Reviews

Love a good story about rich people behaving badly? The Social Climber by Amanda Pellegrino centers around the wealthy elite in a juicy revenge story. A domestic thriller about Eliza Bennett, an evangelical college graduate, who is set to marry Graham Walker, a wealthy Yale alum from a prestigious family. Eliza has many secrets from her past and as they start to unfold, we are left unsure of her true intentions. You get a sneak peek into Eliza’s college days in the dual timeline that reveal what shaped her into the woman she is today. The mystery behind Eliza’s secrets is slow to build yet keeps you in suspense.

The book reminded me a little of Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll. Both books have plot twists that have me recommending them as must reads for domestic thriller fans. So strap on your Louboutin’s and hang on for a jaw dropping finish.

It's officially that time of year again - time to binge watch Hallmark Christmas romance movies. It is the perfect way to evoke feelings of joy while destressing from the hectic holidays. I recently listened to B.K. Borison's holiday romance book Lovelight Farms and have to say it is gave me the same blissful feeling. This fake-dating, friends-to-lovers story takes place at a delightful small town Christmas tree farm that is struggling lately.  When the owner, Stella, enters a $100,000 contest run by a famed Instagram influencer, she mentions she owns the farm with her boyfriend. After becoming a finalist in the contest and finding out that the influencer is planning to come to the farm, Stella must quickly figure out where she is going to get a boyfriend.

Enter Luka, Stella’s best friend who has agreed to pretend to be her boyfriend. Both of them has harbored feelings for the other for years, but not wanting to ruin their friendship have never tried for more. The towns people and friends help them soon realize that the real thing is so much better than pretend.

I must mention that there is a little bit of steam to this romance, but it doesn't overshadow the story. Lovelight Farms is a cozy, sweet, heartwarming tale that will give you all the giddiness and happy feels this holiday season. I highly recommend listening to this first in a new series with a hot chocolate by the fire.

As Serena Williams closed out her professional tennis career at the US Open this month, I finished listening to Taylor Jenkin Reid’s newest novel, Carrie Soto is Back. I am not a huge tennis fan, but I can appreciate the immense time and heart that goes into being a professional athlete. Reid tells the story of Carrie Soto, a fierce competitor who is determined to win at any cost. She is not well liked, but by the time she retires, she is the greatest player the world has ever seen.  She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach. At 37 years old, Carrie makes the shocking decision to come out of retirement in an attempt to reclaim her record. Her comeback is grueling, as she fights her body’s limitations, her competitor’s youth, her critics, and most significantly her doubts.  This story is not just about tennis, but also about a father’s and daughter’s love for one another and various life lessons.

The audiobook was immersive and brought the characters to life. It gave me the sense that I was there with Carrie on her journey to greatness. Taylor Jenkins Reid continues to enlighten me with her characters in unique situations and has cemented herself as one of my all-time favorite authors.

Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe was an eye-opening account of a young girl’s summer living in the Chicago projects as they were being torn down around her. Wolfe describes the atmosphere of living in the housing projects of Chicago in 1999 with raw emotion. It’s a realistic depiction of what occurs in the inner city, from the poverty, the gangs, the violence, and everything else many struggle with on a daily basis. The main character, Fe Fe, and her friends learn to navigate the system as best they can. Their friendships are fragile, and their fear is evident as they are thrown into many life altering choices. This 224-page book packs a punch with its realistic, yet violent, story. I love that Wolfe shares in the similarity of her main character, as a strong female who made it out of the Robert Taylor Homes.

Reading this book had me Googling photos and videos to find out more about the Chicago projects. This short, yet moving novel, will stick with you and would make for a hearty book discussion.

Christina Lauren’s newest book Something Wilder is a suspenseful adventure seeking story with a cute second chance romance. Lilly Wilder is struggling to make ends meet and trying to find a way back to Wilder Ranch where she grew up. She runs Wilder Adventures that offers guided fake treasure hunts in the vast mazed canyons of Utah. When an annual boy's trip brings her lost love, Leo, on one of her tours, he has the opportunity to make things right with her again. Lily and Leo try to reconnect after unforeseen circumstances separated them years ago, all while going on a treasure hunt filled with secret codes and riddles.

The story shifts part way through into something dangerous, suspenseful and exciting, a transition I never saw coming but certainly enjoyed. It forces Lily and Leo to confront their past, come to terms with it and decide on their futures all while trying to navigate the treachery in their midst.

The writing duo that is Christina Lauren is so skilled at crafting unique stories. They have written a lot of books over the years, and none of them are similar, which can be a hard task in the romance genre. Something Wilder combines romance with action and adventure and it works so well! I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen tells a dark and twisty story about people who aren't what they seem. In this instance, the "golden couple" is Marissa and Matthew Bishop, who seem to have it all, at least by social media standards. In real life, however, things aren't quite so shiny. Marissa admits to infidelity, and they seek outside help from a therapist who previously went rogue in her treatment and subsequently lost her license.

The therapist, Avery Chambers, is in desperate need of help herself. When these three collide, secrets from the past begin to surface, and we aren't quite sure whom to believe when stories don't quite add up.

The Golden Couple has great character development and spot-on creative deception. This author duo produces enthralling psychological thrillers that will keep you guessing until the last page. Perfect for fans of domestic noir!

One Italian Summer will make you want to drop everything and immediately fly to the Italian Riviera. This book does a beautiful job of depicting Positano, capturing its natural beauty. The town does feel like a place where magic can happen, making it an appropriate setting for this book.

Katy’s mom passes away and her marriage is struggling, so she decides to take the trip to Italy her and her mother had planned before she died. Rebecca Serle does an amazing job of capturing the grief of losing a mother. Yet, overall, I did not like Katy as a character, as she seemed quite selfish and seemed co-dependent on her mother.

I appreciate magical elements in a novel, but find they work best when the character struggles to understand them at first. Upon arriving in Positano, Katy encounters the 30-year-old version of her mother, Carol, and the two connect and enjoy each other's company. Katy learns more about her mother through the magic of time travel, both the good and the bad - including some difficult revelations that lead Katy to question everything she believed about her mother and their relationship. 

In the end, I struggled to understand Katy's borderline obsession with her mother because it blinded her to other things in her life. I also struggled with the time travel piece, as Katy readily accepted it without investigating the reason. Despite these issues, I did find the story to be well written and the vivid description of the Italian setting enthralled me. 

Colleen Hoover's newest book Reminders of Him is a story that will rip your heart apart and then slowly put it back together again.

Kenna Rowan is a heroine who represents the raw realities of being a young girl, woman, daughter and mother. Having made an honest and horrific mistake 5 years ago landing her in prison, she loses two loves of her life – one being her daughter. Coming back to the town where everything started and ended, Kenna does all that she can to receive forgiveness and to once again be a part of her daughter’s life.

The only person in town who doesn't hate Kenna is local bar owner Ledger Ward, and as they grow closer, the chances of Kenna ever having her daughter in her life drift farther and farther away. Kenna and Ledger are both connected by an unimaginable tragedy, and it's going to take so much courage and forgiveness to move past it and build a future.

Reading the story through both of their own POVs and watching each of them fall in love with the other showcased true endurance and perseverance. This was definitely a heavier read than other contemporary romances and it centers around family, grief, and forgiveness. This is a compelling story that is heartbreaking, yet hopeful. Fans of Colleen Hoover's other fantastic novels and those who enjoy second chance stories will love this book.

Wahala by Nikki May is an incisive and exhilarating debut novel centered on the female friendship of three Anglo-Nigerian best friends and the lethally glamorous fourth woman who infiltrates their group. This female trio is the most unforgettable friendship since Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda. For those who aren’t familiar with those names, I am talking about the epic friendship circle of the women of Sex and the City.

This story follows a friend group made up of 3 British/Nigerian girls who met in grade school and bonded over their shared heritage. Ronke, Simi and Boo are the kind of friend group that make others jealous. They have grown up together as close as sisters - sharing their successes, their dreams, as well as their failures. With the introduction of Isobel (a childhood friend of Simi), things start to take a turn for the three close friends. A turn which has the potential to tear this group apart for good.

If you are a fan of Sex and the City or Big Little Lies, this drama filled novel with strong mystery/thriller undertones is perfect for you.

This is Book One in the From Kona with Love series by Anna Gomez and Kristoffer Polaha. I had never heard of either of these authors before but when I read that the series would depict multicultural romance, love, loss, and redemption woven into a family saga set in the beautiful islands of Hawaii I knew that I had to give it a try.  Then I was beyond thrilled to find out that Kristoffer Polaha is an actor that I have seen in numerous television shows and during my Hallmark Christmas movie binge watching. 

In this beautifully written book that is part travel log and part romance, we are introduced to Andie and Warren. Andi has had a awful year, so she is now questioning the choices she made. In a quick decision, she escapes her problems by running off to Hawaii to help her friend, Api. What Andi finds is more than a coffee shop and run down plantation; she finds a purpose. She unexpectedly meets Warren Yates on Christmas Eve, a mysterious man who has a connection to the shop and wants to help Andie explore the island for whatever time she has.

Moments Like This delivers a beautiful love story wrapped inside two journeys of self-discovery.  The authors beautifully wrote the Hawaiian and Filipino cultures and traditions, wherein both cultures respect and honor family, love, and food. It is the perfect book to get into the holiday spirit, so grab a hot beverage, a cozy blanket, and snuggle in for a Hawaiian treat.