These are the Advance Reader Copies I read that release this month. Read on to see my verdicts on each of them! Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the copies in exchange for an honest review.
The Bachelor and the Bride by Sarah M. Eden
Verdict: DNF at 25%
After I accepted this ARC I went back and read the previous books in the series to prepare to review this one. I quickly realized these books aren’t for me.
I dislike how the mystery/crime elements and the excerpts from the penny dreadful novels detract from the romance aspect of the story. There are just to many elements and layers for me. I want more time spent focusing on the emotion and the relationships, not solving a crime.
However, I would recommend this series to readers who don’t like too much romance and prefer to have more action and adventure. (I’m just not that reader.) I think to the right audience, these could be very successful.
When in Rome by Sarah Adams
Verdict: Kind of fun!
Kind of like “Cars” meets “Hannah Montana.” Also “Roman Holiday,” of course.
This wasn’t quite my taste, but I can see how this could be a really fun book for the right reader. It’s cute, closed-door romance.
What didn’t work for me: There was too much slap-stick humor, and events just seemed to contrived. The characters spent too much time resisting their attraction to each other. A little of this is good for building tension. These characters spend too much time holding back that any chemistry vanished.
I might have rated this lower but this did hold my attention, even if I the writing made me roll my eyes.
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Verdict: A real riot!
A steamy Christmas book that could be read year-round about a porn star who books the lead in a Hallmark-style Christmas movie.
For a book about with a porn-star protagonist, this book wasn’t very sensual. There is plenty of sex, but it’s mostly on the periphery. Most of the adult content comes from the jokes and the characters’ back story.
The writing was super clever and witty. I laughed so often that I can confidently classify this as a true rom-com.
I loved the intelligent conversations and outlook about sex work and adult actors. So refreshing.
Our main couple were fans of each other’s work before they ever met in real life, and I like that.
The main drawback for me was the grand gesture, which didn’t work for me.
Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros
Verdict: Great spooky read.
A girl raised by zombies? Fascinating!
The politics of the story were confusing, but to be fair, they are for the main character Toma as well. I think I got it figured out by the end. If it would have been clearer this might have been a five-star read for me. What hooked me was the exploration of loving something/someone that seems unlovable, like the Undead.
I loved this first-person, dark fantasy set in a Russia-like setting. Great for readers of The Bone Houses and Shadow and Bone. (Bone books I guess?)
Duke Most Wicked by Lenora Bell
Verdict: Not a fan.
Imagine the Sound of Music but in a historical romance! Viola is a music teacher to a bunch of sisters and she falls in love with their older brother, who’s an irresponsible rake.
This book was all over the place. The inconsistency of character and style made this novel a bit disjointed.
I was most disappointed about how Viola’s characterization played out at the end. She suddenly became reckless and foolish when she came into money, and I just couldn’t understand why. Her issue the entire novel has been that she doesn’t have enough money to be considered at match for West, but when she comes into money, she insists on gambling it, doing the very activity that she’s been deriding West for doing the entire novel. Of all the ways she could grow as a character, this was not it.
Now for the gambling: gambling is in a lot of historical romance novels and it usually serves some sort of narrative purpose. But it’s usually relatively on the periphery, or part of backstory, for good reason. When faced with how devastating a gambling habit is, I found it overpowered the other aspects of the plot.
So This is Christmas by Jenny Holiday
DNF at 48%
I put this down because I wasn’t enjoying it and I didn’t see it improving anytime soon. The writing felt stiff and awkward. The characters felt stiff and awkward. By this time in the book, I really need to see some rapport and chemistry develop. Even though they had kissed by this point, it didn’t feel natural or earned in anyway. (They’re still calling each other Ms. and Mr.)
Also, the corporate stuff was so boring. I know that Cara needs a reason to be in Eldovia, but I honestly do not need all the details. I get it, she’s good at her job. Move along, spend more time falling in love with Matteo.
Love the cover though!
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
Verdict: A new favorite.
The description made me so skeptical but the execution was beyond my wildest dreams. And I’ll be dreaming about this book for a while. It shouldn’t work as well as it does. I did a lot of swooning and guffawing.
It’s weird, eccentric, whimsical, and absurd. It’s an explosion of Christmas confetti. Full of family antics, pop culture references, and limit-testing magic. I can tell Hogle had a blast writing this.
Hall is one of my favorite romance heroes ever. Kind of like Buddy the Elf, except more magical and less naïve. He’s so excited to experience everything human and bring the holiday spirit to everyone.
Bettie was a type of character archetype I usually avoid (washed up influencer). But her chaotic energy and desire for revenge worked, especially with Hall.
One Last Gift by Emily Stone
Verdict: Sad but beautiful.
I knew it was going to be devastating, but it still got me when it happened.
Readers who like “One Day in December” and “Always in December” (her other work) will like this too. It’s a sad Holiday book, which honestly is a sub-genre that has a special place in my heart. The writing is cozy and soft, even when it’s sad. The characters are loveable and the settings are charming.
The arguments Cassie and Sam had were top notch. Honestly, I lived for that drama and emotion. They’re both just so broken that they don’t know how to communicate or handle their feelings.
I wish Sam and Cassie had more time together on page. I know they were dealing with their grief in their own separate ways, but I wish they had spent more time grieving together instead of apart.
To Capture His Heart by Nancy Cambell Allen
Verdict:
DNF at 42%
It wasn’t gripping me. Too much of the story unfolded at once, and then it stalled out. Basically, the pacing felt uneven.
They were confessing feeling for no reason, and much to early in the story. I want more tension.
I could also see the mystery subplot starting to take over the romance plot, which is something I’m not interested in. (This may be great for readers who like their romance novels to have more action.) The mystery, though, wasn’t compelling and I just felt annoyed anytime it came up. It felt unimaginative. Like, a face in a window? Come on.
Built to Last by Erin Hahn
Verdict: DNF
This just wasn’t clicking with me. I was a bit bored, and kind of dreading picking it up. I could see myself coming around though.
I’ve been reading so many books with celebrity characters; I think it’s hard not to compare them. This one just isn’t as engaging as those. That’s why I can see myself trying again; maybe when I’m not fresh off the heels of other fictional celebrity books
Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins
Verdict: Loved this one. It was very readable, hard to put down.
Marlowe’s loneliness of moving to a new city and working a stressful job with long hours was so relatable. Angus was an interesting, mysterious love interest.
The writing style was a bit cool and detached which helped bring out some of the vulnerability and emotional weariness Marlowe experienced. I really felt Marlowe’s burnout working in a high-stress PA position for a TV show. (I just finished Jennette McClurdy’s book so the culture of filming TV shows is fresh in my mind.)
What’s keeping me from a full 5 stars is some underutilized moments of emotional tension. and a weak conclusion.
Ejaculate Responsibly by Gabrielle Blair
Verdict: Read it! But with caveats.
A persuasive and powerful argument. I’ve been a fan of this way of thinking since I first read Design Mom’s viral twitter thread. I hope this changes the conversation our society is having about abortion.
However, I wish this had been more gender inclusionary. Besides a note at the beginning, this book doesn’t address trans people. I understand the tactical reason for the heteronormative language, but ultimately disagree with the choice.
The sections in second person were actually quite effective and I think more of this could have been written in that style, and it would have somewhat solved the issue of the non-inclusive language.
I thought it was odd not to have footnotes or a bibliography included and instead just a link to a website for the sources. Once again, a tactical choice that I understand but don’t agree with.
Silver in the Mist by Emily Victoria
Verdict: This was a pretty good stand-alone fantasy.
Here’s what worked for me:
If you look at this as a metaphor for climate change, it’s really fascinating. An encroaching evil mist that destroys the landscape and kills people. But the wealthy country is hoarding resources and keeping themselves safe while also ignoring the existential threat.
The POV was really interesting. I would usually expect a story like this to be told from Alyse’s point of view. She’s the chosen one, who has really powerful magic who can save everyone. Instead we’re in Dev’s head, the one who’s sent to kidnap her.
The friendships made in this book are as emotional and rich, and they scratch that itch for me (and make the story compelling).
However, some reveals were just too convenient and unbelievable and too much lore and backstory.
Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath
Verdict: like, not love category.
I didn’t read the first book in the series, and had no problem understanding or getting into this one, which I count as a big plus. I do want to go back and read the first in the series.
The biggest concern I had going in was that the B-story / mystery they have to solve would overpower the romance. It gets close, but never quite upstages the romance, which was a relief.
Giles was a great character, and I found him pretty funny! The downside was that when some big family revelations came about, his character didn’t seem to know how to handle them in a consistent way. Like, his character archetype doesn’t have a “sad / confused” setting.
I was very annoyed that Giles kept calling Diana Vixen, Minx, or Helion. I’m not a huge fan of pet names anyway but these really didn’t fit her, or his character, for that matter. She is a bluestocking, but her temperament isn’t particularly shrewish, more straightforward. There wasn’t even a reason for him picking that (that I can recall) and it was so jarring every time he used them.
Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade
Verdict: Overall, a great read.
The characters were really lovable. On the surface it seems like sunshine/grump, but it’s more than that if you look a layer deeper. Maria’s straightforward and blunt, she’s not bubbly, but she’s definitely one to look on the bright side of things. Peter is more solitary, takes a while to warm up to people, yet is ambitious and concerned about his status and perception. Very multi-faceted characters who have dynamics I’d find in real people.
The fat representation was excellent! (As it is with all her books I’ve read..) It’s really refreshing. I like that this book is pretty blatantly against fat-shaming, and fatphobia is condemned in the text. The scene where Maria refuses to lose weight for her role made me pump my fist in the air to cheer for her.
The pacing was the main drawback for me, though.
To Get to the Other Side by Kelly Ohlert
Verdict: skip it.
I didn’t get very far before I DNF’d because I just can’t read about chicken poop and lice. Sorry.
City of Fortune by Victoria Thompson
I accidently read a cozy mystery, I guess? Not usually a genre I read.
I haven’t read any other books in the series, but understand all the characters and the setting was fine.
The author did a lot of research on horse racing, so any readers of this book will get a thorough primer on the subject.
I was mildly entertained, but it did feel pretty long by the end. The con was… interesting. I have mixed feelings about it.
I might go back and read the earlier books in this series because I like Elizabeth.
Meg Loves Words 