Librarian, widower, and proud cat owner Charlie Harris has a
week off work, but between his son’s sudden arrival and a request from one of
the library patrons to assist with a private collection project, his time is
quicky filling up. Wealthy rare book collector James Delacorte thinks someone
in his household might be stealing from him so he enlists Charlie’s help to
inventory his rare collection. But when James is found dead, Charlie has both a
book and a killer to find.
Though #2 in the series, this is my first Cat in the Stacks
mystery. I didn’t have any trouble following though so it can be read as a
standalone. The amateur detective protagonist was likeable as were the
supporting characters and the pets. The cast of suspects were eclectic and
entertaining, adding a touch of humor to the story. It’s a cozy mystery so it’s light-hearted.
I enjoyed the story. It kept me engaged even if there weren’t
any real twists. I did feel like the resolution was abrupt, and there were some
plot points that I would have like to have seen materialize better. I assume
they continue in future books, but still felt there should have been more
closure since they were introduced in this one.
With 17 books in the series to date, I’ll probably check
another one out, even if it’s not a must-read series for me.
If you’ve watched Netflix’s Files of the Unexplained
episode on the Myrtles Planation then you’ve come across author Karen Stollznow,
and that’s how I came upon this book. I liked the way she infused historical
accuracy into the haunted tales. While I can certainly appreciate a good ghost
story as well as a place that emits an eerily haunting aura (Halloween is one of my favorite holidays), I’m also in the skeptic
category and have limited patience for cheap gimmicks or misleading and manipulated narratives
with an agenda, which some of these locales perpetuate.
This book explores 8 supposedly haunted sites, many of which claim
they are the “most haunted.”🙄 While some of the ghost stories and folklore may
have come about more organically, others are clearly purposeful propaganda,
part of a business plan to make money rather than understand the past and the people
associated with it. Each chapter relates the circulated myths, folklore, urban legends, and ghost stories about the locations and then details what historical records actually
reveal. It's a bit of compare and contrast, and often there’s a big discrepancy. Personally, I found the realities more
interesting and certainly more informative than the myths or, in some cases, tired old haunted theatrics, distorted facts, and the power of suggestion. Truth is, as Twain once asserted, stranger than fiction.
This title is a needed addition—call it a voice of reason—in
a world where misinformation and "fake news" runs rampant. History can be lost or distorted. And some
of these places certainly have their sights set on rewriting it, if they haven’t
already.
The title’s intent is a solid five stars; the execution a
three. The book could certainly benefit from an editor and professional formatter.
The infamous Alcatraz escape is incorrectly listed as July instead of June.
There are distracting punctuation and quotation mark errors throughout. Pagination
doesn’t align with typical publishing standards. Photo captions are sometimes
disconnected from the photo. For the price and given this is its second
printing/edition, I’d expect better quality.
In addition, the narrative could be clearer in places. For
instance, each chapter begins with the reported story and then leads into the
more verifiable information and historical accuracy. Basically, Stollznow
repeats the myth and then debunks it. However, it would be beneficial to more
clearly designate the claims with “according to legend…” or “the ghost stories
told say…” to better differentiate what the general public and tourists have been told to
believe from what historical records and science indicate really happened.
Locations discussed include Alcatraz, Coral Castle, The Lemp
Mansion, The Myrtles Plantation, The San Antonio Railroad Tracks, Silver Cliff
Cemetery, Wavery Hills Sanatorium, and the Winchester Mystery House. Before
visiting any of them and hearing their supernatural tales, this would be a
handy guide to read first. If nothing else, it's a reminder to always look deeper, research, and think critically about your surroundings.
To date, this is really the only reliable book on the Idaho Murders.
Based on unredacted law enforcement reports, court files, (particularly the prosecution’s discovery which was turned over at plea), and unredacted crime scene photos along with interviews of sources named (defense forensic expert Dr. Brett Turvey is interviewed) and anonymous, retired FBI agent Christopher Whitcomb walks readers through the case, the players, the evidence, or lack thereof, with the benefit of his years of law enforcement expertise, explaining investigative concepts and theories along the way. The tone of the book never feels sensational nor does the author approach the subject matter for shock value. That’s not to say there isn’t shocking details to be explored.
-Posed bodies with post-mortem abuse;
-Hair not matching the accused in victims' hands and beds;
-Bloody crime scenes absent of a blood trail;
-A knife sheath with serious chain of custody issues that may or may not belong to the never located murder weapon but changes positions nonetheless;
-A lab that delivered not the accused name after DNA analysis, but the (undisclosed) name of four brothers unrelated to the accused;
-A prosecution expert who believed the accused streaked through the multi-floor college residence, dodging a beer pong table in the nude waving a knife… or two?
-A police force who took speed reenacting to a new level, madly dashing through the now conveniently torn down house to try to prove a quadruple homicide could be completed in their tight timeline. (Spoiler alert: It can’t be duplicated.)
“It did not happen in four minutes. The prosecution’s narrative makes no sense whatsoever….” (199). -Dr. Brett Turvey
-Two in-the-house-at-the-time-of-the-murders roommates who heard nothing and everything but saw their unconscious roommate on the floor in her underwear and yet waited 8 hours to call for help while they scrolled social media and played with photos and videos.
This is a must read for not just true crime followers, but anyone who ever caught a snippet of this case on the news. Because what’s largely been reported in the mainstream media has been more fantasy than fact and more biased than accurate.
Thankfully this book doesn't emit any grifter vibes. Instead, it feels more whistleblower, bringing to light things that have been largely buried and ignored that shouldn't have been because they were critical to the integrity of the case.
“In this era of crowd-sourced inquiry, is it not our obligation to point out gaping holes in the prosecution’s narrative, and in lieu of a trial, look deeper?” (418). -Christopher Whitcomb
Did one stranger who seemingly never knew the King Road residents existed brutally attack, stab, beat, and strangle four victims in a multi-story unconventional layout party house on Homecoming night in less than ten minutes or was this the work of multiple perpetrators with multiple weapons and a grudge, grievance, and plan to muddy the crime scene and confuse the investigators?
Those seeking the truth can only hope that someone finally digs deep enough to unearth what really happened November 13, 2022, that a day will come when there’s more answers than questions, when integrity and justice matter more than a university’s reputation. Until that time, this book is the first to help set the story straight, or at least as untangled as any case can be when witnesses with inconsistent and contradictory narratives were never interrogated, where law enforcement made obvious and blatant mistakes, and when reasonable doubt continues to mount.
"In this case, there was no Johnnie Cochran" (423). -Christopher Whitcomb
Taking care of the town’s very own Lizzie Bordan is the last
job Kit McDeere wants, but since her last home care giver position ended in her
being the accused, she doesn’t have a whole lot of job prospects. So to the site
of a triple murder she reluctantly goes to fill the shoes of the previous caregiver
who disappeared into the night. Kit can certainly understand why her
predecessor might have abandoned her post in a house where fifty-four-year-old
blood stains still reside on the carpet. But the personal belongings that still
occupy her room is puzzling and a bit unsettling, though not nearly as much as
the strange noises and unexplained motion coming from a mute invalid’s room in
the middle of the night.
Hand taps and a typewriter are Kit and Miss Hope’s only
means of communication so when the elderly and disabled ostracized socialite offers
to confide in Kit the decades old mystery that still haunts her and the town, Kit
quickly gets drawn in and so did I.
To me, this is one of those mystery gems. It captures the elements
of gothic and offers an intriguing collection of curious characters who might
also be suspects in the creepy going-ons at Hope’s End in an engaging suspense
story that’s well paced with many twists and reveals that keep you guessing and
reevaluating what exactly is going on both in 1929 when the origional murders
took places as well as in the novel’s 1983 present when Kit arrives.
The setting is done well, both the subtle cultural references
to 1983 sprinkled in the descriptions, never forced or shoved down the reader’s
throat, and the dilapidated cliff-side mansion tilting into the Maine coastline
and crumbling from the weight of its secrets, a symbolic manifestation of its occupants
of outcasts whose broken lives of repressed traumas have them tilted on their own
axis. Meanwhile, Miss Hope’s 1929 typings provide a story within
the story as she relates the house’s sordid history, a gothic gilded age soap
opera.
Both decades emit vibes of Poe and Hitchcock and if Netflix hasn’t
scooped up the rights to this one for Halloween, then they’re sorely missing
out because it would come to life even more on screen.
This was an easy five stars. I didn’t even have to think
about what to rate it as I enjoyed it right down to the final page. It’s one of
those books where you savor the whole journey even as you are drawn into the mystery
that has you turning pages to gather more clues and try to solve the
who-done-it.
Widow and actress Casey Fletcher has taken refuge, though she’s
also kind of been banished, to the family lake house after her career tanks. While I get why her family and friends feel
she needs to be out of the public’s eye for a while, I kept scratching my head
why they’d leave a woman with a drinking problem basically secluded with access
to alcohol. Because her drinking is really out of hand. And one can only read
about the protagonist taking another drink so many times before it starts to
feel like the book has a drinking game built in for the reader.
If you’re not getting drunk alongside Casey, you’ll probably
notice the slow build. And the fact that Casey’s inebriated state is the main
thing helping some of the suspension of disbelief with this story.
The premise isn’t original, so it doesn’t have that going for
it. Bored and drunk most of the time,
Casey finds entertainment spying on the new neighbors after acquiring a savior
complex for the wife.
The initial mystery had promise, but I’ve got a beef about
bait and switch marketing. A book with paranormal elements should be indicated
in the description or genre listing. And while I didn’t hate the supernatural elements
of the plot, I would have much preferred a fully real-world suspense. While the
story is entertaining and has a positive ending which I enjoyed, it
would be a much better mystery without the paranormal. Not only did it open the
door to another realm so to speak, it also opened the door to some plot holes,
if not silliness.
Luckily, I inadvertently bought two books by this author only
a few days apart. This was my first read and it was okay, but the next one (see below) was
the real prize.
On the heels of reading You Shouldn’t Have Come Here,
I decided to check out other titles by the author. I couldn’t resist the cool VHS
tape cover of Home Is Where the Bodies Are and the premise sounded
promising. But, as the saying goes, you can’t judge a book by
its cover.
Instead of a suspense-thriller like the cover suggests, this
story is bogged down by dysfunctional family drama as three thirty-something siblings gather following the passing of their mother only to discover that their family mementos include home videos of a dead body, a scene which their parents appear complicit in. The opening chapters of the mother dying are
depressing, and the rest is a lot of sibling resentment and squabbles. The adult children do not solve the mystery;
they just stumble through it. There are flawed characters and then there’s just face in
your palm characters and these fall in the latter category—especially the
parents. By the end, they were reprehensible.
Speaking of the recently departed mother, her chapters were particularly
cringey to get through. The attempts to paint a picture of 1999 was not only blatantly
forced but led to awkward narration that didn’t resemble how a person would
talk or think in the moment. Not to mention some of the cultural references were
off. It was painfully clear this was not written by a Gen Xer who knew the
decade firsthand, but by someone younger trying to pretend like they did.
For the record, people weren’t walking around in 1999
describing what other people were wearing while also pointing out technology (by
brand name to boot) that coincidentally was going to be obsolete in twenty
years. And moms sure weren’t standing around taking selfies with their bestie
neighbor because they would have known those doubles they were promising to get
would be a waste of film processing since cameras of that decade were not
designed to be used that way and thus, aside from a lucky shot, it didn’t turn
out. Oh and teenagers weren’t knocking on doors asking for someone to come out
and play. (Not ‘hang out’ or ‘go do something’, or even ‘play [insert sport]’ but
plain old childlike “play” as if they were six.)
To say the book could be researched better is a bit of an
understatement especially when you also factor in the inaccuracies with
everything from safety deposit boxes to the inheritance process.
All in all, while the plot had potential, it fails in
execution. The mood lacks suspense and
thrill. The characters don't exactly come across as people you can really root for. And the ending message of forgiveness felt like it belonged more in
a hokey but misogynist Sunday church sermon than a supposed thriller novel with
a broken and bloody VHS tape cover.
It would be like seeking forgiveness for Jason Voorhees. 😱
(*dusts off the cobwebs* surveys the clean-up needed*)
Well one thing at a time.
Speaking of time, I don't really have enough to vet a new romance read so I walked into a bookstore, headed for the mystery section, read a few back covers, and otherwise (aside from checking POV—gotta be 1st for me) went in blind, something I can’t do with romance.
Maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I’ve picked up a novel for leisure, yet alone a mystery/suspense, but this one wasn’t like how I remembered them. The formula was different. Or maybe times have finally changed. Regardless, I had no intent to start writing reviews again. I got into that [reviews and blogging] for fun, but it became more like work, and a time suck which ate into more important priorities. Women have enough unpaid labor in the world, so I took a break. (*glances at the time stamp on the last post*) Okay a long break. But here I am again. I finished the book and my fingers were itching on the laptop keys. Some girls just have itches we gotta scratch. Mine is words. So here goes. With this long of an introduction, I’ll try to make it quick. (But that’s probably a lie.)
4.5 Stars
You Shouldn’t Have Come Here was on a table in
between the mystery section and the romance section. Was it a romantic suspense? I pondered even as
I neared the last quarter of the novel.
Or was it gonna be a suspense thriller?
It’s suspense for sure with a theme of things are not as
they seem.
The mystery is in the genre, and it’s a slow build mystery,
one that simmers longer than Grace’s brussels sprouts or Calvin’s hotdogs and
beans. There are hints of menace in the background as our dual first-person
narrators explore their push and pull relationship that has an expiration date,
always front and center in their minds as well as the readers as the book
sections count down the days of her stay.
Do they overcome their obstacles and ride off into the metaphorical sunset? Only the final pages would tell so I’ll dance around this a little
more. Besides, I was getting ahead of myself.
Grace Evans threw a dart at a map and booked her yearly
vacation at an Airbnb ranch in Wyoming. Before she even gets there, the creepy encounters begin. And
they only continue to pile up once she’s settled in. Are they coincidences? Or
simply Grace’s nagging paranoia? She is a fish out of water, a NYC banker in
the remote west where wild animals outnumber the people in population. But the
locals aren’t short on problems. There’s Calvin’s brother who has as many
hang-ups and resentments as he has had drinks. As well as Calvin’s pseudo mother
and wanna-be girlfriend, both of which aren’t subtle with their opinion that an
outsider like Grace doesn’t belong.
Grace certainly experiences some culture shock as her host’s
friends, family, and nature begin crawling out of the woodwork. As does a lot
of new vacation experiences that aren’t exactly Instagram worthy. But she mostly takes it in stride, projecting
her cool city confidence with this insular crew.
I gotta admit, I’m not sure if the author intended for some
of the drama that ensues to be humorous or not, but I got a kick out of it
while I played armchair detective and psychologist, analyzing which characters
might be psychos and which might only be small town crazy. As a result, it kept me turning pages. I was also torn between wanting to see Grace
and Calvin emerge unscathed and get together (the romantic in me) and wanting a
good twisted thriller (the horror movie fan in me).
There’s, of course, the business with the missing girl,
which makes the Sheriff a frequent guest even if he’s not booking a
reservation. And what skeletons are
lurking in everybody’s guarded past?
All I’m gonna say is that the novel delivers the promised
twists. And while I considered most possibilities, I was still surprised at the
ultimate reveals. I want to praise not
just the execution of the ending, but also the way it broke the mold. There are
enough helpless heroines in literature, and thankfully Grace isn’t one of them.
A one-time feminist literary theory student, I closed the book with a sense of
satisfaction. Though I’ll admit, I craved a bonus chapter with Dubois’s
reaction. This would make a good limited-episode binge-watch Netflix kind of movie.
Romance Safety:
In the end, it is a suspense thriller. But
because there is a relationship between Grace and Calvin, romance safety
readers will consider this mostly not safe. Feel free to message me for more
specifics if you aren’t worried about spoilers
Axton
Graves is the oldest brother in the Graves family and funeral home business. He has a reputation as a workaholic, which he
lives up to until he’s had enough. Josie
Garcia is a small-town florist and a good friend of Axton’s sister-in-laws. With a new greenhouse business and a surly
neighbor, Josie has a lot on her plate, but the two are able to give each other
a hand.
I
think I need a vacation as much as Axton, and this little reading sojourn hit
the spot to escape for a short while.It’s
lighthearted, fun, and sexy.
“‘If
we’re going to get frisky I want to make sure I’m not going to accidentally poke
a stab wound you forgot to tell me about.’”
With
action, danger, and suspense too.
The
story moved along well. Maybe a little too fast; the end arrived sooner than I
expected.I would have liked a little
more of an epilogue rather than a sample of the first book. Hints at the next story
would have been welcome too as I’m anxious to see other Grave family members
get their special someone.
A
highly recommended, cute, steamy, and romantic series, I enjoyed Axton and
Josie’s story just as much as the previous ones. Axton is a smart and swoonworthy
guy. He’s not a manwhore or a chauvinist, something the romance world tends to
have too many of. We need more sweet,
sexy, and respectful men like Axton.
Told
via Axton and Josie’s alternating first person POV, it’s a story of a city boy
and a country girl.Couples from the
previous books have supporting roles as we see their happily ever afters play
out. Carter even has a cameo chapter. Readers meet a few new characters too,
including a lively introduction to Blossom who was a fun addition.
Safety
Recap:
No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP.
No OW/OM drama. No appearances of OW/OM at all. h is not a virgin/H is not a
manwhore. No rape or sexual abuse. HEA
*I volunteered to review this ARC from the
author. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In
the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other
readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter
the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the
blog without any conditions or stipulations.
Daisy Goodwill is a recent high school graduate on her own, lonely, and getting by with a job, apartment, and skimpy wardrobe all courtesy of The Choosy Beggar’s bassist’s generosity and wheeling & dealing.
Meanwhile, Choosy Beggar’s drummer Shae Kristakakos is an almost nineteen-year-old single dad, also barely getting by. The last thing he thinks he needs or wants is a girl or a neighbor. But he’s coming face to face with both.
Told via their dual alternating POV, the characters engaged me right from the start. Like the previous book in this series, Shatter, the character development is strong. You really get a sense of what weighs Shea and Daisy down and what lifts them up. And while they pull you into the ups and downs of their lives, the supporting characters, toddler included, also add to the fullness of the story—creating an admirable group of friends— as well as entertaining.
For example, Minnie was a hoot:
“‘You could pull the zipper down now and then. Let loose. Pound the duck….This is me watching my language.’”
And Mutt…You can’t muzzle him, and I certainly wouldn’t want to.
“‘We won’t be coming out until Satin’s skank has been exorcised….And Shae, either handle this right or start a go-fund-me page so you can afford a working set of balls.’”
Oh Mutt made me want more from him, his own story up next. And I was happy to see Tia from the previous.
“‘Who wants easy?...Take exhibit A. You don’t think that took some patience and work?’”
But back to our hero and heroine, Shae bowed me over with how amazing he was as a dad. Despite his rough and sometimes grouchy exterior, he was such a sweetie underneath, so devoted and so selfless. Even though he was reluctant at first, I liked how once he got to know Daisy, he never doubted her. They complimented each other well.
“He blinks and the tides rush in. He moans with pleasure and this daisy blooms.”
Shae was definitely a keeper and rocked the romantic hero role. He will make reader’s hearts, ovaries, and panties melt.
This is a largely a new adult tale with a nice balance of heartwarming, heartstring-pulling, adventure, sweetness, and sexy. There’s fun banter and reveals I did not see coming that kept me on my toes and turning pages. And while the characters have their struggles and heartaches, the angst was kept in check nicely keeping the tone and mood positive.
“I don’t think there’s any way it could get any better, but we should practice…a lot…just in case. Maybe, probably even again tonight. At least once more…”
At this point, I’m definitely invested in the Choosy Beggar bunch. I kinda didn’t want it to end. They have a great little crew of misfit friends and I look forward to reading more of their stories.
Safety Recap:
No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. H is not a manwhore; has been celibate for about a year or so. h is not a virgin. OW/OM drama: H’s ex/mother of his son is a real piece of work who has made H’s life difficult and threatens to cause problems. h’s ex is a drug dealer/dangerous who she’s ran away from. No rape (but threat of) or sexual abuse. Brief references to past dubious consent. HEA.
*I was gifted a copy from the author to review. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. This title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.
~Character Interview~
Book Boyfriend Data Sheet
Name:Shae Kristakakos
Age: 19
Birthday:🎂 August 25 ♍
Birthplace:🌎Upstate NY
Measurements:📏 Height 6'4" Weight: 260 lbs. Length: That’s personal Girth: What the hell is girth?
Turn-ons:👍Daisy in a yellow dress
Turn-offs:👎 Mutt in a yellow dress
Guilty Pleasures: Sometimes, late at night, I google Sabian Artisan cymbals. I put the 13” Artisan Hi-Hats in my cart and let them sit in there for a while.
Idea of a perfect date: I skipped this question, answered the others and came back to it. I thought about all the fancy places I could take my girl, but I’d really just like to sleep with her. Actually sleep. Literally sleep. Raising a two-year-old is exhausting. Getting time alone isn’t easy. Give me a king size bed so my feet don’t hang off the end. Let me spoon my gal, sleep in without setting an alarm … I’m a happy man.
Favorite song to sing: 🎵 My bandmates came up with a really aggravating song called Gravy Toad that’s catching on with our fans. Now I’m adding lines about a dirty dog and a yardbug. Payback is sweet.
My next tattoo will be: A daisy. Right under the word Amo over my heart.
You're stuck in an endless line at the DMV, and Patrick is squirming. When you reach into your backpack, you realize there's only one book, which you'll be reading on repeat. You're thankful it's not one of Daisy's, but which title do you hope is there—Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Go Dog Go, or The Monster at the End of this Book? 📘I would never be caught at the DMV without a backpack full of toys, books and snacks for my boy. But I’ll play along and choose Go Dog Go. Colors, rhyming, counting, up and down concepts … it’s got everything.
Mutt pulls some epic strings and gets a celebrity drummer to perform alongside you at the next Choosy Beggar gig. Who is it
—Ringo Starr, Tommy Lee, or Dave Grohl? 🥁 I hate to miss out on Tommy Lee and the chance to play the Dr. Feelgood drum part … it’s iconic, but I’d probably pick Dave Grohl, just so I could ask him about his time in Nirvana. I’d avoid the topic of Foo Fighters and just keep asking about what it was like to write with Kurt Cobain.
Daisy is wearing her Lick Me tee and holding a pint of ice-cream🍨 in her right hand and a container of cupcake frosting 🧁 in her left. Your choice, which one are you tasting off her? Sounds sticky. Do you have any idea how hard it is to clean up melted ice cream? And frosting is pure sugar and fat. No thank you. All I need is pure Daisy.
A big thanks to Charisse for making Shae available!💜
Emily Award Finalist and Melody Of Love Award Finalist, Charisse Moritz divides her life between upstate NY and northern Florida. When not barricaded inside her writing cave or enjoying every possible minute with her husband and three kids, you’ll find her listening to 60’s music, singing off key and looking for new reads.
This box set includes the last three novels from The
Good Guys series (Outcast, Magic Man, and Loner) as well as a bonus novella.
The first three novels of the
series (Trucker, Dancer, and Dropout) are in a separate box set.)
This is a great series and one I’d recommend. You can
find my reviews of the first five novels by clicking on the titles above. The
sixth book is in my TBR pile. I’m more than a bit behind so review to come once
I have more romance reading time.
The bonus novella, The Last Bachelor in Tolson, is
available exclusively in this box set. Sadly, it’s not one I can say I’d
recommend.
~Review~
The Last Bachelor in Tolson
is the romance of Hank (Colton’s dad from Dancer) and Karen (Travis’s mom from
Trucker) who are both widowed and have known each other for years but have
held back getting involved.
Set on Christmas Eve and during the wedding of Beverly
(Jimmy and Ezra’s grandmother) and Ernie, I opened this expecting a sweet and light-hearted
Christmas read. And if you are looking for a feel-good, leave you with a smile
on your face quick story, you're going to want to skip the epilogue.I can't tell you how much I wish I would have
stopped before it (or that I wish it would have just ended up on the editing room
floor.) It is somber and depressing and not the ending I was expecting. While
it technically gives the hero and heroine of this tale their HEA, I’m not sure
I can say it does the same for the series as a whole. If anything, it takes
away from it. I don’t know I could re-read Dropout now and enjoy what is
some of the funniest parts without feeling sad.
I think this is a situation where the epilogue went
too far in the future (it can happen), and it wasn’t needed. It didn’t add
anything to the story or the series. In fact, I would have much preferred the
time and pages to have been spent on the Christmas story at hand, adding more development
between Hank and Karen (I can’t quite say I felt as warm and fuzzy about them
as I have the previous couples) and more holiday good times. There was
definitely missed opportunities for some holiday humor (Sweatpea is mentioned
but never gets a real cameo).
I’ve always been a romance reader for a little escape.
I can read other things for life’s realities. We’re living in a real-world pandemic where
loved ones (especially elderly and vulnerable loved ones) are lost every day. I
was frankly kinda shocked to have to read about the deaths of beloved fictional
characters too, in a holiday novella. It’s much more fun to just imagine them
going on with their lives.
This is still a good bundle as the bonus story is only
the last 5%.Just be aware that if this
is a trigger or reading hard pass for you, to bow out before the end.
Safety Recap:
No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. No OW/OM drama. H is not a manwhore/h is not a virgin. No rape or sexual abuse. Triggers: Death of significant supporting character(s). HEA? For the H and h— yes. For the series as a whole—debatable.
HEA? For the H&h— yes. For the series as a
whole—debatable.
No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. No OW/OM
drama. H is not a manwhore/h is not a virgin. No rape or sexual abuse. Triggers:
Death of significant supporting character.
Rumors run rampant at Havemeyer college, but it’s no lie that Ainsley
James has been blacklisted from college living complexes after earning an
unfair arsonist reputation.
Maverick Lexington’s reputation keeps people at bay,
and he gets by feeding off that mystique. He definitely doesn’t want a roommate,
but when his “favor” business encounters a challenge he can’t meet, his solo
reputation gets a test.
“What I wanted was ice-cream and dick with a side of
mac and cheese. So here we are.”
Ainsley is beyond quirky, but Mav definitely intrigued
me from the start. He has that cool, aloof bad boy aura, but a genuineness to
him as well. He’s not exactly your ordinary college student, and I related with
him, sharing a similar health issue. Despite his surface surliness, you could
tell he was a good guy underneath.
“Confused. Pissed. Happy. I’m like a hormonal teenage
girl.”
Much like Mav’s initial response to Ainsley, she had
to grow on me as well. In some of the earlier chapters, her monologues drug on
and I did some skimming. I also wanted
her to get over her douchey ex as much as Mav.
I think the story could have benefited from some
pacing adjustments. For example, it takes several chapters till they even meet
in the beginning, while at the end, there’s a bit of an abrupt jump to the
epilogue. Also it’s a slow burn romance. The smexy times don’t arrive till
about the last quarter of the book, and there’s only one or two sex scenes. I
would have liked more steam.
However, there is palpable sexual tension long before
that and the first kiss….oh that was one of the best I’ve ever read. Major
points for originality and if this was a movie—definite Best Kiss winner.
I like romances where the hero and heroine complement
each other and provide something the other one needs or is missing. And that’s
how Ainsley and Mav ultimately operated as Ainsley learned to live for herself,
and Mav learned to lean on someone and not take on all his problems by himself.
I adored the complete absence of OW
drama from Mav’s side (he’s wonderfully celibate and most definitely not a
manwhore).
Told via Mav and Ainsley’s first person POV, it’s a
cute, safe, and light-hearted feel-good story, which I always enjoy. The genie/IOU
theme also had a sweet and original touch.
“I had to grant a favor. #genielife”
Lawrence was
endearing as well.
Some side characters appear to have their own books
now so I might have to check them out.
This story is a stand-alone with connections to a Rumors series
and other series.
Safety Recap:
No cheating. No sex scenes with OP. H is not a manwhore/h is not a virgin. No OW drama. Some OM drama from h’s ex. No rape or sexual abuse. Possible triggers: medical issues. HEA.
Race car driver Brandon Graves was Zoe Chandler’s celebrity
crush till her best friend fell in love with his brother and she got to met
him. Then he became a real-life annoyance. Still, that doesn’t stop the
trouble-making pair from getting drunk and married in Vegas.
“'Because if you’re looking
to get this annulled, we consummated the fuck out of this marriage.’”
But to avoid steeling the spotlight during Carter and
Sadie’s wedding preparations, Brandon and Zoe agree to keep things quiet—well
about the marriage anyways. Everything else they do isn’t so silent.
“G-spots or G-forces, who
cares when it feels this amazing?”
This is the second book in the Graves Brothers series, but
it can be read as a standalone. Brandon’s brother Carter was adorable in the
previous title so I was a little worried that Brandon could live up, but it
turns out he’s just as entertaining and hot too. Though a no-strings-attached
guy, Brandon’s head, hard-on, and soon heart are all in for Zoe as the pair
trade snarky barbs, sexy innuendos, and stir up mischief that proves just how
well suited they are for each other.
"I gasp as her fingers circle my shaft
like a cock ring made of ice.”
I honestly thought they were closer to two peas in a pod
than opposites attract when it came right down to it.
“‘I won’t crush what make him him, but I won’t let it drag him down,
either.’”
And I didn’t think Brandon was the screw-up his family
pegged him as. That award had to go to Sadie’s parents, who kept things on the
edge as to what mishap these retirees would land themselves in next. Meanwhile,
I side-eyed Cousin Ethan a few times. I think Grandma Gladys better keep an eye
on him.
Told via Brandon and Zoe’s alternating first person POV,
this is a funny and steamy tale. I had several laugh out loud moments.
“‘On a horror scale from Saw to The Great Pumpkin, we’re solidly
in Charlie Brown territory,’”
Oldest brother and workaholic Axton is next in the series. I
can’t wait to read Frisky Business, while also keeping my
fingers crossed that there’s a book for Dani to come.
Safety Recap:
No cheating. No sex scenes with OP. Not really any OW/OM
drama—there’s a minor scene where girls are heard in the background while the H
is at a bar and on the phone with the h, but the H appears to blow them off.
This is where I think cousin Ethan is to blame. Otherwise, no presence of any
OW/OM. h is not a virgin/h was a ONS
kind of guy in the past till he hooks up with the h. My impression was that he
was a bit of a player, but not necessary a manwhore. He has a line where he
said he sleeps alone more than people think.
No rape or sexual abuse. HEA.
*I volunteered to review this ARC from the author. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.
