There are the perfect blend of sweet moments, serious moments and surprising moments. Can't recommend this one highly enough!
]]> Summerhaven 60158711
But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance, and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding marriage. Although she has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a ruse designed to win them both what they desire, Hannah warily agrees. All she has to do to reclaim Oliver’s attention is pretend to be madly in love with Damon. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it proves difficult to discern the line between pretense and true love.]]> 320 Tiffany Odekirk 1524421472 Jane 4
There are so many things to love about this novel: the beautiful countryside setting at Summerhaven and all the lovely scenes out on the grounds, dynamic and complex characters that surprise you, such a beautiful love story that makes you swoon, sigh and feel every type of emotion before the final climax.

I loved getting to know Hannah through this story. We get the entire story from her POV and I enjoyed seeing her opinions and perspective change through the story. Her history is a complex one filled with happy memories, true grief, and hope and optimism for the future. Seeing how her past shapes her future was so interesting. Especially as her understanding of the past shifts. I love her desire to marry for love and how her views on what love really is become clarified as the story progresses. Seeing her fall for the man who will make her happy is truly so beautiful.

Damon and Ollie were intriguing protagonists and so different from each other. I loved seeing how they can both be thoughtful and kind especially as they realize how wonderful Hannah is. I loved getting to see the depth of Damon's character and learning about the burdens he carries and the love he has to offer.

I'm not a big fan of love triangles. And while this one does work quite well overall, I felt that the conflict before the resolution and happily ever after was a bit long. It felt like Hannah would never be able to find true happiness. And I was anxious to see her happily ever after come together much sooner in the story. The ending itself is such a delight and I love seeing a glimpse of the future in the epilogue. Also the sequel sounds absolutely delightful!]]> 4.30 2022 Summerhaven
author: Tiffany Odekirk
name: Jane
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/03
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves: 2024, historical-fiction, beautiful-romance, forbidden-love
review:
I really enjoyed Summerhaven, my first novel from Tiffany. As a regency romance set on a country estate, it reminded me of some of my favorites in the genre and is a lovely addition to this group!

There are so many things to love about this novel: the beautiful countryside setting at Summerhaven and all the lovely scenes out on the grounds, dynamic and complex characters that surprise you, such a beautiful love story that makes you swoon, sigh and feel every type of emotion before the final climax.

I loved getting to know Hannah through this story. We get the entire story from her POV and I enjoyed seeing her opinions and perspective change through the story. Her history is a complex one filled with happy memories, true grief, and hope and optimism for the future. Seeing how her past shapes her future was so interesting. Especially as her understanding of the past shifts. I love her desire to marry for love and how her views on what love really is become clarified as the story progresses. Seeing her fall for the man who will make her happy is truly so beautiful.

Damon and Ollie were intriguing protagonists and so different from each other. I loved seeing how they can both be thoughtful and kind especially as they realize how wonderful Hannah is. I loved getting to see the depth of Damon's character and learning about the burdens he carries and the love he has to offer.

I'm not a big fan of love triangles. And while this one does work quite well overall, I felt that the conflict before the resolution and happily ever after was a bit long. It felt like Hannah would never be able to find true happiness. And I was anxious to see her happily ever after come together much sooner in the story. The ending itself is such a delight and I love seeing a glimpse of the future in the epilogue. Also the sequel sounds absolutely delightful!
]]> Summerhaven 212282998
Hannah Kent and Oliver Jennings pledged their hearts to each other as children. Now, years later, Hannah is thrilled to receive an invitation to spend the summer at Oliver’s family’s country estate. The path to wedded bliss is clear—so long as Oliver’s highbrow older brother, Damon, has ceased his juvenile antics, Hannah’s future looks bright indeed.

But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance, leaving Hannah at a loss to understand why, and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding marriage. Although Hannah has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a ruse designed to win Hannah and him what they both desire, Hannah warily agrees—by pretending to be madly in love with Damon, she can reclaim Oliver’s attention, and by pretending to court Hannah, Damon can avoid marriage. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it proves difficult for Hannah to discern the line between pretense and true love.]]> 356 Tiffany Odekirk 1639933654 Jane 0 to-read 4.57 2022 Summerhaven
author: Tiffany Odekirk
name: Jane
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Cross-Country Wedding (Road Trip Romance, #2)]]> 63885760 A fun-loving free spirit.
Her buttoned-up best friend.
And a cross-country wedding that could drive their platonic relationship toward something else entirely.

Simon Collier is my friend.

Heck, he’s been my friend for most of my adult life—and we couldn’t be more different.

I love late-night karaoke. He’s a homebody with a piano I’ve never heard him play.

I relish being the center of attention while Simon prefers to fade into the background.

My dresser is a disaster. He alphabetizes his fridge.

I suppose we’re a little like sunshine and rain. It’s why our friendship works.

Even though we’re total opposites, we get along like peas and carrots. He’s constantly saving me after failed romances, and I push him to live a little. . .even if that means dragging him out of his comfort zone.

If I can make him laugh, it’s a win.

He’s my safe person. Secure, reliable, fun to poke fun at.

Simon Collier is my friend.

But now, all that might change.

After another predictable break-up, I find myself in need of a plus-one for my best friend Lauren’s cross-country wedding. A wedding that reenacts the road trip where she and her fiancé, Will, first fell in love. And despite his fussiness, Simon is the safest person to bring along because I’m not in the market for any more messy feelings.

Our friendship has been intact for over ten years, surely we can handle a week crammed in a car, sharing meals and playlists and nighttime secrets and single beds.

Right?]]> 395 Courtney Walsh Jane 4
Maddie is such a fun protagonist. She is vibrant and fun! I think everyone needs a best friend like Maddie. She is fiercely loyal and helps Lauren embrace the moment and celebrate the little things. She always sees the potential for excitement and is ever optimistic. But she also has surprising depth. She has fears and insecurities that most people don't see. I loved seeing how she opens up to Simon and allows him into her heart as she understands how to truly be her best self.

Simon is such a fun opposite to Maddie. In many ways, they really are opposites. He is more serious, work driven, focused, a planner, and not very spontaneous. I enjoyed seeing him show more of himself to Maddie from the piano playing to finding sites she will like to see. I think she brings out his best qualities and I was rooting for them from the first time a heartbroken Maddie knocks on his door in the middle of the night.

Simon and Maddie have such a sweet friends to more love story. Usually I don't like this trope as much because it usually feels heavy on the miscommunication. And Maddie certainly fights her feelings for a bit longer than I would prefer. But what makes this story so fun is their banter. These two are so funny together! Partially because Simon doesn't get some of the jokes Maddie makes and she simply enjoys making him uncomfortable sometimes. But their obvious affection for each other through their long friendship is a delight. I enjoyed seeing Maddie realize how much she cares for Simon and how different her relationship with him will be. Their slow burn romance is so much fun and I might have cheered when we finally get to their kiss outside the fudge factory :)

Such a fun read! Glad to have read it and always excited to read more from Courtney!]]> 4.00 2023 A Cross-Country Wedding (Road Trip Romance, #2)
author: Courtney Walsh
name: Jane
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/31
date added: 2024/11/01
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, rom-com, best-friends-to-more
review:
This was such a fun sequel to A Cross Country Christmas! Loved being back in this world and seeing Lauren and Will's happily ever after come together. And it was such a treat to get to know Maddie and Simon.

Maddie is such a fun protagonist. She is vibrant and fun! I think everyone needs a best friend like Maddie. She is fiercely loyal and helps Lauren embrace the moment and celebrate the little things. She always sees the potential for excitement and is ever optimistic. But she also has surprising depth. She has fears and insecurities that most people don't see. I loved seeing how she opens up to Simon and allows him into her heart as she understands how to truly be her best self.

Simon is such a fun opposite to Maddie. In many ways, they really are opposites. He is more serious, work driven, focused, a planner, and not very spontaneous. I enjoyed seeing him show more of himself to Maddie from the piano playing to finding sites she will like to see. I think she brings out his best qualities and I was rooting for them from the first time a heartbroken Maddie knocks on his door in the middle of the night.

Simon and Maddie have such a sweet friends to more love story. Usually I don't like this trope as much because it usually feels heavy on the miscommunication. And Maddie certainly fights her feelings for a bit longer than I would prefer. But what makes this story so fun is their banter. These two are so funny together! Partially because Simon doesn't get some of the jokes Maddie makes and she simply enjoys making him uncomfortable sometimes. But their obvious affection for each other through their long friendship is a delight. I enjoyed seeing Maddie realize how much she cares for Simon and how different her relationship with him will be. Their slow burn romance is so much fun and I might have cheered when we finally get to their kiss outside the fudge factory :)

Such a fun read! Glad to have read it and always excited to read more from Courtney!
]]> <![CDATA[Christmas With a Crank: A Sweet Holiday Romance]]> 220898348 A second chance with your first crush.

Doesn’t happen often.

For Liam Fisher, that first crush was his next door neighbor, Olive Witherby.

Childhood was lazy summers, treehouse stargazing, and endless games of hide and seek at Pine Creek, the Christmas tree farm that’s been in Liam’s family for generations.

When Liam moves away, he and Olive say goodbye the only way they know how—with a fumbling first kiss neither of them will ever forget.

Even though twelve-year olds� promises of keeping in touch feel eternal, time and distance eventually make Olive and Liam practically strangers.

Twenty years later, Liam’s parents announce they’re retiring and selling the tree farm.

Twenty years later, Pine Creek is the last place grown-up Liam wants to be. Inherit this legacy? Not on your life.

And twenty years later, grown-up Olive is stuck.

Her work life is a lot like her love life—floundering. After a humiliating business failure, loads of debt, and one too many laughable first dates, she’s in no hurry to put herself out there again, in business or in romance.

When Olive is hired by Liam’s parents to rekindle the lost magic of the farm one final time before it’s sold, she sets out to make this the last, best Pine Creek Christmas, for the town and for a very cranky, not-so-talkative, surprisingly attractive Liam.

Part of her mission? Convince the crank to fall in love with Christmas.

The other part? Not fall head over heels in the process.

Christmas With a Crank is a grumpy/sunshine, childhood crush, opposites attract romance with plenty of sizzle but none of the steam.]]> 364 Courtney Walsh Jane 0 to-read 4.22 2024 Christmas With a Crank: A Sweet Holiday Romance
author: Courtney Walsh
name: Jane
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)]]> 8127 Anne of Green Gables is also a wonderful portrait of a time, a place, a family� and, most of all, love.

WITH AN AFTERWORD BY JENNIFER LEE CARELL]]> 320 L.M. Montgomery 0451528824 Jane 5
This story makes me happy. It’s just a feel good story that inspires me to be happier, more loving, and more kind.

This is a book I want to read again and again and plan to read with my children one day.

Anne is a classic protagonist. I love everything about her. She is quirky, loving, passionate, and hard working. I love that she loves books and learning. I love how hard she works in everything she does. Because she works hard, she nearly always succeeds, in school, work, and in friendship. I love that is a true and loyal friend to all sorts of people from sweet, kindred spirits Diana Berry and Matthew Cuthbert to tough skinned Marilla Cuthbert to incredible teacher Miss Stacey. But the best thing about Anne is that she tries to learn from her mistakes and is willing to change. I see myself in Anne, making mistakes and trying to be better. I think we can all see ourselves in Anne and her story.

One of my favorite elements in this novel is the writing style. Montgomery creates a truly memorable and beautiful story through her writing. Her style is simple and easy to get enveloped in. Her writing makes me feel like I am a part of her story. I have been to Green Gables and wandered the paths of Prince Edward Island with Anne and Diana. I cried and mourned with Anne when she lost Matthew. I laughed at Anne’s antics and ridiculous mistakes like her green dyed hair and superfluous apology to Mrs Lynne. I have traveled to Queens with Anne and wandered through her Lover’s Lane. I just feel happy when I read Montgomery’s writing.

Green Gables is one of the great settings within a novel. I hope to one day explore Anne’s Avonlea on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Because her writing is so vivid, I feel that Montgomery has already transported me her so many times. Not only is the larger setting lovely, but I think Green Gables is equally memorable. It’s a picturesque farm that becomes a special home for Anne. It inspires me to create a similar safe haven in my home for my children.

The themes that flow throughout this story are lovely and add to the quality of this novel for me. The importance of friendship, loyalty, education, family, learning from mistakes, and finding happiness are all seen throughout this novel. Anne teaches us to find kindred spirits in all sorts of places. She teaches us to make sacrifices for the people we love. She teaches us the value of an education and of working hard to fulfill big dreams. She teaches us to move forward after we make a mistake and seek to make amends. And she teaches us to find joy and happiness in life’s journey, no matter our circumstances.

A review of Anne of Green Gables would be incomplete without a mention of Gilbert. I adore Gilbert. From his first interaction with Anne and the broken slate over his head, to their reconciliation and budding friendship at the end of the novel, I was always rooting for Gilbert. He is the classic boy next door who is perfect for Anne. It just takes her so long to figure it out for herself. We all breathe a contented sigh when they finally become friends at last.]]> 4.30 1908 Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)
author: L.M. Montgomery
name: Jane
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1908
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/29
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: favorites, 2015, classics-club-1, 2017, favorite-settings, 2024, classics, read-aloud
review:
I have always loved Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. I love the novel and I love the movie adaptation. It’s one of my favorite books from my childhood and I have continued to love it as I have begun to raise my own family. I have read this classic several times and jumped at the chance to read it again as part of my Classics Club list and write a review here on my blog.

This story makes me happy. It’s just a feel good story that inspires me to be happier, more loving, and more kind.

This is a book I want to read again and again and plan to read with my children one day.

Anne is a classic protagonist. I love everything about her. She is quirky, loving, passionate, and hard working. I love that she loves books and learning. I love how hard she works in everything she does. Because she works hard, she nearly always succeeds, in school, work, and in friendship. I love that is a true and loyal friend to all sorts of people from sweet, kindred spirits Diana Berry and Matthew Cuthbert to tough skinned Marilla Cuthbert to incredible teacher Miss Stacey. But the best thing about Anne is that she tries to learn from her mistakes and is willing to change. I see myself in Anne, making mistakes and trying to be better. I think we can all see ourselves in Anne and her story.

One of my favorite elements in this novel is the writing style. Montgomery creates a truly memorable and beautiful story through her writing. Her style is simple and easy to get enveloped in. Her writing makes me feel like I am a part of her story. I have been to Green Gables and wandered the paths of Prince Edward Island with Anne and Diana. I cried and mourned with Anne when she lost Matthew. I laughed at Anne’s antics and ridiculous mistakes like her green dyed hair and superfluous apology to Mrs Lynne. I have traveled to Queens with Anne and wandered through her Lover’s Lane. I just feel happy when I read Montgomery’s writing.

Green Gables is one of the great settings within a novel. I hope to one day explore Anne’s Avonlea on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Because her writing is so vivid, I feel that Montgomery has already transported me her so many times. Not only is the larger setting lovely, but I think Green Gables is equally memorable. It’s a picturesque farm that becomes a special home for Anne. It inspires me to create a similar safe haven in my home for my children.

The themes that flow throughout this story are lovely and add to the quality of this novel for me. The importance of friendship, loyalty, education, family, learning from mistakes, and finding happiness are all seen throughout this novel. Anne teaches us to find kindred spirits in all sorts of places. She teaches us to make sacrifices for the people we love. She teaches us the value of an education and of working hard to fulfill big dreams. She teaches us to move forward after we make a mistake and seek to make amends. And she teaches us to find joy and happiness in life’s journey, no matter our circumstances.

A review of Anne of Green Gables would be incomplete without a mention of Gilbert. I adore Gilbert. From his first interaction with Anne and the broken slate over his head, to their reconciliation and budding friendship at the end of the novel, I was always rooting for Gilbert. He is the classic boy next door who is perfect for Anne. It just takes her so long to figure it out for herself. We all breathe a contented sigh when they finally become friends at last.
]]> <![CDATA[A Cross-Country Christmas (Road Trip Romance, #1)]]> 59068107
Which is why she rarely makes the trip home to the Midwest for the holidays. After all, she has plenty to keep her busy—namely, her duties as a set decorator on a TV sitcom.

But this December, Lauren's brother and his wife are expecting a baby, so her brother arranges a ride home for her with his good friend, Will.

Unfortunately for Lauren, she’s been trying to forget college baseball coach and childhood crush Will Sinclair for more than ten years.

Now, thanks to her fear of flying, she’s stuck in a car with him from California to Illinois.

She’s circumspect and organized. He’s flirty and spontaneous.

She’s convinced that people don’t change. He’s trying to prove to her (and himself) that he has.

On this cross-country road trip, they’ll both discover that history doesn’t exactly repeat itself. . . but like any good Christmas carol, it does have a second verse.]]> 256 Courtney Walsh Jane 4
I loved all the fun Christmas details like the torchlight parade and Christmas village (really everything about the cute little town that means Mistletoe). I loved the coziness and the love at Will's parents' house and all their Christmas decor, delicious food and traditions. There is just something so magical about Christmastime and Courtney captures that magic perfectly in this story.

I loved getting to know Will and Lauren and seeing them change as they road trip together. They both are carrying heavy burdens from their pasts. Lauren has the difficult load of her broken family and truly hard memories of holidays. And Will has to live with consequences of his poor choices when he lost his baseball scholarship and the guilt he feels from that. I loved how they are about to build each other up. How they help each other see the good in themselves and the potential for grace, forgiveness and Christmas spirit again.

Their love story is a mix of slow burn and second chance. Add in a forced proximity road trip. Meddling siblings. And a bit of Christmas cheer. This is a fun ride! Their attraction and chemistry is obvious and lovely. Seeing them let down their walls and allow each other into their hearts is beautiful. I was cheering for them from the moment Will picked Lauren up at the diner. When we finally get their happily ever after, I couldn't stop smiling.

I did find the third person narration to be a bit clunky at times. I prefer first person with dual perspectives. But that was just a minor thing and definitely a person preference.

Overall, a lovely holiday read! I am excited to start the sequel!]]> 3.93 2021 A Cross-Country Christmas (Road Trip Romance, #1)
author: Courtney Walsh
name: Jane
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/24
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, brothers-best-friend, christmas
review:
Loved this sweet Christmas romcom from Courtney. If I ever need a book to pick me up and help me see the potential for good, joy, and happiness in the world, I pick up a Courtney Walsh book.

I loved all the fun Christmas details like the torchlight parade and Christmas village (really everything about the cute little town that means Mistletoe). I loved the coziness and the love at Will's parents' house and all their Christmas decor, delicious food and traditions. There is just something so magical about Christmastime and Courtney captures that magic perfectly in this story.

I loved getting to know Will and Lauren and seeing them change as they road trip together. They both are carrying heavy burdens from their pasts. Lauren has the difficult load of her broken family and truly hard memories of holidays. And Will has to live with consequences of his poor choices when he lost his baseball scholarship and the guilt he feels from that. I loved how they are about to build each other up. How they help each other see the good in themselves and the potential for grace, forgiveness and Christmas spirit again.

Their love story is a mix of slow burn and second chance. Add in a forced proximity road trip. Meddling siblings. And a bit of Christmas cheer. This is a fun ride! Their attraction and chemistry is obvious and lovely. Seeing them let down their walls and allow each other into their hearts is beautiful. I was cheering for them from the moment Will picked Lauren up at the diner. When we finally get their happily ever after, I couldn't stop smiling.

I did find the third person narration to be a bit clunky at times. I prefer first person with dual perspectives. But that was just a minor thing and definitely a person preference.

Overall, a lovely holiday read! I am excited to start the sequel!
]]> <![CDATA[That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe (Abieville Love Stories, #4)]]> 217235840 My holly jolly Christmas just went up in smoke. Literally �

Playing nursemaid to Bradford “Three� Fuller is the last thing I need for Christmas.

But for the next few days, I’m stuck in charge of my ex’s sparkling eyes, his ridiculous abs, and his (mostly) accidental kisses.

I don’t have a choice.

You see, Three’s only hurt because of me. And not like he hurt me a decade ago. Like � I literally concussed the man with a fire extinguisher.

Still, a make-or-break mission for my parents is what brought me back to the small town where he crushed my tender heart in the first place.

And if I screw up, I risk my mother’s approval plus the job at my father’s law firm I’ve worked for my entire life.

So I sure hope Santa stuffs my stocking full of self-control. And a defibrillator.

Because my heart just may be broken by this second chance with Three �




That Time we Kissed Under the Mistletoe is a full-length, closed-door romantic comedy in the Abieville Love Stories series, but the book can be enjoyed as a standalone.

As with all Julie Christianson’s romcoms, you’ll find plenty of sizzling chemistry, but no content beyond kisses.



* Second chance romance

* Small-town Christmas

* Forced Proximity

* Trapped together

* Only one couch

* He rescues her

NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP]]> 338 Julie Christianson Jane 5
I loved the Christmas setting and all the fun Christmas scenes and tropes. Christmas decorations, homemade popcorn garland, turkey dinner, ice skating, Christmas movies and of course -- mistletoe. This book has me in a Christmas reading mood in all the best and most cozy ways!

Three is such a fun MMC. I loved getting to know him and learning about his past and his present. He has worked so hard to prove himself to others but also to himself. Seeing the good he is doing in the lives of his students and the people in Abieville is truly beautiful. Also I love his close relationship with his family! His love for Sara is so beautiful and truly a defining part of his character.

Sara was delightful to get to know. I love how complex she is. As we read her story, we learn more and more about her. How much she loves her family. How much she loves Three. What she wants to do in the future. How she sees the past. How she wants the future to look. How kind and generous and honest she is. I just loved her!

Three and Sara's love story is such a beautiful second chance romance. I loved seeing them reconnect and seeing their chemistry ignite again so easily. They see the best in each other and want to build each other up. Through their unexpected Christmas together, they see how much they still mean to each other. And wow do they go through a lot in a short time! I think in those moments of fear and real danger, we learn how strong their love is. And it is strong -- beautiful, deep and strong.

I love the ending!! I love the bonus epilogue! Can't wait for more stories in Abieville!]]> 4.42 That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe (Abieville Love Stories, #4)
author: Julie Christianson
name: Jane
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/20
date added: 2024/10/24
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, christmas, second-chance
review:
This book is everything!! I absolutely loved this second chance, Christmas romance from Julie. Every time I read a book from Julie, I think it's my favorite of hers ever. And then I read another one and it's my favorite. This book made me smile and laugh and believe in all the good that love can be!

I loved the Christmas setting and all the fun Christmas scenes and tropes. Christmas decorations, homemade popcorn garland, turkey dinner, ice skating, Christmas movies and of course -- mistletoe. This book has me in a Christmas reading mood in all the best and most cozy ways!

Three is such a fun MMC. I loved getting to know him and learning about his past and his present. He has worked so hard to prove himself to others but also to himself. Seeing the good he is doing in the lives of his students and the people in Abieville is truly beautiful. Also I love his close relationship with his family! His love for Sara is so beautiful and truly a defining part of his character.

Sara was delightful to get to know. I love how complex she is. As we read her story, we learn more and more about her. How much she loves her family. How much she loves Three. What she wants to do in the future. How she sees the past. How she wants the future to look. How kind and generous and honest she is. I just loved her!

Three and Sara's love story is such a beautiful second chance romance. I loved seeing them reconnect and seeing their chemistry ignite again so easily. They see the best in each other and want to build each other up. Through their unexpected Christmas together, they see how much they still mean to each other. And wow do they go through a lot in a short time! I think in those moments of fear and real danger, we learn how strong their love is. And it is strong -- beautiful, deep and strong.

I love the ending!! I love the bonus epilogue! Can't wait for more stories in Abieville!
]]> Mustaches for Maddie 34525564
When Maddie's arm continues to bother her, her parents take her to a doctor who gives them a shocking diagnosis: the cause of the abnormal behavior of her limbs is a brain tumor and she must have surgery to remove it. She's understandably afraid as he describes the procedure, but knows she must find a way to be brave and must face her fears--all of them--at the hospital, at home and at school.

She will need all of her courage not only to face her illness, but also to face Cassie at school. Both Cassie and Maddie are auditioning for the same role in the school play, but when Cassie accuses Maddie of lying about her tumor in order to get attention, Cassie's bossiness turns into bullying.

And as Maddie's surgery approaches, she begins to worry more and more about the outcome. What if something goes wrong? What if the doctors don't get all the tumor out of her brain? What will happen to her family? What will happen toĚýher?

It will take all of Maddie's vibrant imagination, a lot of kindness-both given and received-and of course, the perfect mustache to overcome the tough stuff ahead of her.]]> 256 Chad Morris 1629723304 Jane 0 to-read 4.33 2017 Mustaches for Maddie
author: Chad Morris
name: Jane
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Beowulf 52357 259 Unknown 0393320979 Jane 5 I haven’t read this since high school and I was surprised how spiritual and religious this text is. There are many references to God and God’s hand in the fate of men. Beowulf is a compelling character with incredible heroism loyalty and bravery. The battles are intense! Some parts are more graphic than I remember which surprised me. I liked the ways that Beowulf teaches his people the importance of courage, loyalty and accepting God’s will.
This is a quick read with a fast paced plot!]]> 3.46 1000 Beowulf
author: Unknown
name: Jane
average rating: 3.46
book published: 1000
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/17
date added: 2024/10/18
shelves: 2024, classics, classics-club-2, poetry
review:
I really enjoyed this classic epic poem.
I haven’t read this since high school and I was surprised how spiritual and religious this text is. There are many references to God and God’s hand in the fate of men. Beowulf is a compelling character with incredible heroism loyalty and bravery. The battles are intense! Some parts are more graphic than I remember which surprised me. I liked the ways that Beowulf teaches his people the importance of courage, loyalty and accepting God’s will.
This is a quick read with a fast paced plot!
]]> <![CDATA[The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London, #4)]]> 208894878
Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist—and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy� Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.

After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture�.]]> 356 Mimi Matthews 0593639278 Jane 5
Getting to know Stella is a beautiful culmination to this series about four dear friends. While we have seen and learned about Stella in the previous books in the series, now she is the focus of the story. Learning about her difficult history and truly horrible brother helped shape her character and why she sees the world in the ways she does. I admire her determination towards independence. And I admire her strength, loyalty and devotion to those she loves. Seeing her interact with her dear friends and her horse, Locket, were truly beautiful moments in this story. And witnessing her budding friendship with Teddy was a delight.

Teddy is not like other heroes in an historical novel I have read. He is witty and out spoken. Often we know just what he is thinking regardless of whether it is socially acceptable to say so. That outspokenness makes him a refreshing and engaging protagonist. I was impressed by the well researched details about his profession as a painter and the many meticulous pieces in his creative process. This Victorian time period was such a compelling one in the history of art. I enjoyed learning more about how artists of this time were changing the course of artistic creation. Teddy is at the forefront of this movement. While his fascination with Stella begins with his hope to paint her as his muse, I love how those feelings become something so much more.

Stella and Teddy's love story is as beautiful as it is unexpected. They are both unusual and a bit on the outskirts of society -- Stella with her gray hair and Teddy in his wheeled chair. That creates an unlikely bond between them that grows into the most beautiful love. I enjoyed their banter as they first become friends and then pen pals. I loved how Stella inspires Teddy and how much he wants to immortalize her. He sees her in the most beautiful, powerful way from their first meeting. And I think that helps Stella begin to see herself as extraordinary. Their marriage of convenience (which is naturally nothing of the sort) is a clever way to bring them together. But the beautiful climax on their wedding night when they realize how much they mean to each other is incredibly moving. I absolutely loved seeing them discover how much their love means to them and how it has changed them. Seeing how their love transforms them and gives them hope, happiness and meaning is one of the most compelling parts of this whole series.

I adore everything I have read from Mimi and this is my favorite read yet! Stella and Teddy are complex and compelling characters who transform in the best ways because of their relationship. Their love story is unconventional and also incredibly powerful. What a fantastic end to a truly captivating series!]]> 3.99 2024 The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London, #4)
author: Mimi Matthews
name: Jane
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/15
date added: 2024/10/18
shelves: 2024, arc, great-book-series, historical-fiction, beautiful-romance, marriage-of-convenience
review:
Mimi's finale in the Belles of London series is a captivating triumph! As usual, the story is gripping, detailed and emotional. I couldn't put it down from the first page.

Getting to know Stella is a beautiful culmination to this series about four dear friends. While we have seen and learned about Stella in the previous books in the series, now she is the focus of the story. Learning about her difficult history and truly horrible brother helped shape her character and why she sees the world in the ways she does. I admire her determination towards independence. And I admire her strength, loyalty and devotion to those she loves. Seeing her interact with her dear friends and her horse, Locket, were truly beautiful moments in this story. And witnessing her budding friendship with Teddy was a delight.

Teddy is not like other heroes in an historical novel I have read. He is witty and out spoken. Often we know just what he is thinking regardless of whether it is socially acceptable to say so. That outspokenness makes him a refreshing and engaging protagonist. I was impressed by the well researched details about his profession as a painter and the many meticulous pieces in his creative process. This Victorian time period was such a compelling one in the history of art. I enjoyed learning more about how artists of this time were changing the course of artistic creation. Teddy is at the forefront of this movement. While his fascination with Stella begins with his hope to paint her as his muse, I love how those feelings become something so much more.

Stella and Teddy's love story is as beautiful as it is unexpected. They are both unusual and a bit on the outskirts of society -- Stella with her gray hair and Teddy in his wheeled chair. That creates an unlikely bond between them that grows into the most beautiful love. I enjoyed their banter as they first become friends and then pen pals. I loved how Stella inspires Teddy and how much he wants to immortalize her. He sees her in the most beautiful, powerful way from their first meeting. And I think that helps Stella begin to see herself as extraordinary. Their marriage of convenience (which is naturally nothing of the sort) is a clever way to bring them together. But the beautiful climax on their wedding night when they realize how much they mean to each other is incredibly moving. I absolutely loved seeing them discover how much their love means to them and how it has changed them. Seeing how their love transforms them and gives them hope, happiness and meaning is one of the most compelling parts of this whole series.

I adore everything I have read from Mimi and this is my favorite read yet! Stella and Teddy are complex and compelling characters who transform in the best ways because of their relationship. Their love story is unconventional and also incredibly powerful. What a fantastic end to a truly captivating series!
]]> <![CDATA[The Retreat (Falling for Franklin, #1)]]> 61161644
Battling against Luke Ward and his arsenal of charms makes me start to fear for my lawn, my livelihood, and my heart.

The annual retreat I’ve planned for the investment firm we both work for (okay, he’s technically one of the owners) is the biggest event of my career, and I vow to not let Luke and his shenanigans get in the way of its success.

But when he somehow weasels his way onto the trial run of the trip, the pranks start to feel more like plays we’re both calculating in an effort to hide our true feelings from each other.

So here’s my question: how does one not fall in love with her sworn enemy? Especially if said enemy might actually have a heart of gold hidden under his designer suits and well-timed insults (gotta give credit where credit is due). Asking for a friend.]]> Hailey Gardiner Jane 0 to-read 3.79 2022 The Retreat (Falling for Franklin, #1)
author: Hailey Gardiner
name: Jane
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Houston, We Have a Problem (Love in Sun City)]]> 204623920
Enter Darcy Paxton, his refreshing new neighbor who is nothing like the women of his past relationships. There’s a realness about her that Houston can’t resist, and she sees the man behind the athlete, bringing calm to the storm of his life.

However, complicating matters is Tamlin Park, a tenacious sports reporter known for her exposés on athletes� lives. Despite the threat she poses to his already shaky career, Houston can’t deny the chemistry between them, and she surprises him at every turn with her intelligence and passion for baseball.

Caught between two women who seem made just for him, Houston has no idea what his future holds. If only there was a way for them all to find happiness without someone getting hurt.

Books in the Love in Sun City series are tied together and overlap but can be read in any order or as standalones. They contain minimal to no swearing and no explicit content.]]> 344 Dana LeCheminant Jane 5
Loved getting to know Houston and seeing him fall in love. He has tried to handle everything on his own for so long so seeing him open up with his family and with Darcy was so beautiful. I love how he changes and tries to connect more as the story progresses.

Loved Darcy and all her complexities and surprises. Seeing her fall for Houston and build him up is so lovely.

So fun to see some of my favorite scenes from the series from Houston and Darcy's points of view! The trivia night is a great one also the family halloween party.

There are a lot of fantastic surprises in this one so I won't say more here. But loved the way it brought the series to a close. Love these siblings!]]> 4.58 Houston, We Have a Problem (Love in Sun City)
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 4.58
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/10
date added: 2024/10/14
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, celebrity-romcom, sports-romcom, secret-identity
review:
What an ending to such a fun series!

Loved getting to know Houston and seeing him fall in love. He has tried to handle everything on his own for so long so seeing him open up with his family and with Darcy was so beautiful. I love how he changes and tries to connect more as the story progresses.

Loved Darcy and all her complexities and surprises. Seeing her fall for Houston and build him up is so lovely.

So fun to see some of my favorite scenes from the series from Houston and Darcy's points of view! The trivia night is a great one also the family halloween party.

There are a lot of fantastic surprises in this one so I won't say more here. But loved the way it brought the series to a close. Love these siblings!
]]> <![CDATA[Love in Disguise (The Wonder Boys, #4)]]> 75343791
At least, that’s what his friends think. Feeling trapped by a routine he never wanted but everyone expects, Kit is almost glad when his life suddenly falls apart—especially when it leads to him running into his middle school girlfriend, Skyler, who happens to need a fake fiancé for a family reunion.

The two pick up where they left off seventeen years prior, and Kit reverts back to the friendly and fun-loving person she knew for the semester they were together—someone completely different from the role he’s been playing his entire life. Desperate to cling to his chance to change his life for the better and finally live the life he’s always wanted, Kit is ready to tell Skyler he’s in it for real. The problem? She has no intention of settling down anytime soon. Or ever.

Torn between the reliable life he’s always known and a sweeter one without guarantees, Kit has to convince Skyler—and himself—that past patterns can be broken and relationships are worth fighting for.

Otherwise, he might lose the only person who’s ever known the real him.]]> 380 Dana LeCheminant Jane 0 to-read 4.36 Love in Disguise (The Wonder Boys, #4)
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 4.36
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Love on Camera (The Wonder Boys, #1)]]> 61053282
When wedding photographer Madi is challenged to find herself ten dates in three months, she turns to her older brother’s three best friends to be her stand-ins. It helps her win the challenge without having to deal with the stress of dating. What could go wrong?

Oliver hasn’t had much to do since selling his company, and helping Madi has given his life meaning again. But when she asks him to pose as her boyfriend—more than just a date here and there—he suddenly finds himself questioning his feelings toward the girl he always saw as a little sister. Feelings that would get him murdered by his best friend.

No one sees the real Oliver the way Madi does, and Madi has never been as comfortable around anyone as she is with Oliver. With the fake part of their relationship feeling less and less fake, they both have to decide if they’re brave enough to take that first step toward something real. Is a chance at love worth risking a lifetime of friendship?]]> 324 Dana LeCheminant Jane 0 to-read 4.09 Love on Camera (The Wonder Boys, #1)
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 4.09
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Love in Sun City Series Epilogue]]> 205641767 43 Dana LeCheminant 1951753232 Jane 0 2024, novella, rom-com 4.78 Love in Sun City Series Epilogue
author: Dana LeCheminant
name: Jane
average rating: 4.78
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/10/10
shelves: 2024, novella, rom-com
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Baby Llama Drama (Sweet as Sugar Maple, #2)]]> 150233671 306 Kate Watson Jane 5
I absolutely loved getting to know Millie, Duke and Lottie better in this novel. The pain, grief and anxiety they all carry is at times intense but the beautiful ways they find healing and peace together are just magical.

I loved Millie's perspective on relationships and the ways her therapist background helped dher see things in a calmer way. I also appreciate that she finds peace and love with Duke and Lottie. Their relationship is so beautiful!

I loved getting Duke's backstory as well and seeing him fall in love. Certainly he's made mistakes as we all do, but he is trying to be his best for Lottie and for Millie. I admire his dedication and loyalty and that he tries new things and makes amends for his mistakes.

Millie and Duke have obvious and passionate attraction for each other. Their swoony kisses are fire and their tender declarations of love are so sweet. But they also have depth and complexities. They make mistakes. They get in fights. They don't understand each other's side. They have deep, intense grief from their pasts including losing a loved one, being abandoned, single parents, and personal illness. Yet they bring out such beautiful hope and healing in each other. I absolutely loved their journey ❤️

As always, it was a joy to see the other Janes in this story. I am so excited for Parker and Sonny's story in book 3!!!]]> 3.99 2023 Baby Llama Drama (Sweet as Sugar Maple, #2)
author: Kate Watson
name: Jane
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/13
date added: 2024/10/09
shelves: rom-com, 2024, single-parent-romcom, celebrity-romcom, sports-romcom
review:
Kate Watsons Sweet as Sugar Maple series is one of my new favorites! This is a brilliant addition to the series!

I absolutely loved getting to know Millie, Duke and Lottie better in this novel. The pain, grief and anxiety they all carry is at times intense but the beautiful ways they find healing and peace together are just magical.

I loved Millie's perspective on relationships and the ways her therapist background helped dher see things in a calmer way. I also appreciate that she finds peace and love with Duke and Lottie. Their relationship is so beautiful!

I loved getting Duke's backstory as well and seeing him fall in love. Certainly he's made mistakes as we all do, but he is trying to be his best for Lottie and for Millie. I admire his dedication and loyalty and that he tries new things and makes amends for his mistakes.

Millie and Duke have obvious and passionate attraction for each other. Their swoony kisses are fire and their tender declarations of love are so sweet. But they also have depth and complexities. They make mistakes. They get in fights. They don't understand each other's side. They have deep, intense grief from their pasts including losing a loved one, being abandoned, single parents, and personal illness. Yet they bring out such beautiful hope and healing in each other. I absolutely loved their journey ❤️

As always, it was a joy to see the other Janes in this story. I am so excited for Parker and Sonny's story in book 3!!!
]]> <![CDATA[A Groom of One's Own (Appies, #3)]]> 201779211 He always dreamed of getting married—but for love, not to avoid deportation.

Eli Hopkins has it all—almost. A hockey career with the wildly popular Appies. Teammates who are like brothers. The only thing he's missing is someone to share it all with.

Oh—and correctly filed visa paperwork.

Due to administrative error, Eli is about to lose everything.

Unless he can find someone to marry him in the next thirty days.

And he might have the perfect woman in mind. The only problem? He'd like to marry her for real, not simply for legal purposes.

Now Eli faces the challenge of winning over a wife who thinks the marriage is in name only...]]> 368 Emma St. Clair Jane 5 4.20 2024 A Groom of One's Own (Appies, #3)
author: Emma St. Clair
name: Jane
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/07
date added: 2024/10/09
shelves: 2024, beautiful-romance, rom-com, favorites, fake-dating, marriage-of-convenience, sports-romcom
review:
Y'all. Stop what you're doing and pick up this book right now! @kikimojo has done it again and this story is so sweet and darling. I'm a puddle of happiness after finishing this one
]]>