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Merissa (12934 KP) rated Billionaire's Muse (The Billionaire’s Playground #3) in Books
Jul 13, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)
BILLIONAIRE'S MUSE is the third book in The Billionaire's Playground series but can be read as a standalone, as I did. This book revolves around Marcus, a famous photographer, and Fin, a university history student.
Fin is special - in that he doesn't have a filter and is a literal thinker. This has led to some less than satisfactory 'dates'. Marcus finds Fin completely refreshing and wants to treat him the way he should be, not the way he has been. Throw in two mums who have their own views of the world, add a cheeky nanna, and you have a book to lose yourself in.
This was a great book. The way Fin takes everything so literally made me realise just how much we say without it really meaning anything. I loved that Marcus found the situation funny without laughing or undermining Fin himself.
Marcus and Fin are helped (and sometimes hindered) by a wonderful supporting cast. This is book three and it really makes me want to read books one and two -- if only to see what Nanna gets up to!
A fantastic story that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 13, 2021
Fin is special - in that he doesn't have a filter and is a literal thinker. This has led to some less than satisfactory 'dates'. Marcus finds Fin completely refreshing and wants to treat him the way he should be, not the way he has been. Throw in two mums who have their own views of the world, add a cheeky nanna, and you have a book to lose yourself in.
This was a great book. The way Fin takes everything so literally made me realise just how much we say without it really meaning anything. I loved that Marcus found the situation funny without laughing or undermining Fin himself.
Marcus and Fin are helped (and sometimes hindered) by a wonderful supporting cast. This is book three and it really makes me want to read books one and two -- if only to see what Nanna gets up to!
A fantastic story that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 13, 2021
Merissa (12934 KP) rated Constitution Check (Dungeons and Dating #4) by Katherine McIntyre in Books
Aug 10, 2022 (Updated Aug 14, 2023)
CONSTITUTION CHECK is the fourth book in the Dungeons and Dating series, and it's time to have your heart pummelled. Both Kelly and Tabby deserve so much and, together, they've found it, but will they realise it?
We knew something was going on with Kelly but to find out the details? Harsh! No one should have to deal with anything like Nat was dishing out, and her mother was just as bad. And then there's Tabby's brother and other as*hole members of the family. Every 'joke', every innuendo, they all slide beneath the armour and hurt.
The Tabletop Tavern family are there for Kelly, and Eli is there for Tabby. I want more from him, but he's the next one so I'll wait patiently. Seeing both of these women learn and grow, both together and separately, was brilliant. Both of them hurting for similar reasons - reasons they could empathise with and different enough so they could provide support without drowning in their own misery.
This was a brilliant addition to the series that I absolutely loved. I can't recommend this highly enough but, please, start from book one. You're really missing out if you don't.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 3, 2022
We knew something was going on with Kelly but to find out the details? Harsh! No one should have to deal with anything like Nat was dishing out, and her mother was just as bad. And then there's Tabby's brother and other as*hole members of the family. Every 'joke', every innuendo, they all slide beneath the armour and hurt.
The Tabletop Tavern family are there for Kelly, and Eli is there for Tabby. I want more from him, but he's the next one so I'll wait patiently. Seeing both of these women learn and grow, both together and separately, was brilliant. Both of them hurting for similar reasons - reasons they could empathise with and different enough so they could provide support without drowning in their own misery.
This was a brilliant addition to the series that I absolutely loved. I can't recommend this highly enough but, please, start from book one. You're really missing out if you don't.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 3, 2022
Merissa (12934 KP) rated Cursed (Beholder, #1) in Books
Jun 8, 2023
Christine Bauer takes you to a new world, where magic is (roughly) divided into two - Creator and Necromancer. When Elea's best friend is dying, she finds out that not only will she lose her best friend but she will also be the next victim. She has five years to learn all she can, to have a chance to beat Viktor, the originator of the curse. Fear can be a great incentive though, and she does succeed. Now, all she has to do is beat Viktor and she will be free of the curse. Simple, eh?!
This is primarily a Fantasy tale, with magic and misuse of the same, throughout the book. I loved how the Sisters of Zelle were described, and the necromancer/creator magics were opposite and yet complementary if given the opportunity. The characters, whether they were good or bad, were all believable and well-rounded.
There is a hint of romance between Elea and Rowan, but it most definitely takes second place in the main story.
Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, this is a wonderful start to a new series and I look forward to returning to the Beholder world! Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 17, 2016
This is primarily a Fantasy tale, with magic and misuse of the same, throughout the book. I loved how the Sisters of Zelle were described, and the necromancer/creator magics were opposite and yet complementary if given the opportunity. The characters, whether they were good or bad, were all believable and well-rounded.
There is a hint of romance between Elea and Rowan, but it most definitely takes second place in the main story.
Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, this is a wonderful start to a new series and I look forward to returning to the Beholder world! Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 17, 2016
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated White Elephant Dead in Books
May 23, 2024
Rummaging for Blackmail Secrets
Broward’s Rock is getting ready for the Women’s Club’s annual white elephant sale. When Kathryn Girard disappears with the club van while out collecting donations, Annie’s friend and best customer, Henny Brawley, heads out after her. But then no one hears from Henny. Annie and her husband, Max, start searching for her. They find the van with Kathryn’s body in the back and Henny’s car nearby. The new police chief thinks that means Henny much have killed Kathryn. But Annie knows better. The real question is, why would anyone want to kill Kathryn? And what happened to Henny?
It isn’t long before Annie and Max realize blackmail is involved, and it adds an interesting layer to this mystery. As usual, I found the suspects a bit flat, and I had a hard time remember who was who. Likewise, one aspect of the plot is just dropped, and I wish it had been fully developed. Still, things came together for a logical climax. I’m catching more of the references to other mystery books, but I still find there are too many of them, so they can get annoying. The series regulars are in fine form, and they gave me plenty of laughs. Most of my issues with the book are regular problems for me in the series, but I still enjoy the books. If you are a fan who hasn’t read this book yet, you’ll enjoy it, too.
It isn’t long before Annie and Max realize blackmail is involved, and it adds an interesting layer to this mystery. As usual, I found the suspects a bit flat, and I had a hard time remember who was who. Likewise, one aspect of the plot is just dropped, and I wish it had been fully developed. Still, things came together for a logical climax. I’m catching more of the references to other mystery books, but I still find there are too many of them, so they can get annoying. The series regulars are in fine form, and they gave me plenty of laughs. Most of my issues with the book are regular problems for me in the series, but I still enjoy the books. If you are a fan who hasn’t read this book yet, you’ll enjoy it, too.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Bedrock (Bedrock #1) in Books
May 22, 2019
Addison Greyer knows better.
Or at least she should.
Never in a million years would she have guessed she'd wind up agreeing to the sinister side-gig her tough-as-nails new boss proposes.
Until she does.
Turns out, one bad decision often leads to another.
He's troubled.
She's married.
It's a dangerous game, for sure--one in which she stands to lose the most. Soon,
she learns desire is not only dangerous but deadly and there's a price to be paid for her mistakes.
A pound of flesh.
Never in a million years would she have guessed how far her picturesque little suburban life would unravel.
Until it does.
She should have known better.
Too bad she didn't.
Intelligently written story of choices and the consequences of those choices. All choices have consequences, some good, some bad.
This is the story of Addison.
A typical house wife, Addison wishes she had continued with her career and not stayed at home with her 3 boys. Although she is desperately in love with them, she feels like their is a part of her that is missing. Her husband is involved with his career that he does not notice that she is a different person to the one he married.
Addison has many threads to her life and not what you would expect. You slowly peel back her layers.
I found myself drawn to reading in order to find out what was going to happen next.
The characters are interesting and the many twists and turns keep you wanting to know more and make you feel engaged with their lives.
This is a must read book and I recommend it to anyone.
Can't wait to find out what happens next.
I received my copy free from the Author and this is my own honest voluntary review.
Or at least she should.
Never in a million years would she have guessed she'd wind up agreeing to the sinister side-gig her tough-as-nails new boss proposes.
Until she does.
Turns out, one bad decision often leads to another.
He's troubled.
She's married.
It's a dangerous game, for sure--one in which she stands to lose the most. Soon,
she learns desire is not only dangerous but deadly and there's a price to be paid for her mistakes.
A pound of flesh.
Never in a million years would she have guessed how far her picturesque little suburban life would unravel.
Until it does.
She should have known better.
Too bad she didn't.
Intelligently written story of choices and the consequences of those choices. All choices have consequences, some good, some bad.
This is the story of Addison.
A typical house wife, Addison wishes she had continued with her career and not stayed at home with her 3 boys. Although she is desperately in love with them, she feels like their is a part of her that is missing. Her husband is involved with his career that he does not notice that she is a different person to the one he married.
Addison has many threads to her life and not what you would expect. You slowly peel back her layers.
I found myself drawn to reading in order to find out what was going to happen next.
The characters are interesting and the many twists and turns keep you wanting to know more and make you feel engaged with their lives.
This is a must read book and I recommend it to anyone.
Can't wait to find out what happens next.
I received my copy free from the Author and this is my own honest voluntary review.
Beautifully Wounded
Book
Sometimes the only way to salvation... is to take a leap of faith. What would you do if you had...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Scent of Dragon’s Blood ( The Tattered Realm book 1) in Books
Sep 7, 2022
161 of 230
Kindle
The Scent of Dragon’s Blood ( The Tatteted Realm book 1)
By Kova Killian
⭐️⭐️
When the Knight in shining armor needs saving, you send in his hybrid monster girlfriend. . . and her squishy human friend to save the day.
"It's tragic how something so beautiful has been twisted into something so fearful."
Cree has been on the run from the Dread behemoth King since she was a child for crimes her mother committed.
Crimes. . .
Her mother didn’t mean to.
Cree never thought she would fall for one of the knights that stalk her. . . let alone the captain that protects the king. But she did.
And now he’s cursed.
To keep them both safe, she hides in the realm behind The Mirror.
Humans are strange creatures, but in her short year in their realm, they have time and time again shown their kindness.
Too bad the Hunter finds her. And now her human friend, who has no idea how to protect herself, is in danger of the King and his knights.
At least she found a counter curse for her knight. . . maybe.
So what do you do when the knight in shining armor needs saving? You send in his hybrid monster girlfriend. . . and her squishy human friend to save the day.
This book holds so much potential! The premise was good, the characters were good and it really is something I’d like to see developed. But the whole thing was so rushed you just fumbled through each chapter wondering what the hell. I just couldn’t push past how rushed it was which is such a shame. It also left a lot to guess work to I mean a 40ft Wolf??? Was that her sarcasm?? Or maybe it’s really late and I should sleep!
Kindle
The Scent of Dragon’s Blood ( The Tatteted Realm book 1)
By Kova Killian
⭐️⭐️
When the Knight in shining armor needs saving, you send in his hybrid monster girlfriend. . . and her squishy human friend to save the day.
"It's tragic how something so beautiful has been twisted into something so fearful."
Cree has been on the run from the Dread behemoth King since she was a child for crimes her mother committed.
Crimes. . .
Her mother didn’t mean to.
Cree never thought she would fall for one of the knights that stalk her. . . let alone the captain that protects the king. But she did.
And now he’s cursed.
To keep them both safe, she hides in the realm behind The Mirror.
Humans are strange creatures, but in her short year in their realm, they have time and time again shown their kindness.
Too bad the Hunter finds her. And now her human friend, who has no idea how to protect herself, is in danger of the King and his knights.
At least she found a counter curse for her knight. . . maybe.
So what do you do when the knight in shining armor needs saving? You send in his hybrid monster girlfriend. . . and her squishy human friend to save the day.
This book holds so much potential! The premise was good, the characters were good and it really is something I’d like to see developed. But the whole thing was so rushed you just fumbled through each chapter wondering what the hell. I just couldn’t push past how rushed it was which is such a shame. It also left a lot to guess work to I mean a 40ft Wolf??? Was that her sarcasm?? Or maybe it’s really late and I should sleep!
Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Eden Summer in Books
Jun 24, 2019
I keep falling behind on wiring my reviews, sorry! I really need to get back on track. I finished this on Tuesday I think? I really enjoyed it, although it isn't quite worthy of five stars.
I'm going to put in a trigger warning as there are mentions of substance abuse, physical abuse, death, adoption and suicide.
Jess's best friend has gone missing. Through interviews with the police and Jess's personal recollections, we begin to build up a picture of Eden's life before her disappearance. Her sister had recently been killed in a car accident, and her seemingly perfect relationship with Liam was more complicated than anyone realised. Bit by bit, Jess - and we - begin to piece things together and discover where Eden has gone.
The girls are only young - 15 I think? - and very much have the all-consuming passion that young teens feel. As in, every little issue feels huge, and things feel far more serious than they might to an older person. I remember feeling this way. I think it was portrayed so accurately, the way fighting with your best friend feels like the end of the world and a family argument overwhelms you with guilt. It was a bit annoying in some ways, though; no fault of the author, of course, I just get a bit annoyed at kids taking things too seriously. I look back at myself and think how stupid it was to get so caught up in such little issues. So the things that Jess gets so worked up over just seemed a bit trivial to me, like she was exaggerating too much. But as I said, this creates the teenage voice really well in my opinion.
The things that both these girls have gone through are massive, though - Jess was attacked and Eden's sister killed. That's pretty hard for a young girl to deal with, and these are not the problems I'm saying are trivial. These are hugely important and emotional issues and I think it's great to talk about. I love books with these real, albeit sad, events. I think it is so good to discuss all the feelings and situations that follow, and also emphasise how it is not the end of the world if something bad happens. life will continue. Eden says how she feels her sister's death becoming more distant, more bearable, and how she doesn't want that to happen. She feels guilty, as if she's forgetting her and moving on. This is so important. She also thinks about killing herself due to guilt - which I won't ruin too much - but then realises how she shouldn't take life for granted. Her sister would've given anything to be alive still, and she shouldn't be throwing that away.
It was a really good read and I found myself wondering what was going to be revealed next. It was wel written and perfectly captured the young voice of Jess. If I read this when I was younger, I think I would've adored it. I would've understood it and connected to Jess more than I did now I'm older. 4 stars, definitely worth a read.
I'm going to put in a trigger warning as there are mentions of substance abuse, physical abuse, death, adoption and suicide.
Jess's best friend has gone missing. Through interviews with the police and Jess's personal recollections, we begin to build up a picture of Eden's life before her disappearance. Her sister had recently been killed in a car accident, and her seemingly perfect relationship with Liam was more complicated than anyone realised. Bit by bit, Jess - and we - begin to piece things together and discover where Eden has gone.
The girls are only young - 15 I think? - and very much have the all-consuming passion that young teens feel. As in, every little issue feels huge, and things feel far more serious than they might to an older person. I remember feeling this way. I think it was portrayed so accurately, the way fighting with your best friend feels like the end of the world and a family argument overwhelms you with guilt. It was a bit annoying in some ways, though; no fault of the author, of course, I just get a bit annoyed at kids taking things too seriously. I look back at myself and think how stupid it was to get so caught up in such little issues. So the things that Jess gets so worked up over just seemed a bit trivial to me, like she was exaggerating too much. But as I said, this creates the teenage voice really well in my opinion.
The things that both these girls have gone through are massive, though - Jess was attacked and Eden's sister killed. That's pretty hard for a young girl to deal with, and these are not the problems I'm saying are trivial. These are hugely important and emotional issues and I think it's great to talk about. I love books with these real, albeit sad, events. I think it is so good to discuss all the feelings and situations that follow, and also emphasise how it is not the end of the world if something bad happens. life will continue. Eden says how she feels her sister's death becoming more distant, more bearable, and how she doesn't want that to happen. She feels guilty, as if she's forgetting her and moving on. This is so important. She also thinks about killing herself due to guilt - which I won't ruin too much - but then realises how she shouldn't take life for granted. Her sister would've given anything to be alive still, and she shouldn't be throwing that away.
It was a really good read and I found myself wondering what was going to be revealed next. It was wel written and perfectly captured the young voice of Jess. If I read this when I was younger, I think I would've adored it. I would've understood it and connected to Jess more than I did now I'm older. 4 stars, definitely worth a read.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Desert Spear in Books
Nov 12, 2019
The Desert Spear is the second book in the Demon Cycle by Peter V Brett. The first book is The Painted Man which introduces a world where demons rise at night and try to kill people, the only protection from them being to draw 'wards' which the demons are unable to cross.
I approached this second book in two minds. I liked the first book, the concept is excellent and well imagined. The main protagonist is interesting and the directions taken are unexpected. The only let down for me was that apart from the Painted Main himself, I found the other 'main' characters a little less interesting. Leesha's story was interesting and gave insights into Brett's world. However Rojer's story left me cold to be honest, he didn't seem to add very much to the book. I was a little concerned that this second book might be the same for me.
I needn't have worried. The first third of the book concerns the back story of Jardir, a desert warrior prince who appears as a second tier (though instrumental) character in the first book. In this book he is definitely a leading character. He has declared himself the Deliverer and is determined to unite all of humanity under his banner to fight the demons, as has been long foretold. He is determined and quite prepared to take cities by force if required. The back story explains what drives him and also the reasons for his actions in the first book.
Meanwhile the Painted Man is being called the Deliverer by the free peoples of the North, something he strenuously denies. But there can only be one Deliverer and as Jardir encroaches on the North their worlds will come into conflict.
This is a long book - the paperback I read ended on page 750 - and there is a lot to read. Brett is all about character development and there are a lot of characters in this book, some new some returning ones. Rojer is a much better character in this book, possibly because he is not required to carry the storyline but instead can provide a different point of view on events. Leesha is once again a main character and of course the Painted Man plays his part, fighting demons both physical and his own mental demons. There is a lot of dialogue as the story and plot are very much personality driven. There are of course scenes of demon fights large and small but they in no way make up the bulk of the book.
There is another plot strand that I won't give away here but adds more dimension to the demon threat and provides some excellent moments.
The writing is excellent and the characterisation outstanding. This is one of those books which makes you wonder why there is such snobbery in the wider fiction community for 'niche' genres such as fantasy. I would hold the writing and characters from this book against any established classic.
Despite my reluctance to pick this book up, I really enjoyed it and am very much looking forward to the third installment - The Daylight War. It promises to be an absolute corker.
If you liked the first book just for the demon fights and skimmed all the talking and character development in the middle then this is not for you. However if you found at least one character from the first book interesting and worth following, read this book.
I approached this second book in two minds. I liked the first book, the concept is excellent and well imagined. The main protagonist is interesting and the directions taken are unexpected. The only let down for me was that apart from the Painted Main himself, I found the other 'main' characters a little less interesting. Leesha's story was interesting and gave insights into Brett's world. However Rojer's story left me cold to be honest, he didn't seem to add very much to the book. I was a little concerned that this second book might be the same for me.
I needn't have worried. The first third of the book concerns the back story of Jardir, a desert warrior prince who appears as a second tier (though instrumental) character in the first book. In this book he is definitely a leading character. He has declared himself the Deliverer and is determined to unite all of humanity under his banner to fight the demons, as has been long foretold. He is determined and quite prepared to take cities by force if required. The back story explains what drives him and also the reasons for his actions in the first book.
Meanwhile the Painted Man is being called the Deliverer by the free peoples of the North, something he strenuously denies. But there can only be one Deliverer and as Jardir encroaches on the North their worlds will come into conflict.
This is a long book - the paperback I read ended on page 750 - and there is a lot to read. Brett is all about character development and there are a lot of characters in this book, some new some returning ones. Rojer is a much better character in this book, possibly because he is not required to carry the storyline but instead can provide a different point of view on events. Leesha is once again a main character and of course the Painted Man plays his part, fighting demons both physical and his own mental demons. There is a lot of dialogue as the story and plot are very much personality driven. There are of course scenes of demon fights large and small but they in no way make up the bulk of the book.
There is another plot strand that I won't give away here but adds more dimension to the demon threat and provides some excellent moments.
The writing is excellent and the characterisation outstanding. This is one of those books which makes you wonder why there is such snobbery in the wider fiction community for 'niche' genres such as fantasy. I would hold the writing and characters from this book against any established classic.
Despite my reluctance to pick this book up, I really enjoyed it and am very much looking forward to the third installment - The Daylight War. It promises to be an absolute corker.
If you liked the first book just for the demon fights and skimmed all the talking and character development in the middle then this is not for you. However if you found at least one character from the first book interesting and worth following, read this book.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Mistletoe Miracles (Ransom Canyon #7) in Books
Sep 12, 2018
Lovable Characters (3 more)
Interesting Plot
Great Worldbuilding
Good Pacing
A Clean, Sweet Read
I'm not usually a romance person, but the synopsis for Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas caught my attention. I'm really glad I read Mistletoe Miracles because I absolutely adored this book. In fact, Mistletoe Miracles may have converted me to be a romance reader. It has definitely made me a Jodi Thomas fan for sure.
The pacing for Mistletoe Miracles was spot on. It wasn't a fast paced book, but it wasn't slow paced either. It moved at a nice relaxing pace, and I found myself loving it.
The plot for Mistletoe Miracles is a sweet one. It was interesting to see each couple's relationship blossom. Mallory is on the run from her abusive ex-boyfriend. She ends up in a car crash. Her dog is also injured in the crash. Little does Jax know he has her dog, but once he figures it out, it's the start of something sweet. Griffin needs a rich bride in order to save his working ranch that's been in the family for generations. Sunlan, a ranch girl herself, is just the right woman to fill that position. She's also looking for someone to take her away from her overbearing father. Wyatt is a soldier just looking for a place to rest while on leave. With everyone assuming he's Jamie's husband, he is taken to Jamie's house after he falls asleep and has a small crash. Jamie has been out of town, but when she returns, she's gets the biggest surprise of her life. However, she's been telling everyone she's married even though she's not. Wyatt may just be the (pretend) husband she needs. The reader has the pleasure of reading about each immersive relationship and how each one blossoms in its own way. There are no major plot twists, but Mistletoe Miracles is a book that doesn't need plot twists to be enjoyable. All loose ends are also tied up by the end of the book which I was happy about. I also liked that Mistletoe Miracles can be read as a standalone.
I felt that the world building in Mistletoe Miracles was done very well. Jodi Thomas makes it so easy to feel as if you are one of the characters in her book. She puts you right in the midst of everything that is happening, and it is so easy to lose yourself within each page of the story. Mistletoe Miracles takes place in Texas which made me enjoy the book even more! The world building is so realistic in this novel that I would lose track of time whenever I was reading it.
I loved every character in Mistletoe Miracles. I felt each character was fleshed out substantially, and every character felt like they were an actual real person instead of a character in a book. My favorite characters in this book were Sunlan and Griffin. I loved how they started out a bit distant towards each other, but eventually, they warmed up to one another and came out of their shell, especially Sunlan. Don't get me wrong, I loved the other characters too, but it was Sunlan's and Griffin's relationship that I loved the most. I did enjoy reading about all the other character's relationships as well, and I found them to be very interesting. Each character had something to bring to the table to make Mistletoe Miracles the great read it is.
There aren't many trigger warnings for Mistletoe Miracles. I would classify it was a clean romance. There's no swearing and no steamy scenes. There is some violence although it is not graphic. There is some drinking of alcohol as well as kissing. There's also talk about making love but everything is implied and not described in graphic detail.
Overall, Mistletoe Miracles is a very sweet and refreshing read that will warm even the most hardened hearts. It's got very likable and realistic characters characters, an interesting plot, and fantastic world building. I would definitely recommend Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas to everyone aged 16+ whether they like romance or not. This is one of those books that everyone should read even if romance isn't their preferred genre.
(Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this title in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
The pacing for Mistletoe Miracles was spot on. It wasn't a fast paced book, but it wasn't slow paced either. It moved at a nice relaxing pace, and I found myself loving it.
The plot for Mistletoe Miracles is a sweet one. It was interesting to see each couple's relationship blossom. Mallory is on the run from her abusive ex-boyfriend. She ends up in a car crash. Her dog is also injured in the crash. Little does Jax know he has her dog, but once he figures it out, it's the start of something sweet. Griffin needs a rich bride in order to save his working ranch that's been in the family for generations. Sunlan, a ranch girl herself, is just the right woman to fill that position. She's also looking for someone to take her away from her overbearing father. Wyatt is a soldier just looking for a place to rest while on leave. With everyone assuming he's Jamie's husband, he is taken to Jamie's house after he falls asleep and has a small crash. Jamie has been out of town, but when she returns, she's gets the biggest surprise of her life. However, she's been telling everyone she's married even though she's not. Wyatt may just be the (pretend) husband she needs. The reader has the pleasure of reading about each immersive relationship and how each one blossoms in its own way. There are no major plot twists, but Mistletoe Miracles is a book that doesn't need plot twists to be enjoyable. All loose ends are also tied up by the end of the book which I was happy about. I also liked that Mistletoe Miracles can be read as a standalone.
I felt that the world building in Mistletoe Miracles was done very well. Jodi Thomas makes it so easy to feel as if you are one of the characters in her book. She puts you right in the midst of everything that is happening, and it is so easy to lose yourself within each page of the story. Mistletoe Miracles takes place in Texas which made me enjoy the book even more! The world building is so realistic in this novel that I would lose track of time whenever I was reading it.
I loved every character in Mistletoe Miracles. I felt each character was fleshed out substantially, and every character felt like they were an actual real person instead of a character in a book. My favorite characters in this book were Sunlan and Griffin. I loved how they started out a bit distant towards each other, but eventually, they warmed up to one another and came out of their shell, especially Sunlan. Don't get me wrong, I loved the other characters too, but it was Sunlan's and Griffin's relationship that I loved the most. I did enjoy reading about all the other character's relationships as well, and I found them to be very interesting. Each character had something to bring to the table to make Mistletoe Miracles the great read it is.
There aren't many trigger warnings for Mistletoe Miracles. I would classify it was a clean romance. There's no swearing and no steamy scenes. There is some violence although it is not graphic. There is some drinking of alcohol as well as kissing. There's also talk about making love but everything is implied and not described in graphic detail.
Overall, Mistletoe Miracles is a very sweet and refreshing read that will warm even the most hardened hearts. It's got very likable and realistic characters characters, an interesting plot, and fantastic world building. I would definitely recommend Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas to everyone aged 16+ whether they like romance or not. This is one of those books that everyone should read even if romance isn't their preferred genre.
(Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this title in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)