lisaluvsliterature's reviews
4011 reviews

I read and enjoyed the first book in this series. The second one didn’t sound like my thing, because of the whole older man aspect, just not my thing. But this one sounded perfect to jump back into the series with, and it definitely was! And I was correct because I really enjoyed this one! Sped through it, couldn’t put it down.

I loved that when Nessa realized her one night stand, Matt, was a minister, the way she decided she needed to change her wardrobe to a more demure (the actual definition, not the slang) type of outfit for their first real date. But oh my gosh, when he showed up, it was totally a hilarious moment. I mean how could she believe after he had a one night stand that she needed to dress that way was crazy enough. And he wasn’t a priest, which caused her to think about the series by Sierra Simone, lol.

The weddings that Nessa had to deal with were so crazy as well, and then her personality on Instagram also caused issues for the two of them. However it was a little hypocritical the way Matt acted about her, when he also had an online influencer personality account. It was also fun though, to see what he dealt with at the different churches and congregations he worked with. I loved his grandma and her grandma, and their friendship made for some funny situations as well.

Another hit in this series from Julia Kent

Camilla Isley has become one of my favorite authors, and so I always sign up for the review tours when they pop up. Of course there are several books from before I discovered her that I still need to read as well! This book was so much fun, and such a quick read too, because I couldn’t put it down!

While it is promoted as a snowed-in romance, to me it isn’t quite that, because it takes place over a whole Christmas break, and their other family come and go a few times. However, that is a bit of the supposed reason why Tristan comes to stay and can’t leave. Even if there are other things that actually are why he is there. Tristan’s back story is one that it sucks that Nina doesn’t know. And once she does learn that, it helps with their enemies to lovers/friends relationship. But oh, until they finally find a way to bridge that gap, the sparks that fly, and the pranks that are played are hilarious!

The chemistry between the two though is off the charts, even with the “hatred” between them. We have all the other family members as buffers or extra parts to move the plot along as needed, and to help make what Nina is doing seem like maybe she’s going a bit overboard. Even Tristan realizes what has always set Nina off, and tries at one point to call a truce. But eventually they figure things out enough to try to give into their attraction. However there is of course the fact that Tristan is worried about his best friend, Nina’s brother, being mad at them.

The last act break up actually was okay for me because even though I was mad about how it happened and how Tristan let it happen, the way he made it up in the end was a great grand gesture in my opinion.

Another winner from Camilla Isley, even if it is a little early for me to be reading Christmas stories! I seem to read them earlier and earlier every year.

So I’d wanted to read this author’s book in the first collection of The Coffee Loft series, but didn’t have time to fit it in. I was able to read this one and boy am I glad I did! I sped through this delightfully sweet story, finished in one day basically! Gia and North were sweet and perfect together. And I loved the axolotl that they talked about, that it was such a cute little lizard both in a stuffed animal, and in North’s classroom as well.

The small town aspect was a lot of fun as well, the characters working at the Coffee Loft shop, as well as Gia’s father. Then there was Gia’s brother. He was a villain, and caused so many issues in this story! From the reason they didn’t get together in high school, to even trying to keep them apart as adults, when her brother wasn’t even talking to her or really her father that much either. I liked the story arc for her brother, North’s former best friend.

The reason I didn’t give a full 5 stars though, also kind of has to do with the brother. I feel like maybe I needed more of a reason why he was the way he was about his friend dating his sister. Also, I would have liked more than a side note at what happened with the brother when things got “solved”. Other than that little bit, I adored this story and hope to read more by this author in the future! This is a sweet and clean romance, short and sweet as well!

So technically I started reading this in the author’s newsletter, then I read it through the Patreon subscription up until it was published, around 20 or so chapters in, and then I had to wait until my book box arrived. Since it wasn’t on my review schedule I wasn’t sure when I’d get to it. But in between review books, so I wasn’t starting a new book before bed, I picked this up and was hooked. Then I just couldn’t put it down and just was so glad I’d made time to fit it in. Another hilariously sweet, fun, sexy romance from a favorite author!

I’ve wanted to read this author for a long time, and I finally got to read a book by her earlier this year, and I loved it as much as I thought I would. So when I saw this new multi-author series starting up, with her book as a part of it, I had to sign up to read and review.

This was another winner for me! I loved the characters, I loved all the small town atmosphere, and I also loved Zach’s assistant! I wonder if possibly the author will give us a story for her soon? Like maybe Zach’s twin brother or something? Anyway, once I picked this one up I sped through it. I hated having to put it down to go back to work after my lunch break, or when I had to go to bed. 

There was a lot to the story with Zach’s brother hosting the charity hockey team/game. Then there was Zach’s not really ex-girlfriend, three dates, part of a PR deal in reality. She was the perfect villain for the story. Ellie’s story with her mom also brought a pretty emotional part, for me especially with the last year with my mom and stepdad’s health. But I really did like the way the story handled all of it. The author did a great job having it be emotional, yet not depressing. 

The only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because it seemed Ellie’s dislike of Zach was a little over the top for me. I don’t think we necessarily got a back story with a guy for her that did something, and to believe all the press when she knew and really liked his brother, it just seemed she kept getting into that too much without really knowing the guy. That’s just my opinion, and it wasn’t anything that ruined the story, as I still really enjoyed it!

This was a very interesting and unique tale. There were some twists I didn’t see coming, and some things I thought were going to be one way, but I was overthinking as I read. In the end I was kind of just completely satisfied with the uniqueness of the story and the mystery. 

There were a lot of twists and turns, both for the characters and for me as I tried to figure out what was going on. We start out with one story of why the town is cursed and why people end up drowning, etc. Although I didn’t quite get the answer on that like I was expecting when all was revealed at the end. The history of the people who died, and the family, the Blackwell family who set up the wards/spell/charms to save the rest of the town of course had it’s own version changed by the people who were behind it all. 

The first time that Nev gets a vision that links her to the path and some unknown people and facts about the beloved Alma is of course a scary time for her. And it is confusing as to why she ends up almost jumping out of the window of the house. But thank goodness for Cal being there to save her. Like Nev, I was frustrated with Cal keeping things and being mysterious, although at one point, his reasoning becomes clear, it’s more than just not telling her to not upset her. It really is not telling her to keep her safe, physically/mentally safe. 

While the town itself was very interesting and added to the setting and atmosphere of the story, for me it was the visions of the past, of when it all began, and who really started it, that grabbed my attention and hooked me. I kept hoping for more of that time, because there were the really evil people, and the really dramatic storyline. Of course I felt for Nev when she finds out a secret about her mother and grandmother, and that also added to the suspense and emotion. 

The cover of this book is definitely the tone of the story, and I really enjoyed this book. It’s another I can’t wait to share with my students in my school library. When I realized that this author also wrote another book I really enjoyed, The Second Death of Edie and Violet Bond, then I understood why this was so good!

It just wasn't really working for me.  Probably more a me thing than anything wrong with the book.