I received an arc of Untamed Devil for free from the author to review. All thoughts and opinions that follow are honest and my own.
I really enjoyed Untamed Devil by Melissa Ivers. It is the second in the Nashville Devils series but you can read it as a stand-alone and still understand everything going on in this book.
I’ve always been a fan of hockey and was delighted to be able to read a copy of this one. It didn’t disappoint and I can’t wait for more in the series!
This one is a family-centered drama mixed with romance of the in-denial type and sprinkled with familial duty and southern charm. The characters are great and I felt like they were people I could be friends with. I loved the single-dad aspect of the story. Being a single parent myself, this aspect of the story really touched my heart.
I was confused about Chloe’s age. In some scenes she’s made to sound older (teenish) and in other scenes she seems younger (young child). It doesn’t impact the story, but I just found it confusing. One thing I didn’t care for was that Tag, one of our main characters, seemed very “poor me.” Even though he kept trying to act the opposite way, I felt like it was repetitive in that way.
There were many steamy scenes, so definitely keep that in mind. There is a bit of language as well.
Overall I enjoyed this one and would read it again. I definitely recommend this one, especially if you like hockey, small town romances, southern romances, or the whole in-denial romance trope.
I received a free ARC of Mistletoe and Mischief thanks to the author. I am giving my honest review, which I am under no obligation to provide. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever reiterated that Christmas is my favorite holiday or how much I love it. But it is, and I love it a ton. So when I saw Melissa Ivers had a Christmas Novella available for ARC readers, I jumped at the chance to sign up.
In Mistletoe and Mischief, we follow Jules and Nash as they get through the Christmas season and try their best to be civil with one another while staying under the same roof. Jules is a small town baker and owner of Sweet Pies. She’s unfortunately stuck with her brother’s best friend and her own personal nemesis, Nash, staying at her house over the holidays. Nash is a big-shot lawyer, a playboy with devilishy good looks, and a holiday mission to make Jules’s life miserable. But what happens when a bit of Christmas magic plus close proximity does a little bit of messing with these two and their sworn hatred for each other?
Mistletoe and Mischief: The Breakdown
I love a good enemies-to-lovers book, and boy did this deliver. There’s romance, steam, Christmas, and descriptions of yummy food.
I loved the Christmasy parts of the novella. It put me in such a cozy mood. I also enjoyed the banter between Nash and Jules. I felt like their enemies-to-lovers scenario was believable with the way they went after each other throughout, teasing and poking at each other.
It was written in dual POVs, which I really enjoyed because we got into the heads of both characters. There is a bit of language to start out the book, which caught me off guard, but it didn’t deter me from continuing.
I definitely recommend this book if you’re into enemies-to-lovers, Christmas romance, steamy-romance, or just some light-hearted fun. This is my first Melissa Ivers’ book but it will not be my last!
Mistletoe and Mischief is out already, so be sure to get your copy today!
I received a free ARC of She’s Too Pretty To Burn thanks to the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
When I read the synopsis, I was hooked. It sounded super intriguing. I’ll be honest, I’ve never read The Picture of Dorian Gray, so I’m not sure which aspect was done for the retelling or whether it hit the mark.
This book is interesting, to say the least. We have a trio of characters, two of whom are artists, and one who is a lifeguard. Veronica and Nico are artists and best friends, and Veronica meets Mick, a lifeguard and the object of Veronica—and soon to be Nico’s—affections.
She’s Too Pretty To Burn: My Thoughts
The dynamics of the main relationship did not feel healthy. I had warning bells going off during some scenes because of the way Veronica was acting around Mick and the things that she said. She didn’t listen to Mick when Mick said no, and she would say creepy things to her. It felt very possessive and toxic.
The parental presence was lacking. Even when there was a parental figure in the storyline, the actions did not seem as that of a typical adult/parent. As a parent myself, I kept saying “That’s really all her mom is going to say?” or “Really? That’s her reaction?” It felt unrealistic that there was such little parental influence during all this time, especially with Veronica’s mom. I won’t say more because I don’t want to slip into the spoiler zone.
I kept trying to understand the motive or the point to much of what happened in the book but I couldn’t.
Heard’s writing kept me intrigued, though, and I couldn’t put this book down. I still can’t stop thinking about it, despite the few hangups I had. I recommend checking it out—publication is set for March 30th.
I received a free e-ARC of A Shot At Normal thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
The synopsis for this book hooked me the very first time I read it. This book is very timely and poignant. The subject matter of the book, to vaccinate or not vaccinate, is considered controversial, but I think if it’s executed well, it can make for good discussion and thought.
As a mom, I read this with a different perspective because I was able to think about myself in Juniper’s position, as well as her parents’s position. Because of this, I think this personal experience made the reading experience more unique.
A Shot at Normal: My Take
I liked how Reichardt showed the internal struggle that Juniper was dealing with. We know how badly Juniper feels about the measles and the outcome of that, and her vehemence on wanting to be vaccinated. But we also see her grappling with the possible consequences of getting vaccinated and what that would mean for her relationship with her family.
There were a few things that I thought could have been executed better. The relationships in the book all felt like insta-love. Her relationship with Nico, her friendship with Tess, etc. They met Juniper and instantly they were best friends or perfect for each other. It just didn’t feel authentic for me. I also wish the behavior of Juniper’s parents was discussed. They ignored Juniper when they found out she was petitioning them for vaccine rights. I just wish that the behavior had been discussed with perhaps Nico’s mom or Mimi or someone. It was unhealthy.
One aspect of the book that was challenging and I think could potentially be problematic for younger readers (I’m an adult reading YA) was that the argument Juniper’s parents made against vaccines evoked too much sympathy and it did make you feel like maybe it wasn’t so bad.
Overall this was an interesting read. I enjoy reading about controversial subjects and I got that with A Shot At Normal. If you’re looking for a book that touches on the vaccine vs anti-vaccine debate, this is for you!
I have quite a few books on my September TBR. You’d think I’d learn to make them smaller since I never get through them all! I’ve finished up 2 books that I started last month and will be reading 5 others, bringing the total to 7. This month I’m reading them in a particular order based on publication date. Since I’m posting this TBR kind of late in the month, I’ve updated this list to reflect what I’ve already finished.
Finished September TBR Reads
I finished Wicked Fox by Kat Cho, which I started as a buddy read in August. It was a really interesting read. Honestly, I was skeptical at first but the more I read, the harder it was to put down. I’ll go into more detail in my review my reaction to the story, but I enjoyed the story, and I can’t wait for the sequel!
Next I finished I Am These Truths by Sunny Hostin, which I had started in August. You can read my review for Hostin’s memoir here. I Am These Truths by Sunny Hostin is set to be published on September 22nd.
I just finished reading Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, publishing on September 15. This is about a girl, Bree, who attends UNC Chapel Hill in a program for high schoolers. Upon arrival, she notices things aren’t as they seem, and it appears there is magic afoot. The more she learns about this magical society, the more she realizes her mother’s death isn’t as black and white as she was led to believe. We follow her as she joins the Legendborn and tries to uncover the truth of what really happened to her mom. Y’all, this was so good and I cannot wait for you to read it! More in my review to come.
To Be Read September Reads
I’ve started The Left Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix. This book is intriguing because it intertwines booksellers and magic and I am all for that. I can’t wait to find out what happens! You can purchase this on September 22nd.
I’m also reading Oshibana Complex by Craig Hallam. Inspired Quill is publishing this on September 26th. In this book, gender and race are no longer a part of the society of Shika-One. Procreation involves synthesis but with limited make-up, doppelgängers are abundant. Can one maintain the status quo and still showcase individuality? This book sounds interesting. It’s written completely in gender-neutral language, which is a first for me, and I’m excited about that.
After that is Hush by Dylan Farrow, releasing on October 6th. This book follows Shae, a 17-year-old girl determined to figure out the secrets of her world. A world that’s kept quiet by Bards who use magic to silence its citizens. Shae must figure out who to trust and find strength to break the Hush.
Then comes Twig and Turtle 1: Big Move to a Tiny House by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. Twig and Turtle are two young girls who move with their family into a tiny house. While Turtle doesn’t mind the move, Twig is sad to have to leave her Great Dane with her grandma. How can Twig get her dog to come live with them in their tiny house? This book sounds like a nice fun read and I can’t wait to find out how Twig fares with getting her dog back! This hit shelves on October 6th.
So what are y’all reading this month? What is on your September TBR? Are any of these on your anticipated reads list? Have you read any?
