June 2022 Book Reviews

 

It's June and I have officially lost track of how many books I have read.  Yes I could go back and count.  Yes, I know that.  However, I don't want to make the time to do it. 😂 Maybe I'll have it together for next month.

Across the Pond and On an Adventure

It's like Becky Dean wrote Love and Other Great Expectations with me in mind!  This adorable YA book is all the good things: a graduating senior whose life is thrown for a loop before she is invited to participate in a scavenger hunt focused on the literary greats of the UK. Britt accepts her teacher's invitation to fly to London for a 10 day adventure even though she didn't really read all of the required reading for her last year of English.  That's what Cliff's Notes is for, right? On her first assignment she meets the very cute, very British Luke.  On a whim she invites him along, he accepts and is that romance in the air? 😂😍 

Being a gal who has spent a portion of her days in London and Scotland, I appreciated the inclusion of Ribena, classic snacks and mushy peas. In my mind's eye I could see all of the landmarks described and enjoyed trying to figure out the clues before reading on. 

I highly recommend this book for ages 12 up or anyone who is looking for a light, adorable, up-lifting read that takes you on a trip across the pond.

Rating: PG

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Publishing for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review!

Ready to Read Again and Again, Like A Super Favorite Right Here

Look, I am a happily married woman. I love my husband to death.  So let's imagine I were single. I would run away with Daniel in a heartbeat. 😂 I finished Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez and immediately wanted to start it over again!  The characters, their chemistry, the precious town and the dragonflies... I could not get enough!

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

A Regency Novel Right Up There with Bridgerton

Calling all Bridgerton fans! Amalie Howard has created a cast of characters with personality that draws you into their days facing the pressures from the Season and the Ton.  In Always Be My Duchess, Neve is a ballet dancer who has come to London to earn money to help provide for her and her sister back in France. She encounters Lord Lysander Blackstone, Duke of Montecroix saving him from a bandit of pickpockets late one night. In need of a lady to escort to a ball the next night, Stone makes Neve an offer she can't refuse!  

This loose retelling of Pretty Woman contained a few of my favorite tropes: grumpy/sunshine paired with a fake dating situation wrapped up with witty banter and quirky side characters. Always Be My Duchess is the first book in the Taming of the Dukes series.  You can count me in for book 2!

Rating: R for language and sexual content

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

Super Sweet Romance I Read in Less Than 24 Hours. It's That Good!

This adorable book right here kept popping up in my Instagram feed and I did a little jig when I saw it was on Kindle Unlimited.  YOU GUYS. This adorably, sweet book is up there on my list of favorites read this year. How to Kiss Your Best Friend contains all the good things you want in a friends to romance trope. Brody has been in love with his best friend Kate since high school.  For the past four years it has been radio silent between them. With one text message and a trip home, Kate whirls back into Brody's life and the resolve and rules that has served him well over the years to keep his feelings to himself start to crumble. Kate returns home after years of traveling the world to find best friend Brody still very much the same on the inside but filled out more than she remembers him being. Could it be that Brody is looking at Kate differently or is she just now starting to notice there might be something more behind his sensitive, in-tune to her nature?

I loved the pace of this book, all of the characters and the setting.  I am absolutely looking forward to the second book in this How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother series!

Rating: This is a closed-door romance with crackling chemistry and sizzling kisses so I give it a PG-13.

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Solidly Cute Book

On the Same Page by Penelope Janu follows Miles Franklin, lawyer by day, author by another name at night! When Miles' alter-ego wins a publishing award the publishing house CEO, the dashing Lars Kristensen, wants to meet the author thus throwing Miles' life into a tailspin.  

This was a cute read, a little on the slow going side. I enjoyed how the author worked parts of Miles' own book into the story line. The characters are likeable and like any good romance, has a happy ending!

Rating: I'm going to be real honest; I can't remember because I read it so long ago and forgot to review it straight away!

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Escape Publishing for the advanced reader copy for an honest review!

Christmas in July June!

Who needs some Christmas in July with a side of romance and comedy? If that's you, grab a copy of Home for Christmas by Camilla Isley!  This adorable Christmas rental mix up gone sideways joins two families who have never met before for the holidays. With more people than rooms in the house, there is a forced proximity situation for our two main characters: Riven and Wendy. Who are both writers. With opposite work ethics. One of whom is stuck and the other for whom the words are free flowing.  There may be some pranks. There may be some romantic tension. There may be a happy ending! 

This is  a comical, romantical read that will draw you in and take you away to a cooler location during these hot summer months! I highly recommend!

Rating: A little bit of spice, but nothing over the top

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for an honest review!