Review for Sabrina Jeffries' ACCIDENTALLY HIS

 

ACCIDENTALLY HIS
Historical Romance

 

 

 AUTHOR:

Sabrina Jeffries

RELEASE DATE:
January 23, 2024

PUBLISHER:
Kensington Books, Zebra

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781420153811

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://sabrinajeffries.com/

 

 

Colonel Raphael “Rafe” Wolfford is an heir presumptive to a viscounty. He is also a spy for the English government. Rafe has been investigating the sisters who own Elegant Occasions. He suspects an enemy spy is associated with the Harpers. To further his mission, Rafe pretends to court the youngest sister. However, he never anticipated how intuitive the lady is or his attraction to her. Can Rafe keep Verity from learning about his identity? Will he find the person responsible for selling information to the French?

Lady Verity Harper is no stranger to scandal. She handles the menu and the food for the party planner business she co-owns with her two sisters. Verity never forgets a face, so she is determined to unmask the mystery man who has been infiltrating their events. She suspects Raphael, her newest suitor. The handsome man comes to her rescue when Verity’s former fiancé tries to ruin her. Can Verity trust Rafe with her heart? And will she discover who the mystery man truly is?

Rafe is such a fun and enjoyable hero! He has this infectious charm about him that appealed to me. I could not help but fall helplessly in love with him (who wouldn’t?). I admire Rafe’s determination to finish his uncle’s last investigation. It shows just how much the man truly meant to him. Yeah, Rafe also had ulterior motives for continuing the investigation. What I love the most about Rafe is how he openly admired Verity and her personality. He liked that she was not like other society ladies but a woman who did not conform to her peers.

Verity has been through a lot. First her parents, especially her father’s domineering ways. Then weathering a scandal caused by her parents. I admire Verity and her two sisters for coming out of that situation stronger. They refused to bow down to society’s censor and their father’s disapproval. Instead, they found a path that complimented them. I understand Verity’s reluctance to open her heart to another, especially after what happened with her former fiancé.

ACCIDENTALLY HIS is the third and final book in Sabrina Jeffries’ historical romance series, DESIGNING DEBUTANTES. I recommend reading the prior two books before this one. It can stand alone. However, the first book explains the Harper sisters’ circumstances and their reasons for starting Elegant Occasions. Both books show how Verity noticed the mystery man at their party events. I love how the couples from the prior books play important roles in the storyline. It is great seeing how both (Diana and her duke, Geoffrey and Eliza with her earl, Nathaniel) are settling in their new wedded lives.

I am sad that this series has ended. I always look forward to any story/book Sabrina Jeffries brings out. I cannot wait to see what the author is working on next.

Review for Christi Caldwell's THE DIAMOND AND THE DUKE

 

THE DIAMOND AND THE DUKE
Historical Romance

 

 

AUTHOR:
Christi Caldwell

RELEASE DATE:
February 20, 2024

PUBLISHER:
Berkley Publishing Group

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9780593334959

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
http://christicaldwell.com/

 

 

Lady Eleanor “Ellie” Balfour plans to never marry. She has her reasons for becoming a spinster, one she does not wish to share with anyone. There is one man who could possibly change Ellie’s m ind about matrimony. However, he is a man embittered and ravaged by war. She refuses to allow Wesley’s surliness to thwart her intentions of helping him heal. Can Ellie give Wesley a reason to live? Will she reveal why she is so averse to marriage?

Captain Wesley Audley returns from the Napoleonic War a broken shell of a man. He wants nothing more than to isolate himself from the world, including his family. There is, however, one person who refuses to allow Wesley to molder away in depression. Ellie Balfour is no longer the little girl he remembers from the past, but a woman grown. With Ellie’s help, can Wesley learn to cope with his injuries?

Ellie is my favorite Balfour. She made DESPERATELY SEEKING A DUCHESS entertaining to read. I could not request this book fast enough, once I found out it was her story! I respect Ellie’s decision not to marry. After years of enduring her father’s abuse, she did not want to exchange one for another. Women had no rights in that time-period. What I adore the most about Ellie is how she refused to allow Wesley to wallow in darkness. She never once treated him as an invalid but as a whole person.

I have always been a sucker for the wounded and tortured types.  And Wesley did not disappoint me! I like how the author did not miraculous “cure” or “heal” him. Instead, we witness his slow journey of acceptance and healing. How it sometimes takes a kindred soul to help another confront their mental demons and heal. Wesley needed that.

THE DIAMOND AND THE DUKE is the third book in Christi Caldwell’s historical romance series, ALL THE DUKE’S SINS. I recommend reading this series in proper order. Yeah, the story can standalone. However, the first two explain the Audley family history and dynamics. The second book introduces the Balfours and their family circumstances. Plus, the couples from the prior books pop up throughout the story. I like that we get to meet Rafe and Edwina and Cailin and Courtland’s children.

I cannot wait to see who Hattie’s mystery love is? And Hunter is the last unmarried Audley. I wonder if the author plans to pair them together or someone entirely new for both. I am cool either way. Also, I hope Keir Balfour gets a book too!

My only nitpick. I have grown attached to the Balfours. I wanted each sibling to have their own book, a spinoff series. They, the Balfours, deserve a happy-ever-after. So, I was bummed to learn that Lottie married.

Review for Kara Aomiya's SUPER MORNING STAR, Volume 1

 SUPER MORNING STAR

 Volume 1
Boy’s Love

 

 

 

AUTHOR:
Kara Aomiya

RELEASE DATE:
October 10, 2023

PUBLISHER:
Kodansha Comics

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781646519934

RATING:
4.5

 

 

Opposites attract! Kaido has a delinquent façade, which causes people to keep their distance. Honda’s easy-going and friendly personality makes him popular at school. Then one day, Honda happens upon Kaido’s secret: that he is a sentai superhero star. This allows him to see his quiet and reserved classmate in a new way.

 

This was a cute and quick read. There were some parts when Honda irked me.  Mostly his obsessiveness and jealousy towards Kaido. Other than that, I enjoyed the storyline and characters.

 

Kaido reminds me of Ryuuji Takasu from Toradora! They both have appearances that makes their classmates assume they are troublemakers when that is far from the truth. Both are gentle souls. I like Kaido’s determination. He is slowly working to achieve his dreams.

Review for Jill Shalvis' THE BRIGHT SPOT

 

THE BRIGHT SPOT
Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction

 

 AUTHOR:

Jill Shalvis

RELEASE DATE:
January 16, 2024

PUBLISHER:
Avon and Harper Voyager

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9780063235755

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.jillshalvis.com/

 

 

Luna Wright manages a farm in Sunrise Cove, California. She considers her co-workers as her makeshift family since Luna knows nothing about her biological family. When her boss Silas passes away, Luna discovers she inherited fifty percent of the farm, along with other startling news. She must work with a partner, the person who owns the other fifty percent, to save the farm from investors. Will Luna figure out a way to save Apple Ridge Farm? Can she trust Jameson with both the farm’s welfare and her heart?

Jameson Hayes is an investment manager and Silas’ former business associate. He promises Silas that he would help Luna make the farm profitable. Jameson never expected to be attracted to his new partner… or be charmed by the farm and its motley occupants. He tries to figure out a way to pay off the money the farm owes to investors. Did Jameson finally find the place he truly belongs? Or will he and Luna fail to save the farm?

Luna and Jameson have a lot in common. They both suffer from trust and abandonment issues, making it difficult letting others in. The latter never found a place where he truly belonged until Apple Ridge Farm. Luna gathered the people she felt comfortable with to form her own place of belongness. Their shared issues helps them understand and relate to each other.

I love the type of friend Luna is to Willow. She gave her friend space when demanded, even though it hurt to stay away. No matter Willow’s cranky demeanor, Luna never gave up on her. She showed up when Willow needed her the most.

Jameson really showed amazing growth. At first, he was a little aloof, but eventually he came around. Jameson could not resist Apple Ridge Farm nor its occupants. He allowed himself to open up to the people there and found the acceptance he craved. What I adore the most about Jameson is how a certain goat wormed into his affections. I love their interactions.

THE BRIGHT SPOT is the fifth book in Jill Shalvis’ contemporary romance series, SUNRISE COVE. Each book in this series stands alone. The only reoccurring thing each story has is the setting: Sunrise Cove, a town near Lake Taho in California. However, I did squee when a certain bakery from THE SWEETHEART LIST (book four) is hinted at. What I enjoyed the most from THE BRIGHT SPOT is a certain grandmother (she’s a riot!) and a certain adorable goat!

I love the feel-good vibes Jill Shalvis brings to her stories! She never disappoints. The author knows how to inject the right amount of humor to balance out serious topics.

Review for Donna Grant's HEART OF GLASS

 

HEART OF GLASS
Paranormal Romance

 

 

 

AUTHOR:
Donna Grant

RELEASE DATE:
September 12, 2023

PUBLISHER:
DL Grant, LLC

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781958353110

RATING:
4

AUTHOR LINK:
https://donnagrant.com/

 

 

Ferne Crawford is a Druid from the London sect. Even though it is taboo, she comes to Skye to help against a growing mysterious threat. Ferne cannot help but be touched by the isle’s beauty and magic. She has a chance encounter with a man who makes her heart flutter. However, danger stalks Ferne’s every step. Will the Skye Druids refuse Ferne’s help? Or will they accept her unlike the London sect?

Theo Frasier is a Skye police detective and a Druid. He is tasked to find the culprit behind the strange mist killing druids on the isle. Theo runs across a bewitching female at The Fairy Pools. He cannot ignore the connection he feels with Ferne; however, he has no time for romance. Things change when the mist targets her. Can Ferne help Theo reveal the person behind the killing mist? Will he be able to protect her from it?

I could not help but admire Ferne’s determination to do what she felt was right. She even risked the London Druids’ further ire, and her brother’s alienation, to help the Skye Druids with their threat. Ferne did flounder a bit and experienced some setbacks, which is totally believable. No one gets things the first time around. It is only through those setbacks that they find a solution, which Ferne did.

I truly felt for Theo. It had to be difficult being both a Druid and police official. Theo had to hide that side of himself from his fellow officers, not to mention conceal the magical aspect from certain cases. I imagine that conflicted him since he takes his duty seriously.

HEART OF GLASS is the third book in Donna Grant’s paranormal romance series, SKYE DRUIDS. I highly suggest reading this series in proper order. Unfortunately, I did not read the prior book, SHOULDER THE SYKE. There were a few characters I was not familiar with. I assume they were introduced in the previous book. Also, I felt as if I missed some key and vital information the second book provided.

Review for Skye Jordan's HELL HATH NO FURY

 

HELL HATH NO FURY
PARANORMAL/ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

 

 

 

AUTHOR:
Skye Jordan

RELEASE DATE:
September 7, 2023

PUBLISHER:
Cygnet Books

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
978194476515

RATING:
4

 

 

Jessica Fury is a Washington lobbyist. She has never forgotten the incident that took both her husband and her happiness. Jessica’s former hazmat team re-enters her life with a shocking revelation. The surprise could make her happy or it could destroy her for good. Can Jessica and her friends expose the one responsible for the chemical fire five years ago? Will they ever discover who Q really is?

Q has spent five years as a human lab rat. He remembers nothing of his former life. Q dreams of a certain woman who made his captivity tolerable. When he is rescued by strangers, Q comes face-to-face with the woman from his dreams. Now they must evade the unscrupulous people who want him back. Will Q ever get his memories back? Or will he be forced to return to his captors?

I just could not like Jessica. She is not the type of heroine I like to read; she came off too wishy-washy for my tastes. I could not empathize with her at all. Yeah, I understand that people deal with grief in myriad of ways. I get that. It just did not work here with her. Jessica’s personality is what kept me from enjoying the story. Which is ironic, since I did not mind her so much when the book was first released. Now I just find her too pitiful.

My heart went out to Q/Quiad. The man had undergone so many horrors by unscrupulous people. I like how he found a lifeline with his dreams of Jessica. They kept him from giving up and becoming a killing machine.

HELL HATH NO FURY is the third book in Skye Jordan’s romantic suspense series, PHOENIX RIDING. The author must have got her rights back from Kensington and re-released the series. HELL HATH NO FURY’s former title is RUSH.  I remember when the author first released this series back in 2012 and 2013 under her pseudonym Joan Swan.

At the time, I really enjoyed the first three books. The fourth, SHATTER, I never got around to reading because it too is a second-chance story. I am not a fan of that trope, so I hit my limit of tolerance with the second and third book. I wanted something different and more for my boy Mitch.

I had a difficult time getting immersed in the story this time around. Things I did not mind back then grated and annoyed me now. I know my preferences have changed, and I suspect that played a significant role. I noticed the author updated the technology in the story’s new version.

This is the former cover with the old title