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spectacles_and_books's reviews
59 reviews
Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lyla Sage's books have been on my TBR since I first saw the cover art on "Done and Dusted." I was so excited to read "Lost and Lassoed" and after finishing it, I immediately wanted to go back in time to tell past me to read the beginning of the Rebel Blue Ranch series.
All the promised tropes were well executed with great pacing. I also enjoyed the dual POV that gave the characters depth and motivation with a good touch of humour as well. I'm definitely going to enter my cowboy Romance era and read the rest of the series now.
Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
All the promised tropes were well executed with great pacing. I also enjoyed the dual POV that gave the characters depth and motivation with a good touch of humour as well. I'm definitely going to enter my cowboy Romance era and read the rest of the series now.
Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content
Next To You by Hannah Bonam-Young
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Grief... it's really just all the love you want to give the person you've lost. Building up until it hurts... Find somewhere to put the love... or its gonna keep hurting"
A heartfelt friends-to-lovers Romance that explored how to truly accept love that you don't feel you deserve. Lane and Matt's relationship was explored so thoughtfully.
A heartfelt friends-to-lovers Romance that explored how to truly accept love that you don't feel you deserve. Lane and Matt's relationship was explored so thoughtfully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death
Minor: Biphobia, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Did I enjoy it? Yes.
Was it my favourite Ashley Poston novel? No.
I went into "A Novel Love Story" with high expectations, having adored Ashley Poston's other novels. There were aspects that I really loved. But most of them happened outside of Eloraton. Go into this for a story about self-reflection, friendships and the love of a good book (not necessarily a Romance read)
Was it my favourite Ashley Poston novel? No.
I went into "A Novel Love Story" with high expectations, having adored Ashley Poston's other novels. There were aspects that I really loved. But most of them happened outside of Eloraton. Go into this for a story about self-reflection, friendships and the love of a good book (not necessarily a Romance read)
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Sexual content
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
She writes it, I'll read it!
✅Another gorgeous Cinnamon Roll MMC who is the epitome of 'if he wanted to, he would'
✅Relatable FMC
✅Sensitive exploration of mental health issues and working through trauma
I adored this. Julia Whelan and Zachary Webber both gave impeccable narrations. All the stars!
✅Another gorgeous Cinnamon Roll MMC who is the epitome of 'if he wanted to, he would'
✅Relatable FMC
✅Sensitive exploration of mental health issues and working through trauma
I adored this. Julia Whelan and Zachary Webber both gave impeccable narrations. All the stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Medical content
Haunt Your Heart Out by Amber Roberts
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Lex loves her small town and all it's ghosts. When out-of-towner, James, starts frequenting her book shop, Lex finds herself forced to make space in her small world for him and his documentary crew.
I enjoyed the moments where we got to see Lex's love for books and her grandfather's house. Along with her friendship with Natalie. However, at times I found myself taken out of the narrative by a few aspects of the plot.
I wish that there would have been more drawn out tension between Lex and James in the first half of the book. Her reluctance to form an attachment to this out-of-towner was resolved so quickly and it would have been interesting to have a little more angst. Some of the side characters read quite one dimensional and whilst there was some representation of LGBT characters this was almost mentioned in passing and could have been explored further. I also found myself wishing that we had James' POV to understand his character and motivations through more than just his dialogue. But, this is perhaps just my preference for dual POV narration.
Overall, a good quick read to cosy up to in the colder months. This could be a great choice for a spooky Halloween read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review
I enjoyed the moments where we got to see Lex's love for books and her grandfather's house. Along with her friendship with Natalie. However, at times I found myself taken out of the narrative by a few aspects of the plot.
I wish that there would have been more drawn out tension between Lex and James in the first half of the book. Her reluctance to form an attachment to this out-of-towner was resolved so quickly and it would have been interesting to have a little more angst. Some of the side characters read quite one dimensional and whilst there was some representation of LGBT characters this was almost mentioned in passing and could have been explored further. I also found myself wishing that we had James' POV to understand his character and motivations through more than just his dialogue. But, this is perhaps just my preference for dual POV narration.
Overall, a good quick read to cosy up to in the colder months. This could be a great choice for a spooky Halloween read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review
You, With a View by Jessica Joyce
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed Jessica Joyce's writing. This is probably the most character driven Romance I've read. Whilst the plot is simple, a lot of care was taken to unpack Noelle's emotional journey. I also usually prefer a dual narration, but Theo was so well-written that it was easy to understand and relate to his character arc as well. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Kit McBride Gets a Wife by Amy Barry
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A very sweet, Historical Romance palate cleanser. Perfect for anyone wanting a sweet, YA friendly (i.e. no spice) story. I imagined Junebug as an aged-up Scout Finch type and her meddlesome character was charming. Maddy Mooney was a lovely FMC, with an equally sweet MMC in Kit McBride. The cast of side characters were a lot of fun and I'll definitely be reading the next installment (Marrying Off Morgan McBride) in the future.
Whisky Business by Elliot Fletcher
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think I need some time to recover from hearing an actual Scotsman narrating 🔥 I highly recommend listening to this, if like me you can't read physical books and imagine the accents in your head.
With her movie career stalling, April inherits her late grandfather's manor and whisky distillery. She is reunited with her old childhood crush and local grump, Malcolm, who has been keeping the business afloat.
April and Mal were really well developed. There was an amazing tension and chemistry between them. Perhaps quite a bit more 🌶️ than I was excepting when it gets there 🤭 I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with the other Macabe brothers
With her movie career stalling, April inherits her late grandfather's manor and whisky distillery. She is reunited with her old childhood crush and local grump, Malcolm, who has been keeping the business afloat.
April and Mal were really well developed. There was an amazing tension and chemistry between them. Perhaps quite a bit more 🌶️ than I was excepting when it gets there 🤭 I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with the other Macabe brothers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
Minor: Dementia
Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What was more delicious? The descriptions of the mouth watering Italian food... or the slow burn between Olive and Leo?
Many ingredients blended together in this book. Part examination of the fraught relationship between father and daughter. Part love letter to Italy and it's cuisine. Part slow burn Romance. And I ate it all up.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins AU for the opportunity to read an ARC of "Just One Taste"
Many ingredients blended together in this book. Part examination of the fraught relationship between father and daughter. Part love letter to Italy and it's cuisine. Part slow burn Romance. And I ate it all up.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins AU for the opportunity to read an ARC of "Just One Taste"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Vows & Ruins by Helen Scheuerer
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was heading towards a three star read for me... Until that ending! 🤯 That alone has made the curious enough to want to read the next installment.
The adventure and found family elements are what I've enjoyed most about the series so far. I agree with some other reviewers that there was something about the spicy scenes that was a little off. They seemed to detract somewhat from the overall narrative. Maybe it's the fact thatthe nature of Wilder and Thea's relationship was off, given the betrayal I really find that those scenes work best for me when there's genuine connection between the characters, not just physical want and I didn't really get that from them. The scenes towards the end just seemed to interrupt the plot.
Overall, excited to see where this goes next...
The adventure and found family elements are what I've enjoyed most about the series so far. I agree with some other reviewers that there was something about the spicy scenes that was a little off. They seemed to detract somewhat from the overall narrative. Maybe it's the fact that
Overall, excited to see where this goes next...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and War