Tag: romance

What’s Ashley Reading?: Tourist Season

Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver

First line: I’m sure nobody goes on vacation expecting to be dismembered and put through a woodchipper, but some tourists are just assholes and deserve their fate.

Summary: Cape Carnage looks like the perfect vacation town. It leans into its unique name with unusual local shops and seasonal events. Harper Starling has spent the last several years endearing herself to the locals while taking care of her elderly landlord and mentor. However, to keep this town in order she sometimes has to deal with an annoying tourist or two. Then Nolan Rhodes rolls into town and Harper’s life turns upside down. Nolan is not the only threat to Harper and Cape Carnage this tourist season, an amateur filmmaker is hoping to discover the secrets of this quaint town and its dark past.

My Thoughts: I was not sure how I would feel about Brynne Weaver’s work. I know that she can be rather spicy and these books are very dark too. Over the last few years, I have started reading more romance so I was more used to the spicy bits by this point. I can see this book being a love it or hate it read. There are very serious trigger warnings listed at the beginning. There is romance, humor and murder but to the extreme. It will most likely be too much for some readers.

With that all being said, I found this to be so much fun! I loved the enemies to lovers vibe. The banter and manipulation between the two main characters gave some lightness to the serial killer stuff. I absolutely want to visit Cape Carnage but I would be a good tourist so I do not end up visiting Cookie Monster (IYKYK).

With all these other strong points, my favorite part had to be Arthur. The curmudgeonly old man that Harper takes care of. Whenever he makes an appearance, I smile. He may have some memory and murder issues but he truly cares about his town and Harper.

If you want something different and can handle the trigger warnings, then you should add this to your TBR for your fall reading.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Wild Goose Chase

Wild Goose Chase by Sarah Adler

First line: I arrive at my ex-girlfriend’s house at ten o’clock at night with the prelude to a tension headache and mere dregs remaining of my self-respect.

Summary: Callahan Leitner has spent years working for and then owning an antique store. He takes pride in his career and his shop. However, this all is in jeopardy by an illegal taxidermy goose in his apartment. With the help of his temporary assistant and burgeoning small business owner, Annie, he tries to find a way to return the goose without being arrested. Unfortunately, for them, the goose disappears, sending them on a wild goose chase to find the bird that could ruin both of their careers.

My Thoughts: Like Adler’s other books, this was just a lot of fun! The witty banter between the two main characters, the chemistry and the weirdness were just a perfect mix. I loved the characters. Annie sitting on the counter singing to her sub sandwich. Cal’s nerdiness and vulnerability. It was just so wonderful from the very start.

I had no idea about the laws surrounding taxidermy geese. I really appreciated how the author started the book with information on this law to give context for the story.

I loved the dual timelines as well. This structure is one of my favorites in novels. I like to see the history and the present day mixed in to give deeper meaning to the story. It added such a fun layer to the plot and made even the goose a more fleshed out character.

Sarah Adler does such a great job of writing a funny romantic story. She is definitely a writer I will continue to automatically request on Netgalley or from the library.

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Shippers

The Shippers by Katherine Center

First line: Mrs. Richmond’s wedding gown was itchy, for one thing.

Summary: After leaving her groom at the altar, JoJo Burton has decided she is going to finally break her cursed love life. With the help of her sister and her former childhood best friend, Cooper, she is determined to catch the eye of her teenage crush. Luckily, he happens to be attending her sister’s wedding cruise. However, with her sister busy with wedding details most of the scheming falls to her best friend. As they spend time together, she remembers all the things leading up to their falling out years before. JoJo hopes that this time together will help her and Cooper’s friendship but with each passing day, there seems to be something more between them. Will she need to abandon her plan or is she willing to lose Cooper forever?

My Thoughts: Again, such a wonderful summer read from Katherine Center. I had so much fun with this one. It took me back to the days when I spent summers outside with the neighbor kids until the sun went down. It was funny, charming and heartwarming.

The book begins on JoJo’s wedding day. She is stuck in a horribly itchy wedding gown belonging to her future mother in law. It seems like a sign and then her childhood best friend, Cooper, shows up to save the day! What a wonderful start to a rom-com, then add to it a cruise ship, former crush, a plan to seduce said former crush and a lot of miscommunication.

As readers, we watch her make mistakes when it seems so obvious to us what she should choose. However, while feeling exasperated with her choices I laughed along at the ridiculousness of it. In the end, everything always works out but the middle full of messiness kept me reading until the end. While sitting by the pool or enjoying a summer getaway this should be in your reading pile. It will make you laugh and remember your childhood summers spent with all your neighborhood friends.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Good Spirits

Good Spirits by B. K. Borison

First line: On the first day of December, the universe gave to me –

Summary: Harriet York is being haunted. She has no idea why because she tries to be a good person. However, when the Ghost of Christmas Past arrives she begins to wonder what may have happened in her past to warrant this visit.

Nolan Callahan has spent nearly a century as the Ghost of Christmas Past. He has hoped that one day he will be able to move on but that day has not arrived. Each passing year becomes lonelier and then this year he is met with his most challenging assignment ever.

As Harriet and Nolan try to discover what is in Harriet’s past that brought them together, they find that their connection may go beyond what either of them ever imagined.

My Thoughts: I was very excited to get an early copy of this book! It has a pretty cover and such a cute summary. I had only started reading B.K. Borison this year with her book, First-Time Caller, and now I am hooked. The writing is fun and the romance a bit spicy.

From the beginning I loved the banter between the characters. Each one of them is sure that they know what is going on but soon discover that there is more at play here. Harriet is a people pleaser so she allows Nolan to try and fix the issue even though she is sure this is all a mistake. Nolan just wants to finish the job and move her along to the next ghost.

As the story progressed we learn more about each character. I loved to see the romance blossom but with it came parts where I felt so bad for each of them. They had parts of their lives that they had trouble acknowledging. It shows a lot when an author can make the reader feel for the fictional characters and I felt Borison did a fantastic job with this. By the end it all comes together with the warm holiday goodness you want.

If you are wanting a spicy holiday romance then I would highly recommend this! It hits all the Christmas-y vibes with candy canes, holiday pajamas and A Christmas Carol retelling.

What’s Ashley Reading?: What Fury Brings

What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

First line: Given the extreme size of the king’s sword, Olerra felt certain the man was compensating for something.

Summary: In the kingdom of Amarra women rule the land and men are subservient. The potential future queen, Olerra, is trying to secure her ascension to the throne and the one way she believes will help is by stealing a husband from the neighboring kingdom of Brutus. This will show her strength and cunning to her people. Her intended target is the second son of the king of Brutus. He is known for his beauty and docile nature which will help with breaking him to her will.

Sanos, the crown prince of Brutus, has been raised for the throne but it hasn’t been easy. His father is abusive and controlling leading Sanos to do what he can to protect the rest of the family from his wrath. But one night in a drunken prank he takes the place of his brother and gets captured by an Amarran princess. Sanos is determined to escape and return to his kingdom but as he spends more time with the princess in her kingdom he finds the need for escape is slowly going away.

My Thoughts: I had no idea what I was getting into with this book. I have read most of Levenseller’s young adult works and really enjoyed them so I was definitely going to pick up her first adult book. While her YA books could be spicy this took it to a whole other level. She does preface the book with trigger warnings and reasoning behind the writing of this book which I found very insightful. So for this review I also want to let you know that the author’s note is a must read for anyone before starting What Fury Brings.

Now on to the actually review. I did enjoy this and how the world that is built here is something completely different. She turns most fantasy books on their head. This is a female led society and the women have an extra magical strength over men. But they are not the norm in the world they inhabit. It is only the kingdom of Amarra which has these rules. Everywhere else fits into the patriarchal mindset.

Olerra is a strong woman who is trying to do better for her people by winning the throne away from her greedy masochistic cousin. There were times I did not like her but as we learn more about her motives that lessens. The choices she makes are in the hopes of helping her people in the future but to get there she has to fit into some of her societies norms which are rather off putting.

The biggest issue was how quickly the relationship seems to change. I know that several weeks or months have gone by but to the reader it seems like less. When you consider what Olerra has done to Sanos I felt like things came to a conclusion rather fast. But with this being said I felt like the pacing was well done. It did not drag on and the conclusion was swift. This appears to be a standalone but I can see that the author does have a way that they could expand it beyond the first book if she so decides.

I will definitely continue to read Levenseller’s books but now I will be a little more prepared for what she will bring to her adult romantasy in the future.

FYI : Only available at the moment on Libby.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Given Our History

Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller

First line: I might’ve been on time, were it not for the parking meters.

Summary: Clara Fernsby has achieved nearly everything she had hoped for. She is an assistant professor at a liberal arts college on track for tenure. That is until one day a visiting professor, Theodore Harrison, throws a wrench into her perfectly tailored life. As she has to share an office with him and work together on a special project she decides that she needs to deal with their shared past. But this seems to be easier said than done. With their close proximity the feelings and memories of their past friendship start to come back. Can they make it work this time around or is Clara destined for a broken heart?

My Thoughts: I love the fall vibes I got from the cover of this book. September felt like the perfect time to listen with school starting again and the cooler temperatures sneaking into the forecast. And this book did not disappoint. It was a cute little romance centered on two history professors which I was completely in for. I liked the relationship and flashbacks to their youth. As the story progressed we saw what led to the awkwardness between them. I loved that Clara was studying much of the same thing I did when I was earning my history degree. If you are looking for a fall romance then I would highly recommend this one.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Warrior Princess Assassin

Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer

First line: The bells stopped tolling hours ago, so it must be near midnight.

Summary: King Maddox Kyronan has earned a reputation as a ruthless leader who will use his fire magic to get what he wants. Princess Jory has lived a sheltered life in the palace but is being forced to marry King Maddox in the hopes that his magic can help her kingdom. And Asher is the son of aristocrats who has been forced to live as a slave and now works for the assassin’s guild in order to survive. As the three characters come together there are prejudices between them and many secrets as well. Can they survive the threats coming at them from everywhere? Or will the secrets that they hold be their undoing?

My Thoughts: I absolutely love Brigid Kemmerer! Ever since picking up her Cursebreakers series, I have been obsessed with her fantasy novels. Now she has an adult fantasy and I was immediately ready to read it. It did not disappoint. There is mystery, magic, secrets, a little violence and romance. It has everything that the hot new genre of romantasy is all about.

I loved the characters and the romance. Each character has their flaws which leads them to make mistakes. As the plot moved along it took some turns that I did not expect. I thought it was going to go one way and it switched course. I liked the change to an expected narrative and this helped build up the tensions in the book. While the plot is pretty loose in this first book it is driven by the characters and their interactions. Near the end we get a little bit more of the drama which will most likely appear in the next books. This book will definitely pull you in with the intriguing character dynamics and the steamy romance. I will be constantly checking Netgalley for the next book in the series!

FYI: Physical and mental abuse, torture, language, sex, violence

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Island Villa

The Island Villa by Sarah Morgan

First line: For the first time in her life she was planning to kill someone.

Summary: Catherine Swift has spent her career on the top of the romance charts. Her books have sold millions of copies and earned high praise from her fans. If only her love life was as perfect as the ones in her books. But she is hopeful that this fourth marriage will be the perfect one and bring her family back together again.

Adeline has had a troubled relationship with her mother since she was young. After the affair, divorce and the birth of her younger sister, it has been hard for Adeline to forgive her mother for abandoning her for a new family. Now she has been guilted into attending her mother’s fourth wedding. How is she going to get through this week and the memories it stirs in her?

Cassie has dreamed of getting to know her older sister and she is hoping that this family wedding will help bring them closer. She is excited for her mother and her future husband but she has been hiding something from everyone about her own career. Maybe this trip will be the perfect time to reveal her secret.

As all three women prepare for several weeks together they each have their own expectations. However, as the days progress and secrets are revealed it seems that no one expected how this vacation was going to actually go.

My Thoughts: This was my first book by Sarah Morgan. I picked it up at a used bookstore several months ago with the plan to read it during the summer. As June rolled around it felt like the perfect time.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from her. Was it going to be a romance? Was there going to be drama? And the answer to both was yes. There are several romances throughout the book but nothing is explicit. It had a sweet romcom feel to it. However, there was definitely drama and secrets that gave some shocks to the story. Each woman learns something about their past and themselves through their journey in the book. This is a story where people are given second chances and the past is made clearer for all involved.

I liked the story even though much of it was rather predictable. If you want something set in a beautiful location, a little family drama and a sweet ending with it all coming together perfectly then this is it. So in summary this is a perfect example of a beach read!

FYI: Abuse, death, abandonment.

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Love Haters

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

First line: It was quitting time on a Friday, but Cole Hutcheson didn’t care.

Summary: Katie Vaughn has had a turbulent love life recently and her career may be the next thing to implode. Her supervisor has recommended her for a promotional video about the Coast Guard starring none other than Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, who also happens to be her boss’s brother. Rather than expose the fact that she cannot swim she takes the job and decides she will tackle that speed bump when she arrives in Key West. However, upon her arrival in paradise things become messier than expected as Hutch happens to be the best looking man she’s ever seen and the chaos around the job brings them closer together.

My Thoughts: Katherine Center is definitely becoming one of my highly anticipated new release authors. This is my third book by her and I have enjoyed all of them. Her writing is witty but also it gives the characters flaws which makes them endearing. In her newest story, Katie struggles with image and self-worth issues that I believe many readers, especially women, will identify with. It can be a difficult topic to discuss but she did a great job with it. I really enjoyed seeing Katie grow through the story and accept herself for who she is.

In addition to Katie there are many other characters to love but I definitely was a huge fan of the Great Dane, George Bailey. He barrels into the book, literally, and steals the reader’s heart. I can easily picture this lovable dog who just doesn’t understand how big he truly is. I also loved Rue, Hutch’s aunt and Katie’s landlord in Key West. She is larger than life and has a personality that brings Katie out of her shell and adds some color to her life. In all I found the book to be an enjoyable read and perfect for summer and a cold drink by the pool or on the beach.

Last, Current, Next: Jessie’s February Reading Shelf

Last :: “Fourth Wing” – Rebecca Yarros 

Format :: Physical 

Genre :: Fantasy, Romance, New Adult 

I’ve said it before on this blog, I don’t typically read fantasy let alone seek one out. I finally did it though! I read the ever talked about and loved “Fourth Wing” and I have to say, the hype is 100% real! I read this 500+ book within a few days because I literally could not stop thinking about it. Dragons, magic, found family and a romance, all in one book! I have to say, my favorite part is how the dragons are written as characters themselves, each of them is quite distinct. I felt a lot of “Divergent” vibes throughout this book, which happens to be one of my favorite books! I think “Fourth Wing” goes on the “Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time” list. 

Current:: “All the Water in the World” – Eiren Caffal 

Format :: Physical 

Genre :: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Fiction, Thriller 

When the glaciers melt, the water rises, the world isn’t the same as it was – Nonie and her family escape from the museum they were living in when the floods first began. Currently, I’m about halfway through with this read. I like the way the author has written shorter chapters but bounces between telling the past and the current points of view without it being a sharp back and forth. Caffal writes in such a way that the action of the story pulls me in, and it feels like I’m right there beside the characters on the water.  Already, at the halfway point, I have thought a lot about survival skills versus the need and responsibility to preserve history – it has been a great conversation point with my husband.

Next :: “Out of the Woods” – Hannah Bonam-Young 

Format :: Physical 

Genre :: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction 

My first experience with Hannah Bonam-Young was reading “Out on a Limb” last year. I enjoyed the author’s writing great realistic characters with honest flaws that I’ve been waiting for “Out of the Woods” to be released. Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts, Sarah begins to wonder what life would be like without Caleb as her other half. I’m interested in reading this because I haven’t read a high school sweetheart romance like this, it’s usually the “once upon a time, broke up and now finding each other again” high school sweetheart story line.

What have you been reading? What are you looking forward to reading next?

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