nina ʚïɞ's bookshelf: all en-US Mon, 05 May 2025 04:53:09 -0700 60 nina ʚïɞ's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg The Goal (Off-Campus, #4) 32315591 9781533344342

She’s good at achieving her goals�

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.]]> 384 Elle Kennedy nina ʚïɞ 0 currently-reading 3.81 2016 The Goal (Off-Campus, #4)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/05
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> Promise Me Sunshine 214269328 Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not

Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Her best friend, Lou, recently passed away after a battle with cancer, and her death has left Lenny feeling completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with Lou, and the list of things she’s supposed to do to help her live again. The only thing she can do is temporary babysitting gigs, and luckily, she just landed a great one, helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. It’s not perfect: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around, and is kind of... a huge jerk. But if Lenny acts like she has it all together, maybe no one will notice she’s falling apart.

Miles sees right through her though. Turns out, he knows a lot about grief and, surprisingly, he offers her a proposition. He’ll help her complete everything on her “live again� list if she’ll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with Reese. Lenny doubts anything can fill the Lou has left behind, but she begins to spend more time with Miles, Lenny is surprised to discover that, sometimes, losing everything is only the first step to finding yourself, and love, again.]]> 416 Cara Bastone 0593595734 nina ʚïɞ 3
3 stars

the premise of this story hooked me right from the beginning - lenny losing the love of her life and dealing with the fallout and grief from that was really unique especially because that great love was her best friend and not romantic love.

however, i think lenny’s character got on my nerves with just how quirky she was a lot of the time and i felt like she lacked depth. even though the topic was heavy, i never really felt connected to her character and in a single pov story, that kinda sucks.

i feel like the author could have given us way more - i wanted longer scenes and more conversations but everything felt way too glazed over and like we were constantly being told that things worked out but we never got to see it. especially in terms of miles� story and his own growth with his family.

overall, i enjoyed my first book by cara, but i wouldn’t say it was a major success. i really wanted to deeply feel for her characters and it just never came. maybe it’s me though so take my opinion with a grain of salt. i’ll definitely give this author another chance sometime in the future.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i’ve heard such good things about this book (and i haven’t read anything by this author yet) so i’m excited to give it a try! it sounds exactly like the type of book i’d love <3

buddy reading with the lovely cora!]]> 4.22 2025 Promise Me Sunshine
author: Cara Bastone
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/03
date added: 2025/05/05
shelves:
review:
this was a cute and fairly wholesome read but ah, i just wish i connected with it more.

3 stars

the premise of this story hooked me right from the beginning - lenny losing the love of her life and dealing with the fallout and grief from that was really unique especially because that great love was her best friend and not romantic love.

however, i think lenny’s character got on my nerves with just how quirky she was a lot of the time and i felt like she lacked depth. even though the topic was heavy, i never really felt connected to her character and in a single pov story, that kinda sucks.

i feel like the author could have given us way more - i wanted longer scenes and more conversations but everything felt way too glazed over and like we were constantly being told that things worked out but we never got to see it. especially in terms of miles� story and his own growth with his family.

overall, i enjoyed my first book by cara, but i wouldn’t say it was a major success. i really wanted to deeply feel for her characters and it just never came. maybe it’s me though so take my opinion with a grain of salt. i’ll definitely give this author another chance sometime in the future.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i’ve heard such good things about this book (and i haven’t read anything by this author yet) so i’m excited to give it a try! it sounds exactly like the type of book i’d love <3

buddy reading with the lovely cora!
]]> Only Hope (Gold Hill) 227908924
Light-hearted Hope Sullivan doesn’t see it that way. What else is a small town for if it isn’t about strong bonds and close community?

On a gloomy day by the lake, their lives collide, leading both women to wonder: is Gold Hill a haven or a bolthole? Can you ever really be safe?

An age gap, ice queen, small town contemporary sapphic romance from the author of Falls From Grace and Ribbonwood.]]> 398 Ruby Landers 1763896706 nina ʚïɞ 3 4.44 Only Hope (Gold Hill)
author: Ruby Landers
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/04
date added: 2025/05/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Discovering Nicola (Oxford Romance, #3)]]> 231923268 Yet when both are divorced and at a new stage in life, they find themselves living within glowering distance of each other, in beautiful Iffley Village, Oxford. Reluctantly they call a truce and try to make friends. It’s tricky though, when there’s more than one reason they’ve circled and snapped for years.
For a start, Geeta’s lawyer daughter, Olivia, idolises the eminent King's Counsel barrister, to eye rolls from Geeta. And to Nicola’s annoyance, her own daughter, Charlotte, has always turned to perfect mama Geeta for comfort and understanding. Animosity between the two is a given.
Until they force themselves to be nice to each other, that is, and then they’re compelled to question everything�
Read as a standalone romance or book 3 of the Oxford Romance series.]]> 491 Clare Ashton nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.80 Discovering Nicola (Oxford Romance, #3)
author: Clare Ashton
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.80
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Score (Off-Campus, #3) 44593125
He knows how to score, on and off the ice...

Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands.

It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over...

Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.]]> 384 Elle Kennedy nina ʚïɞ 3 4.10 2016 The Score (Off-Campus, #3)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/26
date added: 2025/04/26
shelves:
review:

]]> Jilted 217872772 From #1 New York Times bestseller Vi Keeland comes a brand new slow burn, swooning romance where 27 Dresses meets The Hating Game.

Weddings. I spend every working minute talking and writing about them, when just the thought of one makes me want to scream. After my fiancé abandoned me at the altar last year, my dream job at Bride magazine has turned into a reoccurring nightmare.

To add insult to injury, the bridezilla at my latest assignment, somehow roped me into filling in for a missing bridesmaid. Of course, I had to get paired with the most gorgeous groomsman. Wilder Hayes is perfect—except when he opens his mouth and we end up bickering all evening. That is, until the coat closet incident.

At least I’ll never have to see him again. Or so I think� Until I walk into work on Monday and find out Wilder isn’t just a jerk, he’s also my boss’s son. And I’ll be spending the rest of the season working with him at every single wedding I cover this year.

Can the jilted bride and the man who is afraid of love find a way to heal each other?

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.]]> 266 Vi Keeland 1250359864 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.16 2025 Jilted
author: Vi Keeland
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Dare (Briar U, #4) 52918684
The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class.

Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties…and in Greek Row sorority beds. He’s the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don’t give girls like me a second glance. Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop—rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we’re getting busy.

Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he thinks it’s fun to pull the wool over my frenemies� eyes.

But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I’m realizing there’s much more to Conor’s story than his fan club can see.

And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my face.]]> 354 Elle Kennedy nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.70 2020 The Dare (Briar U, #4)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Risk (Briar U, #2) 41032121 THE RISK takes you back to the world of hot hockey players, feisty heroines, bro banter, and steamy scenes...

Everyone says I’m a bad girl. They’re only partly right—I don’t let fear rule me, and I certainly don’t care what people think. But I draw the line at sleeping with the enemy. As the daughter of Briar’s head hockey coach, I’d be vilified if I hooked up with a player from a rival team.

And that’s who Jake Connelly is. Harvard’s star forward is arrogant, annoying, and too attractive for his own good. But fate is cruel—I require his help to secure a much-coveted internship, and the sexy jerk isn’t making it easy for me.

I need Connelly to be my fake boyfriend.

For every fake date…he wants a real one.

Which means this bad girl is in big trouble. Nothing good can come from sneaking around with Jake Connelly. My father would kill me, my friends will revolt, and my post-college career is on the line. But while it’s getting harder and harder to resist Jake’s oozing sex appeal and cocky grin, I refuse to fall for him.

That’s the one risk I’m not willing to take.]]> 402 Elle Kennedy nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.22 2019 The Risk (Briar U, #2)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Play (Briar U, #3) 43877254
But there’s nothing in the rulebook that says I ’t be friends with a woman. And I won’t lie—my new classmate Demi Davis is one cool chick. Her smart mouth is hot as hell, and so is the rest of her, but the fact that she’s got a boyfriend eliminates the temptation to touch her.

Except three months into our friendship, Demi is single and looking for a rebound.

And she’s making a play for me.

Avoiding her is impossible. We’re paired up on a yearlong school project, but I’m confident I can resist her. We’d never work, anyway. Our backgrounds are too different, our goals aren’t aligned, and her parents hate my guts.

Hooking up is a very bad idea. Now I just have to convince my body—and my heart.]]> 422 Elle Kennedy nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.00 2019 The Play (Briar U, #3)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Chase (Briar U, #1) 34851664
And that his best friend has a crush on me.

And that I just moved in with them.

Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates?

I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fitzy has made it clear he’s not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I’m not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I’m not about to start. I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing?

He knows where to find me.]]> 368 Elle Kennedy 0994054459 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.84 2018 The Chase (Briar U, #1)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Perfect Marriage 223688351 Would you defend your husband if he was accused of killing his mistress?

Sarah Morgan is a successful and powerful defense attorney in Washington D.C. At 33 years old, she is a named partner at her firm and life is going exactly how she planned.

The same cannot be said for her husband, Adam. He is a struggling writer who has had little success in his career. He begins to tire of his and Sarah’s relationship as she is constantly working.

Out in the secluded woods, at Adam and Sarah’s second home, Adam engages in a passionate affair with Kelly Summers.

Then, one morning everything changes. Adam is arrested for Kelly’s murder. She had been found stabbed to death in Adam and Sarah’s second home.

Sarah soon finds herself playing the defender for her own husband, a man accused of murdering his mistress.

But is Adam guilty or is he innocent?]]> 352 Jeneva Rose nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.01 2020 The Perfect Marriage
author: Jeneva Rose
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Mistake (Off-Campus, #2) 45756920 283 Elle Kennedy nina ʚïɞ 3 3.25 stars

another really fun, quick and addictive hockey romance!

both grace and logan were really good characters - frustrating at times especially in the beginning but once they hit their stride i really liked them together. plus, as i go i continue to fall for and love each of these hockey guys and their found family unit. i cannot wait to keep going with it!

now while i did enjoy this one, the super late third act conflicts seem to be a going theme in the series and i’m not in love with them. the resolution was too quick and the ending tied up too neatly. it was sweet, but not as satisfying as i’d hoped.

all in all, i had a blast with it despite not being perfect. elle kennedy is definitely an author i will continue to come back to when i need something light, fun and easy.]]> 3.91 2015 The Mistake (Off-Campus, #2)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/23
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves:
review:
3.25 stars

another really fun, quick and addictive hockey romance!

both grace and logan were really good characters - frustrating at times especially in the beginning but once they hit their stride i really liked them together. plus, as i go i continue to fall for and love each of these hockey guys and their found family unit. i cannot wait to keep going with it!

now while i did enjoy this one, the super late third act conflicts seem to be a going theme in the series and i’m not in love with them. the resolution was too quick and the ending tied up too neatly. it was sweet, but not as satisfying as i’d hoped.

all in all, i had a blast with it despite not being perfect. elle kennedy is definitely an author i will continue to come back to when i need something light, fun and easy.
]]> The Deal (Off-Campus, #1) 58953626 Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

...and it’s going to be oh so good
All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.]]> 342 Elle Kennedy nina ʚïɞ 3 3.5 stars!

i enjoyed this way more than i thought i would! sports romances are never my go to because i’m not really into sports and i find them kinda boring (please don’t hate me lol) but i’m kicking myself for not reading this one sooner! it was a lot of fun!

it had a lot of really heavy topics thrown in, but despite that, it stayed the lighter hockey romance i expected it to be. i wish it had a bit more depth but i ’t really complain.

for the characters, i immediately liked hannah. she was sassy, strong willed and pretty funny. all things i love and look for in a fmc.

garrett also endeared me to him pretty early on because of his perseverance and heart. he never gave up even when i expected him to and i really loved this.

my one bigger complaint was the third act break up - it felt really unnecessary and rushed. unfortunately, it hurt my enjoyment for the last portion of the book.

overall, this was exactly what i was looking for - light, with good banter and characters i really enjoyed. it won’t be the most memorable, but i’d consider reading it again one day because of how easy it was. definitely recommend!]]> 4.27 2015 The Deal (Off-Campus, #1)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/21
date added: 2025/04/21
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars!

i enjoyed this way more than i thought i would! sports romances are never my go to because i’m not really into sports and i find them kinda boring (please don’t hate me lol) but i’m kicking myself for not reading this one sooner! it was a lot of fun!

it had a lot of really heavy topics thrown in, but despite that, it stayed the lighter hockey romance i expected it to be. i wish it had a bit more depth but i ’t really complain.

for the characters, i immediately liked hannah. she was sassy, strong willed and pretty funny. all things i love and look for in a fmc.

garrett also endeared me to him pretty early on because of his perseverance and heart. he never gave up even when i expected him to and i really loved this.

my one bigger complaint was the third act break up - it felt really unnecessary and rushed. unfortunately, it hurt my enjoyment for the last portion of the book.

overall, this was exactly what i was looking for - light, with good banter and characters i really enjoyed. it won’t be the most memorable, but i’d consider reading it again one day because of how easy it was. definitely recommend!
]]> Birthday Girl 39865941 New York Times Bestselling author Penelope Douglas comes a new forbidden love story...

JORDAN
He took me in when I had nowhere else to go.

He doesn't use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He doesn't treat me like I'm nothing, take me for granted, or make me feel unsafe.

He remembers me, laughs with me, and looks at me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.

I have to stop this. It can't happen.

My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he's probably unavailable.

Only Pike Lawson isn't the unavailable one.

I am.

PIKE
I took her in, because I thought I was helping.

She'd cook a few meals and clean up a little. It was an easy arrangement.

As the days go by, though, it's becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can't touch her, and I shouldn't want to.

The more I find my path crossing hers, though, the more she's becoming a part of me.

But we're not free to give into this. She's nineteen, and I'm thirty-eight.

And her boyfriend's father.

Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.

*BIRTHDAY GIRL is a stand-alone, contemporary romance suitable for ages 18+.
]]> 407 Penelope Douglas 1952646057 nina ʚïɞ 4 bc 3.75 stars

“It’s always the same wish. Every candle. Every time. I want a life I never want to take a vacation from. That’s my goal.�

so, i went into this one kinda skeptically because i’ve never read a boyfriend’s dad romance before, but i did end up being pleasantly surprised by it. stressful, angsty, forbidden - what’s not to like?

jordan hadley was a really great fmc - loyal, hardworking, responsible and pretty mature for her age. i would’ve thought a 19 y/o would’ve been too young (especially because the mmc is 19 years older) but her maturity really helped here. her hard work and motivation was really endearing and i loved her character a lot.

pike lawson was fairly dreamy but i ’t say i loved him (sadly). i liked who he was as a person and the quiet life he led because those were things jordan needed but i feel like he was too stubborn for too long. i needed more growth than we got but overall a pretty good character (especially compared to his dumb son).

i did really enjoy the push and pull here - it all felt really realistic and like their relationship built up over time until it finally cascaded into more. i was honestly surprised by the slow burn but the small moments and chemistry between the characters was amazing and worth it.

the ending felt a bit abrupt and glazed over more than i would’ve liked after everything we went through with the “forbidden� aspects of the story but it was also really sweet.

overall, this was a fun, spicy read that i would definitely recommend.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i’ve only read one other book by this author so i’m really curious to see how this one goes ]]> 4.12 2018 Birthday Girl
author: Penelope Douglas
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/19
shelves: bc
review:
3.75 stars

“It’s always the same wish. Every candle. Every time. I want a life I never want to take a vacation from. That’s my goal.�

so, i went into this one kinda skeptically because i’ve never read a boyfriend’s dad romance before, but i did end up being pleasantly surprised by it. stressful, angsty, forbidden - what’s not to like?

jordan hadley was a really great fmc - loyal, hardworking, responsible and pretty mature for her age. i would’ve thought a 19 y/o would’ve been too young (especially because the mmc is 19 years older) but her maturity really helped here. her hard work and motivation was really endearing and i loved her character a lot.

pike lawson was fairly dreamy but i ’t say i loved him (sadly). i liked who he was as a person and the quiet life he led because those were things jordan needed but i feel like he was too stubborn for too long. i needed more growth than we got but overall a pretty good character (especially compared to his dumb son).

i did really enjoy the push and pull here - it all felt really realistic and like their relationship built up over time until it finally cascaded into more. i was honestly surprised by the slow burn but the small moments and chemistry between the characters was amazing and worth it.

the ending felt a bit abrupt and glazed over more than i would’ve liked after everything we went through with the “forbidden� aspects of the story but it was also really sweet.

overall, this was a fun, spicy read that i would definitely recommend.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i’ve only read one other book by this author so i’m really curious to see how this one goes
]]> The Legacy (Off-Campus, #5) 58953656 Four stories. Four couples. Three years of real life after graduation�

A wedding.
A proposal.
An elopement.
And a surprise pregnancy.

Can you guess which couple is which?

Come for the drama, stay for the laughs! Catch up with your favorite Off-Campus characters as they navigate the changes that come with growing up and discover that big decisions can have big consequences…and big rewards.]]> 339 Elle Kennedy 1990101054 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.79 2021 The Legacy (Off-Campus, #5)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Kiss of the Basilisk (Split or Swallow, #1)]]> 219542918 THIS BOOK IS NOT SAFE TO READ AT WORK. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

Twenty year old Temperance Verus has never been kissed. But that's what the basilisk is for.

Along with thirteen other contestants, Tem must train with a basilisk to learn the power of seduction and win the prince's hand in marriage. When Tem is matched with Caspen, the Serpent King, she realizes she might actually stand a chance. But with tensions rising between the basilisks and the humans, Tem is suddenly torn in two directions. As her bond with Caspen deepens, so does her connection with the prince. And when she uncovers a terrible secret about the royal family, Tem finds herself caught between two neither of which she can survive without.

Guaranteed to make you blush (and then some), Split or Swallow is like if fanfic Draco Malfoy went on the Bachelor and had to compete with a snake. Sounds fun, doesn't it? That's because it is!!]]> 528 Lindsay Straube 1464247579 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.43 Kiss of the Basilisk (Split or Swallow, #1)
author: Lindsay Straube
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.43
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> I Am Not Jessica Chen 61374793
Now trapped inside Jessica’s body, with access to Jessica’s most private journals and secrets, Jenna soon discovers that being the top student at the elite, highly competitive Havenwood Private Academy isn’t quite what she imagined. Worse, as everyone—including her own parents—start having trouble remembering who Jenna Chen is, or if she ever even existed, Jenna must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever.]]> 320 Ann Liang 133552312X nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.08 2025 I Am Not Jessica Chen
author: Ann Liang
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Lessons in Heartbreak (The Kings, #1)]]> 220226193 A playboy football player. A shy librarian. When old friends reunite, opposites attract in a witty and lighthearted romance about taking chances and falling in love against the odds.

It’s an unwritten rule small-town librarians shall not commit spontaneous acts, for fear of mortal embarrassment. I’d certainly just proved it true, though hiring an escort was perfectly logical. How else should I overcome my fear of intimacy without risking heartbreak?

Unfortunately, what came next wasn’t so logical.

Instead of a dating coach, Griffin King showed up. Yes, that Griffin my childhood neighbor and now, to my dismay, an obscenely handsome pro football player. He’s not actually an escort, but how was I supposed to know that?

Avoiding him after the mix-up is impossible. The man is everywhere—put in time-out by his agent after a PR snafu. Griffin might be an outrageous flirt determined to torment me until I snap, but he’s also the perfect man to help me.

The lessons aren’t what I thought they’d be. Neither is Griffin. Every time we touch, every time he shows me a different side to myself—and to him—I ’t help but wonder if we’re about to break another the playboy and the good girl aren’t supposed to fall in love.]]> 342 Karla Sorensen 166252661X nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.40 Lessons in Heartbreak (The Kings, #1)
author: Karla Sorensen
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A False Start (Gold Rush Ranch, #4)]]> 59582214 I kissed my best friend’s little sister, and the world stood still.

That night we were two perfect strangers, the town’s grumpy recluse and a gorgeous girl in the back of a bar. Until we weren’t.

Because Nadia Dalca isn’t just some girl. She’s the girl I ’t have. Fourteen years younger than me and completely off-limits.

My plan is to stay away, but the universe keeps pushing us together. It’s like some sort of cosmic joke, to give me a taste of something so electric—so real—something that breathed life back into me.

Because I can look, but I ’t touch.

Her sinful curves, her light-hearted laughter, her wild side . . . I’m addicted to every last bit of her.

And when she turns those sultry eyes on me––the ones so full of longing and so free of judgement? I’ve always considered myself a strong man. But when she looks at me I’m weak.

To give in to our connection would be a betrayal. My life is beyond complicated, and she has the world at her fingertips. Her brother is the only family she has left, and sad as it sounds, he’s also my only friend.

But I kissed her again anyway.

And now I ’t stop.
]]> 404 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 3 3.25 stars!

“Before? That was a false start. This? This is a clean slate. I want all your right nows. All your tomorrows. I want it all with you.�

so, this one was cute, but coming off of loving the prior book it felt like a bit of a let down. i still enjoyed it overall but nadia and griffin didn’t hold a candle to mira and stefan for me.

nadia dalca was strong, intelligent, and hardworking and didn’t give up on her dreams which was really inspiring. coming from the background that she had, i loved that she stuck true to her goals and found peace with what she wanted from her life. i love a strong willed woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone.

griffin sinclaire ended up being someone i surprising liked. the grumpy mmc doesn’t usually strike my fancy, but he had enough under the surface that allowed me to really feel for his character and like the man beneath the gruffness. plus, his sweet gestures were really the cherry on top.

really, i loved both characters individually but my problem came from their relationship together. by the end, it was sweet (especially the letters) but mostly throughout i didn’t really feel the spark. the similar trauma was a good connector but not enough for me to love them as a couple so it fell short for me.

the found family is one of my favorite things about elsie’s books and something i will continuously come back to time and again. even though i didn’t love all of the characters in this series, the tight knit group and their gatherings together always get me with how wholesome they are. by this book, the group is fully established and it was such a great thing to experience.

overall, even though i didn’t love every book in this series i’d still recommend all of them wholeheartedly. come for the cowboys and stay for the found family, you won’t be disappointed.

]]> 4.16 2022 A False Start (Gold Rush Ranch, #4)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves:
review:
3.25 stars!

“Before? That was a false start. This? This is a clean slate. I want all your right nows. All your tomorrows. I want it all with you.�

so, this one was cute, but coming off of loving the prior book it felt like a bit of a let down. i still enjoyed it overall but nadia and griffin didn’t hold a candle to mira and stefan for me.

nadia dalca was strong, intelligent, and hardworking and didn’t give up on her dreams which was really inspiring. coming from the background that she had, i loved that she stuck true to her goals and found peace with what she wanted from her life. i love a strong willed woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone.

griffin sinclaire ended up being someone i surprising liked. the grumpy mmc doesn’t usually strike my fancy, but he had enough under the surface that allowed me to really feel for his character and like the man beneath the gruffness. plus, his sweet gestures were really the cherry on top.

really, i loved both characters individually but my problem came from their relationship together. by the end, it was sweet (especially the letters) but mostly throughout i didn’t really feel the spark. the similar trauma was a good connector but not enough for me to love them as a couple so it fell short for me.

the found family is one of my favorite things about elsie’s books and something i will continuously come back to time and again. even though i didn’t love all of the characters in this series, the tight knit group and their gatherings together always get me with how wholesome they are. by this book, the group is fully established and it was such a great thing to experience.

overall, even though i didn’t love every book in this series i’d still recommend all of them wholeheartedly. come for the cowboys and stay for the found family, you won’t be disappointed.


]]> Wildfire (Maple Hills, #2) 111172922
Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home.

Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing� rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they ’t put out?]]> 396 Hannah Grace 1668026287 nina ʚïɞ 4 books-i-own 4.5 stars!

“For all the romance books I’ve read and all the happy endings I’ve enjoyed, I ’t imagine my own. I’d like to hope I’ll have one, but hope can be dangerous.�

this book surprised me in the best way. i’m not sure why i skipped it to begin with or why i thought i wouldn’t enjoy it (since i’ve liked the other 2 in the series) but there was something about russ that i just wasn’t sure about. i can admit though, i was wrong.

russ callaghan was everything and probably my favorite mmc of the series (don’t get me wrong, i loved henry but russ edges him out just a smidge). he was kind, caring, thoughtful and oh so shy and i ate it up. i loved watching him waver between confidence and insecurity because it made him feel really human and that vulnerability helped to make me feel really connected to his character.

aurora roberts ended up being a character i really loved as well, but it was a bit rockier of a start. a lot of her early actions and decisions felt really frustrating and for someone that’s a huge talker it felt off. as time went on, she grew on me and watching her growth and try to better herself was really sweet. even her annoying-ness felt a bit relatable lol

also, both mcs coming in with daddy issues just hit for me.

the one night stand start is actually a trope i really enjoy and i liked the tension and angst that came after (even though it was a lot of miscommunication) it felt almost endearing because of their baggage and insecurities. plus, their communication after the fact was always direct and i loved it.

the one thing i could’ve gone without is the epilogue. i like that the author wants to give us a full picture, but the many many years later updates always seem a bit too perfect. it was sweet, but i think i would’ve liked something more realistic and less fairytale-esque.

overall, hannah grace is one of those authors i will keep coming back to. i always love her relatable characters and found family and i ’t wait to see what she has in store next!

“I have a habit of leaving a path of destruction in my wake, both literally and metaphorically.�

“Like a wildfire.�


.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i skipped this one and went right into henry’s book originally, but i think it’s finally time i go back and read it. russ and aurora seemed cute together so i ’t wait to see how they start! ]]> 3.91 2023 Wildfire (Maple Hills, #2)
author: Hannah Grace
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: books-i-own
review:
4.5 stars!

“For all the romance books I’ve read and all the happy endings I’ve enjoyed, I ’t imagine my own. I’d like to hope I’ll have one, but hope can be dangerous.�

this book surprised me in the best way. i’m not sure why i skipped it to begin with or why i thought i wouldn’t enjoy it (since i’ve liked the other 2 in the series) but there was something about russ that i just wasn’t sure about. i can admit though, i was wrong.

russ callaghan was everything and probably my favorite mmc of the series (don’t get me wrong, i loved henry but russ edges him out just a smidge). he was kind, caring, thoughtful and oh so shy and i ate it up. i loved watching him waver between confidence and insecurity because it made him feel really human and that vulnerability helped to make me feel really connected to his character.

aurora roberts ended up being a character i really loved as well, but it was a bit rockier of a start. a lot of her early actions and decisions felt really frustrating and for someone that’s a huge talker it felt off. as time went on, she grew on me and watching her growth and try to better herself was really sweet. even her annoying-ness felt a bit relatable lol

also, both mcs coming in with daddy issues just hit for me.

the one night stand start is actually a trope i really enjoy and i liked the tension and angst that came after (even though it was a lot of miscommunication) it felt almost endearing because of their baggage and insecurities. plus, their communication after the fact was always direct and i loved it.

the one thing i could’ve gone without is the epilogue. i like that the author wants to give us a full picture, but the many many years later updates always seem a bit too perfect. it was sweet, but i think i would’ve liked something more realistic and less fairytale-esque.

overall, hannah grace is one of those authors i will keep coming back to. i always love her relatable characters and found family and i ’t wait to see what she has in store next!

“I have a habit of leaving a path of destruction in my wake, both literally and metaphorically.�

“Like a wildfire.�


.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i skipped this one and went right into henry’s book originally, but i think it’s finally time i go back and read it. russ and aurora seemed cute together so i ’t wait to see how they start!
]]> <![CDATA[The Front Runner (Gold Rush Ranch, #3)]]> 57722167 Stefan Dalca is infuriatingly handsome. And annoyingly persistent. We’re supposed to hate each other. But apparently he didn’t get the memo, because he’s been asking me out for years.

And I always say no. Until today.

Today he has something that I desperately need. Today he’s a savior, and I’m his prize.

Our time together starts out as a simple transaction. Three dates. No touching. No telling anyone. And definitely no falling in love.

But with every intimate conversation, and each stolen glance, the tension between us builds.

The way he looks at me gives me butterflies. And when he finally touches m? We sizzle.

Stefan makes me feel seen in a way no other person has before. He cherishes my words as passionately as my body.

He makes me laugh. He makes me blush. He calls me kitten.

He’s not the villain he’s been made out to be.

And suddenly I find myself longing for him in a way the people closest to me wouldn’t approve of or understand.

Giving in to Stefan Dalca is playing with fire.

But with him I don’t even mind the heat.]]> 356 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 4 4.25 stars!

“I don’t want to tame her; I just want a front-row seat to watch her win the race.�

ugh, while this was my favorite of the series so far, i’m sad to say it didn’t give the 5 star feeling that i hoped for. 4 is still good obviously, but i had high hopes for mira & stefan, but oddly i struggled with mira a bit.

in the prior books, i felt instantly drawn to mira and her ice queen facade. she was exactly the type of fmc that i love and in the beginning i felt such a kinship with her especially being an only child:

“The problem is, I’m kind of a loner. As an only child, I take pleasure in my solitude. There are very few people in the world I can spend extended periods of time around without eventually feeling agitated by them.�


however, over time she frustrated me with her lack of communication and openness for things that felt like they should’ve been very simple. i still like her overall, but i just wanted a bit more from her especially when it came to stefan and her friends.

stefan though? absolute perfection. i was so skeptical going into this because of the way he was portrayed in the prior books, so let me tell you i was so pleasantly surprised to find that i loved him the most. i felt so deeply for him and his story that i even teared up a few times. honestly, he deserved better than what he got but i still liked mira and him together.

the one thing i really disliked about this one (the reason my rating couldn’t reach the 5 star) is because of billie. i can understand that billie didn’t like stefan because of what happened in her own book (the first one) but it felt like there wasn’t any growth or room to resolve this conflict. there should’ve been at least a scene where this could’ve been talked through but it ended up being kinda glazed over and wasn’t enough for me to feel like any of the animosity throughout was worth it.

overall, elsie silver has once again proven why she’s one of my go to authors because this book held me captive throughout even with my minor complaints. if you haven’t read this series yet, i fully recommend it and i’m really excited to see how nadia’s book goes next!!

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
this is the book i’ve been looking forward to most in the series - mira and stefan are both really intriguing characters so i ’t wait to see them together! ]]> 4.26 2021 The Front Runner (Gold Rush Ranch, #3)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/08
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars!

“I don’t want to tame her; I just want a front-row seat to watch her win the race.�

ugh, while this was my favorite of the series so far, i’m sad to say it didn’t give the 5 star feeling that i hoped for. 4 is still good obviously, but i had high hopes for mira & stefan, but oddly i struggled with mira a bit.

in the prior books, i felt instantly drawn to mira and her ice queen facade. she was exactly the type of fmc that i love and in the beginning i felt such a kinship with her especially being an only child:

“The problem is, I’m kind of a loner. As an only child, I take pleasure in my solitude. There are very few people in the world I can spend extended periods of time around without eventually feeling agitated by them.�


however, over time she frustrated me with her lack of communication and openness for things that felt like they should’ve been very simple. i still like her overall, but i just wanted a bit more from her especially when it came to stefan and her friends.

stefan though? absolute perfection. i was so skeptical going into this because of the way he was portrayed in the prior books, so let me tell you i was so pleasantly surprised to find that i loved him the most. i felt so deeply for him and his story that i even teared up a few times. honestly, he deserved better than what he got but i still liked mira and him together.

the one thing i really disliked about this one (the reason my rating couldn’t reach the 5 star) is because of billie. i can understand that billie didn’t like stefan because of what happened in her own book (the first one) but it felt like there wasn’t any growth or room to resolve this conflict. there should’ve been at least a scene where this could’ve been talked through but it ended up being kinda glazed over and wasn’t enough for me to feel like any of the animosity throughout was worth it.

overall, elsie silver has once again proven why she’s one of my go to authors because this book held me captive throughout even with my minor complaints. if you haven’t read this series yet, i fully recommend it and i’m really excited to see how nadia’s book goes next!!

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
this is the book i’ve been looking forward to most in the series - mira and stefan are both really intriguing characters so i ’t wait to see them together!
]]> Untitled (Emerald Lake, #1) 230897009 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 0.0 Untitled (Emerald Lake, #1)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Sprinkled in the Stars 58240789 Melanie Cooper has just signed her last movie. The media keeps portraying her as cold and hard to work with, and Mel has absolutely nothing more to give. As she begins to imagine a new life, a challenging part of her past comes back on the scene, determined to cause problems for Mel.
After a series of coincidental meetings, AJ battles her desire for control while Mel struggles with trust. Despite the challenges and complications, Mel finds herself drawn to the Beckett ladies, and AJ ’t deny their connection, either.
Falling in love has never been so sweet.

Genre: Romance
Cover: Cath Grace Designs
Editor: Kat Jackson
Words: 86,000]]> 287 Violet Morley nina ʚïɞ 2 4.17 Sprinkled in the Stars
author: Violet Morley
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/04/08
date added: 2025/04/08
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Count Your Lucky Stars (Written in the Stars, #3)]]> 58079450 DZǷɾԲWritten in the StarsԻHang the Moon, national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur pens another steamy queer rom-com about former best friends who might be each other's second chance at love�

Margot Cooper doesn’t do relationships. She tried and it blew up in her face, so she’ll stick with casual hookups, thank you very much. But now her entire crew has found "the one" and she’s beginning to feel like a fifth wheel. And then fate (the heartless bitch) intervenes. While touring a wedding venue with her engaged friends, Margot comes face-to-face with Olivia Grant—her childhood friend, her first love, her first� well, everything. It’s been ten years, but the moment they lock eyes, Margot’s cold, dead heart thumps in her chest.

Olivia must be hallucinating. In the decade since she last saw Margot, her life hasn’t gone exactly as planned. At almost thirty, she’s been married... and divorced. However, a wedding planner job in Seattle means a fresh start and a chance to follow her dreams. Never in a million years did she expect her important new client’s Best Woman would be the one that got away.

When a series of unfortunate events leaves Olivia without a place to stay, Margot offers up her spare room because she’s a Very Good Person. Obviously. It has nothing to do with the fact that Olivia is as beautiful as ever and the sparks between them still make Margot tingle. As they spend time in close quarters, Margot starts to question her no-strings stance. Olivia is everything she’s ever wanted, but Margot let her in once and it ended in disaster. Will history repeat itself or should she count her lucky stars that she gets a second chance with her first love? ]]> 384 Alexandria Bellefleur 0063000881 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.95 2022 Count Your Lucky Stars (Written in the Stars, #3)
author: Alexandria Bellefleur
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Perfect Matchmaking (Cupids & Goddesses #2)]]> 223627665
There are so many rules.

Rule Number 1: Organize the Annual Cupids� Convention in Las Vegas.
Rule Number 2: Don't let Zeus interfere.
Rule Number 3: When Zeus inevitably interferes, avoid getting ambushed by cupids at all cost. Even if it means missing out on your Perfect Match.

When the Goddess of Love herself is made to run the gamut of tropes, from enemies to lover and second chance romance to friends to lovers and close proximity, will she keep her independence from the ever meddling Olympians, or will she chose to surrender to a well-placed cupid's arrow?

The Cupids are back! Sabine and Abby are bringing with them a steamy and highly trope'y second installment in the Perfect Match series, filled to the brim with mischievous deities, intrigue-weaving gods and attractive elbow patches (trust me, you'll want to read about those!)]]> 116 Milena McKay nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.33 The Perfect Matchmaking (Cupids & Goddesses #2)
author: Milena McKay
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Deep End 212808709 A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...]]> 464 Ali Hazelwood nina ʚïɞ 3 bc 3.5 stars!

so, i actually enjoyed this more than i thought i would. i ’t say i’ve loved any of ali’s books that i’ve tried thus far, but i think this might be my favorite.

i really liked each of the characters individually. i thought they had good dynamics and i felt invested enough in their struggles and desires to achieve/not fail that it kept me reading to see what would happen. i think they all could’ve been fleshed out a bit more especially with their “complicated backstories� but it ended up being okay. also, the storyline with pen could’ve been a little less annoying but i’ll give it a pass because i enjoyed her friendship with scarlett a lot. it just felt very endearing (for the most part).

i think the main reason i didn’t love this is that the romance felt kinda lacking, taking a back seat to all of the swim activities (which felt a bit boring at times). it felt strange that lukas and scarlett spent so much time apart - not communicating or keeping in touch. i found it hard to believe that their relationship could progress in a meaningful way like this realistically.

overall, i did enjoy it for what it was and now i want to go back and read the love hypothesis because of the olive/adam cameo and i’m curious about their story.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i haven’t read an AH book in a while, so let’s see how this one goes ]]> 3.93 2025 Deep End
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/03
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: bc
review:
3.5 stars!

so, i actually enjoyed this more than i thought i would. i ’t say i’ve loved any of ali’s books that i’ve tried thus far, but i think this might be my favorite.

i really liked each of the characters individually. i thought they had good dynamics and i felt invested enough in their struggles and desires to achieve/not fail that it kept me reading to see what would happen. i think they all could’ve been fleshed out a bit more especially with their “complicated backstories� but it ended up being okay. also, the storyline with pen could’ve been a little less annoying but i’ll give it a pass because i enjoyed her friendship with scarlett a lot. it just felt very endearing (for the most part).

i think the main reason i didn’t love this is that the romance felt kinda lacking, taking a back seat to all of the swim activities (which felt a bit boring at times). it felt strange that lukas and scarlett spent so much time apart - not communicating or keeping in touch. i found it hard to believe that their relationship could progress in a meaningful way like this realistically.

overall, i did enjoy it for what it was and now i want to go back and read the love hypothesis because of the olive/adam cameo and i’m curious about their story.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i haven’t read an AH book in a while, so let’s see how this one goes
]]> The Wives 43262893 New York Times bestselling author Tarryn Fisher delivers a pulse-pounding, fast-paced suspense novel that will leave you breathless. A thriller you won’t be able to put down!

Thursday’s husband, Seth, has two other wives. She’s never met them, and she doesn’t know anything about them. She agreed to this unusual arrangement because she’s so crazy about him.

But one day, she finds something. Something that tells a very different—and horrifying—story about the man she married.

What follows is one of the most twisted, shocking thrillers you’ll ever read.

You’ll have to grab a copy to find out why.

]]> 295 Tarryn Fisher 1488054355 nina ʚïɞ 1
unfortunately, the twist at the halfway mark ruined it for me and it all went down hill from there. i ’t say much because of spoilers, but the second half of the book felt like a lot and also not enough at the same time. it just felt pointlessly confusing. plus, the ending was a let down and i didn’t think it added anything to the experience.

anyway, this is my first book by this author and i may try another one of her books in the future, but for this one? it’s a no from me. ]]> 3.64 2019 The Wives
author: Tarryn Fisher
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2019
rating: 1
read at: 2025/04/06
date added: 2025/04/06
shelves:
review:
so, the first half of the book felt like a 2-3 star - it had an intriguing premise and even though it felt slow and i didn’t find it at gripping as i would’ve liked, i was curious to see how it would all play out.

unfortunately, the twist at the halfway mark ruined it for me and it all went down hill from there. i ’t say much because of spoilers, but the second half of the book felt like a lot and also not enough at the same time. it just felt pointlessly confusing. plus, the ending was a let down and i didn’t think it added anything to the experience.

anyway, this is my first book by this author and i may try another one of her books in the future, but for this one? it’s a no from me.
]]> The Love Lie 222416086
Now, she has a cheating ex-boyfriend and a career-ending injury, and—quite frankly—things could not be going worse for her.

She hopes that returning home to Stoneport, Massachusetts will be the reset her life needs—until she finds out her ex’s wedding to the woman he cheated with is the social event of the season.

The last person Sydney expects to find camaraderie with is her former fiancé’s sister, Reese Devereux. Back home after the purchase of a local inn, Reese has wounds of her own and seems even less enthused about her brother’s wedding than Sydney.

When an unexpected mix-up creates the perfect story that she and Reese are dating, shockingly, Reese runs with it. Sydney knows it’s a bad idea, but being on Reese’s arm gives her the chance to pretend life is just a little bit more in her control than it feels.

Both women are coming home to their pasts, but it’s up to them to decide what they want their futures to look like.]]> 382 Monica McCallan nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.34 The Love Lie
author: Monica McCallan
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Falling Together 228133726
Blair Breckenridge is fresh out of college and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. Luckily, that doesn’t matter since there is a large sum of money set aside in a trust fund for her. The only problem? Her parents refuse to continue giving her money if she doesn’t have a job. Blair decides to become a babysitter for the summer while she figures out what she actually wants to do with her life. Because, really, how hard could it be?

The rambunctious three-and-a-half year old Blair is stuck watching for the summer is anything but easy. What makes the situation even harder is how hot his mom is. On top of that, she’s funny and sweet and has Blair daydreaming about a life she never knew she wanted.

As Erin and Blair’s feelings for each other grow, it gets harder and harder to ignore them, but there are so many obstacles in their way. Blair is young and immature, and Erin worries with how impulsive she is, she will be another person who leaves. Blair has to find a way to prove to Erin she’s not like everyone else, because Erin isn’t the only one she’s becoming attached to. She wants Erin and Nolan, but at twenty-two, is she ready to take on everything that comes along with dating a single mom?

Will things fall apart before they even start or can these two find a way to fall together instead? ]]> 314 Erica Lee nina ʚïɞ 2 4.44 Falling Together
author: Erica Lee
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves:
review:

]]> Life After 229145218 They seem destined for happiness—but the truth ’t be left behind for long.

Jen Fletcher is grateful to have a job. Any job. Even the boring, daily grind as a courier. Except for Thursdays, when her regular route swings through the swanky side of town, and she gets to flirt with Suzanne Dixon. A dark-haired beauty who dazzles in everything from sweats to business suits. Whose briefest touch sends heat racing through Jen’s body.

For those few precious minutes, Jen can forget she’s an ex-schoolteacher. And an ex-con.

Three years into widowhood, and Suzanne is finally ready to move on. No one is more surprised than she is that it’s a mild-mannered courier who jump-starts her mind—and libido. Confident, sexy, a little masculine, Jen is an oasis in Suzanne’s otherwise dreary week.

When Suzanne boldly asks Jen out, Jen ’t bring herself to reveal her past right off the bat. But she didn’t expect their relationship to become so perfect, so fast. Inevitably, the truth comes out. By the time they realize they’re falling for each other, the rift between them may be too great to repair…]]> Melissa Tereze nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.32 Life After
author: Melissa Tereze
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth, #2)]]> 60217777 The stakes are even higher in this epic, romantic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Crimson Moth duology.

A WITCH...
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER...
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he ’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.]]> 464 Kristen Ciccarelli nina ʚïɞ 4 4.25 stars!

“Sometimes our paths must diverge from those we love. But if love is the highest power, our paths will converge again—if not in this world, then the next.�

what a great duology, i’m so impressed!

even though this one was a bit predictable and the twists weren’t that shocking, it was still a really fun read. i will continue to love rune and gideon forever and i’m so sad to have finished their story.

overall, if you want a fast paced, enemies to lovers filled with magic and intrigue, definitely pick up this duology. i so very highly recommend it!

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
after absolutely adoring the first book, i’m jumping right into this one! hope this one is just as good! ]]> 4.23 2025 Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth, #2)
author: Kristen Ciccarelli
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars!

“Sometimes our paths must diverge from those we love. But if love is the highest power, our paths will converge again—if not in this world, then the next.�

what a great duology, i’m so impressed!

even though this one was a bit predictable and the twists weren’t that shocking, it was still a really fun read. i will continue to love rune and gideon forever and i’m so sad to have finished their story.

overall, if you want a fast paced, enemies to lovers filled with magic and intrigue, definitely pick up this duology. i so very highly recommend it!

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
after absolutely adoring the first book, i’m jumping right into this one! hope this one is just as good!
]]> <![CDATA[Midnight Rain: a Those Who Wait story]]> 223930603 What if...

What if Charlotte didn't decide to come out in Those Who Wait? What if she and Sutton didn't get back together? How would that one decision alter the course of their lives, forever?

Charlotte Thompson appears to have it all � by forty, her political plans are panning out exactly as she’d always hoped. Now a senator, she quietly came out a couple of years ago, and she’s on-track to fulfilling everything she’d ever dreamed of. Perhaps she is a little lonely sometimes, but as the saying it’s lonely at the top.

Sutton Spencer has finally found her footing after her divorce. She’s a tenured literature professor, she loves her daughter more than anything, and she’s accepted the harsh truth of the maybe she simply isn’t meant to find lasting romantic love.

They’ve both put their ill-fated affair from over a decade ago behind them, until a surprise reunion results in their paths intertwining once more.

Maybe some things are meant to be in every universe...

In celebration of the fifth-year publication anniversary of the bestselling novel, Those Who Wait, Midnight Rain provides the opportunity to fall in love with Sutton and Charlotte all over again in a parallel universe. Explore how the decisions you make can change your future, how they impact those around you, and how they can have consequences you never see coming. ]]> 504 Haley Cass nina ʚïɞ 5 4.72 Midnight Rain: a Those Who Wait story
author: Haley Cass
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.72
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/29
date added: 2025/03/29
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth, #1)]]> 127305713
Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe � a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution � who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch� is falling in love.]]> 406 Kristen Ciccarelli 1250866901 nina ʚïɞ 5 all-time-favs 5 stars!!!

“You are an actor, she reminded herself. And this is a play. But which character was she—the heroine, the villain, or the fool?�

wow! i know this book is pretty popular right now so i won’t go into too many details but i have to say that i get why - the hype absolutely delivered for me.

from the very beginning the story hooked me - the whole cat and mouse game (hunter vs. hunted) and everything with finding the witches on both sides was just so intriguing and i was instantly invested in seeing how things would play out.

plus, the chapters were short, fast paced, and super easy to follow. i flew through it so quickly (too quickly).

both rune and gideon were amazing characters. they were complex but also felt very real with their indecisions, deceits and desires of the heart. i really connected with and loved them both (even with all their back and forth lol). also, notable mention to alex (ugh my heart).

overall, i had so much fun with this book and i ’t wait to pick up the next book immediately! rooting for rune and gideon’s hea.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i’ve been hearing such good things about this duology so it’s time i pick it up! i’m excited to see what the hype is all about <3]]> 4.16 2024 Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth, #1)
author: Kristen Ciccarelli
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/26
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: all-time-favs
review:
5 stars!!!

“You are an actor, she reminded herself. And this is a play. But which character was she—the heroine, the villain, or the fool?�

wow! i know this book is pretty popular right now so i won’t go into too many details but i have to say that i get why - the hype absolutely delivered for me.

from the very beginning the story hooked me - the whole cat and mouse game (hunter vs. hunted) and everything with finding the witches on both sides was just so intriguing and i was instantly invested in seeing how things would play out.

plus, the chapters were short, fast paced, and super easy to follow. i flew through it so quickly (too quickly).

both rune and gideon were amazing characters. they were complex but also felt very real with their indecisions, deceits and desires of the heart. i really connected with and loved them both (even with all their back and forth lol). also, notable mention to alex (ugh my heart).

overall, i had so much fun with this book and i ’t wait to pick up the next book immediately! rooting for rune and gideon’s hea.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i’ve been hearing such good things about this duology so it’s time i pick it up! i’m excited to see what the hype is all about <3
]]> <![CDATA[A Photo Finish (Gold Rush Ranch, #2)]]> 57722155 I’ve seen every square inch of Violet Eaton’s delectable body and she has no idea who I am.

Until now.

What happened between us online, in our chats, was meant to stay anonymous and in the past.

Until it didn’t.

It’s a small world, but Ruby Creek is even smaller. When I move to the tiny town, the grumpy facade I’ve created slips when we’re forced to live under the same roof.

Every flush of her cheeks, every time her eyes flare with heat, every time she begs me not to stop, the ice I’ve encased myself in melts. She has me wanting things I ’t want. Things I’ve been dreaming about since I first laid eyes on her two years ago—things I don’t deserve.

But my invisible wounds have the power to ruin us both. As a former soldier, I should have the discipline to walk away, but the more I open up to Violet, the more I want to keep her.

I came back from the war a different man, but my scars are older and deeper than anyone knows—and I planned to keep it that way. I planned to keep my secrets hidden.

Until her.]]> 420 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 4
� pre-read. �
i’m beyond excited to finally get to violet’s story! she’s so adorable in the first book and how can we not adore an eaton ]]> 4.06 2021 A Photo Finish (Gold Rush Ranch, #2)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/24
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves:
review:
be back w a review soon <3

� pre-read. �
i’m beyond excited to finally get to violet’s story! she’s so adorable in the first book and how can we not adore an eaton
]]> <![CDATA[Worth the Fall: A Small Town, Single Dad, Workplace Romance (Sugar Mountain Book 1)]]> 217273174
Nothing matters more to me than my little girl. My world stops and starts with her. Running my family's resort is a job. Being Clara's dad is a gift. I wasn't looking for a relationship, but when Brooklyn walked into my office with her firey red hair and matching personality, all bets were off. I've tried to keep it professional, but that woman pushes every single button I've got. And hell, I sort of love her for it.

So what am I going to do about it?]]> 343 J. Sterling 1945042702 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.14 Worth the Fall: A Small Town, Single Dad, Workplace Romance (Sugar Mountain Book 1)
author: J. Sterling
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dragonfall (Dragon Scales, #1)]]> 61985453
Long ago, humans betrayed dragons, stealing their magic and banishing them to a dying world. Centuries later, their descendants worship dragons as gods. But the gods remember, and they do not forgive.

Thief Arcady scrapes a living on the streets of Vatra. Desperate, Arcady steals a powerful artifact from the bones of the Plaguebringer, the most hated person in Lumet history. Only Arcady knows the artifact's magic holds the key to a new life among the nobles at court and a chance for revenge.

The spell connects to Everen, the last male dragon foretold to save his kind, dragging him through the Veil. Disguised as a human, Everen soon learns that to regain his true power and form and fulfil his destiny, he only needs to convince one little thief to trust him enough to bond completely--body, mind, and soul--and then kill them.

Yet the closer the two become, the greater the risk both their worlds will shatter.]]> 336 L.R. Lam nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.36 2023 Dragonfall (Dragon Scales, #1)
author: L.R. Lam
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Praise (Salacious Players Club, #1)]]> 60416566 His flawless pet.
His good girl.

Broken down and wounded by my emotionally neglectful ex, I wanted someone to tell me I was good enough.

Then, I stumbled into a new job with a boss who brings me to my knees—literally. He has me do things a real secretary would never do.

Emerson Grant tells me I’m more than just good enough.
I’m worthy of his praise.

There are a million reasons why I should stay away. The owner of the Salacious Players� Club is not just my new boss, he’s twice my age.

And my ex-boyfriend’s father.

With him, I am treasured. I am adored. I am his.

I’m a good girl, but I’m falling for the wrong man.

Emerson Grant knows what he wants�
And he wants me.

So how far will I go to hear his approval?]]> 341 Sara Cate nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.04 2022 Praise (Salacious Players Club, #1)
author: Sara Cate
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Accidentally Amy 61922953
Isabella Shay is usually a very honest person.

But when she’s running late for her first day at a dream job and the barista yells for “Amy� 3x with no answer, she does the unthinkable.

Izzy takes that PSL.

It’s the exact drink she ordered and paid for, only waaaay further ahead in the line, so she mutters “I’m Amy� and grabs the cup.

But when she turns around and runs directly into the most attractive man she’s ever seen, spilling the drink all over his GQ shirt and tie, she ends up having the ultimate meet-cute. Sparks fly and things feel beyond promising until he says the words, “See you tomorrow, Amy.�

Uh, oh � she’ll definitely have to straighten him out the following day.

Only when she gets to her new office and meets the VP of her department, it is none other than Blake Phillips - the hottie from Starbucks. And the man might’ve been charming to “Amy,� but he is an arrogant grump to Izzy, an arrogant grump who dos not find her explanation funny at all.

MEET CUTE + GRUMPY/SUNSHINE + FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS = ACCIDENTALLY AMY]]> 320 Lynn Painter nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.43 2022 Accidentally Amy
author: Lynn Painter
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Story of My Life (Story Lake #1)]]> 216233719
If she doesn't turn in a book by her next deadline, they're cutting her loose.

Hazel rashly decides to leave what's left of her city life behind and impulse buys a house in rural Pennsylvania sight unseen. How better to entertain the loyal readers she still has and rediscover her writing mojo than immersing herself in small-town life?

Too bad this town looks to be on its last legs. At least she's finding swoon-worthy inspiration from her hot, grumpy contractor Cam and his animal-rescuing, community-involved family. It's all just research. What could go wrong?

A note from the author: This series is my love letter to every reader who said they wanted to move to a fictional town . . . ]]> 528 Lucy Score 1728297052 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.10 2025 Story of My Life (Story Lake #1)
author: Lucy Score
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)]]> 214331246 When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.]]> 387 Suzanne Collins 1546171460 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.61 2025 Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)
author: Suzanne Collins
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> She Gets the Girl 58437812 She’s All That meets What If It’s Us in this swoon-worthy hate-to-love YA romantic comedy from #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Feet Apart Rachael Lippincott and debut writer Alyson Derrick.

Alex Blackwood is a little bit headstrong, with a dash of chaos and a whole lot of flirt. She knows how to get the girl. Keeping her on the other hand…not so much. Molly Parker has everything in her life totally in control, except for her complete awkwardness with just about anyone besides her mom. She knows she’s in love with the impossibly cool Cora Myers. She just…hasn’t actually talked to her yet.

Alex and Molly don’t belong on the same planet, let alone the same college campus. But when Alex, fresh off a bad (but hopefully not permanent) breakup, discovers Molly’s hidden crush as their paths cross the night before classes start, they realize they might have a common interest after all. Because maybe if Alex volunteers to help Molly learn how to get her dream girl to fall for her, she can prove to her ex that she’s not a selfish flirt. That she’s ready for an actual commitment. And while Alex is the last person Molly would ever think she could trust, she ’t deny Alex knows what she’s doing with girls, unlike her.

As the two embark on their five-step plans to get their girls to fall for them, though, they both begin to wonder if maybe they’re the ones falling…for each other.]]> 384 Rachael Lippincott 1534493794 nina ʚïɞ 3 3.5 stars!

“Everyone rides off into the sunset, completely content with their happily ever after, in whatever shape it takes. No one is suffering. The love they felt was enough, when it was felt for the right person.�

this was an incredibly cute, wholesome read! it had a bit of a slow start, but once we get into the real ‘how to get the girl� part of the plot, it really picked up and was super enjoyable! it was a great mix of light and heavy with tons of funny moments that kept me engaged.

both characters felt real, fleshed out and relatable in their struggles.

i went into this story thinking molly would be the character i’d connect with most since she’s a bit socially awkward and intensely shy but i think i struggled with her character being so judgey for the first part of the book. i didn’t really love her until about halfway through. despite that, she was still sweet, innocent and funny in her endeavors to become the person she wanted to be.

alex on the other hand was the character i liked immediately - she was complex, closed off and misunderstood but in all of the best ways. i really felt for her because no one looked beneath the surface to see how amazing she was or gave her the benefit of the doubt but omg did i love how hard she worked for it. i rooted for her happy ending the whole time.

also, this book had a really great message -

“You should be with someone you can always be yourself around. Someone you don’t have to try so hard to impress.�

pretty much that being yourself is enough and if someone doesn’t like who you are, then they’re not worth it because you don’t need to change to be liked. the right person will like you for you. ]]> 4.09 2022 She Gets the Girl
author: Rachael Lippincott
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/20
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars!

“Everyone rides off into the sunset, completely content with their happily ever after, in whatever shape it takes. No one is suffering. The love they felt was enough, when it was felt for the right person.�

this was an incredibly cute, wholesome read! it had a bit of a slow start, but once we get into the real ‘how to get the girl� part of the plot, it really picked up and was super enjoyable! it was a great mix of light and heavy with tons of funny moments that kept me engaged.

both characters felt real, fleshed out and relatable in their struggles.

i went into this story thinking molly would be the character i’d connect with most since she’s a bit socially awkward and intensely shy but i think i struggled with her character being so judgey for the first part of the book. i didn’t really love her until about halfway through. despite that, she was still sweet, innocent and funny in her endeavors to become the person she wanted to be.

alex on the other hand was the character i liked immediately - she was complex, closed off and misunderstood but in all of the best ways. i really felt for her because no one looked beneath the surface to see how amazing she was or gave her the benefit of the doubt but omg did i love how hard she worked for it. i rooted for her happy ending the whole time.

also, this book had a really great message -

“You should be with someone you can always be yourself around. Someone you don’t have to try so hard to impress.�

pretty much that being yourself is enough and if someone doesn’t like who you are, then they’re not worth it because you don’t need to change to be liked. the right person will like you for you.
]]> <![CDATA[Fable (The World of the Narrows, #1)]]> 44012880
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him, and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.

Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men. Fable takes you on a spectacular journey filled with romance, intrigue, and adventure.

A newer edition of ISBN 9781250254368 can be found here.]]> 357 Adrienne Young nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.99 2020 Fable (The World of the Narrows, #1)
author: Adrienne Young
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Silver Elite 217245572 In the first book of a searing new dystopian trilogy, a young woman must conceal her psychic powers—and her attraction to her handsome, infuriating commanding officer—as she works undercover to take down a brutal government from within.

The world is divided. On the Continent, you’re either a Prime—immune to the biotoxin that nearly wiped out the Earth’s population 150 years ago—or a Modified, one who was enhanced by the toxin, developing powerful psychic gifts.

As conflict rages between the two sides, Wren Darlington lives in hiding. Occasionally running the odd op for the rebel Uprising against the Primes� oppressive rule, she must keep a low profile. After all, if the enemy finds out that she is a Mod with a staggering four psychic abilities, she won’t just be sent to the labor camps. She’ll be executed—immediately and without trial.

When a careless mistake puts Wren in the crosshairs of the Continent’s military, she is taken captive and forced to join their most elite Silver Block. Unwittingly, they’ve handed her the perfect opportunity for the Uprising to strike a devastating blow from inside their ranks. That is, if she can keep her powers hidden, survive training, and prove herself to Cross Redden, her maddeningly cocky commanding officer.

Despite the explosive chemistry between them, Cross doesn’t trust her—even as he seems determined to destroy the remaining shreds of Wren’s self-control. Yet as the war between Primes and Mods escalates, and as Wren and Cross find themselves unable to stay away from each other, they must decide how far they’re willing to go for their secrets—and how much of the Continent is worth saving.]]> 528 Dani Francis 059387546X nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.43 2025 Silver Elite
author: Dani Francis
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Ink Vendetta 219744112
1. It was hands down the best sex of her life
2. He keeps popping up

Garrett Adler had spent the last two years thinking about the woman he picked up at a wedding bar and kicking himself for never getting her name. So when his blind date turns out to be the same woman from that night, he’s determined to do things right this time around. Only, she wants nothing to do with him.

But when trouble finds its way to Cory’s tattoo shop, Garrett might be the only one who can help her get to the bottom of it. That is, if she’ll let him.]]> 290 Amanda Pinkerman nina ʚïɞ 2 1.75 stars

i hate to say this about a debut, but this book was all kinds of rough. honestly it read like a rough draft more than anything - edited pretty well so i’m not talking grammatically, but more so about the plot choices and the characters.

for starters, our fmc, cory (short for cordelia) was extremely unlikable and thus really hard to connect to. she was immature and a lot of her actions and choices made no sense. she came with a huge chip on her shoulder about being a female tattoo artist that felt pretty unrealistic and annoying. her whole character fell flat for me and she never really got any better as the book went on.

our mmc, garrett was actually pretty sweet but very two dimensional. his whole character was being a police officer that was infatuated with cory for 2 years. other than that, he wasn’t anything remarkable and that infatuation was very insta lust with not much to support it.

the pacing of the story was also pretty off - the first half consisted of cory denying wanting any sort of relationship with garrett to a complete one eighty at the halfway point where she just fully embraced being his girlfriend and met his family right away. it felt pretty jarring and didn’t really track with the first half of the story.

side note, the meeting of garrett’s family was the highlight of this whole book for me. they were endearing, wholesome and worked well juxtaposed against cory’s notably awful parents. great, but also a very short chapter’s worth of content.

also, i felt like there were too many useless details about tattooing and police work that took away from the romance and pulled me out of the story too often.

there were a handful of other things that i felt didn’t work, but for the sake of keeping this at least somewhat concise, i’m going to cut it here. sadly, i cannot recommend this one. maybe in the future i would try something else by this author because i know this is a debut and only a starting point. i’m curious to see the improvement and how any sequels go.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
a tattoo shop owner fmc & police officer mmc with a one night stand start - sounds fun, i’m in!]]> 3.93 The Ink Vendetta
author: Amanda Pinkerman
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.93
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/16
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves:
review:
1.75 stars

i hate to say this about a debut, but this book was all kinds of rough. honestly it read like a rough draft more than anything - edited pretty well so i’m not talking grammatically, but more so about the plot choices and the characters.

for starters, our fmc, cory (short for cordelia) was extremely unlikable and thus really hard to connect to. she was immature and a lot of her actions and choices made no sense. she came with a huge chip on her shoulder about being a female tattoo artist that felt pretty unrealistic and annoying. her whole character fell flat for me and she never really got any better as the book went on.

our mmc, garrett was actually pretty sweet but very two dimensional. his whole character was being a police officer that was infatuated with cory for 2 years. other than that, he wasn’t anything remarkable and that infatuation was very insta lust with not much to support it.

the pacing of the story was also pretty off - the first half consisted of cory denying wanting any sort of relationship with garrett to a complete one eighty at the halfway point where she just fully embraced being his girlfriend and met his family right away. it felt pretty jarring and didn’t really track with the first half of the story.

side note, the meeting of garrett’s family was the highlight of this whole book for me. they were endearing, wholesome and worked well juxtaposed against cory’s notably awful parents. great, but also a very short chapter’s worth of content.

also, i felt like there were too many useless details about tattooing and police work that took away from the romance and pulled me out of the story too often.

there were a handful of other things that i felt didn’t work, but for the sake of keeping this at least somewhat concise, i’m going to cut it here. sadly, i cannot recommend this one. maybe in the future i would try something else by this author because i know this is a debut and only a starting point. i’m curious to see the improvement and how any sequels go.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
a tattoo shop owner fmc & police officer mmc with a one night stand start - sounds fun, i’m in!
]]> Wild Card (Rose Hill, #4) 227948548 Sebastian Rousseau is a grumpy, hot as hell fire pilot who is too damn good with his hands.

It’s the perfect combination. But unfortunately for me, he’s also my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

A chance meeting brought us together and a missed connection has kept us apart.

One year later, a stroke of fate has us living under the same roof—which makes everything between us downright messy.

Because even after all this time, he’s still the man I think about when I fall asleep. The one I ’t get over no matter how hard I try.

He’s working on mending a fragile relationship with his son and we both know acting on these urges would be the ultimate betrayal.

But I see the heat in his eyes. That look of need that never fails to send a shiver down my spine.

The mutual longing is borderline unbearable and the simmering heat between us is downright palpable.

We both know there are rules when it comes to situations like this.

But then again…following the rules never has been my strong suit.]]> Elsie Silver 1464247862 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.22 2025 Wild Card (Rose Hill, #4)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> From the Embers 52787348 The deafening boom as the house exploded.
The paralyzing fear as I searched for my wife.
The blinding smoke burning my eyes as I carried her out.

But carved into my soul for the rest of my days would be the earth-shattering realization that the woman in my arms wasn’t my wife.

Bree and I were the only survivors—not that either of us were truly living after that night. As a single dad with nowhere else to go, I moved into her guest house. And somehow, through the guilt and grief, we forged an unlikely team.

It took years, but I watched the gradual return of her smile—slow and life-altering.
The two of us could sit outside for hours, talking about nothing, and it filled the massive hole in my chest with new life.

I may have carried her out of that fire, but the truth was, Bree saved me.

As we healed, the secrets and lies of the past smoldered in the ashes, threatening to ignite again.

Our love was born from the embers, and together we would go up in flames.]]> 240 Aly Martinez nina ʚïɞ 4 4 stars!!

“There were so many nights when everything hurt and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to breathe again. But there you were. With me every step of the way.� I tapped the screen again when it started to dim. “This picture. It’s not what we have to lose. It’s what I’ve already gained.�

so, i went into this book pretty skeptically - the premise and the dead ex trope had me a bit wary but i knew that if aly martinez wrote it, i’d probably like it (and i wasn’t wrong).

through survival and loss, bree and eason have to try and piece together their lives and create a new normal. what comes out of it is a deep, meaningful, and beautiful love that just had me turning the pages so quickly. i needed more.

at the initial start i have to admit i thought i wouldn’t love this book because bree and eason’s set up didn’t particularly endear me to either of their characters. however, i think this made me love them even more by the end. being able to see them struggle - going from almost strangers that didn’t understand each other to two people who took the time to learn and grow together - it was beautiful seeing their bond flourish and i just loved them both so much.

i saw a review before reading that mentioned this was compared to coho’s regretting you and while after a certain point i did notice the similarities, i honestly think aly did it better. bree and eason’s relationship was everything - the love, unwavering support, and understanding was so perfect. not to mention how amazing of parents they were to three of the cutest kids. ugh, so good!

overall, i will probably always recommend aly’s books from now on. i still have a lot of her backlog to get through, but every book i’ve tried has been a win. if you like emotional romances with great characters, please don’t hesitate to pick this one up.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

omg aly does not miss, i loved this! rtc soon <3

� pre-read. �
i don’t know how i feel about the dead ex trope, but i’m hopeful that aly will deliver. ]]> 4.19 2021 From the Embers
author: Aly Martinez
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/14
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves:
review:
4 stars!!

“There were so many nights when everything hurt and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to breathe again. But there you were. With me every step of the way.� I tapped the screen again when it started to dim. “This picture. It’s not what we have to lose. It’s what I’ve already gained.�

so, i went into this book pretty skeptically - the premise and the dead ex trope had me a bit wary but i knew that if aly martinez wrote it, i’d probably like it (and i wasn’t wrong).

through survival and loss, bree and eason have to try and piece together their lives and create a new normal. what comes out of it is a deep, meaningful, and beautiful love that just had me turning the pages so quickly. i needed more.

at the initial start i have to admit i thought i wouldn’t love this book because bree and eason’s set up didn’t particularly endear me to either of their characters. however, i think this made me love them even more by the end. being able to see them struggle - going from almost strangers that didn’t understand each other to two people who took the time to learn and grow together - it was beautiful seeing their bond flourish and i just loved them both so much.

i saw a review before reading that mentioned this was compared to coho’s regretting you and while after a certain point i did notice the similarities, i honestly think aly did it better. bree and eason’s relationship was everything - the love, unwavering support, and understanding was so perfect. not to mention how amazing of parents they were to three of the cutest kids. ugh, so good!

overall, i will probably always recommend aly’s books from now on. i still have a lot of her backlog to get through, but every book i’ve tried has been a win. if you like emotional romances with great characters, please don’t hesitate to pick this one up.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

omg aly does not miss, i loved this! rtc soon <3

� pre-read. �
i don’t know how i feel about the dead ex trope, but i’m hopeful that aly will deliver.
]]> Wild Eyes (Rose Hill, #2) 209568782
As a chart-topping country singer with a recent streak of bad press it’s hard to find any peace. But I find it in Rose Hill. With a little boy and a little girl who steal my heart just as thoroughly as their dad.

Weston Belmont.

The man is a shameless flirt. He oozes confidence and masculinity in a way that’s downright distracting. And in bed? He’s addictive.

Everything with him is wild and impulsive and I’m desperate to regain some control.

But no one has supported me like West does. And no one has ever made me feel as loved as he does either.

So, while my brain says settling down with a small-town horse trainer is impossible� my heart says I’m right where I belong.

Still, my life as a celebrity haunts me. It has the power to pull us apart.

I can see in his eyes that wants me to stay. And I want that too.

But I know better than anyone that we don’t always get what we want.]]> 464 Elsie Silver 1464220824 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.24 2024 Wild Eyes (Rose Hill, #2)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3) 217465190
But when my nephew’s guardianship is contested, I decide I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.

Rhys Dupris.

A man who is secretive, broody, and completely infuriating. A man whose work takes him away for weeks on end and brings him back covered in mysterious bruises—ones he won’t talk about. In fact, we barely talk at all.

Which would be fine, except when he’s not talking, he’s staring. And the way he looks at me is borderline indecent.

The tension between us has always been palpable. But living under the same roof is a dangerous temptation.

I swore I would never forgive him. But that was before I knew the man behind the mask. The one who’s fierce and protective. The one who’s gentle and patient. The one who shows up for us when we need him most.

He’s not at all who I thought he was.

And that makes hating my husband so much harder� and loving him just a little too easy.]]> 466 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.27 2025 Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Wait for It 33288638
Diana Casillas can admit it: she doesn't know what the hell she's doing half the time. How she's made it through the last two years of her life without killing anyone is nothing short of a miracle. Being a grown-up wasn’t supposed to be so hard.

With a new house, two little boys she inherited the most painful possible way, a giant dog, a job she usually loves, more than enough family, and friends, she has almost everything she could ever ask for.

Except for a boyfriend.

Or a husband.

But who needs either one of those?]]> 418 Mariana Zapata nina ʚïɞ 3 3 stars!

“She wouldn’t be my first, but she’d be the only one who ever mattered. I think she could wait for the time to be right. I’d make sure she never regretted it.�


going into this book i knew everyone said mz was the queen of slow burns, so i wasn’t surprised that the romance didn’t really take off until the last 30%ish but i have to say the beginning dragged a bit too much for me.

i saw that someone said this was a slice of life book and i have to agree - the slow pace of diana and her typical days of taking care of louie and josh were so wholesome and cute (and honestly what kept me reading because the romance was nonexistent at this point) but the pacing really made this less enjoyable for me.

in a romance, even a slow burn, i crave more interaction from the mcs. it doesn’t have to be anything intense because, yk slow burn but still interaction? at the beginning of this story i had no idea who the love interest was supposed to be and i think that can be a fun mystery but i just wanted more.

the best part of this book for me was diana - i loved her for all of the sacrifices she made and the love she had for the boys. she was truly a wonderful mother figure and gosh did i adore her and her relationship with josh and louie. she was also sassy, straightforward and funny - the exact type of fmc that i gravitate towards.

sadly, the romance was what fell flat for me. i did love all of dallas� interactions with the boys because they were super wholesome too and his friendship with diana but gah, the love part i just wish i felt more.

overall, as my first mz book i would say i enjoyed it and would definitely give her other books a try, but i sadly didn’t love it how i hoped. if you’re looking for a super wholesome family dynamic with adorably amazing kids with a side of romance, i would say give this a go!

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
this will be my first mz book and i’m so excited for it! single parent romances always get me so i’m thinking i’ll love it <3]]> 4.29 2016 Wait for It
author: Mariana Zapata
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/13
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves:
review:
3 stars!

“She wouldn’t be my first, but she’d be the only one who ever mattered. I think she could wait for the time to be right. I’d make sure she never regretted it.�


going into this book i knew everyone said mz was the queen of slow burns, so i wasn’t surprised that the romance didn’t really take off until the last 30%ish but i have to say the beginning dragged a bit too much for me.

i saw that someone said this was a slice of life book and i have to agree - the slow pace of diana and her typical days of taking care of louie and josh were so wholesome and cute (and honestly what kept me reading because the romance was nonexistent at this point) but the pacing really made this less enjoyable for me.

in a romance, even a slow burn, i crave more interaction from the mcs. it doesn’t have to be anything intense because, yk slow burn but still interaction? at the beginning of this story i had no idea who the love interest was supposed to be and i think that can be a fun mystery but i just wanted more.

the best part of this book for me was diana - i loved her for all of the sacrifices she made and the love she had for the boys. she was truly a wonderful mother figure and gosh did i adore her and her relationship with josh and louie. she was also sassy, straightforward and funny - the exact type of fmc that i gravitate towards.

sadly, the romance was what fell flat for me. i did love all of dallas� interactions with the boys because they were super wholesome too and his friendship with diana but gah, the love part i just wish i felt more.

overall, as my first mz book i would say i enjoyed it and would definitely give her other books a try, but i sadly didn’t love it how i hoped. if you’re looking for a super wholesome family dynamic with adorably amazing kids with a side of romance, i would say give this a go!

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
this will be my first mz book and i’m so excited for it! single parent romances always get me so i’m thinking i’ll love it <3
]]> <![CDATA[Written with Regret (Regret #1)]]> 45890020
By that definition, my life should have been a fairytale too.

When I was eight years old, Caven Hunt saved me from the worst kind of evil to walk the Earth. It didn’t matter that I was a kid. I fell in love with him all the same.

But that was where my fairytale ended.

Years later, a one-night stand during the darkest time imaginable gave us a little girl. It was nothing compared to the pitch black that consumed me when I was forced to leave her with Caven for good.

At the end of every fairytale, the happily-ever-after is the one thing that remains consistent. It wasn’t going to be mine, but there hadn’t been a night that passed where I hadn’t prayed that it would be hers.

I owed Caven my life.
However, I owed that innocent child more.
And that included ripping the heart from my chest and facing her father again.]]> 276 Aly Martinez nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.34 2019 Written with Regret (Regret #1)
author: Aly Martinez
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fighting Silence (On the Ropes, #1)]]> 50498691 Sound is an abstract concept for most people. We spend our lives blocking out the static in order to focus on what we believe is important. But what if, when the clarity fades into silence, it's the obscure background noise that you would give anything to hold on to?

I've always been a fighter. With parents who barely managed to stay out of jail and two little brothers who narrowly avoided foster care, I became skilled at dodging the punches life threw at me. Growing up, I didn’t have anything I could call my own, but from the moment I met Eliza Reynolds, she was always mine. I became utterly addicted to her and the escape from reality we provided each other. Throughout the years, she had boyfriends and I had girlfriends, but there wasn't a single night that I didn’t hear her voice.

You see, meeting the love of my life at age thirteen was never part of my plan. However, neither was gradually going deaf at the age of twenty-one.

They both happened anyway.

Now, I'm on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life.
Fighting for my career.
Fighting the impending silence.
Fighting for her.

Every night, just before falling asleep, she sighs as a final conscious breath leaves her.

I think that's the sound I'll miss the most.

Each book in this series can be read as a standalone. ]]> 272 Aly Martinez nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.01 2015 Fighting Silence (On the Ropes, #1)
author: Aly Martinez
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Off to the Races (Gold Rush Ranch, #1)]]> 57516722 Keeping things professional with my employees has never been an issue. Until she waltzed onto my property.

Billie is talented. She's mouthy. And she's so damn tempting. I can't stop thinking about all the ways I could take her down a peg.

I can't stop thinking about her, period.

We clash from the moment we meet. And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it’s hard to keep your distance. It’s even harder to keep that friction from turning to fire.

But keeping my distance? That might be the biggest struggle of all. Because Billie is the whole package, whip-smart with a body I fantasize about when I’m alone, and quite possibly the only woman who can save this business—and me.

She drives me crazy. In every sense of the word. Every smart-mouthed little comment—every game we play—I end up wanting more. Wanting her closer. With me. Under me.

I try not to let her get to me, but the more time we spend together the more I crave her. Her lips. Her trust. Her heart.

I want it all.

But at what cost?

Because suddenly I don’t just want to win races, I want to win the girl.]]> 334 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 2 2.25 stars

so, i know this is elsie’s debut and for that fact i feel a bit bad rating it so low but it definitely reads like a debut. the one thing i can say for sure is that her writing and characters have improved immensely since this book. i am such a fan of hers (after reading her chestnut springs series), but this book just didn’t work for me. so let’s break it down:

the fmc, billie black was fine and i liked her enough - she was pretty standard and won’t be that memorable, but she had a good personality and humor that i enjoyed. however, her story was pretty surface level and i never really felt connected to her and the backstory she was given. so again, she was fine.

the mmc, vaughn harding was my least favorite part of this whole book (and in a romance that’s a major oof). he was just so incredibly immature and his back and forth emotions gave me major whiplash throughout. the last 10% did give his character a bit of a boost but not enough to make up for the rest of the book. it made me kinda sad to be honest.

that being said, i didn’t love billie and vaughn together. billie could hold her end of the banter bargain but vaughn just fell flat.

you know who did steal the show though? DD (the horse lol) and little violet eaton. without these two characters i think i would’ve flatlined somewhere in the beginning. billie and DD had such a sweet bond and i lived for their scenes (says something doesn’t it?). also, violet was so adorable and i ’t wait for her book next!

overall, while i didn’t love this one, i do still love elsie silver and i’m excited to continue with the rest of the series because i’ve heard they get better from here.

]]> 3.65 2021 Off to the Races (Gold Rush Ranch, #1)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/11
date added: 2025/03/11
shelves:
review:
2.25 stars

so, i know this is elsie’s debut and for that fact i feel a bit bad rating it so low but it definitely reads like a debut. the one thing i can say for sure is that her writing and characters have improved immensely since this book. i am such a fan of hers (after reading her chestnut springs series), but this book just didn’t work for me. so let’s break it down:

the fmc, billie black was fine and i liked her enough - she was pretty standard and won’t be that memorable, but she had a good personality and humor that i enjoyed. however, her story was pretty surface level and i never really felt connected to her and the backstory she was given. so again, she was fine.

the mmc, vaughn harding was my least favorite part of this whole book (and in a romance that’s a major oof). he was just so incredibly immature and his back and forth emotions gave me major whiplash throughout. the last 10% did give his character a bit of a boost but not enough to make up for the rest of the book. it made me kinda sad to be honest.

that being said, i didn’t love billie and vaughn together. billie could hold her end of the banter bargain but vaughn just fell flat.

you know who did steal the show though? DD (the horse lol) and little violet eaton. without these two characters i think i would’ve flatlined somewhere in the beginning. billie and DD had such a sweet bond and i lived for their scenes (says something doesn’t it?). also, violet was so adorable and i ’t wait for her book next!

overall, while i didn’t love this one, i do still love elsie silver and i’m excited to continue with the rest of the series because i’ve heard they get better from here.


]]> <![CDATA[Part of Your World (Part of Your World, #1)]]> 58684524
While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere� ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she ’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

The New York Times bestselling author of Life's Too Short delivers a refreshingly modern fairy tale perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Emily Henry.]]> 389 Abby Jimenez 1538704374 nina ʚïɞ 4 bc 3.75 stars!

“Love follows you. It goes where you go. It doesn’t know about social divides or distance or common sense. It doesn’t even stop when the person you love dies. It does what it wants.�

so, i struggled with this rating a bit - i kept wavering between a mid tier 3 and 4, but this is where i’ve settled. i just gotta hand it to abby jimenez because she writes the most perfect men to ever exist so i rounded it up.

i really liked the set up for this story - rich girl gets involved with the boy outside of “her world� that her family would never approve of and what follows is angst, pining, and a lot of cute moments.

daniel was such a green flag (but all of abby’s men are lol). he’s a character that you ’t help but fall in love with because of his selflessness, the effort he puts into his relationships, his communication and asking for what he wants and just his whole heart. ugh, i ’t believe that abby is over here making me fall in love with another guy this month, but alas here we are.

alexis was a great character, but she made it way less easy to love her. i could totally understand her qualms when it came to not wanting to lose the life she’d always known but it was really rough seeing her continuously reject daniel when we knew that’s the opposite of what she wanted. even so, i found her character arc was a really good one - she went from being someone who couldn’t do anything on her own to a person that she could be proud of and i loved seeing her growth and taking back the pieces she was missing.

besides some of the rocky back and forth between them, daniel and alexis were very cute together. i loved how they supported each other’s ambitions and i really loved their connection (even if it was a bit insta love).

also, i have to note that the small town setting here was *chef’s kiss*. i loved all the side characters and how they all always banded together if someone was in need. it was wholesome, endearing and has me looking at maps to find my own small town to move to asap.

overall, abby jimenez continues to impress me and i’m still so upset with myself for waiting so long to read her books. if you want lovable characters (including a baby goat in pajamas and a dog that cannot get enough) and you want to see the cutest guy from the “other side of the tracks� prove he’s the actual best, definitely pick this up. i highly recommend it.

more quotes i loved

“Grace costs you nothing.�

“You know what’s so dangerous about drowning? It’s silent. So unless someone’s paying close attention to you, no one saves you.�

“When she called, my mood lifted. When I saw her coming down the driveway, my heart would pound. When she was here, I slept better. When she was gone, I was sad. She felt like the sun. Like she was the reason for everything. Like I’d always been waiting for her to get closer and bring me to life.�

“There’s something more final than forever. It’s never. Never is infinite.�

“Well, you don’t steal a hoodie and not wear it. Otherwise it’s just another senseless crime.�

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
after loving just for the summer, it’s time for me to go back and read the rest of the series (and maybe everything abby’s ever written ]]> 4.26 2022 Part of Your World (Part of Your World, #1)
author: Abby Jimenez
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/04
date added: 2025/03/11
shelves: bc
review:
3.75 stars!

“Love follows you. It goes where you go. It doesn’t know about social divides or distance or common sense. It doesn’t even stop when the person you love dies. It does what it wants.�

so, i struggled with this rating a bit - i kept wavering between a mid tier 3 and 4, but this is where i’ve settled. i just gotta hand it to abby jimenez because she writes the most perfect men to ever exist so i rounded it up.

i really liked the set up for this story - rich girl gets involved with the boy outside of “her world� that her family would never approve of and what follows is angst, pining, and a lot of cute moments.

daniel was such a green flag (but all of abby’s men are lol). he’s a character that you ’t help but fall in love with because of his selflessness, the effort he puts into his relationships, his communication and asking for what he wants and just his whole heart. ugh, i ’t believe that abby is over here making me fall in love with another guy this month, but alas here we are.

alexis was a great character, but she made it way less easy to love her. i could totally understand her qualms when it came to not wanting to lose the life she’d always known but it was really rough seeing her continuously reject daniel when we knew that’s the opposite of what she wanted. even so, i found her character arc was a really good one - she went from being someone who couldn’t do anything on her own to a person that she could be proud of and i loved seeing her growth and taking back the pieces she was missing.

besides some of the rocky back and forth between them, daniel and alexis were very cute together. i loved how they supported each other’s ambitions and i really loved their connection (even if it was a bit insta love).

also, i have to note that the small town setting here was *chef’s kiss*. i loved all the side characters and how they all always banded together if someone was in need. it was wholesome, endearing and has me looking at maps to find my own small town to move to asap.

overall, abby jimenez continues to impress me and i’m still so upset with myself for waiting so long to read her books. if you want lovable characters (including a baby goat in pajamas and a dog that cannot get enough) and you want to see the cutest guy from the “other side of the tracks� prove he’s the actual best, definitely pick this up. i highly recommend it.

more quotes i loved

“Grace costs you nothing.�

“You know what’s so dangerous about drowning? It’s silent. So unless someone’s paying close attention to you, no one saves you.�

“When she called, my mood lifted. When I saw her coming down the driveway, my heart would pound. When she was here, I slept better. When she was gone, I was sad. She felt like the sun. Like she was the reason for everything. Like I’d always been waiting for her to get closer and bring me to life.�

“There’s something more final than forever. It’s never. Never is infinite.�

“Well, you don’t steal a hoodie and not wear it. Otherwise it’s just another senseless crime.�

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
after loving just for the summer, it’s time for me to go back and read the rest of the series (and maybe everything abby’s ever written
]]> <![CDATA[Yours Truly (Part of Your World, #2)]]> 61918816 A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match.

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin�-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass� scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,� and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she ’t refuse.]]> 416 Abby Jimenez 1538704390 nina ʚïɞ 3 3.25 stars!

“I always think that when we’re quiet, we’re agreeing to be harmless to each other. That we’re just sharing the same space and letting each other exist exactly as we are, and neither of us would hurt or upset the other one.�

so, i’m going to start by saying 3 stars isn’t bad - i really loved certain parts of this book quite a bit but there were things that i just couldn’t get over.

this one started out really great - harmless misunderstandings and assumptions about the other made briana and jacob’s start the opposite of a meet-cute and it worked so well for the story. they evolved from these hostile interactions into beautiful handwritten letters to each other that had me swooning. letters in books? immediate yes.

however, what came next was where it started to go downhill for me. i hate to say it, but the miscommunication here was excruciatingly painful. and i’m not talking innocuous assumptions either, this was full blown no communication at all and constant assumptions about the other that had me wanting to pull my hair out and scream JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER OMG. frustrating. that’s the word for it.

then, when they finally do talk and you think everything is going to be okay, it’s not. the last 15% of the book was ROUGH. i didn’t love the choices here and it most definitely was what tanked my rating from a 4 to a 3.

the highlight of this book was definitely jacob. i didn’t think anyone could top daniel or justin but ah, here we are. i think jacob was my favorite guy of the whole series and it’s because he was unique, unbelievably relatable with his social anxiety and just so freaking sweet and thoughtful. he just proves (yet again) that abby is the queen of writing the perfect men. i will always come back to her books for this fact alone.

overall, this may be my least favorite of the series but i would still recommend it! briana and justin were very cute together for the most part, just be prepared for a lot of miscommunication.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i ’t get enough of this series, so obviously jumping right into this one! i loved bri’s character in the first book so i’m excited to see more of her here. hoping for some grey’s anatomy vibes <3]]> 4.29 2023 Yours Truly (Part of Your World, #2)
author: Abby Jimenez
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/07
date added: 2025/03/09
shelves:
review:
3.25 stars!

“I always think that when we’re quiet, we’re agreeing to be harmless to each other. That we’re just sharing the same space and letting each other exist exactly as we are, and neither of us would hurt or upset the other one.�

so, i’m going to start by saying 3 stars isn’t bad - i really loved certain parts of this book quite a bit but there were things that i just couldn’t get over.

this one started out really great - harmless misunderstandings and assumptions about the other made briana and jacob’s start the opposite of a meet-cute and it worked so well for the story. they evolved from these hostile interactions into beautiful handwritten letters to each other that had me swooning. letters in books? immediate yes.

however, what came next was where it started to go downhill for me. i hate to say it, but the miscommunication here was excruciatingly painful. and i’m not talking innocuous assumptions either, this was full blown no communication at all and constant assumptions about the other that had me wanting to pull my hair out and scream JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER OMG. frustrating. that’s the word for it.

then, when they finally do talk and you think everything is going to be okay, it’s not. the last 15% of the book was ROUGH. i didn’t love the choices here and it most definitely was what tanked my rating from a 4 to a 3.

the highlight of this book was definitely jacob. i didn’t think anyone could top daniel or justin but ah, here we are. i think jacob was my favorite guy of the whole series and it’s because he was unique, unbelievably relatable with his social anxiety and just so freaking sweet and thoughtful. he just proves (yet again) that abby is the queen of writing the perfect men. i will always come back to her books for this fact alone.

overall, this may be my least favorite of the series but i would still recommend it! briana and justin were very cute together for the most part, just be prepared for a lot of miscommunication.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i ’t get enough of this series, so obviously jumping right into this one! i loved bri’s character in the first book so i’m excited to see more of her here. hoping for some grey’s anatomy vibes <3
]]> Any Trope but You 214151426 A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and write her first murder mystery, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in a rom-com plot instead in this earnestly spectacular debut by a stunning new voice.

Beloved romance author Margot Bradley has a dark secret: she doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. Not for herself, not for her readers, and not even for her characters, for whom she secretly writes alternate endings that swap weddings and babies for divorce papers and the occasional slashed tire. When her Happily Never After document is hacked and released to the public, she finds herself canceled by her readers and dropped by her publisher.

Desperate to find a way to continue supporting her chronically ill sister, Savannah, Margot decides to trade meet-cutes for murder. The fictional kind. Probably. But when Savannah books Margot a six-week stay in a remote Alaskan resort to pen her first murder mystery, Margot finds herself running from a moose and leaping into the arms of the handsome proprietor, making her fear she’s just landed in a romance novel instead.

The last thing Dr. Forrest Wakefield ever expected was to leave his dream job as a cancer researcher to become a glorified bellhop. What he’s really doing at his family’s resort is caring for his stubborn, ailing father, and his puzzle-loving mind is slowly freezing over—until Margot shows up. But Forrest doesn’t have any room in his life for another person he could lose, especially one with a checkout date.

As long snowy nights and one unlikely trope after another draw Margot and Forrest together, they’ll each have to learn to overcome their fears and set their aside assumptions before Margot leaves—or risk becoming a Happily Never After story themselves.]]> 336 Victoria Lavine 1668079275 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.02 2025 Any Trope but You
author: Victoria Lavine
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Never Lie 62080187
But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate� with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.

In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.

Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.

And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.

The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth.]]> 286 Freida McFadden nina ʚïɞ 4 4 stars!

in typical freida fashion, this story was fast paced, gripping and kept me on the edge of my seat. it was also surprisingly creepy but i couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

it’s definitely one of those stories that’ll get ya - make you think you have it all figured out and then bam! you realize you never really knew what was going on (or did you ]]> 4.09 2022 Never Lie
author: Freida McFadden
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/02
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves:
review:
4 stars!

in typical freida fashion, this story was fast paced, gripping and kept me on the edge of my seat. it was also surprisingly creepy but i couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

it’s definitely one of those stories that’ll get ya - make you think you have it all figured out and then bam! you realize you never really knew what was going on (or did you
]]> The Risk (Mindf*ck, #1) 33131867 Left too little.
I had nothing to lose...until him.

**

~Lana~

I didn't expect him.
I didn't want to fall in love.
But I can't let him go.

Logan Bennett makes the world a safer place.
He's brilliant.
He's a hero.
He locks away the sick and depraved.
But while he's saving lives, I'm taking them. Collecting the debts that are owed to me.

Ten years ago, they took from me. They left me for dead.
They should have made sure I stayed dead.

Now I'm taking from them.
One name at a time.

I've trained for too long.
I've been patient.
I can't stop now.

Revenge is best served cold...

They never see me coming, until I paint their walls red.

Logan doesn't know how they hurt me. He doesn't know about the screams they ignored. He doesn't know how twisted that town really is.

He just knows people are dying.
He doesn't know he's in love with their killer.

No one suspects a dead girl.
And Logan doesn't suspect the girl in his bed.

They're looking for a monster.
Not a girl who loves red.
Not a girl in love.

I'm a faceless nightmare.

At least until I tell them the story they've pretended never happened.

But in the end, will Logan choose them? Or will we watch them burn together?

**Graphic
**Adult language
**Some triggers could be too much for the easily disturbed reader
**Sexual content
**Fucked up moral compass; read at your own risk.]]> 132 S.T. Abby nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.21 2016 The Risk (Mindf*ck, #1)
author: S.T. Abby
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1)]]> 15839976 "I live for the dream that my children will be born free," she says. "That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them."

"I live for you," I say sadly.

Eo kisses my cheek. "Then you must live for more."

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations.

Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.]]> 382 Pierce Brown 0345539788 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.26 2014 Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1)
author: Pierce Brown
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Only After We Met 202660904
Ginger Davies is on the boring and predictable track to take over the family business in London, but she craves so much more from life. Rhys Baker is a DJ from America, incapable of staying still anywhere, loving his vagabond lifestyle but restless and unsatisfied, always seeking more adventure.

When the two meet by chance in Paris their bond is instantaneous. Living worlds apart, their daily contact becomes the brightest spot in both their lives. Without Rhys, Ginger will never break free to pursue her dreams. Without Ginger, Rhys spirals into risky behavior, until an irresistibly passionate summer in Spain changes everything and they both have to choose their own path forward. Even if it means the desperate heartbreak of leaving each other behind.]]> 591 Alice Kellen 1728283833 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.88 2020 Only After We Met
author: Alice Kellen
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Lore Olympus: Volume One (Lore Olympus, #1)]]> 57282218
Persephone, young goddess of spring, is new to Olympus. Her mother, Demeter, has raised her in the mortal realm, but after Persephone promises to train as a sacred virgin, she’s allowed to live in the fast-moving, glamorous world of the gods. When her roommate, Artemis, takes her to a party, her entire life changes: she ends up meeting Hades and feels an immediate spark with the charming yet misunderstood ruler of the Underworld. Now Persephone must navigate the confusing politics and relationships that rule Olympus, while also figuring out her own place—and her own power.

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner-winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story, and brings the Greek Pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 1-25 of the #1 WEBTOON comic, Lore Olympus.]]> 384 Rachel Smythe 0593160290 nina ʚïɞ 2
however, as much as the art was beautiful with the contrasting pink (persephone) and blue (hades), the story was pretty simple and not a lot happened. i know this volume is probably set up for the rest of the series - introducing characters, personalities, and dynamics - but it wasn’t exactly as magical as i expected.

hades and persephone were really cute and the highlight of this volume (their interaction and meeting was pretty minor), but their dynamics with the rest of the cast of characters were� not my favorite. i know because it’s set in the world of gods and goddesses that this isn’t a fairytale by any means, but every other character was only okay or kinda awful actually (except maybe hera, i liked her). so i’ll be interested to see as the story continues if i can like any of them more.

overall, i’ll continue with the series because i’m hoping it picks up the pace with hades and persephone’s romance and i’m interested to see how some of the characters grow. i’d recommend this if you like greek mythology and want something quick with a cool art style, but i’d definitely check the trigger warnings before picking it up.]]> 4.23 2021 Lore Olympus: Volume One (Lore Olympus, #1)
author: Rachel Smythe
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves:
review:
i’ve been wanting to give this series a try for a long time now - the art style and it being a hades/persephone retelling really hooked me. greek mythology has always been my kryptonite.

however, as much as the art was beautiful with the contrasting pink (persephone) and blue (hades), the story was pretty simple and not a lot happened. i know this volume is probably set up for the rest of the series - introducing characters, personalities, and dynamics - but it wasn’t exactly as magical as i expected.

hades and persephone were really cute and the highlight of this volume (their interaction and meeting was pretty minor), but their dynamics with the rest of the cast of characters were� not my favorite. i know because it’s set in the world of gods and goddesses that this isn’t a fairytale by any means, but every other character was only okay or kinda awful actually (except maybe hera, i liked her). so i’ll be interested to see as the story continues if i can like any of them more.

overall, i’ll continue with the series because i’m hoping it picks up the pace with hades and persephone’s romance and i’m interested to see how some of the characters grow. i’d recommend this if you like greek mythology and want something quick with a cool art style, but i’d definitely check the trigger warnings before picking it up.
]]> The Situationship 217885191 Find out how Maddy and Doug met in this sweet and hilarious short story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer.

Travel nurse Maddy doesn't have time for a relationship, not even with the ruggedly handsome farmer who she feels a spark of attraction to.

Doug is a walking green flag. After a run in with Maddy thanks to the Wakan town mascot, Kevin Bacon the pig, he can't help but feel the spark too.

Even though she doesn't plan on staying in Minnesota forever, Maddy believes she and Doug can still have a fling� or maybe they’ll just find themselves in a situationship. 

“The Situationship�was originally published as a bonus chapter in the Target exclusive edition of Just for the Summer. This ebook original also includes a first look at Abby’s new release, Say You’ll Remember Me.]]> 37 Abby Jimenez 1538773724 nina ʚïɞ 3
also, i’m pretty sure we meet doug in the first book of the series, but since i haven’t read that one yet i haven’t seen enough of doug to really love him the way i love maddy, but i’m sure if i re-read this after i finish the whole series i might love him even more. ]]> 3.94 2024 The Situationship
author: Abby Jimenez
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves:
review:
tbh a bit heartbroken that we weren’t given a whole book dedicated to maddy and doug because um� maddy is perfect - hilarious, kind, caring, and scary (i love her) and seeing her pov was great. she and the cutie afraid of her deserve their own book. period.

also, i’m pretty sure we meet doug in the first book of the series, but since i haven’t read that one yet i haven’t seen enough of doug to really love him the way i love maddy, but i’m sure if i re-read this after i finish the whole series i might love him even more.
]]> <![CDATA[Lore Olympus: Volume Two (Lore Olympus, #2)]]> 57717417
Persephone was ready to start a new life when she left the mortal realm for Olympus. However, she quickly discovered the dark side of her glamorous new home—from the relatively minor gossip threatening her reputation to a realm-shattering violation of her safety by the conceited Apollo—and she's struggling to find her footing in the fast-moving realm of the gods. Hades is also off balance, fighting against his burgeoning feelings for the young goddess of spring while maintaining his lonely rule of the Underworld. As the pair are drawn ever closer, they must untangle the twisted webs of their past and present to build toward a new future.

This edition of Smythe's original Eisner-nominated webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story, and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 26�49 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.]]> 368 Rachel Smythe 059335608X nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.42 2022 Lore Olympus: Volume Two (Lore Olympus, #2)
author: Rachel Smythe
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Just for the Summer 195834342
Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?]]> 400 Abby Jimenez nina ʚïɞ 4 4.25 stars!!

“Why not forgive? In a world where you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy.�

i ’t believe i’ve been sleeping on abby jimenez - this book (and mainly justin) was way more than i ever thought to expect. i’m not always a huge fan of these popular contemporary romance authors, and i think i lumped abby in there with the rest of them (oops, my bad). let me tell you - this book, THIS BOOK right here is making me rethink everything.

so let’s start with the premise - when i first read the blurb i instantly thought of that movie with dane cook, you know the one, where he’s the good luck charm? so i was intrigued to see how it would play out in book form.

this book was such a ride - from the very beginning it was laugh out loud funny and had me running to text my besties because, and i don’t say this lightly, justin was a DREAM. his surveys, exit interviews and date invites were hilarious and wholesome all in one. i was impressed. and that’s a big deal because most of the time men don’t impress me (lol).

even though justin was the clear star of the show, emma was also a really great fmc to follow. she was relatable with her baggage (and there was baggage with a capital B) but also so level headed and profound in the way she viewed the world and those around her. i love a character that can make me reflect on my own like and emma was this character.

overall, if you’re looking for a fun romance filled with all of the cute and wholesome moments AND good drama and emotions, you should definitely give this one a try. i highly recommend it and now have to go back and read the first two since i read them out of order.

]]> 4.47 2024 Just for the Summer
author: Abby Jimenez
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/27
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars!!

“Why not forgive? In a world where you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy.�

i ’t believe i’ve been sleeping on abby jimenez - this book (and mainly justin) was way more than i ever thought to expect. i’m not always a huge fan of these popular contemporary romance authors, and i think i lumped abby in there with the rest of them (oops, my bad). let me tell you - this book, THIS BOOK right here is making me rethink everything.

so let’s start with the premise - when i first read the blurb i instantly thought of that movie with dane cook, you know the one, where he’s the good luck charm? so i was intrigued to see how it would play out in book form.

this book was such a ride - from the very beginning it was laugh out loud funny and had me running to text my besties because, and i don’t say this lightly, justin was a DREAM. his surveys, exit interviews and date invites were hilarious and wholesome all in one. i was impressed. and that’s a big deal because most of the time men don’t impress me (lol).

even though justin was the clear star of the show, emma was also a really great fmc to follow. she was relatable with her baggage (and there was baggage with a capital B) but also so level headed and profound in the way she viewed the world and those around her. i love a character that can make me reflect on my own like and emma was this character.

overall, if you’re looking for a fun romance filled with all of the cute and wholesome moments AND good drama and emotions, you should definitely give this one a try. i highly recommend it and now have to go back and read the first two since i read them out of order.


]]> Yellowface 62047984
So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? This piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller. That is what June believes, and The New York Times bestseller list agrees.

But June cannot escape Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens her stolen success. As she races to protect her secret she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.]]> 319 R.F. Kuang 000853277X nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.69 2023 Yellowface
author: R.F. Kuang
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Mate (Bride, #2) 228256271 A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride.

Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…]]> 432 Ali Hazelwood 0593955013 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.41 2025 Mate (Bride, #2)
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Ready or Not 154462768
Eve Hatch is pretty content with her life. Her apartment in Brooklyn is cozy and close to her childhood best friend Willa, but far from her midwestern, traditional family who never really understood her. While her job is only dream- adjacent , she’s hoping her passion and hard work will soon help her land a more glamorous role. And sure, her most recent romantic history has consisted of not one but two disappointing men named Derek. At least she always knows what to expect…until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.

The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve's loyal friendship with Willa is feeling off , right when she needs her most. And it’s Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is� suddenly kinda hot? Then there’s the baby's father, who is supportive but conflicted. Before long, Eve is rethinking everything she thought she knew about herself and her world.

Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.]]> 400 Cara Bastone 0593595718 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.96 2024 Ready or Not
author: Cara Bastone
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Call Me Maybe (Love Lines, #1)]]> 55423823
True love is on the line in this charming, laugh-out-loud rom-com—created specifically for the audio format!

Paint your toes. Pick up the wrong coffee and bagel order. Drive from Brooklyn to Jersey in traffic so slow you want to tear your hair out. It’s amazing all the useless things I can accomplish while on hold for three hours with customer service. Three hours when I should be getting the Date-in-a-Box website ready to launch at the big business expo in a few days. Except my shiny new website is glitching, and my inner rage-monster is ready to scorch some earth� when he finally picks up. Not the robot voice I expected but a real live human named Cal. He’s surprisingly helpful and really knows his stuff, even if he’s a little awkward�. in an adorable way.

And suddenly I’m flirting with him? And I think he’s flirting back.
And suddenly it’s been hours, and we’re still on the phone talking and ordering each other takeout while he trouble shoots my website.
And suddenly we’re exchanging numbers and sending texts and DMs every day, leaving voice mails (who even does that anymore?!).
And suddenly I’m wondering if it’s possible for two people fall in love at first talk.

Because I’m falling� hard.]]> 6 Cara Bastone nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.96 2020 Call Me Maybe (Love Lines, #1)
author: Cara Bastone
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> I Hope This Finds You Well 200987323 In this wildly funny and heartwarming office comedy, an admin worker accidentally gains access to her colleagues� private emails and DMs and decides to use this intel to save her job—a laugh-till-you-cry debut novel you’ll be eager to share with your entire list of contacts, perfect for fans of Anxious People and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

As far as Jolene is concerned, her interactions with her colleagues should start and end with her official duties as an admin for Supershops, Inc. Unfortunately, her irritating, incompetent coworkers don’t seem to understand the importance of boundaries. Her secret to survival? She vents her grievances in petty email postscripts, then changes the text colour to white so no one can see. That is, until one of her secret messages is exposed. Her punishment: sensitivity training (led by the suspiciously friendly HR guy, Cliff) and rigorous email restrictions.

When an IT mix-up grants her access to her entire department’s private emails and DMs, Jolene knows she should report it, but who could resist reading what their coworkers are really saying? And when she discovers layoffs are coming, she realizes this might just be the key to saving her job. The plan is simple: gain her boss’s favour, convince HR she’s Supershops material and beat out the competition.

But as Jolene is drawn further into her coworker’s private worlds and secrets, her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble—especially around Cliff, who she definitely cannot have feelings for. Soon she will need to decide if she’s ready to leave the comfort of her cubicle, even if it means coming clean to her colleagues.

Crackling with laugh-out-loud dialogue and relatable observations, I Hope This Finds You Well is a fresh and surprisingly tender comedy about loneliness and love beyond our computer screens. This sparkling debut novel will open your heart to the everyday eccentricities of work culture and the undeniable human connection that comes with it.]]> 338 Natalie Sue 0063320363 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.74 2024 I Hope This Finds You Well
author: Natalie Sue
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Answer Is No 219876684 In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.]]> 68 Fredrik Backman 1662526520 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.94 2024 The Answer Is No
author: Fredrik Backman
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Lost in Paradise 41010851
Nicole Morella boards a private Mediterranean cruise with one to reclaim herself after her divorce. When she sits next to a beautiful blonde in the ship’s lounge, she’s knocked off balance by the immediate attraction between them, and it’s not just because Nicole hasn’t found her sea legs yet. Fiona stirs things in Nicole that haven’t been stirred in a long time, but a fiery kiss turns dangerous when the ship is hijacked. The women launch a daring escape, leaving them adrift in an empty lifeboat.

Fiona Boone has been adrift most of her life, but never in such a literal sense. She’s a survivor, though, so when they land on a deserted island, Fiona’s ready to do whatever it takes to stay alive until they’re rescued. In the meantime, she ’t get enough of the feisty woman she’s stranded with, despite her usual fiercely independent nature. Although they’re lost, Fiona finds something unexpected in the comfort of Nicole’s touch. But when an injury puts her life in jeopardy, they begin to worry help won’t arrive in time. If she survives their ordeal, Fiona might just face her biggest challenge falling in love.]]> 200 Rachel Lacey 1732151946 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.20 2019 Lost in Paradise
author: Rachel Lacey
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Snowball Effect 217192122 really is thrilled for her. Left to her own devices, she’s doing� fine.

Oh, except for the fact that her new roommate, Emma Bordeaux, has hated Regan since the literal day they’d met two years ago. Sure, most of their interactions end in disaster and Regan is the root cause, but they are all accidents! She’ll win Emma over though; she’s determined to make this living arrangement work come hell or high water.

Emma never planned on finding herself living with the most frustrating person she’d ever met, but for rent this low, she’s positive that she can put up with anything Regan throws her way.

What she isn’t sure she can handle is her mom returning to her life, wanting to bond with Emma. She definitely doesn’t know how to manage her mom believing that she and Regan are a couple. And she doesn’t want to deal with the fact that Regan seems far too into acting the part.

Perhaps the most daunting aspect of all is realizing that she might have been wrong about Regan all along…]]> 506 Haley Cass nina ʚïɞ 5 all-time-favs 4.47 2024 The Snowball Effect
author: Haley Cass
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/24
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: all-time-favs
review:

]]> The Fall Up (The Fall Up, #1) 27747199 He made me fall.

As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.

Until he found me.

Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.

But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.

Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?

Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up.]]> 247 Aly Martinez 1518711391 nina ʚïɞ 4 4.25 stars!

“I fell in love with you when I was at rock bottom. But I’ll never be able to look back on those dark days with anything but a smile. I wanted to jump, but I never once expected the fall to go up.�

so, this is only the second book i’ve picked up by aly martinez, but i have to say she’s quickly becoming an author that i love (and an underrated one at that) - the characters she writes and the emotions she evokes are everything.

the story starts by dropping us right into the action where we see our two mcs (on page one) meet on the top of a san fransisco bridge. this was super refreshing because a lot of books i’ve been reading lately don’t have the mcs really interacting until 30% in and it always feels tedious or too drawn out, but you won’t find that here. the story was pretty straightforward and didn’t ever feel bogged down by useless fluff - it mainly focused on levee and sam’s interactions and the flow felt extremely satisfying.

sam and levee were both interesting and complicated characters consumed by dark thoughts, habits and baggage. even so, they were also so human and relatable. this is one of those books that explores life, death, and mental health but also manages to keep things on the lighter side so it never felt too heavy. it was the perfect blend of heartfelt moments that made me tear up and funny banter to make me laugh out loud.

i do want to mention that this story might not work for someone who doesn’t like insta lust/love - i’m not the biggest fan of it myself, but in this instance i didn’t mind it. even though the mcs are pulled toward each other fairly quickly, i found the genuine emotions and connection overshadowed the insta lust for me.

overall, this ended up being exactly the heartfelt romance i was looking for and i ’t wait to read more and more of aly’s books.

also can we talk about the cover? it’s gorgeous and so fitting. i’m in love.

”Everything else would fall into place. We’d fall up together.�


.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

i knew based off the blurb that i’d love this and it didn’t disappoint - 4.25 stars! be back with a full review soon <3

� pre-read. �
i’ve been craving something a bit more heartfelt with deeper emotions so i’m hoping aly martinez will deliver for me ]]> 4.01 2015 The Fall Up (The Fall Up, #1)
author: Aly Martinez
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/20
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves:
review:
4.25 stars!

“I fell in love with you when I was at rock bottom. But I’ll never be able to look back on those dark days with anything but a smile. I wanted to jump, but I never once expected the fall to go up.�

so, this is only the second book i’ve picked up by aly martinez, but i have to say she’s quickly becoming an author that i love (and an underrated one at that) - the characters she writes and the emotions she evokes are everything.

the story starts by dropping us right into the action where we see our two mcs (on page one) meet on the top of a san fransisco bridge. this was super refreshing because a lot of books i’ve been reading lately don’t have the mcs really interacting until 30% in and it always feels tedious or too drawn out, but you won’t find that here. the story was pretty straightforward and didn’t ever feel bogged down by useless fluff - it mainly focused on levee and sam’s interactions and the flow felt extremely satisfying.

sam and levee were both interesting and complicated characters consumed by dark thoughts, habits and baggage. even so, they were also so human and relatable. this is one of those books that explores life, death, and mental health but also manages to keep things on the lighter side so it never felt too heavy. it was the perfect blend of heartfelt moments that made me tear up and funny banter to make me laugh out loud.

i do want to mention that this story might not work for someone who doesn’t like insta lust/love - i’m not the biggest fan of it myself, but in this instance i didn’t mind it. even though the mcs are pulled toward each other fairly quickly, i found the genuine emotions and connection overshadowed the insta lust for me.

overall, this ended up being exactly the heartfelt romance i was looking for and i ’t wait to read more and more of aly’s books.

also can we talk about the cover? it’s gorgeous and so fitting. i’m in love.

”Everything else would fall into place. We’d fall up together.�


.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

i knew based off the blurb that i’d love this and it didn’t disappoint - 4.25 stars! be back with a full review soon <3

� pre-read. �
i’ve been craving something a bit more heartfelt with deeper emotions so i’m hoping aly martinez will deliver for me
]]> Our Secret Summer 228198497 They promised themselves it was only for the summer�

Raffo retreats to a lake house in Big Bear, desperate to heal her broken heart. But peace and quiet prove impossible when she discovers Dylan—her best friend’s mother—already staying at the house, hiding from her own mistakes.

Dylan is everything Raffo doesn’t older, off-limits, and utterly captivating.

What starts as a shared summer sanctuary quickly turns into something far more dangerous when their undeniable chemistry ignites. As their bond deepens, passion blossoms into a love neither woman saw coming.

But summer can't last forever. With Dylan's son waiting in Los Angeles, their growing love risks destroying the very relationships they cherish most.

Our Secret Summer is a steamy sapphic age-gap romance about forbidden desire, irresistible connections, and the risk of following your heart when the stakes couldn’t be higher.]]> Harper Bliss 9464339519 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.14 Our Secret Summer
author: Harper Bliss
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)]]> 146943294 626 Chloe Walsh 1728299950 nina ʚïɞ 2 bc
� pre-read. �
i need a new series to obsess over now that i’m done with chestnut springs ]]> 4.45 2018 Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)
author: Chloe Walsh
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2025/02/06
date added: 2025/02/22
shelves: bc
review:
will be back w a review & rating soon!

� pre-read. �
i need a new series to obsess over now that i’m done with chestnut springs
]]> Ribbonwood 218078948
Ollie Gabrielli left Ribbonwood right after high school, back when Lara was her arch-nemesis. The queen bee and the closeted soccer star: natural enemies. When she comes home for three months it's to recover from burnout and spend time with her chaotic family, not to reconnect with old classmates. Only somehow, she ’t seem to take her eyes off Lara. How did she only get hotter? And is she really everything they say she is?

Sometimes, there’s a reason you should never try to go home.]]> 406 Ruby Landers 0648640280 nina ʚïɞ 4 4.56 Ribbonwood
author: Ruby Landers
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/22
date added: 2025/02/22
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Graham Effect (Campus Diaries, #1)]]> 123255391
Ryder is six-foot five, built, opinionated, rude…and sexy as hell. But he's still the enemy.

Briar's new hockey co-captain has his reasons, though. The men's team just merged with a rival program, leaving Ryder with an angry roster where everyone hates one another's guts. To make matters worse, the summer coaching spot he's angling for with the legendary Garrett Graham is out of reach after he makes the worst possible first impression on his hero. So, really, this compromise with Gigi is win-win. He helps her make the national team, she puts in a good word with her dad.

The only potential snag? This bone-deep, body-numbing, mind-spinning chemistry they're trying to ignore. It's a dangerous game they're playing, but the risks just might be worth it.

Et pourtant, il y a un gros hic ! L'alchimie profonde, qui étouffe le corps et fait tourner l'esprit, qu'ils essaient d'ignorer. C'est un jeu dangereux auquel ils jouent, mais les risques pourraient bien en valoir la peine.]]> 498 Elle Kennedy 1990101186 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.18 2023 The Graham Effect (Campus Diaries, #1)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dream On, Ramona Riley (Clover Lake, #1)]]> 217453440 A small-town waitress and a Hollywood star’s worlds collide in this new romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.

Once upon a time, Ramona Riley was a student at a prestigious art school, with dreams of landing in Hollywood as a costume designer to the stars. But after her father’s car accident, she had to quit and return to her small New Hampshire town, Clover Lake, to help take care of her younger sister. Twelve years later, Ramona is still working at the town’s café, all but given up on her dream. But when a big-budget romantic comedy comes to Clover Lake to film, she wonders if this could be her chance. There’s only one problem—Dylan Monroe, her first kiss and Hollywood’s favorite wild child—is the star.

Dylan Monroe has always lived an unconventional life, having famous rock icons for parents. But she wants to prove that she’s not some chaotic, talentless nepo baby, that she has actual skills, that she’s just a normal person. To do that, Dylan takes on a project at a charming lake town—she even works at the town’s café (very quaint), shadowing a local waitress there (very cute), and asks her to take Dylan around to do Normal People Things.

But Dylan soon realizes it’s not just some small-town waitress she’s getting to know—Ramona Riley is someone she’s met before, someone who remembers her even more vividly. Before long, however, reality hits them, and both women must decide if the spark between them can fan the flames of their individual dreams, or if it will extinguish their light.]]> 412 Ashley Herring Blake 0593816005 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.86 2025 Dream On, Ramona Riley (Clover Lake, #1)
author: Ashley Herring Blake
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Fall Risk 223199392 Two good neighbors make the best of a bad Valentine’s Day in a funny and improbably romantic short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer.

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defenses are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love.]]> 82 Abby Jimenez 1662529082 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.11 2025 The Fall Risk
author: Abby Jimenez
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Happily Never After 181853964 Two love sceptics agree to work together as professional wedding disruptors. But fate has more romantic plans in mind for them . . .

When Sophie finds out right before getting married that she’s been cheated on (again!) it’s time for drastic action. Instead of calling the wedding off, she hires a gorgeous stranger � Max � to interrupt the ceremony and confront her fiancé. It’s hardly the wedding she’d planned. But Sophie enjoys taking revenge. So, when Max asks if she’ll work with him to help others expose their cheating partners, Sophie agrees. When they’re hired by a man who’s marrying the girl that once broke Max’s heart, Sophie expects Max to revel in the job. But instead, he seems to be wrestling with his feelings for his ex. And worse than that, Sophie is jealous . . .Tropes/ Friends to lovers2. Slow burn romance3. Spicy books4. Love triangle]]> 313 Lynn Painter nina ʚïɞ 3 3.25 stars!

“It sounds more like a rom-com plot than an actual thing that will produce results.�


the quote above says it all - what a cute read!

i have to say, i always enjoy lynn painter’s books and this was no exception. it was funny, fast paced, and the characters had me laughing out loud multiple times. i ate it up!

now, i think this ended up being fluffier than i expected - i thought there would be more drama and angst but a lot of it was resolved fairly quickly and easily and i wish we’d gotten more emotional depth. for two people who don’t want a relationship and debate the merits and truths about love, i thought it would delve deeper but ah, it was okay.

overall, i would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a fun, easy, banter filled rom-com! you won’t be disappointed.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i’ve loved everything i’ve read by lynn painter so far, so i’m super happy this came thru from my library! i have high hopes that i’ll love this one too. ]]> 3.63 2024 Happily Never After
author: Lynn Painter
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves:
review:
3.25 stars!

“It sounds more like a rom-com plot than an actual thing that will produce results.�


the quote above says it all - what a cute read!

i have to say, i always enjoy lynn painter’s books and this was no exception. it was funny, fast paced, and the characters had me laughing out loud multiple times. i ate it up!

now, i think this ended up being fluffier than i expected - i thought there would be more drama and angst but a lot of it was resolved fairly quickly and easily and i wish we’d gotten more emotional depth. for two people who don’t want a relationship and debate the merits and truths about love, i thought it would delve deeper but ah, it was okay.

overall, i would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a fun, easy, banter filled rom-com! you won’t be disappointed.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
i’ve loved everything i’ve read by lynn painter so far, so i’m super happy this came thru from my library! i have high hopes that i’ll love this one too.
]]> <![CDATA[Out of the Gate (Gold Rush Ranch, #1.5)]]> 57516710 Dermot Harding is ten years older than me. A family friend. An employee on my father’s ranch.

But I’ve loved him as long as I can remember.

At eighteen, I kissed him and he pushed me away. He said I was too young.

The army took him from me for three long years, but now he’s back at Gold Rush Ranch—looking at me like he’s never looked at me before. Letting his hands linger longer than they should. Offering to help me train the racehorse I’ve always dreamed of owning.

I say that I’ve moved on, but our chemistry? It’s electric. It’s overpowering. And soon all our reasons for staying away from each other fall away, along with our clothes.

He says he’s too old and too broken for someone like me. He says we can never work. But his body tells another story.

I put my pride on the line for him once before.

Am I a fool to risk it again?]]> 112 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 3
i always love elsie’s characters and this was no exception - ada and dermot are very sweet together. while their history is a long time coming, because it’s a novella we don’t get as much as i would’ve liked. i think they could’ve been given a fuller and more fleshed out story but overall i’m just happy we were given their story at all. i think it was a great little set up before diving into the gold rush ranch series. i would definitely recommend it! ]]> 3.66 2021 Out of the Gate (Gold Rush Ranch, #1.5)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/06
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves:
review:
this was just a cute lil novella.

i always love elsie’s characters and this was no exception - ada and dermot are very sweet together. while their history is a long time coming, because it’s a novella we don’t get as much as i would’ve liked. i think they could’ve been given a fuller and more fleshed out story but overall i’m just happy we were given their story at all. i think it was a great little set up before diving into the gold rush ranch series. i would definitely recommend it!
]]> <![CDATA[The Siren (The Original Sinners, #1)]]> 10970532
Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining... and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him... or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.]]> 432 Tiffany Reisz 0373605692 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.02 2012 The Siren (The Original Sinners, #1)
author: Tiffany Reisz
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Unsteady (The Undone, #1) 198853583
During last year’s Frozen Four, the Waterfell University hockey captain, and NHL legacy, took a brutal hit that left him with a concussion and a new discomfort on the ice. Plagued by nightmares and panic attacks every time he attempt to skate, Rhys wonders if he’ll ever play again � if he’ll ever want to.

Sadie Brown is staying focused this semester � no matter what.

Currently drowning in debt, custody hearings for her younger brothers and skating practices, she's just trying to make it to the next day. A spitfire figure skater known for her bad attitude and frequent disappearing acts, she has a reputation on campus. And it’s not a pretty one.

When she accidentally witnesses one of the golden boy hockey captain’s panic attacks and attempts to help him, a strange sort of understanding strikes up between them.

No questions asked. Just comfort.

But Rhys finds himself drawn to Sadie. Where he feels empty, a shell of the man and player he was before, Sadie is so full of everything it bursts from her; every emotion she feels seems like it’s blasted at max. Rhys is desperate to feel anything, Sadie wants to stop feeling so much.

But healing doesn’t mix with secrets, and they’re both skating a thin line, unsteady .]]> 384 Peyton Corinne nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.82 2023 Unsteady (The Undone, #1)
author: Peyton Corinne
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Crash 216223604 The nightmare she’s running from is nothing compared to where she’s headed.

Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn’t realize she’s heading straight into a blizzard.

She never arrives at her destination.

Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she’s made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.

But something isn’t right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn’t what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.

And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself—and her unborn child.

A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.
]]> 384 Freida McFadden 1464232989 nina ʚïɞ 2 2.5 stars

so, as expected this was a fast paced, easy read that pretty much kept me turning pages the whole way through - i think freida excels in this part of her writing.

however the plot ended up being pretty underwhelming. i’m really not an avid thriller reader, but i actually guessed the ending of this book so there wasn’t a shocking twist to blow me away. it all felt a little too predictable and tied up fairly neatly at the end and i think i just expected more (or better really).

i do have to say though, buddy reading this book made it all the better because i was able to just laugh at the absurdity and the stupidity of the fmc at every turn instead of rolling my eyes and ah, i just had a lot of fun despite my issues with the plot.

overall, i think freida’s books are fun if not the most thought out. i would recommend reading this to someone who wanted something to breeze through quickly but that probably wouldn’t be too memorable.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
visiting my irl bestie for the weekend and we picked this for an in person buddy read ]]> 3.58 2025 The Crash
author: Freida McFadden
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/02/07
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves:
review:
2.5 stars

so, as expected this was a fast paced, easy read that pretty much kept me turning pages the whole way through - i think freida excels in this part of her writing.

however the plot ended up being pretty underwhelming. i’m really not an avid thriller reader, but i actually guessed the ending of this book so there wasn’t a shocking twist to blow me away. it all felt a little too predictable and tied up fairly neatly at the end and i think i just expected more (or better really).

i do have to say though, buddy reading this book made it all the better because i was able to just laugh at the absurdity and the stupidity of the fmc at every turn instead of rolling my eyes and ah, i just had a lot of fun despite my issues with the plot.

overall, i think freida’s books are fun if not the most thought out. i would recommend reading this to someone who wanted something to breeze through quickly but that probably wouldn’t be too memorable.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
visiting my irl bestie for the weekend and we picked this for an in person buddy read
]]> <![CDATA[Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)]]> 146943394 667 Chloe Walsh 1728299985 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.51 2018 Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)
author: Chloe Walsh
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Assassin's Heart (Assassin's Heart, #1)]]> 21421609
Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.]]> 420 Sarah Ahiers 0062363786 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.65 2016 Assassin's Heart (Assassin's Heart, #1)
author: Sarah Ahiers
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Kiss of the Selkie (Entangled with Fae, #3)]]> 58835130 A Little Mermaid Retelling

A handsome fugitive seeking a marriage of convenience.
A selkie with a lethal kiss sent to seal his fate�

To evade a vicious sea queen’s clutches, selkie Maisie hides on land surviving as a thief. But when she rescues a human from drowning and illegally brings him to shore, she must answer for breaking fae law. As punishment, she’ll have to hunt down the man she saved…and kiss him. But with a kiss that can kill, Maisie’s mission means more than seduction. It means murder.

Son of a notorious fae-killer, Dorian was never meant to survive the shipwreck that was orchestrated to assassinate him. Now that he’s on the forbidden fae isle, he’ll do anything to gain citizenship—even marry a fae bride. Desperate for a hasty marriage, he holds a bridal competition in the isle’s most theatrical city, where displays of frivolity aren’t just encouraged—they’re expected. And if Maisie can act like a proper debutante and join the pageantry, she’ll get near enough to deliver her fatal kiss.

But getting close to her target brings complications she didn’t expect. As she pretends to compete for Dorian’s heart, it starts to feel less like an act…and more like falling in love.

If Maisie doesn’t deliver her kiss by sunrise on the last day of the competition, she forfeits her life. But if she succeeds, Dorian dies. When the pageant ends, will there be a true victor? Or only death and broken hearts?

ACOTAR meets Bridgerton and The Selection in this standalone fairytale retelling of The Little Mermaid. If you like enemies-to-lovers romance, bridal contests, and snarky fae royals, then you’ll love this swoon-worthy story in the Entangled with Fae series.

*NOTE this book is upper YA/NA featuring mature situations and some adult language. The romance is slow burn but leads to moderate steam.

Kiss of the Selkie is a complete stand-alone novel set in the same world as The Fair Isle Trilogy. Journey back to Faerwyvae or begin your adventure for the first time with this enchanting tale. Each book in the Entangled with Fae series can be read on its own and in any order. Happily ever after guaranteed!]]> 417 Tessonja Odette nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.87 Kiss of the Selkie (Entangled with Fae, #3)
author: Tessonja Odette
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires, #1)]]> 74045390 Rowan
I'm in the business of creating fairy tales.
Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels.
Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland.
My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her.
Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias.
By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late.
People like me don't get happy endings.
Not when we're destined to ruin them.

Zahra
After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland's most expensive ride, I should have been fired.
Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job.
The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I'd ever met.
Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn't care.
At least not until I discovered his secret.
It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn't fix everything.
Especially not us.

The Fine Print is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones following three billionaire brothers.]]> 448 Lauren Asher 1737507714 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.75 2021 The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires, #1)
author: Lauren Asher
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Recursion 42046112 Memory makes reality.

That's what NYC cop Barry Sutton is learning, as he investigates the devastating phenomenon the media has dubbed False Memory Syndrome—a mysterious affliction that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived.

That's what neuroscientist Helena Smith believes. It's why she's dedicated her life to creating a technology that will let us preserve our most precious memories. If she succeeds, anyone will be able to re-experience a first kiss, the birth of a child, the final moment with a dying parent.

As Barry searches for the truth, he comes face to face with an opponent more terrifying than any disease—a force that attacks not just our minds, but the very fabric of the past. And as its effects begin to unmake the world as we know it, only he and Helena, working together, will stand a chance at defeating it.

But how can they make a stand when reality itself is shifting and crumbling all around them?

At once a relentless pageturner and an intricate science-fiction puzzlebox about time, identity, and memory, Recursion is a thriller as only Blake Crouch could imagine it—and his most ambitious, mind-boggling, irresistible work to date.]]> 326 Blake Crouch 1524759783 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.15 2019 Recursion
author: Blake Crouch
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hopeless (Chestnut Springs, #5)]]> 174753697
I’m the outcast bartender, a shy girl from the wrong side of the tracks.

He’s thirty-five and all man, and I’m twenty-two and all� virgin.

He’s also my fiancé. Correction: my fake fiancé.

We start out as a bet. He doesn’t believe that anyone holds my last name against me. So he offers me his to prove a point.

It’s win-win. He gets a break from his concerned family’s prying, and I get a chance to shed my family’s reputation while I save up to ditch this small town.

He says all I have to do is wear his ring, follow his lead, and pretend I ’t keep my hands off of him in public.

But it’s what happens between us in private that blurs all those carefully drawn lines.

It’s what transpires behind closed doors that doesn’t feel like pretending at all.

This engagement was supposed to be for show. This agreement? It has an end date.

He once told me he’d never fall in love.

And yet here I am, head over heels for my fake fiancé.]]> 486 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 2 2.5 stars

this is probably a too generous rating but it’s mainly for the setting of chestnut springs and the found family moments i loved throughout the book. it’s just, beaubailey ended up being a major letdown.

beau eaton - i was not impressed, i never really was either. in the prior books he was set up as the mysterious brother in the military with the lighthearted humor and lovable personality. i sort of got it, but i never really felt hooked by his character the way i was with others so i went into this book fully excited to learn more about who beau was. unfortunately, what we got was pretty lackluster. he’s such a closed off character especially from his family which meant ugh, they weren’t in it as much as i’d hoped and that definitely hindered my enjoyment. i just couldn’t connect to beau or his story. he could’ve been done so much better like, i wanted to really feel for him and his trauma but even from his pov it felt like we just didn’t get enough insight. really, he wasn’t the worst mmc but compared to the rest of the brothers in the series he was severely lacking in all ways. i think beau was always meant to be the lovable side character and not the main act.

bailey jensen - i surprisingly liked (in the beginning). when beau didn’t hook me into the story, bailey did. her first couple of interactions with beau were really funny - she was blunt, bold, and no nonsense which i loved. her asking all of those really forward questions made me love her personality, but unfortunately, it got old kind of quick. her obsession with sex and all of its facets really drove the story right into the ground. also, she’s always been portrayed as the only ‘good� person that came out of the jensen family, but her character and the connection to all of chestnut springs felt off. like in a town that is so loving and open they have such a severe prejudice against her just because of her name? sure.

at first, i felt like beau and bailey were a good match together - both misunderstood and resigned to the life they were living� or something. but really their whole relationship ends up revolving around sex and it overshadowed any deep connection they might have had. like when they inevitably fall in love, it just felt like i was asking myself when? how? i needed there to be less physical moments between them and more emotional depth but that’s not what we got.

overall, i knew nothing was going to top theowinter, but i had hoped that this would still be something i would enjoy because if the rest of the series was any indication, i’m just a fan of elsie silver’s now. however while i can say i enjoyed parts of this story, i found myself extremely disappointed. maybe if their story hadn’t come after theowinter’s it wouldn’t have felt like such an enormous upset, but i think it was an unfortunate way to end the series. sadly, i wouldn’t recommend this one - it’s probably best if everyone just finishes off the series with Reckless.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

2.5 stars- meh this was cute-ish but def my least favorite of the series. rtc.

� pre-read. �
so i don’t think anything can top theowinter for me but i’m excited to learn more about beau and his story! the low reviews i’ve seen make me a tad nervous but i hope i enjoy it! ]]> 4.12 2023 Hopeless (Chestnut Springs, #5)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2025/02/01
date added: 2025/02/02
shelves:
review:
2.5 stars

this is probably a too generous rating but it’s mainly for the setting of chestnut springs and the found family moments i loved throughout the book. it’s just, beaubailey ended up being a major letdown.

beau eaton - i was not impressed, i never really was either. in the prior books he was set up as the mysterious brother in the military with the lighthearted humor and lovable personality. i sort of got it, but i never really felt hooked by his character the way i was with others so i went into this book fully excited to learn more about who beau was. unfortunately, what we got was pretty lackluster. he’s such a closed off character especially from his family which meant ugh, they weren’t in it as much as i’d hoped and that definitely hindered my enjoyment. i just couldn’t connect to beau or his story. he could’ve been done so much better like, i wanted to really feel for him and his trauma but even from his pov it felt like we just didn’t get enough insight. really, he wasn’t the worst mmc but compared to the rest of the brothers in the series he was severely lacking in all ways. i think beau was always meant to be the lovable side character and not the main act.

bailey jensen - i surprisingly liked (in the beginning). when beau didn’t hook me into the story, bailey did. her first couple of interactions with beau were really funny - she was blunt, bold, and no nonsense which i loved. her asking all of those really forward questions made me love her personality, but unfortunately, it got old kind of quick. her obsession with sex and all of its facets really drove the story right into the ground. also, she’s always been portrayed as the only ‘good� person that came out of the jensen family, but her character and the connection to all of chestnut springs felt off. like in a town that is so loving and open they have such a severe prejudice against her just because of her name? sure.

at first, i felt like beau and bailey were a good match together - both misunderstood and resigned to the life they were living� or something. but really their whole relationship ends up revolving around sex and it overshadowed any deep connection they might have had. like when they inevitably fall in love, it just felt like i was asking myself when? how? i needed there to be less physical moments between them and more emotional depth but that’s not what we got.

overall, i knew nothing was going to top theowinter, but i had hoped that this would still be something i would enjoy because if the rest of the series was any indication, i’m just a fan of elsie silver’s now. however while i can say i enjoyed parts of this story, i found myself extremely disappointed. maybe if their story hadn’t come after theowinter’s it wouldn’t have felt like such an enormous upset, but i think it was an unfortunate way to end the series. sadly, i wouldn’t recommend this one - it’s probably best if everyone just finishes off the series with Reckless.

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

2.5 stars- meh this was cute-ish but def my least favorite of the series. rtc.

� pre-read. �
so i don’t think anything can top theowinter for me but i’m excited to learn more about beau and his story! the low reviews i’ve seen make me a tad nervous but i hope i enjoy it!
]]> Anxious People 49127718 A poignant, charming novel about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined

Looking at real estate isn't usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can't fix up their own marriage. There's a wealthy banker who has been too busy making money to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can't seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment's only bathroom, and you've got the worst group of hostages in the world.

Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in a motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next.

Humorous, compassionate, and wise, Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us, even in the most anxious of times.

Includes short story - The Last Round of Golf]]> 336 Fredrik Backman 198216963X nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.17 2019 Anxious People
author: Fredrik Backman
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Reckless (Chestnut Springs, #4)]]> 108518990 Theo Silva. Rowdy bull rider. Notorious ladies� man. Scorching hot trouble wrapped up in a drool-worthy package.

And he’s looking at me like I might be his next meal.

But I’m almost free of my toxic marriage and have sworn off men entirely. So all I see when I look back is temptation served up with a heaping side of heartbreak.

The man is hard to trust—and even harder to resist.

Make that impossible. Because Theo is persistent. And no matter how hard I try to freeze him out, he melts my icy exterior and pulls apart all my defenses.

Over a drink in a small town bar, I blurt out my deepest, darkest secrets. Then I spend the singular hottest night of my life with him.

He worships my body. He makes me blush. I come alive beneath his hands.

Then I tell him to forget it ever happened. I want simple, and with him it all feels complicated.

It was supposed to be a one-time thing.

A secret.

But that little plus sign is going to make this secret impossible to keep.]]> 466 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 5 all-time-favs 5 stars!!

“That night we were reckless.� His voice cracks. “But god, I’d be reckless with you over and over again if it means ending up here.�

hands down this is my favorite book in the series, but i knew that going in (or assumed anyway). from book one i knew i wanted to know winter’s side of the story. sure, summer could’ve hated her but sweet, sunshine-y summer couldn’t so i knew there was more to her than we were seeing and i was so right.

winter is the ice queen (and i loveee ice queen characters so much) but she’s also insecure, flawed, and closed off but throughout the story we get to see her open up and melt for the people that prove she’s worth a damn when no one else ever had. my heart really went out to her for everything she put up with and getting to see why she was the way she was ugh it was worth the wait.

theo has my whole heart. this man is absolutely perfect. i love him so much for seeing winter, truly seeing her when no one else would and for being the rock she needed despite their bumps in the road. he was exactly what she needed and what we all need, i mean cmon universe. please?

i’ve said it before but i’ll say it again, elsie silver writes characters that i just ’t help but love. i don’t know what it is but i will always keep coming back for more. this universe especially keeps drawing me in and i love being able to see their family unit span and grow throughout all the books.

now, i went into this book pretty blind - i had no idea what the premise was besides it being about winter and theo and honestly i loved the surprise. this had a trope i wasn’t sure i would like but ended up actually loving with how it all transpired. there was angst, tension, playfulness and it just gave me that 5 star feeling yk? i would recommend everyone go into this without reading too much about it because it was so fun.

i highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a flirty bull rider to melt the ice queen and i hope you love them as much as i did!

“Te vivo.�
It’s better than “I love you�.
It’s more accurate.
It’s us.�

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

so i absolutely devoured this omg. theo and winter have my wholeee heart - rtc!

� pre-read. �
i’m finally hereee! i’ve been wanting winter’s story since book one and i cannot be more excited to see her and theo together ]]> 4.38 2023 Reckless (Chestnut Springs, #4)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/01/31
shelves: all-time-favs
review:
5 stars!!

“That night we were reckless.� His voice cracks. “But god, I’d be reckless with you over and over again if it means ending up here.�

hands down this is my favorite book in the series, but i knew that going in (or assumed anyway). from book one i knew i wanted to know winter’s side of the story. sure, summer could’ve hated her but sweet, sunshine-y summer couldn’t so i knew there was more to her than we were seeing and i was so right.

winter is the ice queen (and i loveee ice queen characters so much) but she’s also insecure, flawed, and closed off but throughout the story we get to see her open up and melt for the people that prove she’s worth a damn when no one else ever had. my heart really went out to her for everything she put up with and getting to see why she was the way she was ugh it was worth the wait.

theo has my whole heart. this man is absolutely perfect. i love him so much for seeing winter, truly seeing her when no one else would and for being the rock she needed despite their bumps in the road. he was exactly what she needed and what we all need, i mean cmon universe. please?

i’ve said it before but i’ll say it again, elsie silver writes characters that i just ’t help but love. i don’t know what it is but i will always keep coming back for more. this universe especially keeps drawing me in and i love being able to see their family unit span and grow throughout all the books.

now, i went into this book pretty blind - i had no idea what the premise was besides it being about winter and theo and honestly i loved the surprise. this had a trope i wasn’t sure i would like but ended up actually loving with how it all transpired. there was angst, tension, playfulness and it just gave me that 5 star feeling yk? i would recommend everyone go into this without reading too much about it because it was so fun.

i highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a flirty bull rider to melt the ice queen and i hope you love them as much as i did!

“Te vivo.�
It’s better than “I love you�.
It’s more accurate.
It’s us.�

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

so i absolutely devoured this omg. theo and winter have my wholeee heart - rtc!

� pre-read. �
i’m finally hereee! i’ve been wanting winter’s story since book one and i cannot be more excited to see her and theo together
]]> Wild Love (Rose Hill, #1) 199368721 She's been driving him wild for years . . . the good kind of wild.

The kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend's little sister and knowing you can't have her.

Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he's her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont.

After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm's length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay―friction that soon turns to blistering heat.

Ford knows damn well he shouldn't cross this line. But shouldn't and can't are two very different things.

And the only thing he truly can't do is resist her.]]> 466 Elsie Silver 0349441626 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 3.98 2024 Wild Love (Rose Hill, #1)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Paradise in Progress 221585217
Naturally, chaos ensues. Thanks to construction delays, they’re forced to share the resort’s only available living space: a luxurious penthouse. Now it’s not just the tropical heat that’s getting under Kennedy’s skin—it’s Tristan, too.

Although their constant bickering and never-ending stream of passive-aggressive remarks is tiresome, Kennedy finds herself craving every interaction. There’s something about Tristan’s carefree demeanor that’s throwing her off, making her question everything she thought she knew about him—and maybe about herself, too.

Tristan is everything Kennedy ’t stand, but as they battle through renovation hiccups and long nights of planning, lines start to blur and chemistry sparks.

Will their fiery rivalry turn into something more, or will they tear apart each other’s blueprints before they can build something new?


A new romantic comedy standalone releasing February 6, 2025]]> 343 Alexis Buxton nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.14 Paradise in Progress
author: Alexis Buxton
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Powerless (Chestnut Springs, #3)]]> 63031640
But hockey heartthrob Jasper Gervais isn’t looking at me like a friend anymore. And he isn’t touching me like one either.

To his fans, he’s the handsome, talented athlete on TV. But to me he’s still the lost boy with sad eyes and a heart of gold.

The man I’ve loved in secret for years.

So when my life falls apart on my wedding day, it only makes sense that he’s the one to swoop in and save me. And when his world comes crashing down around him, I’m there to return the favor.

But the more time we spend alone, the more Jasper doesn’t feel like a friend at all. He feels like everything I’ve ever wanted and thought I could never have.

Our feelings aren’t straight forward though. They twist and turn around the pain of his past and the reality of my present.

Jasper Gervais acts like he wants me.

But after years of turning me away, he’s going to need to prove it.]]> 504 Elsie Silver nina ʚïɞ 4 4 stars!

friends to lovers is always going to be one of my all time favorite tropes, and while i didn’t think this story was perfect by any means, i did think jasper and sloan were. i truly think elsie silver writes the best characters because i ’t help but love all of them. it took some time for me to to warm up to rhett and cade in the previous books, but here i just loved jasper and sloan right away.

jasper was that character that i just wanted to wrap up in the biggest hug. he’s so closed off and vulnerable because of the terrible circumstances that life threw at him, but even so, he’s sweet, caring, protective and this might be heinous to say but i may like him more than cade.. it’s a possibility.

sloan, i absolutely connected to right off the bat. she just wanted to appease her family and be the perfect child even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness and gosh did i feel for her. not only that, she’s so loyal, unwavering in her love and i loved seeing her stand up for herself to make choices for the life she wanted. yep, i loved her and i’m very team sloan.

jasper and sloan together have a long history, but their story is heartfelt and their love for each other is enduring (even while only friends) and i loved that despite time, hurts and supposed sleights that they remained each other’s person. it didn’t matter their upbringing or status but just that they had each other.

now, a few nitpicky things: i think at times their back and forth between not feeling good enough for the other or being too chicken to admit their feelings was really frustrating and went on a little too long. also, i wish a bit more happened or more events took place in the story. it felt like sometimes (while i loved seeing jasper and sloan together) it felt a bit slow and i wanted more anxiety or drama to amp it up a bit.

overall, i really loved the story and its becoming clearer and clearer that because i love elsie’s writing and characters that i will probably pick up anything she writes. i cannot wait to see what she brings to the table with winter and theo’s book next!

“Yeah. I saw you, Sloane. I noticed you too. Didn’t know what made me look up there that day. Had no clue what it all meant.�
“What did it mean?�
“That when it comes to you, I’m powerless.�

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
after a quick break, i’m back for more of my cowboy era ]]> 4.08 2023 Powerless (Chestnut Springs, #3)
author: Elsie Silver
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/29
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves:
review:
4 stars!

friends to lovers is always going to be one of my all time favorite tropes, and while i didn’t think this story was perfect by any means, i did think jasper and sloan were. i truly think elsie silver writes the best characters because i ’t help but love all of them. it took some time for me to to warm up to rhett and cade in the previous books, but here i just loved jasper and sloan right away.

jasper was that character that i just wanted to wrap up in the biggest hug. he’s so closed off and vulnerable because of the terrible circumstances that life threw at him, but even so, he’s sweet, caring, protective and this might be heinous to say but i may like him more than cade.. it’s a possibility.

sloan, i absolutely connected to right off the bat. she just wanted to appease her family and be the perfect child even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness and gosh did i feel for her. not only that, she’s so loyal, unwavering in her love and i loved seeing her stand up for herself to make choices for the life she wanted. yep, i loved her and i’m very team sloan.

jasper and sloan together have a long history, but their story is heartfelt and their love for each other is enduring (even while only friends) and i loved that despite time, hurts and supposed sleights that they remained each other’s person. it didn’t matter their upbringing or status but just that they had each other.

now, a few nitpicky things: i think at times their back and forth between not feeling good enough for the other or being too chicken to admit their feelings was really frustrating and went on a little too long. also, i wish a bit more happened or more events took place in the story. it felt like sometimes (while i loved seeing jasper and sloan together) it felt a bit slow and i wanted more anxiety or drama to amp it up a bit.

overall, i really loved the story and its becoming clearer and clearer that because i love elsie’s writing and characters that i will probably pick up anything she writes. i cannot wait to see what she brings to the table with winter and theo’s book next!

“Yeah. I saw you, Sloane. I noticed you too. Didn’t know what made me look up there that day. Had no clue what it all meant.�
“What did it mean?�
“That when it comes to you, I’m powerless.�

.・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・. .・�.・゜✭・.

� pre-read. �
after a quick break, i’m back for more of my cowboy era
]]> <![CDATA[Drive (The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, #1)]]> 34950852
The average song is three and a half minutes long; those three and a half minutes could lead to a slow blink, a glimpse of the past, or catapult the soul into heart-shattering nostalgia.

At the height of my career, I had the life I wanted, the life I’d always envisioned. I’d found my tempo, my rhythm. Then I received a phone call that left me off key.

You see, my favorite songs had a way of playing simultaneously. I was in love with one man’s beats and another’s lyrics. But when it came to the soundtrack of a life, how could anyone choose a favorite song? So, to erase any doubt, I ditched my first-class ticket and decided to take a drive, fixed on the rearview.

Two days.

One playlist.

And the long road home to the man who was waiting for me.]]> 412 Kate Stewart 1978098758 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.34 2017 Drive (The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, #1)
author: Kate Stewart
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Choose You (The Study You Series Book 2)]]> 222816761 Perfect is overrated. But the past has a way of exploiting the cracks.

Finn should have known life was too perfect. With a change in the university’s second-year schedule, Gillian will once again be Finn’s lecturer. Facing another year of secrets, lies, and sneaking around, she breaks things off. Instead of relief, Finn is unmoored, missing her lover, and waking up with the sour taste of alcohol and regret in her mouth.

Gillian understands why Finn walked away, but it hasn’t made their separation any easier to bear. Yet when Finn experiences a family emergency, she knows only one place to turn. Gillian is waiting with open arms. And a decision—taking a risk and telling the university of their relationship, albeit fudging the timeline a bit. Now they don’t have to hide any more.

But life is not all sunshine and roses. Trouble still lies in wait on their journey to forever�

Note: Choose You is book two of Finn and Gillian’s continuing story that began with Study You. It is an age gap, professor/mature college student novel by bestselling lesbian romance author Melissa Tereze. Contains early-on angst that is quickly overcome, explicit scenes, and a dastardly plot to destroy all these two lovers have fought for.]]> 372 Melissa Tereze nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.49 Choose You (The Study You Series Book 2)
author: Melissa Tereze
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.49
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Remarkably Bright Creatures 58733693 Remarkably Bright Creatures, an exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.

After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.

Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.]]> 368 Shelby Van Pelt 0063204150 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.35 2022 Remarkably Bright Creatures
author: Shelby Van Pelt
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Paradise Problem 199797582
Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents � his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.]]> 352 Christina Lauren 1668017725 nina ʚïɞ 0 to-read 4.07 2024 The Paradise Problem
author: Christina Lauren
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3) 209439447 THE STORM IS COMING . . .

Get ready to fly or die in the breathtaking follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.]]> 527 Rebecca Yarros 1649377150 nina ʚïɞ 3 books-i-own 4.23 2025 Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3)
author: Rebecca Yarros
name: nina ʚïɞ
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/25
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: books-i-own
review:
sooo i didn’t hate this but i didn’t love it either
]]>