a_stylish_bookworm's reviews
1435 reviews

The love we found by Jill Santopolo

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Thank you @prhaudio @putnambooks for a copy of the audiobook. 

I highly recommend you read The Light We Lost which is Gabe and Lucy's story from 10 years ago. This story sets place 10 years later when Lucy finds a note from Gabe in a box and she goes to Europe to find traces of Gabe and see what happened there.

We see Lucy still grieving Gabe and her life now. I adore her children and how involved she is with them. She has an amicable relationship with her ex-husband Darren and his wife Courtney. Now with everything from the past back again, their relationship is tested. 

The story is beautiful and I love the introduction of Dax and giving Lucy a chance at love again. 

Jill Santopolo did a great job bringing her story to life.
The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey

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dark mysterious medium-paced

4.0

It was great to be Black Harbor and to see Hazel and Kole reconnect 8 years later from Hello, Transcriber. Black Harbor continues to be a big focal point in the story and it's still dark and gritty. 

Hazel returns when her ex husband is found dead. Kole is investigating the murder and there's lots of mystery with his dead that brings up other deaths. 

I enjoyed the pacing of the story and seeing Hazel and Kole's attraction reignite. 

Though you can read this as a standalone, I do recommend at least reading Hello, Transcriber to give you backstory on both of the characters as well as the town. 

Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira did a great job with the narration and bringing in the darkness of the town. 

Thank you @minotaur_books @macmillan.audio for a copy of this thriller.

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Wild Side by Elsie Silver

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hopeful medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Elsie Silver has done it again!! This series is so good and this time we have Tabitha comes to Rose Hill to gain custody of her nephew, Milo when her sister dies. She learns that Milo is being taken care of Rhys, the landlord. 

The marriage of convenience and Tabitha and Rhys is so good. Rhys is very closed off and has a secret job. I love how Tabitha incorporates him into the town and breaks done his walls. 

This can be read as a standalone but highly recommend reading the other books to get the depth of each couple and their story. 

There's no 3rd act break up which just kicks it up a notch.

The narration of Teddy Hamilton and Savannah Peachwood brought these two to life.
My Silver Lining by Laura Pavlov

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funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This was my first book by Pavlov and it certainly won't be the last. This was such a fun small town, fake dating love story. Lulu is staying at Rafe's brother's rental home while he is staying at the main home. Lulu is dating his brother and they are mixing like oil and water. 

She needs help with a fake boyfriend to get her family off her back. Somehow, they both end up helping each other and the fake dating goes on and they start developing feelings. 

They are is fun together and I love both of their growth journey. This was one fun rom com and now I need to go back and read the first book in the series. 

The narration of Sean Masters and Vanessa Edwin brought out the character's to life. 

Thank uou @valentine_pr_ for a copy of the audiobook.
The Girlfriend Zone by Lauren Blakely

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funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I found my new book boyfriend with Miles!!! This series just keeps getting better. I love the forbidden romance between Miles and Leighton. 

They were so good together and I love how they tried to resist each other but just could not with their attraction. There were so many sexy moments but I think my favorite is when they recreate their boudoir photoshoot. Gasp! That was hot!!

The 4 dogs was a lot of fun and added so much humor to the story. Birdie, Miles' grandmother was a hoot and brought so fun as well. 

I always love a duet narration by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke knocked it out!

Thank you @hambright_pr @laurenblakelybooks for a copy of the audiobook.
Something Unexpected by Vi Keeland

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Wow this book truly was something unexpected! I always love a story when a younger person befriends an elderly and the friendship between Eleanor and Grandma is so special. 

The banter between Beck and Eleanor was perfection. I love how strait laced Beck is and how Eleanor got him to unwind a little. Their attraction was off the charts. 

Without giving away any of the story, this story took an unexpected turn and added so much depth and emotions to the story. I cried a few times. 

The narration of Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt was so perfect for the story.
Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

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medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I read Kill For Me, Kill For You and knew I had to read more from Cavanagh. I didn't realize this was part of a series but I didn't feel lost at all.

Ruby who was living in wealth and lost it all because of her father is now a maid for the wealthy. She was walking home and witness a murder. Instead of calling the police, she decides she can use this an opportunity. 

The story is told in multiple POV and there's a lot of characters to keep track. I could not put this book down. I enjoyed Ruby's POV and what motivated her and also Eddy's POV and how he was creative with his defense. 

I highly recommend this if you enjoy morally grey characters and legal thrillers.

Thank you @atriabooks for a copy of this book.
The Last Session by Julia Bartz

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mysterious medium-paced

2.5

This book started out so strong with Thea, a therapist, that recognizes one of the new patient as a former actress to one of her favorite movie. They look alike and have an instant connection. When she is discharged mysteriously, Thea is determined to figure if she okay. 

She follows a trail and ends up in Nee Mexico at an alternative retreat. The story is atmospheric and I was intrigued. The host of the retreat, Sol and Moon, are charismatic and it also feels eerily there and very cult like. 

Thea ends up exploring her traumas of the past and it is woven into what is happening at the retreat. The second half of the book truly lost me with dreams, Egyptian references and going into different portals. It just got too wacky for me. 

Thank you @atriabooks for a copy of this.
Hello, Transcriber by Hannah Morrissey

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dark mysterious medium-paced

4.0

I read these books out of order and it was nice to see how the series started. I really liked the BTS look at what a transcriber does for a police department. 

Hazel was an interesting character in an unhappy marriage and not happy with the small town. Once she starts her job as the transcriber she gets to see the crimes as she transcribes. It was interesting how she get involved with a crime and how messy it got. 

The story kept me interested and I was curious to see who the killer was.
Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire

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emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I am so happy to get Jackson's story. With his heartbroken with Alina falling for his best friend, he moves to Hollywood when an opportunity of a lifetime comes to him. 

He is working his dream job and meets his boss's daughter and they have an instant attraction. The forbidden trope is my favorite so I was so ready for their love story. Not only is Blake, forbidden being the boss' daughter but she is also 10 years younger than her. 

I felt the story truly showed how naive Blake was and I was frustrated with her at times with her not standing up for herself and her obsessiveness with food. There was a lot of internal dialogue that I did not enjoy. I did enjoy seeing her growth journey. 

Their love story was great and though the story doesn't end in a cliff hanger; it does set perfectly to Chase's sisters' story. 

Brooke Bloomingdale & Liam DiCosimo did such a great job with the narration and bringing all the characters to life. 

Thank you @blackstonepublishing for a copy of this audiobook.