Scan barcode
dontmissythesereads's reviews
2187 reviews
Unromance by Erin Connor
4.0
Book #15 read in 2025
Romance author Sawyer is having trouble writing her next book after suffering a breakup that makes her not believe in love or romance. Actor Mason West is just the opposite. He falls in love fast and quickly, and it always ends badly for him. The two have a chance meeting (meet cute) in a stuck elevator that leads to a one-night stand, and they decide that maybe they can help each other. Sawyer will ruin all the romantic tropes for Mason, so he stops associating them all with forever love, and in return, she'll have inspiration for her new novel. Easier said than done...
This is such a cute premise, and I love all the romantic tropes. The intros to each chapter are particularly fun. About halfway through, though, it started to get a little forced. As romance readers, we all know where this is going, but the chemistry between the characters came off more like friends than forever loves. I loved the idea and liked the book. It was a good debut novel.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 14, 2025.
Romance author Sawyer is having trouble writing her next book after suffering a breakup that makes her not believe in love or romance. Actor Mason West is just the opposite. He falls in love fast and quickly, and it always ends badly for him. The two have a chance meeting (meet cute) in a stuck elevator that leads to a one-night stand, and they decide that maybe they can help each other. Sawyer will ruin all the romantic tropes for Mason, so he stops associating them all with forever love, and in return, she'll have inspiration for her new novel. Easier said than done...
This is such a cute premise, and I love all the romantic tropes. The intros to each chapter are particularly fun. About halfway through, though, it started to get a little forced. As romance readers, we all know where this is going, but the chemistry between the characters came off more like friends than forever loves. I loved the idea and liked the book. It was a good debut novel.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 14, 2025.
A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
4.75
Book #14 read in 2025
Theo and Connor meet and quickly decide to get married. Connor is from the wealthy Dalton family, and Theo has gaps in her past from a traumatic childhood. When he takes her to meet the family at their isolated winter cabin retreat, she feels that she may have been there before. When she starts getting notes and texts telling her she shouldn't have come back, she knows she needs to figure out what happened there in the past.
As Theo is piecing together her past, there are some crazy twists that I didn't see coming. Every time I thought I had figured it out, I was wrong. Kate Alice Marshall is quickly becoming one of my favorite must-read authors. Once I started this, I stole every minute I could to read it. I loved this one!
Note about the narration: Karissa Vacker is fantastic at what she does. I was even more excited to read it when I saw she narrated this. She just doesn't miss when bringing the characters to life!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is expected to be published on February 4, 2025.
Theo and Connor meet and quickly decide to get married. Connor is from the wealthy Dalton family, and Theo has gaps in her past from a traumatic childhood. When he takes her to meet the family at their isolated winter cabin retreat, she feels that she may have been there before. When she starts getting notes and texts telling her she shouldn't have come back, she knows she needs to figure out what happened there in the past.
As Theo is piecing together her past, there are some crazy twists that I didn't see coming. Every time I thought I had figured it out, I was wrong. Kate Alice Marshall is quickly becoming one of my favorite must-read authors. Once I started this, I stole every minute I could to read it. I loved this one!
Note about the narration: Karissa Vacker is fantastic at what she does. I was even more excited to read it when I saw she narrated this. She just doesn't miss when bringing the characters to life!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is expected to be published on February 4, 2025.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow
4.0
Book #13 read in 2025
I think I liked this second installment of the series even better than the first. Felicity already has a strong hold on her magical power and how she can use it, but it isn't the central part of this story. In this one, Felicity and Kelvin are working at a wedding when chaos ensues. One of the groomsmen is murdered with Kelvin's pruning shears. To make sure Kelvin isn't blamed, Felicity decides she should investigate. Also, Felcitiy's absent father is a guest at the wedding and takes that as a sign that he should try to reconnect with his daughter. This gives us even more insight into Felicity's background.
There are a lot of characters to keep straight, and how they all connect to the bride, groom, and dead groomsman was a little complicated to track. The pacing was great, and the story moved along in a way that kept me interested throughout. I am excited to continue this series!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 21, 2025.
I think I liked this second installment of the series even better than the first. Felicity already has a strong hold on her magical power and how she can use it, but it isn't the central part of this story. In this one, Felicity and Kelvin are working at a wedding when chaos ensues. One of the groomsmen is murdered with Kelvin's pruning shears. To make sure Kelvin isn't blamed, Felicity decides she should investigate. Also, Felcitiy's absent father is a guest at the wedding and takes that as a sign that he should try to reconnect with his daughter. This gives us even more insight into Felicity's background.
There are a lot of characters to keep straight, and how they all connect to the bride, groom, and dead groomsman was a little complicated to track. The pacing was great, and the story moved along in a way that kept me interested throughout. I am excited to continue this series!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 21, 2025.
Cross My Heart by Megan Collins
3.5
Book #12 read in 2025
She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. If this tagline doesn't say it all. Rosie is a heart transplant recipient, and she recently connected with author Morgan Thorne whose wife gave Rosie her heart. Rosie has a complicated history and a failed love, so she basks in Morgan's attention. The more she learns about Morgan, though, the more suspicious she becomes that he may have had something to do with his wife's death.
My first immediate thought after meeting all the main characters was that I didn't like any one of them. They are all unreliable and unlikeable, and I was sure I knew what would happen. Everything was moving along slowly and predictably until a twist about halfway through the book totally upended my suspicions. That's when the book really got interesting. I definitely needed to see how it all wrapped up, and I admit that it was not at all what I thought. Kudos, Megan Collins!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 14, 2025.
She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. If this tagline doesn't say it all. Rosie is a heart transplant recipient, and she recently connected with author Morgan Thorne whose wife gave Rosie her heart. Rosie has a complicated history and a failed love, so she basks in Morgan's attention. The more she learns about Morgan, though, the more suspicious she becomes that he may have had something to do with his wife's death.
My first immediate thought after meeting all the main characters was that I didn't like any one of them. They are all unreliable and unlikeable, and I was sure I knew what would happen. Everything was moving along slowly and predictably until a twist about halfway through the book totally upended my suspicions. That's when the book really got interesting. I definitely needed to see how it all wrapped up, and I admit that it was not at all what I thought. Kudos, Megan Collins!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 14, 2025.
Now or Never: Stephanie Plum 31 by Janet Evanovich
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Book #11 read in 2025
After I finished it, I read so many reviews of this because I wanted to see what everyone thought about Stephanie's CHOICE. Finally. What I find interesting is that many people rated the book based on her choice. So, I'm going to address that first. In my opinion, Stephanie made the safe choice that her family would approve of, and that would give her stability. I don't blame her. I'm interested to see how this plays out in future books now that a choice has been made.
About the story, it's just what you would expect from a Stephanie Plum novel. She has a handful of FTAs that she's chasing with her sidekick, Lula. Chaos ensues in the same funny way. Characters, new and old, play a part in the story. Even though it is formulaic, it is still a fun read, and I love catching up with these characters every year.
After I finished it, I read so many reviews of this because I wanted to see what everyone thought about Stephanie's CHOICE. Finally. What I find interesting is that many people rated the book based on her choice. So, I'm going to address that first. In my opinion, Stephanie made the safe choice that her family would approve of, and that would give her stability. I don't blame her. I'm interested to see how this plays out in future books now that a choice has been made.
About the story, it's just what you would expect from a Stephanie Plum novel. She has a handful of FTAs that she's chasing with her sidekick, Lula. Chaos ensues in the same funny way. Characters, new and old, play a part in the story. Even though it is formulaic, it is still a fun read, and I love catching up with these characters every year.
The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich
3.75
Book #10 read in 2025
I can not resist a teen royalty story, and this one was so charming. Jamie discovers he is the Prince of Minator, and when he meets his father, the King, he is thrust into the royal world. The King arranges for Prince Erik, the spare prince of a neighboring country, to tutor Jamie in all things royal. Sparks fly, but will the family of the two princes allow them to be together?
One of the things I loved so much about this novel was that both princes were out and accepted by everyone around them. That is how the world should be. I loved the blossoming relationship between these two characters. Jamie jumped headfirst into his new role and did so with such bravery because he knew he had the support of his family and friends. I just found everything about this novel to be hopeful and sweet.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on December 10, 2024.
I can not resist a teen royalty story, and this one was so charming. Jamie discovers he is the Prince of Minator, and when he meets his father, the King, he is thrust into the royal world. The King arranges for Prince Erik, the spare prince of a neighboring country, to tutor Jamie in all things royal. Sparks fly, but will the family of the two princes allow them to be together?
One of the things I loved so much about this novel was that both princes were out and accepted by everyone around them. That is how the world should be. I loved the blossoming relationship between these two characters. Jamie jumped headfirst into his new role and did so with such bravery because he knew he had the support of his family and friends. I just found everything about this novel to be hopeful and sweet.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on December 10, 2024.
The Note by Alafair Burke
3.75
Book #9 read in 2025
Kelsey, May, and Lauren are on a girl's trip to the Hamptons, but when someone steals their parking space, a silly act of revenge, leaving a note on the windshield of that car, tests their friendship and makes them the center of a police investigation. Through this process, we learn more about the women and how they have all endured "cancellation" for various reasons.
I love Alafair Burke, but this was not my favorite by her. It was a little slow in developing, and the characters were generally unlikeable, making it hard to even care about their troubles. That being said, I did love the idea of the story and will continue to read Burke's novels.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 7, 2025.
Kelsey, May, and Lauren are on a girl's trip to the Hamptons, but when someone steals their parking space, a silly act of revenge, leaving a note on the windshield of that car, tests their friendship and makes them the center of a police investigation. Through this process, we learn more about the women and how they have all endured "cancellation" for various reasons.
I love Alafair Burke, but this was not my favorite by her. It was a little slow in developing, and the characters were generally unlikeable, making it hard to even care about their troubles. That being said, I did love the idea of the story and will continue to read Burke's novels.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 7, 2025.
Catch You Later: A Novel by Jessica Strawser
4.0
Book #7 read in 2025
Mikki and Lark are two best friends who work the overnight shift at a Travel Stop in small-town Ohio. They both feel stuck, but Lark is pregnant and needs to stay. When a stranger blows through town and asks Mikki to attend a beach wedding with him for the weekend, Mikki goes. But she never returns, and no one knows what happened to her. Eight years later, that same stranger returns looking for Mikki, and it reopens the investigation into what happened to her.
Strawser is a master at weaving a gripping tale. This is a dual timeline: Lark, now, and Mikki, then. This slowly weaves Mikki's story through the lens of Lark's investigation, and I could not wait to see how it resolved. The ending was a little unbelievable, but I bought it. I will continue to read whatever Strawser writes.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on October 22, 2024.
Mikki and Lark are two best friends who work the overnight shift at a Travel Stop in small-town Ohio. They both feel stuck, but Lark is pregnant and needs to stay. When a stranger blows through town and asks Mikki to attend a beach wedding with him for the weekend, Mikki goes. But she never returns, and no one knows what happened to her. Eight years later, that same stranger returns looking for Mikki, and it reopens the investigation into what happened to her.
Strawser is a master at weaving a gripping tale. This is a dual timeline: Lark, now, and Mikki, then. This slowly weaves Mikki's story through the lens of Lark's investigation, and I could not wait to see how it resolved. The ending was a little unbelievable, but I bought it. I will continue to read whatever Strawser writes.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on October 22, 2024.
Head Cases by John McMahon
4.0
Book #6 read in 2025
The Patterns and Recognitions (PAR) unit of the FBI is made up of misfits, agents who all made some mistake in their previous assignments but have unique skills. I love the idea of this type of an investigative unit. They remind me of some of my favorite TV detectives, Monk and Will Trent, to name a few. They see things that others miss. While the crimes were a bit graphic, they were cleverly investigated in a way that made me happy to be in the minds of these agents. If you like police procedurals with unique characters, this one is for you!
Can we talk about Will Damron's narration? Spot on. There's something special about the way he makes me feel like I am actually standing next to Garder Camden as he talks through the case. Damron has become one of my favorite narrators for just this reason.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is expected to be published on January 28, 2025
The Patterns and Recognitions (PAR) unit of the FBI is made up of misfits, agents who all made some mistake in their previous assignments but have unique skills. I love the idea of this type of an investigative unit. They remind me of some of my favorite TV detectives, Monk and Will Trent, to name a few. They see things that others miss. While the crimes were a bit graphic, they were cleverly investigated in a way that made me happy to be in the minds of these agents. If you like police procedurals with unique characters, this one is for you!
Can we talk about Will Damron's narration? Spot on. There's something special about the way he makes me feel like I am actually standing next to Garder Camden as he talks through the case. Damron has become one of my favorite narrators for just this reason.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is expected to be published on January 28, 2025
The Christmas Cookie Wars by Eliza Evans
4.0
Book #5 read in 2025
This is a Hallmark movie in book form. Set in a small town, widowed single mother Melody is already known to the school principal, Jonathon Braxton, for always getting her twin boys, Tate and Finn, to school late. When the boys begin to question their Christmas spirit, and Melody finds out the Yuletide Cookie Club has disbanded, she decides she can kill two birds with one stone: get the principal on her side and restore the Christmas spirit in her boys. What she doesn't anticipate is how her feelings for Jonathan turn.
I loved the developing story and relationship between Jonathan and Melody, but I loved all the side characters even more. The boys are delightful, and so are Melody's mom and sister. The plot arc to figure out who is sabotaging all of Melody's efforts also held my attention. This is a perfect read for anyone wanting to escape into a sweet, fun, clean romance.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on October 22, 2024.
This is a Hallmark movie in book form. Set in a small town, widowed single mother Melody is already known to the school principal, Jonathon Braxton, for always getting her twin boys, Tate and Finn, to school late. When the boys begin to question their Christmas spirit, and Melody finds out the Yuletide Cookie Club has disbanded, she decides she can kill two birds with one stone: get the principal on her side and restore the Christmas spirit in her boys. What she doesn't anticipate is how her feelings for Jonathan turn.
I loved the developing story and relationship between Jonathan and Melody, but I loved all the side characters even more. The boys are delightful, and so are Melody's mom and sister. The plot arc to figure out who is sabotaging all of Melody's efforts also held my attention. This is a perfect read for anyone wanting to escape into a sweet, fun, clean romance.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on October 22, 2024.