Ashley
Adorable book for kids! I like how inquisitive Snowy is. As parents we can relate when we don't have the answers to our children's questions. In the story Snowy's mom does her best to answer them. And no matter what we love our children.
The illustrations are bright and fun for a children's book.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Where to start with this book? It was wonderful!
Story: This story was an interesting twist on fake dating. The main characters enter a fake dating show where contestants are paired up and need to convince their families that they are going to get married, One character is using the show to come out to her family. The way the author wrote this scene of the story was informative and gave me a different perspective on things. The way we react and the things we say, while we think it is ok, may not be. It wasn't cut and dry, but gave a well rounded perspective.
I liked the way the author wrote the story. The writing was great and I liked the way it broken down. Because it is a reality TV show the story is broken down by weeks. It is told in dual POV including their confessions. This whole story really stands out as a whole.
Audio: The narrator was a fantastic choice for this story. She brought out the personality of each character and made each one feel like a real person. Not just a character in the story.
I recommend this getting this as an audiobook!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this book.
I loved this story!
This story isn't the typical fake dating story I've read in the past. It has a cultural element to it. The two main characters keep getting set up by their families (not together). Neither wants to be set up so they enter their relationship hoping it will stop their families efforts. I read the struggles they face as trying to break away from arranged marriages and living more modernly within their lives. Jiya doesn't want to be just a housewife. She has her own career goals unlike the women in her family.
There is a great cast of characters throughout the story. From the supportive siblings to the overbearing parents to the fun grandmother. This story was great from start to finish and I had a hard time putting it down.
If you are a fan of Sonali Dev, you'll enjoy this story!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Listened to the audiobook thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
I consider going 3-3.5 stars. This was typical friends to lovers, fake dating. The story was good. It has a diverse set of characters with good character and story development. I liked that this was told in dual POV.
What got me was the male narrator, which is why I'm giving it the rating. His voice didn't show emotion and it made me guess if I liked the character in general.
I did enjoy the female lead. She was a good choice and did well narrating.
This book was everything I was hoping for. It is an adult version of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with fake dating.
Millie loses her job of three years and isn't sure what to do now. As she packs up her apartment she finds a dress she used to borrow from another friend, but not just any dress. This dress seems to have its way of bringing the best luck to her friends, so Millie decides to try her luck in Peacock Bay where other friends live.
Peacock Bay is struggling to recover from the pandemic. It is presented as a picturesque area with great surfing and the perfect place to raise families. Her best friend's family owns a hotel run by her brother. To help the hotel Millie and the brother decide to be an instagram couple.
This story shows how ugly side of being an influencer. You see throughout that the characters work hard to maintain their brand and one just won't stray from that. Having sponsors and followers is everything and they fear that breaking from that will ruin them. Millie has been following these influencers for a while now and soon learns that reality versus social media isn't the same. Can Millie cut it as an influencer herself?
She passes the dress on at the end to another friend and I'm hoping that means the story will continue.
It is a must for your summer TBR!
Thank you Sourcebooks, Gilliam Libby and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a great book for a young adult/new adult.
We need more book encouraging 1) young girls that they can do what their counterparts can do 2) show young girls/women that they are smart and strong.
I like that teachers and friends were able to see the potential in Bel. Even though it seemed she was pushed into joining the team, others saw what she was capable of, encouraged her and helped her what she wanted for her future.
This is a book i would approve for our daughter once she is of age.
What do dogs dream of? Siggy dreams of being a soccer star. There are a few bumps in the game, but he doesn't give up.
This story shows kids not to give up. Between an injury and fowl play the game wasn't going well, but that didn't stop Siggy. love the parts in the story you could sing to.
The illustrations are beautiful and I like how the words are in differ fonts giving it a playful feel.
Thank you Brian Frederick and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review Siggy the Soccer Dog.
Brynna Phillips gets roped into joining a coworker for a summer camping trip. The trip takes them to a camp Brynna visited as a teen and she remembers a short lived summer romance with Leroy. After telling Jan the story, she is determined for Bryanna to reconnect. They go searching through Sonoma Wine Country. When Brynna finds his winery, things take an interesting turn.
Overall I liked Looking for Leroy. I love the idea of a second chance romance and the author's writing was good. The characters were well written and enjoyable.
I thought Gina's reaction toward Brynna would have gone in a different direction. She discovered her dad's past relationship with Bryanna before she showed up. I think influence from another character played a part in that.
Brynna's character was back and forth too much on her feelings and gave up easily throughout the story. As soon as she made the decision to do one thing, she changed her mind before the dust settled on the prior decision.
This is a good clean read. It mentioned prayer and God, which I liked.
Thank you Revell, Melody Carson and Love Books Tours for the opportunity to read and review Looking for Leroy.
I read this with our three year old and she asked for it a second time!
I loved how Daniel used his passion as a chocolatier to spread happiness among his friends. This story shows that with a little love, showing someone you care, makes a huge difference. He expected nothing in return, but when his friends noticed when he needed a gift.
Also, who doesn't love chocolate?
Thank you Sandra Bradley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Cocoa Magic!
Love By Design is the second book in the Meraki series by Effie Kammenou.
Mia gets hired at a luxury magazine run by Nicholas and his sister. Mia has admired Nicholas from afar for years and will now be working directly with him.
Nicholas has faced so much loss in his past and has closed himself off from loving again, but Mia changes all that.
They have a hard time working together in the beginning, but soon they realize fate has brought them together.
While I enjoyed book one of this series, book two was even better for me. The author truly loves her heritage and family and it shows through her stories.
My favorite part of this series is the continuance of the grandparents storyline. If you've read book one it wasn't complete, but it is coming together more through book two.
The story transitions from present to past events and the author executes it beautifully. It is easy for the reader to understand what is going on.
While it is the second book in the series it can be read as a standalone. The story includes enough information from the first book to get an idea of what happened.
Thank you Effie Kammenou and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review this story.
I don't know where to start! The Emma Project had so much heart throughout the story. I loved the passion the main characters had not just for their work, but that their work was making the world better.
Esha's story could be it's own novella. I enjoyed her part in this story, but there is so much more that could be told.
There are parts of the story that didn't give the right closure. That storyline ended without quietly such as ending their relationship with Jiggy.
I smiled, laughed and teared up reading this story. This is one of my favorite books of 2022.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the digital copy to read and review.
During WWII many Americans were leaving Paris to return home, but some, like Lucie Giard and Paul Aubrey, stayed behind.
Lucie quit ballet and bought a bookstore so the Jewish owners, who helped raise her, could escape. Despite Americans leaving and books being banned, Lucie stays positive and finds ways to keep the store alive.
I liked how the author used the bookstore to show how limiting reading had become. Authors and titles not in line with German beliefs were being banned and burned. Lucie found a way to use the bookstore to help a greater good.
Paul used to build race cars, but in an effort to keep his business going and help his employees he switches over to trucks. He is now seen as a collaborator, but there is more to Paul than what he allows his former friends to see.
The two meet when Paul brings his daughter to Lucie's store. The two hit it off and help each other in areas of their life, but with the war and the work each is doing on their own now is not the time for a romance.
If you are looking for a Christian story this is a great one. The characters in the story lean on God to guide them through this time as they work for the greater good. Their beliefs are part of who they are and it didn't feel pushed on me as a reader.
I've been drawn to historical books recently within this time frame and this story did not disappoint.
Thank you Sarah Sundin, Revell Publishing and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Overall this was a fun book to read. From beginning to end this story had something going on like there wasn't time to waste. The idea of the makers is different, each family has their own specialty. I liked how they were all brought together, working together for the better.
I am eager to get a copy for our kids to read knowing they will enjoy this story.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Trigger Warnings: self-harm, suicidal feelings, gambling, alcoholism, depression, severe OCD and eating disorders.
This story was an excellent example of showing kindness because you don't know what someone else is going through. The author mentions never telling anyone in her family and it seemed like very few outside the family knew what was really going on.
It is also an example of how communities need to work harder to get resources people need. The author discusses how it was weeks, months before she could get the services needed for her sons. And recovery is expensive.
This was hard to read. As a parent I can't imagine watching my child suffer in this way and only being able to do so much. But how would I handle it all in the same situation?
Thank you Emily for sharing your story so that others will know they don't feel alone. You have been hit so hard with all of this, but your story can help someone else.
Thank you Emily J. Johnson and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review this story.
Love is What You Bake It is the first in the Meraki Series.
In this story we follow Kalley and Max. Max has just moved back home trying to start over. He walks into Kally's bakery, The Coffee Klatch, after reporting a missing license plate. The two don't get off to a good start, but it doesn't take long before things fall into place. Each has their own secret. Will the other person accept them after revealing?
I love how Greek culture was represented in this book and how the author shows its importance to the main character and to her family. From the dishes they baked to traditions the author did a great job of not just including, but also explaining what it represents.
Kally and Max's past do touch on hard subjects, but the author writes in a way that it doesn't bring a reader down. I liked the way Kally's past relationship was woven throughout the story. Gradually telling the story and how it brought her to where she is.
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. It had a lot of love in it. Not just with the main characters, but love within a community, friends, family and culture. And who doesn't love bonus content? Thank you for the recipes!
Thank you Effie Kammenou and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review this book. I'm excited to read and share the second!
Dear Mrs. Prowse: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!
I heard wonderful things about @mrsamandaprowse and grateful to have the opportunity to read her memoir.
Women Like Us was personally relatable in a number of ways. The author put everything out on the table while writing this story, and it couldn't have been easy being this vulnerable while telling her story. As I'm reading I kept thinking that these are the same thoughts I have, the same issues. It was as if she was reading my thoughts. But there is hope. Life can be better.
Thank you Amanda Prowse and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review this book.
If you are looking for a way to get your child interested in reading this is a great book!
Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels is a unique and must have book for kids. The author took this story one step further and made it interactive for kids. The story will engage kids through various types of puzzles within the story helping Bones and Catson solve the mystery.
Thank you Tim Collins, Buster Books and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review Sherlock Bones.
The poetry in this book is beautiful. You can understand what the author was feeling and thinking as the poetry progressed. The poet uses different formats in her poetry to tell her story.
The For anyone who has loved or had their heart broken this will speak to you.
Thank you Penelope Chaisson and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review this Penelope's Purple Passion.
This was a sweet short story that made me laugh and smile through the story. I would have liked the story to be a little longer because it felt like something was missing, but for the purposes of the collection it was originally written for I understand why it may have been limited to what it was.
This wasn't a cheesy romance, and the characters are fun and loveable. If you want a sweet, short story this is a good choice.
Edited to add: The bonus chapter the author included was cute and and funny. A perfect ending to wrap up their story.
Thank you Anne Kemp for the opportunity to read and review The Sweet Spot.
Honey Harvest is a cute story for kids! This story goes through the process of making honey and how to be safe in the process. It is told in a way that is simple for kids to understand. I love that his is a teachable moment from parent to child.
The illustrations are colorful and bright.
This is the perfect book for discussing how honey is made.
Thank you Elissa Kerr and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review this story.
Have you ever had a big secret to tell and didn't know how to handle it? When it came out did it bring about more secrets? This is what happens when Stella and Carly unknowingly accept an invitation to a swingers party and come face to face with their friend's husband.
The story focuses on Stella, Carly and Jesse. Each is facing their own challenges in their marriage and personal life that I believe we can all relate to in some way. I liked each chapter alternating for each character to tell their individual story.
I was drawn in emotionally to the situations in the story. Feeling frustrated with Jesse's husband and hoping for the best in her situation. There were parts toward the end that lacked for me, but overall I enjoyed this story.
Thank you Lisa Darcy, Bloodhound Books and Love Books Tour for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I was drawn to this story because I am currently living as an expat in Belgium. I could relate so much to this story. Moving to another country and trying to learn their language and culture can be intimidating, but the author seems to have taken right to her new surroundings when they moved to France.
I enjoyed reading about a different part of France, a village, and not Paris. The author has come across wonderful friends and quickly became a part of their community.
Ending the story with Neighbor Day, which happened to fall on the anniversary of buying their home, was perfect way for it to come full circle.
What would you do if you had the ability to edit someone's story? Emily learns she has this ability, but it isn't what it seems.
Lost Coast Literary is a sweet story about reconnecting with family and finding yourself. I love that books play a central role in this story and how the author brings all that to life within it's own pages.
I can't wait to add this one to my shelves.
Thank you NetGalley and Ellie Alexander for the opportunity to read this book.