Review: A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

The blockbuster conclusion to the bestselling Sunshine Vicram trilogy

A HARD DAY FOR A HANGOVER by DARYNDA JONES

Series: Sunshine Vicram #3

Publication date: December 6, 2022

Published by: St. Martins Press

Genre: mystery, romance, suspense

 

SYNOPSIS

Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there’s just too much going on right now. There’s a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There’s her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who’s out to singlehandedly become Del Sol’s youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there’s drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she’s loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | iBooks

Praise for Darynda Jones:

(A Good Day for Chardonnay)

Entertaining...fans of zanier mysteries will welcome Sunshine's further adventures. - Publishers Weekly on A Good Day for Chardonnay

A hilarious amalgam of mystery, hot sex, and comedy of errors. Can't wait for the next episode. - Kirkus starred review

(A Bad Day for Sunshine)

Provides plenty of action. Recommended for fans of Linda Castillo and J.A. Jance. - Library Journal

Jones has a real talent for balancing suspense with laugh-out-loud humor, never losing the tension from either. - BookPage

A Bad Day For Sunshine is a great day for the rest of us - captivating characters, great writing, pace, humor and suspense. - Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author

Fans of Jones' bestselling Charley Davidson series and Janet Evanovich's romps will devour this steamy series launch, which introduces both an irresistible pair crime-busting Gilmore Girls and a quirky, mysterious setting." - Booklist

Compelling characters and a sexy, angst-filled bunch of mysteries add up to a winning series debut. - Kirkus

A Bad Day for Sunshine is everything you want from Darynda Jones ... and more! Laugh-out-loud funny, intensely suspenseful, page-turning fun with a sassy new heroine you will love. Prepare to be hooked by this witty, sexy, and thrilling new series from one of my favorite authors!" - Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author

"Swoon-worthy heroes, quirky characters, and a page turning mystery. Move over Stephanie Plum, Sunshine Vicram has arrived. Prepare yourself. This book is a keeper!" -New York Times Bestselling Author Christie Craig

Darynda Jones has done it again. With trademark humor, eccentric yet relatable characters, and masterful storytelling, she takes us on a journey we don't want to end. A Bad Day for Sunshine is a great day for readers! -#1 Bestselling Author Tracy Brogan

"Smart, sexy, and outrageously funny. Jones masterfully balances heartwarming comedy and bone chilling suspense." Marina Adair, #1 National bestselling author of Summer in Napa

"From the creative genius who brought you Charley Davidson comes your newest obsession: Sunshine Vicram. Mother. Sheriff. Warden of weird." - New York Times Bestselling Author Susan Donovan

Darynda Jones is always on my MUST READ list! No one can pull you into a book like she can!" - New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Donna Grant

All the snarky humor and engaging writing you've come to expect from master storyteller Darynda Jones. I would read her if she scribbled on a napkin. Luckily, her new story has more than just lipstick and a number. Prepare to get sucked in. Her writing is like a vortex; you can't get out until you're done and sobbing for more.- New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Eve Langlais

A new town, new characters to become friends with, same snort-in-public humor . . . you're going to love this story!" - Award Winning Author Laura Drake

A Bad Day for Sunshine is deliciously witty, fast paced and filled with laugh-out-loud dialogue. Darynda Jones knocks it out of the park with this delightful new series!" - Robyn Peterman, New York Times Bestselling Author

"Darynda delivers again! A Bad Day for Sunshine tugs at your heartstrings and tickles your funny bone. From gut-wrenching heartbreak to full-abdominal belly laughs, Sunshine is a literary workout for your core. Another unique read from a stellar storyteller!" -Diane Kelly, Award Winning Author of Hilarious Mysteries

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious RITA, a Golden Heart, and a Daphne du Maurier, and her books have been translated into 17 languages. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, certain they went away the better for it. She penned the international bestselling Charley Davidson series and is currently working on several beloved projects, most notably the Sunshine Vicram Mystery Series with St. Martin's Press and the Betwixt and Between Series of paranormal women's fiction. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

   Someone had been attacking girls on her watch. 

That was their first mistake. 

Their second was to think they could get away with it.

What a crazy ride the Sunshine Vicram books have been! There are very few series that hook me so deeply and keep me craving more like this one has. Typically, my attention starts to wander a little bit after the first book, but in this case, the anticipation has only grown tenfold. Once again, thanks to my book bestie Astrid for encouraging me to read outside of my comfort zone and try a genre that I didn't think I could love. Mysteries are my least favorite books, but she assured me that if anyone could convert me it was Darynda Jones. If you need a little push like I did to try something different, here's my friendly advice: think outside your reading box and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Darynda Jones has such a sharp, acerbic sense of humor that brings such life into her characters. Sunshine was absolutely hilarious. Even in the more tense, suspenseful moments, she was running her sarcastic mouth and making me laugh. That element has been consistent throughout all three books which really made the series a winner for me. Sun always has a million and one tasks on her agenda for the day and torn in so many directions you often wonder how she juggles it all with so much confidence. She's a no nonsense, suck it up and get it done type of woman who would do anything at all to keep her family and town safe. Not only will I miss her and her smart mouth, I will miss her best friend Quincy, her daughter Auri, and her kooky parents. Even the oddballs around town had so much personality and character that it's sad to see them go too. (Except maybe the town flasher, Doug.) I don't think anyone wants to see *ahem* quite so much of him.

In A Hard Day for a Hangover, we take off right where we left off in book two. (**Please be aware that books one and two end in cliffhangers, so if you haven't read the series yet, you may want to hold off on reading my review as there will be plot spoilers ahead for the previous books.**) Sunshine and Levi were finally just starting to communicate and make headway with all of their secrets and issues. Sun had come clean and...BAM!...book abruptly ends. Unfortunately, Levi left before they could fully work everything out as it was a lot to process, and Sunshine drowned her sorrows with tequila. Hungover is not a state you want to be in when you're in charge of keeping Del Sol safe. Not to mention, daughter is prone to getting herself in one dangerous situation after another, and she's as stubborn as she is impulsive.

The mystery in this book revolves around teenage girls getting attacked. There is also a bit of a suspense element from Levi's being in danger from his Uncle Clay's plot against his life. Sunshine is determined to keep the man she loves safe-not only for herself, but for Auri as well. There is also flasher Doug's stabbing, and Mrs. Fairborn's break-in, but these are minor conflicts adding a bit of action to the plot. The girls getting attacked is the most urgent mystery to be solved and both Auri and Sunshine work to find clues in order to piece the puzzle together. Sunshine tries to warn her daughter away from questioning people, but eventually she realizes that she can help her in a small capacity and they end up making quite a symbiotic team. Auri may be a bit reckless, but she's as smart as a whip and genuinely helps her mom with fantastic leads she may have not otherwise found. Typically her boyfriend Cruz would be right at her side watching over her, but after the events in book two, he's at Quincy's most of the time as he heals physically and mentally. I have to say, I missed seeing his strong presence as it was in the first two books. We still saw him, but not as heavily. They make the sweetest young couple and I always enjoy their POV scenes together.

      Sun was so hyperaware of every aspect of Levi Ravinder—

his nearness, the heat wafting off him, the darkness lying 

just beneath the glint of humor in his eyes—

it was a wonder she could think straight at all.

I've been impatiently waiting for the romance aspect of the series to finally resolve itself. There was another mystery surrounding Auri's conception, how much Levi knew about Sun's kidnapping, and the reasons the never spoke after she left town years ago. So many misconceptions, things left unsaid, and hard feelings that never came out into the open. Sun and Levi just silently pine and brood over what could have been. You are almost desperate for them to share their true feelings and maybe, hopefully, be the family they should have been. There was a glimmer of hope in the previous book, but then things are left hanging for well into this story-around 60% or so. I will say, I got a little bit impatient as the story wore on and Levi was in the wind, nowhere to be found. I'm sure non-romance readers won't be bothered by it, but I was hoping for more interactions a little bit sooner.

There were several things that were left unresolved in the plot overall after book two, so I was wondering if everything would conclude neatly without any plot holes. I'm happy to say that all questions were answered here, even the question over whether Sun's father had ever been to prison. It was a bit of a running joke throughout the series as Sun would try to guess or trip him up into admitting something to her. All in all, I came away from this conclusion a very happy reader and can't recommend the Sunshine Vicram books enough. My only reason for taking a star off of my rating was because the mysteries didn't interest me as much in this one and I felt a little impatient reading through them. I think that was partly because I was waiting so eagerly for Sunshine and Levi's story arc to resolve, and partly because the mystery didn't feel as complex or intriguing as the previous one. However, I was very happy with how everything wrapped up and it was more than a little bittersweet to say goodbye to the residents of Del Sol. Once again, I can't recommend these enough if you're looking for something to keep you laughing out loud, and turning the pages late into the night. Maybe if we're lucky there will be a spin-off series somewhere in the future. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and maybe Ms. Jones will have mercy on us all.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

View all my reviews

Read More

Review: The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford

One choice could change everything.

THE POISON SEASON by MARA RUTHERFORD

Series: Standalone

Publication date: December 6, 2022

Published by: Inkyard Press/Harlequin

Genre: YA fantasy

 

SYNOPSIS

Leelo has spent her whole life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles with the knowledge that her brother will be exiled and forced to live with the outsiders unless he gains enchantment powers before his next birthday.

Then comes the day that Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake. She knows she is supposed to leave him to his fate, but, instead, she betrays her family, her best friend, and her whole community by helping nurse the young man, Jaren, back to health, understanding that discovery could lead to unthinkable consequences for both of them.

As they grow closer, Leelo and Jaren discover that not all danger comes from beyond the lake—and they can only survive if Leelo is willing to question the very fabric of her society, her people, and herself.

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | iBooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara has lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons. She is the author of Crown of Coral and Pearl and its sequel, Kingdom of Sea and Stone; Luminous; and the upcoming THE POISON SEASON (December 6, 2022).

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

REVIEW

The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford


I absolutely loved the Crown of Coral and Pearl series, so when I saw this book up on Netgalley, I instantly jumped to request it. The COCAP duology was a top favorite of mine in 2019, and kept me on the edge of my seat, effortlessly grabbing me from beginning to end. I was hoping and probably even anticipating for that same magic again here, but unfortunately this one missed the mark in a number of ways. My main issues were the pacing and my dislike of the heroine's way of life and cult like culture on the island. Honestly, it was very hard to find redeeming qualities about the islanders on Endla. Man, oh man...they were Shady (yes, with a capitol S). It was so hard to feel any sympathy for any of them as they were so clearly in the wrong the entire time. Leelo's set of morals was a little more ambiguous as you saw signs that she had a conscience about the very questionable things going on. It gave me hope that she was redeemable and that she would win me over in the end. This book actually gave me strong Bone Crier's Moon flashbacks (not in a good way, except for them both having Charlie Bowater covers). In both books, the characters' ritual killings/sacrifices turned me off and made me feel a bit repulsed over the fantasy world.

Endla is an island inhabited by people who possess magic through their ritual songs. There are many songs that they sing that make them almost like sirens but in human form. These songs put people in a trancelike state and lure them to their death if they are deemed a threat. The victim is given a "choice" to either die by the vicious magic of the Wandering forest, or to get sent into the poison lake surrounding their home where the water would disintegrate their flesh and bones down to nothing. Doesn't sound very pleasant does it? Yep, it's pretty horrific. You might be wondering who they typically deem to be a threat and the answer is EVERYONE. All people from the mainland are supposed to be killed immediately by the Watchers who guard the shore. It is believed that those without magic who try to visit Endla are coming for one purpose only: to destroy the last remaining Wandering Forest that helps protect and nourish them. This forest is malicious and must be placated with blood rituals and sacrifices or they fear it would turn on them. However, it was clear from the start that nothing was quite what it seemed. The way of life that was so forcefully protected was mired in lots of death and despair. They just saw what they were doing as a necessary evil.

Leelo is a Watcher who will be able to marry after her year of duty is up. After that, she will officially be inducted as a member of the town and learn the closely guarded secrets that the elders are so intent on protecting. The older members of Endla have a cynicism about them that Leelo still hasn't succumbed to. She's on the cusp of losing that innocent optimism that the younger members have. She also seems to be the only one on Endla that tries to avoid killing people and animals. It just doesn't sit right in her gut, despite being told that it was her duty. That's pretty remarkable when you think about the fact that their way of life is all she's ever been exposed to or known. Even the most outlandish things can seem normal when you haven't experienced anything else to compare it to. Leelo also feels great distress over her little brother's imminent departure from the island. The rule of law is that if children do not show signs of having magic by the age of thirteen, they are considered Incantu.

   Islanders like Tate—incantu, they were called, or “voiceless”—

weren’t allowed to attend the festival, even though 

he wasn’t quite old enough to be affected by the magic yet. 

Once an islander reached adolescence, 

generally around age twelve, they were susceptible.

The incantu would have to leave as the dangerous songs would inevitably lure them to their death. Leelo's brother Tate has not developed their magic and very soon will be sent into the woods across the lake to fend for himself. This was a really disturbing aspect of the story and a big reason why I just didn't care about anyone living there. The way they abandoned their children and forced them to fend for themselves in the outside world that had been villainized to them their entire lives was outrageous. I do understand that they didn't really couldn't stay, but it was the heartless way that it was handled. Mothers, fathers, siblings, aunts and uncles would send these children off and then wash their hands of the entire matter as if it never happened. Those kids just don't exist anymore. How? Leelo and her mother are noticeably torn up, but it doesn't take long at all for them to push the uncomfortable thought of him out of their minds. Then there were some like Sage and Ketty who were happy to get rid of them with no regrets or second thoughts. I just can't wrap my head around people ever thinking that this was a necessary part of life.

   As small and insular as her island was, 

Leelo had never considered leaving. 

She didn’t even try to imagine what life 

on the mainland was like, because 

her elders made the rest of the world 

sound terrible and frightening.

Jaren is an outsider who comes across the lake to escape a wolf attack. He's been told about the dangers and the magic of the people there, but he never fully believed in all of it. Once there, he faces the very real threat of imminent death as many have before him. When Leelo stumbles across him, she tries to make herself kill the boy, but her aversion to killing and her gut instinct stops her. In the beginning she is overcome with the moral dilemma of what to do with him. It goes against everything she's ever been taught to actually help him. However, Jaren genuinely seems harmless with no ill will towards the people there or the woods. She finds herself protecting him and trying to form a plan to get him back home. As she visits him, he becomes less threatening and she sees his common humanity. Outsiders are not all bad...so what other lies has she been told her whole life?

Miraculously, a romance develops between the two and Leelo is desperate now to save the sweet boy who only wishes to return to his family. Hiding him becomes harder as the months go by, however, and she knows their time together is short. I thought they were sweet together and though they fell fairly fast, it didn't have an insta-lovey feel. It definitely wasn't obsession, head-over-heels at first sight because they had to overcome her preconceptions of him first.

The big climax at the end had me much more engrossed and reading pretty intently which brought my rating up from what it would have been. I will say that the pace was quite slow for me before that and I was forcing myself to stay with the characters. The Endlans did realize the error of their ways, secrets were outed, and people adjusted their beliefs based on their full knowledge of the truth. However, I just couldn't find it in myself to like them even at that point. Leelo and her mom are the exceptions, but they were not without their flaws either. The story had a satisfying ending, but my overall feelings never reached enthusiastic. Perhaps others will love the dark atmosphere of the book and not have the same issues as me. Personally, this ended up just being okay for me, but maybe Maya Rutherford's next offering will be a bigger win.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

View all my reviews

Read More

Review: The Reluctant Countess by Eloisa James

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James returns to the Would-Be Wallflowers series with a sparkling romance between a proper earl and the lady who is entirely inappropriate for him—who he can’t stop thinking about.

THE RELUCTANT COUNTESS by ELOISA JAMES

Series: Would-Be Wallflowers #2

Publication date: November 29, 2022

Published by: Avon Romance

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Giles Renwick, Earl of Lilford, has never made a fool of himself over a woman—until he meets Lady Yasmin Régnier. Yasmin is ineligible for his attentions in every way: not as a wife, certainly not as a mistress (she is a lady!), nor even as a friend, since they vehemently dislike each other. Her gowns are too low, and her skirts are dampened to cling to admittedly lovely thighs. She loves to gossip—and giggle.

She isn’t dignified, or polite, or even truly British, given that her father’s French ancestry clearly predominated. Not to mention the fact that her mother had been one of Napoleon’s mistresses, a fact she makes no effort to hide.

So what—in heaven’s name—possesses him to propose?

And what will he do if she says yes?

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | iBooks

Praise for Eloisa James:

“Eloisa James writes with a captivating blend of charm, style, and grace that never fails to leave the reader sighing and smiling and falling in love. Her style is exquisite, her prose pure magic. Nothing gets me to a bookstore faster than a new novel by Eloisa James.” — Julia Quinn

“The romance galaxy is filled with luminous stars, but few twinkle as brightly as James, who, with the launch of her Regency-set Would-Be Wallflowers series, once again dazzles readers with superbly conceived characters, a sublimely sensual love story, and sparkling wit.” — Booklist (starred review) on How to Be a Wallflower

"A story as wild as the heroine's family name and one that will reward romance fans who want a funny book about an unusual heroine." — Kirkus Reviews on Wilde Child

“A sparkling Georgian romance. James’ writing shines and the Wilde clan’s infectious energy is the epitome of delightful. Overflowing with tried-and-true romance tropes like opposites attract and secret pining, Wilde Child proves that sometimes there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.” — BookPage

“Longtime historical romance fans and newbies to the genre (particularly those whose interest was piqued by Bridgerton) will delight in this well-done addition to a solid series.” — Library Journal on Wilde Child

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.

After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.

Eloisa...on her double life: 

When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.

When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.

So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.

One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.

Follow her:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW

The Reluctant Countess by Eloisa James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'm always excited to read the newest Eloisa James book because it's almost a given that it's going to be a fantastic read. Some I've loved more than others, but I can't recall any that totally missed the mark for me. I definitely enjoyed this second installment in the series a bit more than the first one. Lady Yasmin and Lord Giles were an enemies-to-lovers/opposites attract pairing that I had high hopes for since meeting them in How to be a Wallflower.

Giles is described as a stern, stone-faced aristocrat who likes to observe proprieties at all times.

   Giles Renwick, Earl of Lilford, was censorious, 

buttoned down, and unsurprising. 

In a flock of British aristocrats, he blended right in.

Yasmine lives to stand out in a crowd and enjoy life to the fullest by flirting with anyone who catches her fancy. She's a bright, sparkling young woman that thumbs her nose at rules and restrictions.

You would think that these two would never stand a chance, but secretly they both feel an unwelcome attraction that grows despite their efforts to ignore it. Giles is looking for a woman with a reputation beyond reproach. His family was embroiled in a shameful scandal when his father was found to have stolen money from a church in his youth. The resulting gossip and censure caused him to take his life and destroy the family. Giles' painful childhood shaped him to be the man that he was-one that valued decorum and respectability above all else. If he could only erase the stigma attached to his family name, his sister would have a chance to find happiness and love. He has tried to shield her from the ugliness surrounding their parents, but Lydia is aware of what transpired and is already in self-destruct mode because of it. Unfortunately, he is a bit obtuse when it comes to his sister's faults. You can't fault him for his family loyalty, however, his sister was outrageously obnoxious and childish and she caused him quite a bit of harm because of it. She's one of those characters you wish you could throat punch and then do it about fifteen more times for good measure. Her selfish antics were the one, main frustration I had with the story.

Although Yasmine is the life of every party, but no one is aware that her bright smiles mask a lot of pain. She was horribly taken advantage of as a teenager back home in France, and like Giles, she suffered greatly from vicious gossip because of it. Yasmine was once naive and trusting, and that caused her to fall for the lies of a malicious fortune hunter. She escaped to the care of her grandfather in England and his title shields her from any fallback she would have felt because of her rebellious behavior. Yasmine is wealthy in her own right because of ample inheritances and has no desire to tie herself to a man and leave her heart open to hurt again.

   One of her favorite rules for survival amongst the aristocracy

—whether French or British—was that 

a show of weakness had to be avoided at all costs.

She never once lets her guard down, but for some reason Giles seems to get under her skin despite his apparent disapproval of her. He does act like a judgmental jerk at times towards her, but underneath his tough exterior he genuinely is a softie. Definitely a bit too much when it came to his sister, but he had good intentions most of the time. One thing about Eloisa James' heroes is that once they make their mind up to court someone, they go all in. Giles is no exception with his single-minded determination to win Yasmine's affection. He's also protective and immediately supportive when her painful past is revealed in a very public manner. Her grandfather was equally as understanding and loving and I actually adored their special relationship. Yes, he allowed her freedoms that were a bit unrealistic for that time, but she needed someone like him in her life. Her parents were one, big waste of space.

   I only want you. I don’t care what society thinks 

if they see us in a curricle. 

“I just want you to sit beside me.”

I enjoyed the friction and the chase between these two as they got past their initial preconceptions of each other. She helped him to live in the moment and not worry so much about the opinions of others. He helped her to open her heart to love again so they could build a future together. There were lots of sweet moments between the two of them as they explored their unlikely attraction and got to know one another at a deeper level.

The next book in the series will be about bookish, freckled, bespectacled Lady Stella and Lord Silvester who didn't seem interested in her in the slightest. I'll be interested to see how his feelings for her evolve into love.

Not That Duke (Would-Be Wallflowers #3) is scheduled for publication in July 2023.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Review: A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young

Space is the last thing an event planner and an astronaut need in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

A COSMIC KIND OF LOVE BY SAMANTHA YOUNG

Series: standalone

Publication date: October 18, 2022

Published by: Berkley Romance

Genre: contemporary romance

 

SYNOPSIS

When event planner Hallie Goodman receives party-inspiration material from the bride of her latest wedding project, the last thing she expects to find in the files are digital videos from Darcy’s ex-boyfriend. Hallie knows it’s wrong to keep watching these personal videos, but this guy is cute, funny, and an astronaut on the International Space Station to boot. She’s only human. And it’s not long until she starts sending e-mails and video diaries to his discontinued NASA address. Since they’re bouncing back, there’s no way anyone will ever be able to see them...right?

Christopher Ortiz is readjusting to life on earth and being constantly in the shadow of his deceased older brother. When a friend from NASA’s IT department forwards him the e-mails and video messages Hallie has sent, he can’t help but notice how much her sense of humor and pink hair make his heart race.

Separated by screens, Hallie and Chris are falling in love with each other, one transmission at a time. But can they make their star-crossed romance work when they each learn the other’s baggage?

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | iBooks

Praise for A Cosmic Kind of Love:

"Wow. I've been reading Samantha Young for years and she has actually managed to top herself with A Cosmic Kind of Love."—Tessa Bailey, New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer

“With a premise that shines like the brightest constellation, Samantha Young delivers a refreshing and delicious rom-com about star crossed lovers event planner Hallie Goodman and NASA astronaut Christopher Ortiz. Sizzling chemistry, a tangible connection, and complex characters I rooted for from the get go, A Cosmic Kind of Love did in fact launch my heart into space and left me on Earth, starry eyed and hoping for my own Captain Chris Ortiz.”—Elena Armas, New York Times bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception

"A stellar blend of upbeat and endearing, A Cosmic Kind of Love is classic, feel-good rom-com entertainment!—Chloe Liese, author of the Bergman Brothers series

"A Cosmic Kind Of Love will fly you to the moon and leave you stargazing. This clever romantic comedy about two souls brought together by the stars is everything you need in your life, complete with swoons, smiles, and steam enough to power a rocket. A Cosmic Kind Of Love doesn't just get five stars--it gets the whole galaxy."—Staci Hart, author of Wasted Words

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Scotland. She’s been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. She writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction. Currently published in 31 countries, Samantha is a #1 international bestselling author.

You can find her on:

 Website | Goodreads | IG | Pinterest | Facebook

REVIEW

A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young



I was really excited to read a romance with an astronaut protagonist as it's something that you don't typically see in the contemporary romance genre. I was really impressed with the author's attention to detail when describing Chris' experience in outer space as well as his inner dialogue regarding his challenging acclimatization back on earth. I learned a lot of interesting things about astronauts while reading this novel, and one thing in particular that I really appreciated was the fact that Samantha Young didn't just sugarcoat and romanticize it. Not only did we see the rewarding side of Chris' job, but we also saw the realistic difficulties that people in the field may go through.

Captain Christopher Ortiz was such an endearing hero. He very much has the "Golden Boy" image because of his high profile job and social media popularity, but secretly he's lost in many ways. He poured his heart and soul into making it to outer space to honor his late brother, but now that he achieved that unimaginably difficult goal at such a young age, he's at a crossroads.

   For years I’d had focus, I’d had goals, 

and now that I had none of that, 

it was like the nineteen years since 

she’d passed were but months.

Not only does he feel conflicted about continuing his career at NASA, his personal life is simultaneously in shambles. Chris is not one of these commitment-phobe, womanizing jerks whom you see all too much in romance. He's that long-term relationship unicorn guy who's an all-around good person. Which makes it all the more awful that the woman he cared about selfishly cheated on him. Another issue Chris has is his broken relationship with his father. Their relationship has been toxic for some time, and causes him a lot of frustration and turmoil. While he wishes they could somehow bridge the huge gap between them, there's a lot of built up resentment and anger towards his father that he doesn't know how to get past. All of this is weighing heavily on his mind when he meets Hallie.

Hallie Goodman has an unhealthy relationship with her parents as well, but rather than avoiding them like Chris does with his father, she tries to slap a band-aid on the situation by putting up with their childish behavior. Seriously, the parents in this book were absolutely horrific. Trust me, you're going to be internally screaming at the sheer audacity of their abuse. Hallie's issue in dealing with her parents is that she's anti-confrontation and pro-placater. In other words, she's a tragic people pleaser who doesn't know how to say no. She often puts herself in the middle of very uncomfortable and unfair situations in order to make others happy, but ends up making herself miserable. Some might say that this could turn her into a bit of a doormat with those who knowingly take advantage of her kindness, but the one thing that saves her from that is her self-awareness. She is completely cognizant of the fact that she has a problem, and she would like to adjust her behavior, but unfortunately she doesn't know how.

   She was messy but cute. And from what I could tell, 

her life was messy and not cute. Just like mine. 

Though my messy was an empty kind of messy, 

while hers was mostly definitely because 

she had too many things going on.

Chris and Hallie have a unique meet-cute over private video messages. The unusual thing is that neither one of them know that the other person is watching their videos. Hallie stumbles across Chris' messages to his ex (her client), and she knows she shouldn't watch them, but she's incredibly drawn to his humor and vulnerability. Chris receives her videos that are more of a personal diary, but she is emailing them to him thinking that they are all bouncing back to her with him none the wiser. When they finally do meet in person, Hallie immediately comes clean about her transgression, but Chris is too afraid to confess because he fears that she'll write him off before they have a chance to really get to know each other. Obviously starting a friendship rooted in deception is not going to end well, and becoming romantically involved further complicates Chris' predicament. I give him major points however for keeping her in the friend zone until he can drum up the nerve to tell her the truth. On a positive note, this creates a lot of anticipation and tension as they both grow deep feelings for one another that they have to keep bottled up.

   There was something about her . . . I felt like 

I could trust her, and there weren’t many people 

who came into my life I felt certain about like that. 

That seemed worth exploring, even if only in a friendship.

I love how Chris accepted Hallie's awkwardness, but also helped her become confident enough to avoid those awful situations by setting boundaries with people. Aside from one really good friend at work, she hasn't had anyone in her corner who is rooting for her to live her best life. This couple's relationship developed naturally and realistically with low drama/angst. That's not to say that there weren't any conflicts, there were, but the two of them handled things in a pretty straightforward way.

A Cosmic Kind of Love was funny, unique, and super sweet. Hallie was the goofy, quirky girl that everyone sells short who somehow snags one of the most eligible bachelors out there. How can you resist that kind of opposites attract theme? Also, if you're a fan of friends to lovers books, this one will most likely hit the mark. I think this couple will very easily win you over.

   My whole life I’d done the chasing, the people-pleasing. 

No one had ever chased me. No one had ever prioritized me 

the way I was willing to prioritize them. Until now.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Review: The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Mathews

A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.

THE BELLE OF BELGRAVE SQUARE

Series: Belles of London #2

Publication date: October 11, 2022

Published by: Berkley Romance

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.

For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.

In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | iBooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances, including Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion. Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. 

In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

You can find her on:

 Website | Goodreads | IG | Twitter Facebook

REVIEW

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

  Could war really change a person to that degree? 

Could it truly turn a man from a villain into a hero? 

She wanted to believe it. She had to believe it.

I've been wanting to try a Mimi Mathews book for some time now, and what better book to start with than one with a bookish, introvert heroine who hates the London social season? This type of heroine is a weakness of mine, so I jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy. Now that I've read it I can say that despite the mid range rating, I really enjoyed the author's writing style. While there were some things about that plot that didn't work from a technical standpoint (and emotional on my end) the series as a whole still has potential for me. I've already added the next book and plan to continue when it comes out sometime in January.

Julia Wynchwood comes from a wealthy family and lives a life of privilege among the higher echelon of society. From the outside looking in, anyone would say that she has the world at her fingertips. However, for Julia, the endless social activities she is forced to attend is like pure torture for the shy "bluestocking." Her discomfort is so great that she frequently fakes illness to get out of events, even knowing that her parents will call their doctor who treats her with the archaic method of bleeding. How this "treatment" was ever believed to be beneficial boggles the mind. It's also quite sad to think about all of the people who needlessly died at the hands of trusted physicians because of the practice.

Julia is a dreamer with romantic sensibilities. She wants to be swept off her feet by the sensational novels she reads. Unfortunately, she hasn't met anyone in London that could measure up to the dark and brooding heroes like Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. Except, perhaps, for the forbidding Captain Blunt. His scarred, harsh countenance is enough to make most outgoing hesitant to approach him, but his scandalous past makes people downright fear him. While his war hero status gives him a veneer of respect, everyone secretly whispers about the illegitimate children that he keeps in his own dilapidated, gothic home Goldfinch Hall. The rumored cruel treatment of his men during the war is a whole other topic for people to cast their judgement upon. Julia does feel nervous around the man when she comes into contact with him, but all of the things that should have her running in the opposite direction seem to draw her in. She romanticizes the dark reputation he has and (a bit naively) paints him as completely misunderstood.

In a way she is right about him as all is not what it appears to be. He does have a softer, caring side that comes out when they are alone in each other's presence. Jasper is not the cruel man that he is rumored to be, but he's not being honest with her either. Yes, he is completely upfront about looking for an advantageous marriage in order to save his newly inherited, crumbling home. However, he is hiding a HUGE secret that he intends to just keep from her forever. He tells her that she can never ask questions about his parents or past. Obviously, that didn't sit right with me at all. Jasper makes his intentions clear from the start: he would like to court her because he is in desperate need of her dowry. You can't fault his direct approach-Julia certainly appreciates the lack of false romantic overtures. While she is a romantic, she knows that she doesn't inspire passionate feelings from men. She's as socially awkward as can be, and has very little self-confidence. It just felt very wrong for him to draw her into a life-long commitment under false pretenses regarding his past. She commits herself to him in order to escape a home life where she doesn't feel safe, yet his big secret has very real implications on her that she is completely unaware of.

This book is over 400 pages which doesn't have to be a bad thing necessarily, but it did feel that way. The first half of the book dragged for me a little and it took me a few days to truly get captured by the story. It wasn't boring per se, but there wasn't anything happening that made me feel emotionally connected to the characters. It was a bit surprising because I do love shy bookworms, but Julia was a bit extreme with her social anxiety and lack of confidence. It allowed her parents to walk all over her horribly, even to the point of abuse I would say. If I'm being completely honest, I wanted her to have a little more backbone when her pathetic father insulted and controlled her. I did see quite a transformation though, so she made me come around.

Jasper's internal dialogue and yearning for Julia's affection in the second half was really sweet. I enjoyed reading his secret, romantic feelings. The two of them got to know one another at a more intimate level after their marriage and I really enjoyed reading as that connection formed. Of course, Jasper's big secret is a ticking time bomb and it has the expected explosion on their fragile relationship when it comes out. I can't say that he didn't deserve the heartache from that, but one good thing to come out of it was Julia taking charge of her own life. I fully respected the assertive way she stood up to her parents and resolved the big conflict. She really came into who she was as a woman and found her self worth.

   The prospect of meeting strangers—

of being stared at and whispered over—

was enough to make her stomach tremble with anxiety. 

But she wasn’t the same person she’d been in London. 

She wasn’t Julia Wychwood anymore. 

She was Mrs. Julia Blunt. A different creature altogether. 

Hadn’t that always been a dream of hers? 

To go to a new place and start afresh? 

To reinvent herself as someone new—someone confident?

Overall, I like the concept of this series as well as the author's voice. I thought Jasper and Julia's Beauty and the Beast vibes were a nice touch. Some people are classifying this as a retelling, but this was more of a faint impression rather than a retelling in my opinion. The third installment in this series has me eager with anticipation. Lady Anne's story has a lot of potential based on her short appearances here. She's bold, opinionated, and a force to be reckoned with. Her story was teased a little bit-it will be an enemies to lovers trope with Mr. Hartford, her childhood nemesis. I'm looking forward to seeing how their HEA comes about soon!

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More