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readwatchcrochet's reviews
516 reviews
Totally Pucked by Lauren Blakely
fast-paced
3.5
Short and sweet
📚 friends to lovers
📚 novella
📚 set at Christmas
📚 set at Christmas
📚 dual POV
🌶️🌶️
|Thoughts|
This was a light and fluffy romance that was easy to consume. Thrown in some mistletoe and a man pining over his best friend, this was short but entertaining.
“I could be your test subject…I’d be a very good teacher”
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Thoroughly Pucked by Lauren Blakely
The audiobook itself was a pleasure to listen to. And enjoyed the duet narration by Samantha Brentmore, Teddy Hamilton and Jason Clarke. Unfortunately, just didn’t really buy their chemistry or what sort of felt like Insta love.
Whilst it had a lot of my fav tropes - just felt this one fell a bit flat. Much preferred The Boyfriend Pact.
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
3.0
Fun read but overly unmemorable.
📚 hockey
📚 why choose/ MFM
📚 one bed
📚 brothers best friends
📚 runaway bride
📚 one bed
📚 brothers best friends
📚 runaway bride
📚 multi POV
🌶️🌶️🌶️
|Thoughts|
Have been really enjoying this authors stories recently but just didn’t get into this one. Potentially because I picked it up part way through the series so I wasn’t familiar with the side characters. Did feel like I often got mixed up as to who was who amoungst the leads at some points.
Did feel that beyond the spice, which was fine, there wasn’t an overly strong plot to move the story along. May have worked better as a novella.
Did feel that beyond the spice, which was fine, there wasn’t an overly strong plot to move the story along. May have worked better as a novella.
Thirty six hours after a failed I do is not the time for me to say make it a double”
The audiobook itself was a pleasure to listen to. And enjoyed the duet narration by Samantha Brentmore, Teddy Hamilton and Jason Clarke. Unfortunately, just didn’t really buy their chemistry or what sort of felt like Insta love.
Whilst it had a lot of my fav tropes - just felt this one fell a bit flat. Much preferred The Boyfriend Pact.
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Aftershocks by Ruby Dixon
medium-paced
4.0
Work building novella that shows alternative perspectives on the events of the previous book.
📚 romantasy
📚 novella
📚 novella
📚 multi POV
🚫
|Thoughts|
Encouraged to pick this up after reading book 8 (Barbarian’s Gaming), otherwise it probably won’t make much sense.
It’s a nice little alternative ciewpoint from some of the lead characters in previous books (Harlow & Rashos Book 4 and Georgia & Vektal book 1).
This would be an alright one to skip but an easy short read if you’d like to see the story fleshed out a bit more.
It’s a nice little alternative ciewpoint from some of the lead characters in previous books (Harlow & Rashos Book 4 and Georgia & Vektal book 1).
This would be an alright one to skip but an easy short read if you’d like to see the story fleshed out a bit more.
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Barbarian's Taming by Ruby Dixon
This is one series where I will wholeheartedly embrace the miscommunication because it’s solely a language barrier/ cultural issue and leads to some humours moments.
And these blue aliens are just the picture of pure devotion for their women. Loved it.
The ending of this books also sets up a big change for the tribe.
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Maddie & Hassen’s Story
📚 enemies to friends to lovers
📚 found family
📚 dual POV
🌶️🌶️🌶️
|Thoughts|
Once again these blue alien stories are such great fun reads. Nothing to serious but just a nice interconnected series with some romance and a little dramatics.
This one followed Maddie (last of the females to resonate) and Hassen (exiled for kidnapping Maddie’s sister). Love it how each of the characters in this series have their own personal struggles and big focus of this book was loneliness.
This one followed Maddie (last of the females to resonate) and Hassen (exiled for kidnapping Maddie’s sister). Love it how each of the characters in this series have their own personal struggles and big focus of this book was loneliness.
“They don’t understand what it’s like to be so alone, even in a sea of people.“
This is one series where I will wholeheartedly embrace the miscommunication because it’s solely a language barrier/ cultural issue and leads to some humours moments.
And these blue aliens are just the picture of pure devotion for their women. Loved it.
“My happy does not wait for later,” he tells me. “My happy is now. Here. With you. I need nothing else.”
The ending of this books also sets up a big change for the tribe.
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Love By a Landslide by K.L. Parsons
Was a solid 5 stars, until the dreaded third act break up. That I truly could have done without. Although, the ‘apology’ was not was I was expecting and was worth it.
Great debut novel and just wish we got more of them together at the end.
4.5
Didn’t realise it was possible to get your heart crushed in less than 2 pages. Though the story as a whole whole made me feel giddy.
📚 second chance
📚 forced proximity
📚 one bed (hammock)
📚 care when sick
📚 one bed (hammock)
📚 care when sick
📚 single POV
“She wasn’t cute. She was a liability“
🌶️🌶️🌶️
|Thoughts|
Fell in love with Lucy & Jonathan and their initial attraction and subsequent forced proximity was just perfect (chefs kiss). Was truly the comedy of errors for them as they completed their hike. Really made me miss my Duke of Edinburgh expedition days.
“Being lost wasn’t ideal. But maybe being lost with her wouldn’t be the worst thing.”
Was a solid 5 stars, until the dreaded third act break up. That I truly could have done without. Although, the ‘apology’ was not was I was expecting and was worth it.
“Jonathan thanked his lucky stars for the enchantress before him. He thanked her ex for setting her free. He even thanked that damned landslide for trapping them together. He didn’t deserve this.”
Great debut novel and just wish we got more of them together at the end.
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Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Broken Harbor by Catherine Cowles
Once again, the family dynamic in this series is a highlight. Whilst Cowles sticks to what she knows, she does it well, especially their group chats and the rambunctious Grandma Lotti.
Whilst Sutton is attempting to leave her past behind her, Cope is struggling to forget about his demons and guilt over the events surrounding his father & brothers death.
Some of my favourite parts were those moments between Cope and Luca (Sutton’s son). Both heartwarming and heartbreaking interactions and it was seeet to see them both get what they needed and deserved from that relationship.
Enjoyed their romance and suspense surrounding it. Poor Teddy.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cope & Sutton
📚 single mum
📚 hockey player
📚 forced proximity
📚 romantic suspense
📚 found family
📚 forced proximity
📚 romantic suspense
📚 found family
📚 dual POV
🌶️🌶️
“Love you more than a bee loves honey.”
|Thoughts|
Seem to be reading a lot of single parent books at the moment. This also includes what is probably my most popular subgrenw for the year, hockey romance. Mixed it up a bit as it follows Cope during the off season and him coaching a kids hockey summer camp.
“Because that’s who the Colsons were. They met you wherever you were and surrounded you with love and acceptance.“
Once again, the family dynamic in this series is a highlight. Whilst Cowles sticks to what she knows, she does it well, especially their group chats and the rambunctious Grandma Lotti.
“My siblings might be interfering as all hell, but I was so damn lucky to have them.“
Whilst Sutton is attempting to leave her past behind her, Cope is struggling to forget about his demons and guilt over the events surrounding his father & brothers death.
“Because there was one truth I couldn’t deny: I’d always be better off alone.”
Some of my favourite parts were those moments between Cope and Luca (Sutton’s son). Both heartwarming and heartbreaking interactions and it was seeet to see them both get what they needed and deserved from that relationship.
“It would be the biggest honor of my life if I got to be a dad to someone who’s as amazing as you are,” Cope croaked.
Enjoyed their romance and suspense surrounding it. Poor Teddy.
“…if we’re going to play with fire, let’s not settle for matches. We deserve fireworks and infernos.“
“Life isn’t perfect. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows. It’s about finding people who will weather the storm with you. Who will find ways to dance in the rain.”
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Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens
I’ve seen some comments around her interactions and antagonism towards hers ex husbands new partner (and she is very new). However, I did have to agree with Anna as it felt a bit odd how to a new partner kept on referring to the children as her own.
Will was so adorable and whilst I would have loved to have seen his pov, it was clear he was pining after Anna. Their forced proximity and him showing concern over her dates was so fun to read about.
The forced proximity and one bed trope strikes again!
Would have liked to have an epilogue jump a little further ahead.
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Story just spoke to me. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days x the Hating Game.
📚 single mum
📚 workplace rivals
📚 forced proximity
📚 one bed
📚 age gap (38f 30m)
📚 forced proximity
📚 one bed
📚 age gap (38f 30m)
📚 single POV
🌶️ (mainly closed door)
“How to find a man in ten dates, chosen by your children”
|Thoughts|
Listened to the audiobook within 24 hours and there was just something about this story that I just loved. Which is saying something, because usually I don’t enjoy books as much when listening to them as audio.
“True love doesn’t cower in the shadows. It roars load and proud until it has given its all”
Loved the google searches at the beginning of each chapter. Felt very realistic and tied nicely with the story.
“Google searches. Can you safely remove a fish hook from your own face?”
I’ve seen some comments around her interactions and antagonism towards hers ex husbands new partner (and she is very new). However, I did have to agree with Anna as it felt a bit odd how to a new partner kept on referring to the children as her own.
“Shall we have a quiet word out here. Mum to mum”
Silvie is painful and too much for someone who has been with her ex for a couple of months.
An interesting look at the struggles of a single mother who is contemplating teetering the dating market in her late 30s.
“You’ll only stay up late watching tv and googling who celebrities are married to”
Wasn’t expecting to be called out like that.
Her ex husband is so condescending and wish he had a bit of some karma thrown his way.
Her ex husband is so condescending and wish he had a bit of some karma thrown his way.
“I say this in the spirit of friendship. But you shouldn’t give up on your appearance. You need to show up for yourself”
- ex husband
Will was so adorable and whilst I would have loved to have seen his pov, it was clear he was pining after Anna. Their forced proximity and him showing concern over her dates was so fun to read about.
“I’d make an exception for you.”
The forced proximity and one bed trope strikes again!
“Come on, it’s a double bed. We’ll just have to…”
“Try to resist ripping each others clothes off”
Would have liked to have an epilogue jump a little further ahead.
“I’ll swear I’ve heard some poltergeist haunting the archive. Having a rather lovely time by the sounds of things”
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My December Darling by Lauren Asher
She isn’t great at sharing her feelings- which is part of her character development. But still a bit frustrating.
Have to also put it out there - NICU nurses are the absolute best.
medium-paced
3.5
Sweet and long stakes festive romance.
📚 ex bf best friend
📚 Dr x nurse
📚 MOH and best man
📚 Dr x nurse
📚 MOH and best man
📚 festive romance
📚 dual POV
📚 novella
🌶️🌶️
|Thoughts|
An easy to read festive romance if you’re looking for something short. Loved their chemistry and especially their joint love of Lego.
“Miss me?”
“From the moment you left”
She isn’t great at sharing her feelings- which is part of her character development. But still a bit frustrating.
“I want you any way I can have you”
Have to also put it out there - NICU nurses are the absolute best.
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Big Nick Energy by Morgan Elizabeth
The premise behind this was cute and enjoyed a lot of the little moments.
medium-paced
3.75
Easy to consume holiday romance.
📚 single mum
📚 age gap (35f 42m)
📚 Owns Christmas tree farm
📚 he falls first
📚 cowboy
📚 Owns Christmas tree farm
📚 he falls first
📚 cowboy
📚 dual POV
📚 dual timeline
📚 festive romance
📚 dual timeline
📚 festive romance
🌶️🌶️🌶️
|Thoughts|
The beginning this one truly had me hooked. Man Accidently spills the story behind Elf on the Shelf in front of a single mums children - ends up travelling to her house every night to keep the magic alive.
“to plan and organise all the magic moments and curate a perfect childhood.”
The premise behind this was cute and enjoyed a lot of the little moments.
“He can’t be the bane of my existence and have a good smile. It’s just rude”
I just think that the single mum is a delicate situation. There are times where Nicholas comes across a bit too strong/ pushy. Especially to a woman who had previously gotten out of a controlling relationship, then comes along Nicholas who is doing his own form of love bombing.
If you can get past them only knowing each other for a few weeks, Nicholas literally goes out of his way to make Christmas easier for Shane and magical for the children.
Was hoping to see more interactions with his adult son and some sort of actual revenge against her ex husband.
Beyond that it was sweet, just maybe a little too Insta love for me.
If you can get past them only knowing each other for a few weeks, Nicholas literally goes out of his way to make Christmas easier for Shane and magical for the children.
Was hoping to see more interactions with his adult son and some sort of actual revenge against her ex husband.
Beyond that it was sweet, just maybe a little too Insta love for me.
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