Category: Contemporary

Review: The Kiss Curse (The Ex Hex #2)

Title: The Kiss Curse (The Ex Hex #2)
Author: Erin Sterling
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publisher: Avon
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 22, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

Welcome to Spooky Season!! The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

Review:

Gwyn runs the successful witchy shop, Something Wicked, in her hometown of Graves Glen. The grumpy descendent of the town’s founder, Wells Penhallow, arrives in the town for a new start. Wells starts his own shop, Penhallow’s, across from Something Wicked. Gwyn wants to shut it down, but as she spends more time with Wells, she starts to fall for him. When her magic begins to fade, Gwyn and Wells must figure out what’s causing it before it’s completely gone.

Gwyn was one of my favourite characters in The Ex Hex, so I was excited to read her own story. I loved the grumpy/sunshine pair, though Gwyn could be more grumpy than sunshine at times. There were some funny moments, just like in the first book. I listened to the audiobook as well as reading the physical book, and it was really well done!

The Kiss Curse is a cute witchy rom com!

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Kiss Curse? What did you think of it?

Review: The Christmas Countdown

Title: The Christmas Countdown
Author: Holly Cassidy
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Penguin Random House Canada
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 22, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the author of The Christmas Wager comes a charming holiday rom-com about a young, recently heartbroken woman who is tasked by her sister to complete Advent calendar challenges in the lead up to Christmas to reignite her belief in herself, the holidays, and love again.

She’s given up on love and Christmas…but fate has other plans.

All Callie wants for Christmas is to hibernate. She’s still reeling from being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, and under no circumstances will she go home for the holidays considering her ex will be right next door with his new, perfect partner. Callie is officially in grinch mode, but her meddling sister, Anita, won’t let her give up on life, love, and Christmas quite so easily.

Anita stages a Christmas intervention for Callie with a homemade Advent calendar challenge—cheerful tasks to push Callie out of her comfort zone and into the holiday spirit, inspired by a childhood tradition. Callie reluctantly plays along, but when she comes face-to-face with a charming baker who just might be the spoonful of sugar she needs, her strict rules on love and the holidays are tested. 

As they strike a deal to do the activities together, could the twenty four little doors on Callie’s Advent calendar not only open up one, but two closed-off hearts?

Review:

Callie was recently dumped by her childhood sweetheart, and she still has to see him at work everyday. She doesn’t want to go home for the holidays because she’ll have to see him and his family. To cheer her up and remind her how much she loves Christmas, her sister, Anita, creates an advent calendar for Callie filled with childhood memories and activities to get her out of her shell. Callie decides to follow the calendar. She meets a charming baker who eagerly participates in the activities with Callie and makes her believe in love again.

This was such a cute holiday romance. I loved the way Callie’s sister incorporated so many of their childhood memories into the advent calendar to remind her of the joy of Christmas. Callie and Marco, the baker, had a natural romance that developed throughout their Christmas adventures.

The Christmas Countdown is a fun holiday romance!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a digital copy of this book!

Have you read The Christmas Countdown? What did you think of it?

Review: We Solve Murders (We Solve Murders #1)

Title: We Solve Murders (We Solve Murders #1)
Author: Richard Osman
Genre: Mystery, Contemporary
Publisher: Viking
Source: Book of the Month box
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 17, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

A brand new series. An iconic new detective duo. And a puzzling new murder to solve…

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.

Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job…

Then a dead body, a bag of money, and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy?

Review:

Steve Wheeler is a retired investigator who is enjoying his quiet life. His daughter-in-law is a private security officer whose current job is protecting the famous author Rosie D’Antonio. After three influencers and celebrities who share the same management company die mysteriously, Amy is certain Rosie will be next. She enlists the help of Steve to join her on a chase around the world to discover the killer. 

This was my first read from Richard Osman and I really enjoyed it. I liked the unconventional relationship between the main characters. Steve was Amy’s father-in-law, and I don’t think I’ve read a story with two main characters with that relationship before. There were a few times that I laughed out loud. I listened to the audiobook, which was very good. It was a little confusing at times because there were so many characters to keep track of, but I liked the narrator’s voice. 

We Solve Murders is a great new mystery!

Content warnings: death, gun violence

Have you read We Solve Murders? What did you think of it?

Review: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore (Dream Harbor #2)

Title: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore (Dream Harbor #2)
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: One More Chapter
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 29, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller and viral TikTok phenomenon, The Pumpkin Spice Café, comes a brand new spicy romance set in Dream Harbor!

When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazelcan’t understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues… she just need someone to help her out.

Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he’s been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help!

Hazel didn’t go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells…

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is a cozy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:
• opposites attract
• small town
• forced proximity
• he falls first

Review:

Hazel is the manager of The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore. One day, she finds a highlighted message in a romance book as she is putting it away. Noah, a fisherman, shows up after she finds the message, and he suggests they follow the clue together. Hazel is going to turn 30 soon and she regrets not having a wild time in her 20s. She decides she can have some fun with Noah, who’s known for only having flings. Hazel and Noah spend a lot of time together, but they start to fall for each other, despite their agreement that it will just be a summer fling.

This book was a spicy romance! It was spicier than the first book in the Dream Harbor series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, because Hazel and Noah already knew each other at the beginning so their romance could begin right away. I liked that the romantic couple for the next book was set up in this one. I’m excited to continue this series. 

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is a spicy summer romance!

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for providing a digital copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore? What did you think of it?

Review: Cruel Winter With You

Title: Cruel Winter With You (Under the Mistletoe Collection #1)
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Novella
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 12, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

For two former childhood friends, a blustery winter storm stirs some frosty—and scorching—memories in a delightful short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.

Ali Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter with You is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

Review:

On Christmas Eve, Jamie Malek’s father sends her to her childhood best friend’s house to borrow a roasting pan. When she gets there, her best friend’s younger brother Marc is the only person there. Since it’s a bad storm and too dangerous for Jamie to walk all the way home, she ends up staying the night, allowing them to confess all the romantic feelings they’ve been holding onto all of their lives. 

This was a friends to enemies to friends to lovers romance, and also a bit of a second chance romance. These kinds of romances always feel so emotional to me. The characters and their backstory was well developed in this short novella.

Cruel Winter With You is a perfect holiday novella!

Other books in the series:

  • Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe Collection #2)
  • All by My Elf (Under the Mistletoe Collection #3)
  • Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe Collection #4)
  • Only Santas in the Building (Under the Mistletoe Collection #5)

Have you read Cruel Winter With You? What did you think of it?

Review: The Good Bracelet

Title: The Good Bracelet
Author: Jasmine Golden
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Publisher: Independent
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 23, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if a simple bracelet could change your life?

It’s been six months since the accident that turned 12-year-old Jayna’s world upside down. When Jayna receives a bracelet from a mysterious sender that promises to change her life forever, she is skeptical at first. Then good things start happening—coincidences too perfect to ignore. With her best friend, Isa, by her side, Jayna sets out to uncover the bracelet’s secrets:

– Who sent it to her?

– Is it really magic?

– Who is the other girl wearing the same bracelet?

The Good Bracelet is more than just a story—it’s a guide for young girls to discover their inner strength and realize that they have the power to change their lives. Perfect for readers who are ready to explore the magic within themselves, this book will inspire, uplift, and empower. 

Review:

Six months ago, twelve-year-old Jayna’s mother died suddenly, leaving Jayna to look after her young sister while her dad works. One morning, she opens the front door and finds a package addressed to her with no return address. Inside the package is a bracelet with the word “good” on it, with a note saying that the bracelet has magic and will allow the wearer to only see the good in every situation. At the same time, another girl named Amanda receives the same bracelet with the same note from her Aunt Hope. When both girls wear the bracelets, their lives start looking up and good things begin to happen to them. They want to figure out the magic of the bracelet and how they can share it with their friends.

This is such a great middle grade story. It’s short and fast paced so I read it in one sitting. It has a great message for young readers. You can change your situation in life by having a positive outlook. The girls believed good things would happen while they wore the bracelets because the notes said they would. Your state of mind and outlook on life can have an influence on your success and happiness. 

The Good Bracelet is a great middle grade story with an important message!

Thank you Jasmine Golden and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign. 

Content warnings: death of parent

Have you read The Good Bracelet? What did you think of it?

Review: A Curse of Mayhem (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #2)

Title: Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #2)
Author: Sunayna Prasad
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publisher: Independent
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 15, 2020
Rating: ★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

History, like magic, has a habit of repeating itself.

It’s been six months since thirteen-year-old Alyssa McCarthy left magic behind for good. Or so she thought…

Then the enchanted objects that protected her disappear. Now a skeleton named Errol has cursed her with magical powers that keep getting her in trouble. Suddenly strange things are happening with disastrous effects, and if Alyssa can’t remove the magic, she will lose everything she holds dear.

In order to get rid of her unwanted wizardry, Alyssa will have to boost her bravery and confidence and determine who Errol really is. But every time Alyssa uses an enchantment, Errol is one step closer to getting his flesh back and becoming alive, and he will do anything to achieve his goals…even if it means destroying Alyssa’s happiness.

Review:

Alyssa McCarthy has left magic behind since moving in with her godfather, Alex. When the magical items that had been left in her care disappear, Alyssa discovers that she now has magic powers. However, she can’t control them, so she gets in trouble at home and school for using magic. Every time Alyssa uses her magic, an evil skeleton named Errol gets one step closer to getting his body back, so she must quickly figure out how to get rid of her powers.

This is a great sequel in the Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions series. This story was quite different from the first one. Alyssa had new friends in this book, because she had moved from New Jersey to Chicago. I liked that this introduced new characters to help Alyssa on her mission. 

A Curse of Mayhem is a great middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Sunayna Prasad and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign. 

Content warnings: death of parents (off page)

Other books in the series:

Have you read A Curse of Mayhem? What did you think of it?

Review: Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)

Title: Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)
Author: Arden Coutts
Genre: Romance, Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: CEI Media LLC
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

A night of passion, a world of vengeance, and a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Will Marcus and Kee fall for each other or fall to the dangers around them? 

Kee and Marcus have been playing a game of emotional cat and mouse and have finally surrendered to their desires. After a passionate night together, they find themselves falling for each other. However, their newfound happiness is abruptly shattered when Marcus disappears without a word.

Confused and hurt, Kee wonders why Marcus would leave her without any explanation or information about his whereabouts. Little does she know, he has embarked on a dangerous mission. 

As Marcus plunges into the treacherous world of vengeance, he faces numerous obstacles and life-threatening situations. He relies on his cunning, physical prowess, and unwavering determination to navigate the murky waters of retribution.

Meanwhile, Kee struggles with her conflicting emotions—torn between worrying for Marcus’s safety and feeling betrayed by his sudden departure. She embarks on her own journey of self-discovery as she seeks answers about Marcus’s motives and contemplates the nature of their relationship.

Will Marcus survive the perils he faces along his path of revenge? Will he find redemption and make it back to Kee? And can Kee find it in her heart to forgive him for leaving her in the dark?

Review:

Following the events of Fall Into Midnight, Kee and Marcus have fallen for each other. After a night of passion, Marcus runs away to Russia without telling Kee. He’s on the hunt for his nemesis Dimitri’s daughter, who was connected to Marcus’s father’s murder. Kee joins Marcus’s friends to travel to Russia and save him.

This was such a great sequel in the Fall Trilogy. The characters were all introduced in the first book, so the action started right away. There’s romance but there’s also a lot of danger that the characters face. I’m excited to read the third book soon!

Fall Into Me is a great suspenseful romance!

Thank you Arden Coutts for sending me a copy of this book. 

Content warnings: death, kidnapping, torture, blood, sexual assault

Other books in the series:

Have you read Fall Into Me? What did you think of it?

Review: The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1)

Title: The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1)
Author: Erin Sterling
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publisher: Avon
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 28, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.

Review:

Nine years ago, while drinking vodka one night, Vivienne Jones cursed the man who had just broken her heart. Now, that man, Rhys Penhallow, has come back to her town of Graves Glen to recharge the ley lines. However, when things start going wrong with Rhys, Vivi realizes her curse on Rhys must have worked and is going to ruin her town. Vivi must own up to cursing Rhys and help him find a way to break the curse.

This was such a fun witchy rom com! It was hilarious from beginning to end. They got into funny and strange situations, such as plastic souvenir skulls coming to life, sneaking into a haunted house where one of Vivi’s students is trying to hook up with someone, and magical ley lines that turn them on. I’m so excited to read the rest of this series!

The Ex Hex is a fun rom com!

Content warnings: death, parental death (off page)

Other books in the series:

  • The Kiss Curse (The Ex Hex #2)
  • The Wedding Witch (The Ex Hex #3)

Have you read The Ex Hex? What did you think of it?

Review: This Was Written For You

Title: This Was Written For You
Author: Anonymous
Genre: Philosophy, Contemporary
Publisher: Explore Unguided
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898

Goodreads Synopsis:

WHAT IF THERE WAS A PART OF YOU THAT YOU KNEW NOTHING ABOUT?

“This was written for you”, is a story that was found in the possessions of a wealthy book collector after their death.

It was a discovery that captivated those who made it.

Typed in a leather journal and discovered next to first editions of very well known works of literature, no other copy of this specific text is known to exist. *This is the first time it has been made available to the public…* Don’t miss your opportunity to read it.

This eBook is an exact transcript of what was discovered in the leather journal – a wild philosophical adventure about an imaginary version of yourself who is jealous that you are real.

Determined to be real too, they begin a journey that takes them to the enchanting fields of an eccentric cult and onwards into a manipulative and dangerous experiment that blurs the boundaries between body and mind. As they discover more about the limits of their existence, they learn something about themselves. Something very strange. Something that they struggle to believe, even though it’s clearly true.

This magical book delves into the profound human desire to understand who we are. Maybe, just maybe, we are far more extraordinary that we ever dared to dream.

“This was written for you” is an extraordinary example of literature that breaks down the barriers between fiction and reality – a story, within a story, where there is no separation between the reader, the writer, the narrator or the characters. Everyone is in the action together and it is written by whoever is reading it, as they read. For some, it is a supernatural book. For others, it is a literary experiment of the most remarkable kind.

Review:

This story is a philosophical journey that happens in the reader’s imagination. The narrator is the reader’s imagination who meets other people who are in the reader’s mind and represent people in their real life. The narrator must figure out who they are and what their purpose is in life. 

This was a unique story. The narrator speaks in the second person often, addressing the reader as “you.” The narrator was going on their own self discovery journey, which involved drug experimentation and war. This story will make you think about how your mind works. 

This Was Written For You is a fascinating philosophical story. 

Thank you Michael Roberts and Bookinfluencerscom for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: rape, drug experiments, drug addiction, torture, poisoning

Have you read This Was Written For You? What did you think of it?