Book Review: Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Title: Romancing Mister

Author: Julia Quinn

Series/Standalone: Bridgertons Series (Book #4)

Genre: Adult, Historical Romance

Pages: 370

Publisher: Avon

Year Published: 2002

Format: Audiobook

"Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London. Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for... well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him until she stumbles across his deepest secret.... and fears she doesn't know him at all. 

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone's preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same- especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide... is she his biggest threat- or his promise of a happy ending?"

My Rating: 5/5

I love a friends to romance! This is a trope that I just adore. I also think that long-time crushes that pay off in a cute way just make me so happy. It reminds me of my relationship at the beginning with my husband. I think that the author did a great job leading up to this romance. It's one you could see building in the background throughout the past books and their love grew so well over time. I loved, loved, loved this! I can't wait to continue the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

DNF Review: Eating Her Christmas Cookies by Alina Jacobs

Title: Eating Her Christmas Cookies

Author: Alina Jacobs

Series/Standalone: Frost Brothers Series (Book #1)

Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Pages: 408 (Made it 35% of the way through)

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2018

Format: Kindle Unlimited

"Jack

In my perfect world, it would always be winter and never Christmas.

I despise the holiday. I hate carols, shopping and pretending to be a perfect family

I walked away from my family, or rather they walked away from me.

My heart is like ice-

See it creeping up the walls.

Oh, wait, no, that's royal icing.

I never should have allowed the Great Christmas Bake-Off to film in my tower.

And I never, ever, should have agreed to be a judge.

Chloe

I love Christmas! I love sparkly window decorations, heartwarming holiday movies and themed coffee.

Most of all I love Christmas baking.

Even though is company is sponsoring the bake-off show, billionaire Jack Frost claims he hates sweets.

But after he tastes my goods I know he'll come begging for more.

And wouldn't you know it, that night Jack Frost asked me to come up to his penthouse and give him a special taste of my Christmas cookies.

Against my better judgement, I went...

I baked him my signature gingerbread cookies and of course, he ate them up!

It should have been a Christmas miracle, but Jack Frost couldn't have come into my life at a worse time.

Not only am I broke, but this was my first Christmas after my Oma died.

Someone is trying to sabotage me in the Great Christmas Bake-Off.

I'm being stalked by a mall Santa.

Sleeping with one of the judges is a disaster waiting to happen. I needed Jack and his washboard abs about as much as I need that third sticky bun.

But when he says in his deep, sexy voice, "Can you make me some more cookies?" well stick a candy cane in me I'm done."

My Rating: 1/5 (DNF at 35%)

I'm starting this new review series because I can't keep forcing myself to finish things I know I'm not enjoying. Things like this. I normally would have pushed through but I was finding myself not reading because this was putting me off books. I just couldn't handle it. With all respect to the author, this was the worst thing I've ever read. This was far too long for what it was, there were stalkers that were never properly addressed, I didn't buy the romance, it was too cliche and none of it worked for me.  This book is 400 pages of going nowhere as far as I could tell. I made it 35% of the way and that was more than enough for me. Would NOT recommend it.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Title: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

Author: Christina Lauren

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

Pages: 309

Publisher: Gallery Books

Year Published: 2018

Format: Audiobook

"Hazel Camille Bradford knows she's a lot to take- and frankly, most men aren't up to the challenge. If her army of pets, and thrill for the absurd don't send them running, her lack of filter means she'll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She's a good soul ins search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met- when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes- to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.

Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there's nothing between them... right?"

My Rating: 4.5/5

This was almost the perfect romance for me. It had the quirky girl, the type A guy, and their friendship that buds into more. And if you've read this book you'll know the trope that got the .5 stars dinged off. I really enjoyed this and I get why these authors are so well known in the book, especially the romance, and community.

I look forward to reading more of the current works and their backlist. Super fun, with lots of pining, also the humour is magnificent. Would recommend it overall.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Fix the World by Joe Henderson

Title: Fix the World

Author: Joe Henderson

Series/Standalone: Skyward Series (Volume 3)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Graphic Novel

Pages: 136

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2019

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Willa's faced terrifying storms, giant man-eating bugs, a deadly rebellion and a whole lot of heartbreak, but nothing can prepare her for this. It's time for Willa to fulfil her father's last request. Time to fix the world. But a revelation will rock Willa to her core and test her in ways she never imagined possible."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This series is such a fast, fun read. I would recommend just binge read these back to back. They're fun, fast-paced and enjoyable. I liked the art style immensely and the plot was just ok. Overall I think that this series was fun, but it wasn't earth-shattering for me. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Flock by Kate Stewart

Title: Flock

Author: Kate Stewart

Series/Standalone: The Ravenhood (Book #1)

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Reverse Harem

Pages: 364

Publisher: Independently Published

Year Published: 2020

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Can you keep a secret?

I grew up sick

Let me clarify.

I grew up believing that real love stories include a martyr or demand great sacrifice to be worthy.

Because of that, I believed it, because I made myself believe it, and I bred the most masochistic of romantic heart, which resulted in my illness.

When I lived this story, my own twisted fairy tale, it was unbeknownst to me at the time because I was young and naive. I gave into temptation and fed the beating beast, which grew thirstier with every slash, every strike, every blow.

Triple Falls wasn't at all what it seemed, no were the men that swept me under their wing. But in order to keep them, I had to be in on their secrets.

Secrets that cost us everything to keep.

That's the novelty of fiction versus reality. You can't re-live your own love story, because by the time you've realized you're living it, it's over. At least that was the case for me and the men I trusted my foolish heart to.

Looking back, I"m convinced I willed my story into existence due to my illness. 

And all were punished."

Overall Rating: 3/5

Spice Rating: 4/5

I think that this first book was a fun read, but I think it wasn't what I wanted. The plot was just ok for me. I didn't care about where the story was headed or why the characters acted the way they did. I was in it for the smut. It was great fun to read, and I was hoping for things to get messier, but they just never went too crazy. I don't plan on continuing the series, but I would continue reading from the author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Here There Be Dragonflies

Title: Here There Be Dragonflies

Author: Joe Henderson 

Series/Standalone: Skyward (Volume 2)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Dystopian

Pages: 104

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2019

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Now a fugitive, Willa leaves Chicago and goes on the run! But when she takes refuge with some low-G farmers, she stumbles into a plot to attack the city. oh, and on top of all that: giant, man-eating bugs! Maybe we should have led with that."

My Rating: 4/5

I thought this volume was inventive and fun but it didn't carry the interest that I hoped it would. I think that this series could be longer if it had taken a different direction. I plan to finish the series, but it wasn't really the way I hoped for it to go down. Ps. Giant bugs did deliver terror though.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Spoiler Alert by Oliva Dade

Title: Spoiler Alert

Author: Olivia Dade

Series/Standalone: Spoiler Alert Series (Book #1)

Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction

Pages: 416

Publisher: Avon

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"Olivia Dade bursts onto the scene in this delightfully fun romantic comedy set in the world of fanfiction, in which a devoted fan goes on an unexpected date with her celebrity crush, who's secretly posting fanfiction of his own.

Marcus Caster-Rupp has a secret. While the world knows him as Aeneas, the star of the biggest show on TV, Gods of the Gates, he's known to fanfiction readers as Book!AneasWouldNever, an anonymous and popular poster. Marcus is able to get out his own frustrations with his character through his stories, especially the ones that feature the internet's favorite couple to ship, Aeneas and Lavinia. But if anyone ever found out about his online persona, he'd be fired. Immediately.

April Whittier has secrets of her own. A hardcore Lavinia fan, she's hidden her fanfiction and cosplay hobby from her 'real life' for years- but not anymore. When she decides to post her latest Lavinia creation on Twitter, her photo goes viral. Trolls and supporters alike are commenting on her plus-size take, but when Marcus, one half of her OTP, sees her pic and asks her out on a date to spite her critics, she realizes life is really stranger than fanfiction.

Even though their first date is a disaster, Marcus quickly realizes that he wants much more from April than a one-time publicity stunt. And when he discovers she's actually Unapologetic Lavinia Stan, his closest fandom friend, he has one more huge secret to hide form her.

With love and Marcus's career on the line, can the two of them stop hiding once and for all, or will a match made in fandom end up prematurely cancelled?"

My Rating: 5/5

This was exactly what I didn't know I need a body-positive, unapologetically nerdy, sex-positive romance that includes fanfic and a made-up set of source material that is so good I would die to read the original source material and watch the less-than-stellar (apparently) show. I loved the way the author focused on each character as individuals as well as a couple. I cannot speak to all of the representation but the character growth, the plot, etc are astounding and I can't wait to read the next installment! Would highly recommend it to nerdy folks looking for a modern romance!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Y2K-O! by Carly Usdin

Title: Y2K-O!

Author: Carly Usdin

Artist(s): Nina Vakueva

Series/Standalone: Heavy Vinyl (Volume 2)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, LGBT

Pages: 112

Publisher: BOOM! Box

Year Published: 2020

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"An all-new original graphic novel follow up to the award-nominated Heavy Vinyl: Riot on The Radio that reunites everyone's favorite girl vigilantes to save the day by stopping Big Music from killing digital music in 1999!

SAVE THE INTERNET, SAVE THE WORLD (OF MUSIC)!

It's 1999 and Chris is living her dream: working at Vinyl Destination by day and fighting for (musical) justice by night (okay, maybe during the day too) in the world's coolest teen girl vigilante fight club. But when the girls of Vinyl Destination enter Battle of The Bands- to investigate and, of course, win - they learn that the shadowy corporate masters of the music industry plan to destroy the fledging world of digital music and blame it on Y2K. Now it's time for Christ and the gang to dial up 56k (or more, pretty please) of justice so they can save the day once again!"

My Rating: 4.5/5

I wish that this series had more volumes, the cliffhanger that this one ends on was not what I needed from the series. Also watching as the characters traverse long-distance relationships, new relationships and crushes. I loved the way this tackled so many things while staying fun and keeping the music involved. I would read anything else this author put out! Anything!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

Title: As Good As Dead

Author: Holly Jackson

Series/Standalone: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (Book #3)

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult

Pages: 459

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Year Published: 2021

Format: Audiobook

"The New York Times Bestselling Series The highly anticipated finale to the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series, the instant bestseller that reads like your favorite true crime podcast or show. By the end of this mystery series, you'll never think of good girls the same way again...

Pip is about to head to college, but she is still haunted by the way her last investigation ended. She's used to online death threats in the wake of her viral true-crime podcast, but she can't help noticing an anonymous person who keeps asking her. Who will look for you when you're the one who disappears?

Soon the threats escalate and Pip realizes that someone is following her in real life. When she starts to find connections between her stalker and a local serial killer caught six year ago, she wonders if maybe the wrong man is behind bars.

Police refuse to act, so Pip has only one choice: find the suspect herself- or be the next victim. As the deadly game plays out, Pip discovers that everything in her small town is coming full circle... and if she doesn't find the answers, this time she will be the one who disappears."

My Rating: 4/5

I was not expecting that this series would have so many ups and downs. I was concerned after the last one about how they would continue this series. I thought that we would be following a far different case and yet the author did an excellent job of tying the stories and town together. There are so many well-written characters and the plot took a turn I was not anticipating. I did anticipate the first twist for the most part but by the end, I was in shock at where the author was taking us. Overall, a tremendous series and I would read anything else the author publishes, especially thrillers/mysteries.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Last Star by Rick Yancey

Title: The Last Star

Author: Rick Yancey

Series/Standalone: The 5th Wave Series (Book #3)

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Pages: 338

Publisher: GP Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2016

Format: Audiobook

"The enemy is Other. The enemy is us.

They're down here, they're up there, they're nowhere. They want the Earth, they want us to have it. They came to wipe us out, they came to save us.

But beneath these riddles lies one truth: Cassie has been betrayed. So has Ringer. Zombie. Nugget. And all 7.5 billion people who used to live on our planet. Betrayed first by the Others, and now by ourselves.

In these last days, Earth's remaining survivors will need to decide what's more important: saving themselves... or saving what makes us human."

My Rating: 3/5

This was a really fun series to binge-read. If you are looking for a 2010s dystopian throwback I would recommend picking up the series on audio or physically. It's a fast-paced, alien, dystopia showdown. What isn't there to like? The only reason this book didn't have as high of a rating as the others in the series is that the author took this in a direction I didn't expect or love. It was a fun ride.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

Title: The Infinite Sea

Author: Rick Yancey

Series/Standalone: The 5th Wave Series (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Pages: 320

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile 

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben and Ringer are forced to confront the Others' ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven't seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate."

My Rating: 4/5

I really enjoyed this second volume I think it leant to how diabolical it is. I think that the cliffhanger was amazing and I was glad to continue the series. I've already started the final book in the series. The characters are decently dynamic as well as the plot being fast moving. I thought that it was super fun and would recommend science fiction throwbacks.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny