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kimalah's reviews
1391 reviews
The Duke's All That by Christina Britton
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Duke’s All That is a good conclusion to the Synneful Spinsters trilogy, and the best book of the three.
I liked both Seraphina and Iain. They were complex characters who both dealt with trauma and loss. Seraphina’s story was a good illustration of the lack of women’s agency of that time, and the few options that were available to women to survive.
One thing I really appreciated in the book is that after Seraphina and Iain learn the truth of their past parting, it did not automatically fix anything. They had to come to know each other as they were now in the story.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Not Your Ex's Hexes by April Asher
lighthearted
slow-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
Not Your Ex’s Hexes is an enjoyable paranormal/UF romance. It is the follow-up to Not the Witch You Wed. I would recommend reading Not the Witch first due to the world building described in the first book. Not Your Ex’s Hexes feature a witch searching for her purpose in life and a half-demon veterinarian and former Hunter. The world is interesting with a variety of supernatural denizens. I didn’t connect to this book as well as Not the Witch You Wed. It lagged a bit and some of the more serious moments were cut off at the knees by too much banter. But overall it is a low-stress, low-angst read with spice and humor that I liked.
Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It took me a couple of days to write this review. For most of the time I was reading Canadian Boyfriend, I was drawn in by the story and the characters. This is not a light romance. Rory, the FMC, quit her professional ballet career and is dealing with panic attacks and recovery from disordered eating. Her mother is a very toxic figure in her life with whom she is trying to forge new boundaries. Mike is a widower with his eleven year old stepdaughter, trying to move forward in building a life without the partner he expected to always be there. Mike is a professional hockey player who is originally from Canada. Our couple meet as Rory is Olivia’s tap teacher at the local dance school. However, they actually met many years before when Rory was in high school and working as a barista. Mike was nice and funny when she served him one day. She turned him into her fake “Canadian boyfriend” to deal with her anxiety with social relationships at school. She ended up writing him “letters” that were really more journal entries.
Rory does not tell Mike about this. He hires her as a part-time nanny for Olivia while he travels with his team. And the relationship grows from there. There is a lot of internal monologuing about anxiety, grief, loss, fear of loss and also of change. There is great mental health rep with both characters actively participating in therapy.
I was very touched by both of their stories, finding it hard at times to put down the book. I thought that this was going to be a five-star read for me, and then the late conflict hit. Mike’s reaction and actions felt so opposite to the evolution of his character. It felt manufactured in a way. They resolved it pretty quickly which led to a lovely ending. But that upset broke me out of the story and lessened the enjoyment. I still recommend Canadian Boyfriend for its kind and gentle handling of this story and these characters. The blip near the end is unfortunate.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.
Rory does not tell Mike about this. He hires her as a part-time nanny for Olivia while he travels with his team. And the relationship grows from there. There is a lot of internal monologuing about anxiety, grief, loss, fear of loss and also of change. There is great mental health rep with both characters actively participating in therapy.
I was very touched by both of their stories, finding it hard at times to put down the book. I thought that this was going to be a five-star read for me, and then the late conflict hit. Mike’s reaction and actions felt so opposite to the evolution of his character. It felt manufactured in a way. They resolved it pretty quickly which led to a lovely ending. But that upset broke me out of the story and lessened the enjoyment. I still recommend Canadian Boyfriend for its kind and gentle handling of this story and these characters. The blip near the end is unfortunate.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Death of spouse (historical, off-page)
Into the Bargain by Colleen Cowley
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Into the Bargain is a lovely Rumpelstiltskin retelling in an alternate Hagerstown, Maryland in which magic is real, wizards are the top of society, and women’s rights are 100 years behind. Its characters are diverse and likable, there is mystery within conundrum, and it is quite romantic. It is an engaging couple of hours which has left me interested in reading more books in this world.
Thank you to the author for providing an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the author for providing an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Never Blow a Kiss by Lindsay Lovise
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Never Blow a Kiss is a fun ride of an historical romance. Emily is the daughter of a con woman/thief/prostitute. Emily worked her way into the role of a governess, for which she is not qualified. However, she is noticed by a mysterious figured known as The Dove, and is recruited into a ring of governesses who spy on the ton to help bring the cruelest and most criminal of their ranks to justice. I was all in from the very beginning.
Emily encounters Zach, the son of a butcher who is a retired soldier and self-made millionaire now working for the Metropolitan Police as a detective constable heading the search for a serial killer known as The Evangelist. (IKR?) They are drawn to each other immediately, Zach harder and faster, and there is a dance of wills that begins. Emily has secrets beyond The Dove and her mother which she feels keeps her from finding love.
Zach and Emily work towards finding the killer, together and separately. There are schemes and moments of peril and sexy times and emotional moments.
I love the idea of governess spies and enjoyed this story immensely. I needed something that was smart, full of heart and also entertaining and Never Blow a Kiss provided that in spades. I cannot wait until the next book in the series.
Thank you to Forever, NetGalley and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.
Emily encounters Zach, the son of a butcher who is a retired soldier and self-made millionaire now working for the Metropolitan Police as a detective constable heading the search for a serial killer known as The Evangelist. (IKR?) They are drawn to each other immediately, Zach harder and faster, and there is a dance of wills that begins. Emily has secrets beyond The Dove and her mother which she feels keeps her from finding love.
Zach and Emily work towards finding the killer, together and separately. There are schemes and moments of peril and sexy times and emotional moments.
I love the idea of governess spies and enjoyed this story immensely. I needed something that was smart, full of heart and also entertaining and Never Blow a Kiss provided that in spades. I cannot wait until the next book in the series.
Thank you to Forever, NetGalley and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.
Paladin's Faith by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
T. Kingfisher wrote yet another excellent addition to the World of the White Rat. Paladin’s Faith is the fourth book in the Saint of Steel series. The main couple in this volume is Marguerite, spy and friend/employer of Grace in Paladin’s Grace, and Shane, paladin of the dead god and failed acolyte of the Dreaming God. Marguerite is being targeted for assassination and is provided Shane and Wren, another paladin of the Saint of Steel, as protection and assistance on her latest mission.
There are a lot of moving parts in this story, which work together very well. There is humor and creepiness and yearning. New predators are introduced, and at least a couple of new characters who I hope show up in future books.
It is engrossing, fun, at times creepy, and romantic. I love Marguerite and Wren (really looking forward to Wren’s book). I must note that the beheading aspect of Kingfisher’s romances is down to only 1 in this installment. My complaint about Paladin’s Faith is that there are no gnoles. I felt their absence. Still, I’ve loved every book that has taken place in the World of the White Rat, and Paladin’s Faith adds to that number.
There are a lot of moving parts in this story, which work together very well. There is humor and creepiness and yearning. New predators are introduced, and at least a couple of new characters who I hope show up in future books.
It is engrossing, fun, at times creepy, and romantic. I love Marguerite and Wren (really looking forward to Wren’s book). I must note that the beheading aspect of Kingfisher’s romances is down to only 1 in this installment. My complaint about Paladin’s Faith is that there are no gnoles. I felt their absence. Still, I’ve loved every book that has taken place in the World of the White Rat, and Paladin’s Faith adds to that number.
The Mistletoe Tryst by Eve Pendle
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very enjoyable and very hot Christmas Regency romance. The story is a bit improbable, but that’s a feature in holiday romance for me. I liked the main characters and the secondary cast. The resolution felt a little rushed but that is pretty common with novellas. I’ve enjoyed the entire series. A good and steamy Christmas book.
There Is Also a Dog by Kayley Loring
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A funny and sexy holiday novelette. I laughed out loud a few times. For a short story, I felt it covered a good amount of story. A fun holiday read.
Mrs. Peabody and the Unexpected Duke (A Steamy Historical Romance Holiday Novella) (Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels) by Grace Callaway
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An engaging historical romance Christmas novella with action and a lot of steam. The characters each have history and experience prior to their meeting. It’s fun and hot and a good holiday read.
Hot Cocoa and Mistletoe by Elise Kennedy
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
A fun, sexy, forced proximity, only one bed in a snowstorm, Christmas novella. The main characters are likable, the banter is fun, physical intimacy is hot, and I enjoyed it.