When Jack's mom is arrested for organized crime, teenage Jack leaves his boarding school on the east coast to return to his family's casino in Las VegWhen Jack's mom is arrested for organized crime, teenage Jack leaves his boarding school on the east coast to return to his family's casino in Las Vegas. There Jack decides he wants to get back at the man who put his mom away, rival casino owner Carlevaro. He enlists the help of his friends online, all five of them are asexual teens who met in a chatroom.
I'm really not sure how you can write (view spoiler)[ "A Heist" in the title of this book when there isn't even a f-ing heist in it. That pissed me off so badly. There's a difference between happenstance theft and a well planned heist and that was not present in this book (hide spoiler)]. All of the characters except the older sisters were unbearably annoying and yet all somehow lacked personality at the same time.
I feel very strongly that ace representation matters in books, but I honestly felt that the author loved the idea of a Vegas book with the title "Aces Wild" and so the characters were all made ace as well. Which is fine, but then we never really delved into the nuance of what that meant. You could remove the fact that all the characters in this book were ace and it wouldn't change the plot at all, and to me that does a disservice to the ace community.
This was originally a two star read for me but thinking about all these things and more tipped it over the edge to a one star review. That and I heard about the book originally using hearing aides instead of airpods as a plot device and was genuinely horrified....more
How do I say this.... I enjoyed this book but I also acknowledge that it's not good. In fact, it's proba 3 stars
Yet another mostly incoherent review.
How do I say this.... I enjoyed this book but I also acknowledge that it's not good. In fact, it's probably actually bad. But I was entertained! That's all that matters, right?
One constant thought was pestering me the entire time I was listening to this book... how do you set a romance in college and almost never even mention a single college course? Bestie, I remember college and it was not all frat parties and hockey games. Some balance, please!
What this book had going for it was the spicy parts, but everything else mostly fell flat for me. A lot of the beginning of the book could have been cut out and the book would still have the same impact. I was definitely curious as to why this book was so popular and drawing a blank. As I said before, I enjoyed it but there really wasn't much to it. But I guess we are all allowed to like bad books....more
This book was basically the 1945 film Christmas in Connecticut in a modern day book and I was here for it. When Laurel lies to her boss about livingThis book was basically the 1945 film Christmas in Connecticut in a modern day book and I was here for it. When Laurel lies to her boss about living on a farm, married with children, when it's actually her twin sisters life and not her own. Years after her interview and well into the job, her boss suffers a traumatic breakup and invites himself to the holidays with Laurel. But now Laurel will work with her sister to uphold the lie, with some help from Laurel's nemesis: Max.
I enjoyed this book so much which is odd because I am not normally a big holiday romance fan. This book was short, sweet, and to the point with some great humor and shenanigans mixed in. I loved the enemies to lovers romance that happened along with some there's only one bed trope. I love when a misunderstood hero pines for the heroine and we got a nice dose of that in this book. I will say I was actually not happy that (view spoiler)[ there weren't any sex scenes in this book because imo, it really would have enhanced the relationship Laurel and Max were building. But I guess Kerry Winfrey is mean and didn't want to throw us a bone and now I am sad. (hide spoiler)]
If you're looking for a fun escapist read during the holiday season, this one will do the trick....more
I never though I'd grow up to be a cozy mystery gal but I am becoming more and more of a fan! Book two in the Molly the Maid series, The Mystery GuestI never though I'd grow up to be a cozy mystery gal but I am becoming more and more of a fan! Book two in the Molly the Maid series, The Mystery Guest takes place a few years after the events of the first book. Molly has been promoted to head maid at the hotel and is training a new employee and things are generally going well for her. Until a famous author drops dead at a news conference at the hotel and everyone fears the staff will take the blame.
I really liked The Maid and was pleasantly surprised we got a second book. The best part about this one was the flashbacks to Molly's childhood and all of the events that led to who she is as a person in the present book. I thought this was a great mystery story, it kept my attention, wasn't confusing, and unfolded really well. I hope we get to read more of Molly the Maid because I can see this becoming a really great series.
Advance listening copy provided by libro.fm ...more
I want to give this book a higher rating, I do. But it took me over a month to finish reading, had a massive info dump, and honestly... unp 3.5 stars
I want to give this book a higher rating, I do. But it took me over a month to finish reading, had a massive info dump, and honestly... unpopular opinion but this either could have been condensed or separated into two different books. I felt the first half was soooooo different from the second half, and that's fine. But it was a bit jarring for me to reconcile the two parts of the book in one if that makes any sense.
Iron Flame beings with Violet's second year at the Empyrean. With new challenges such as a new malicious commander, Xaden being gone, and having to lie to her friends, Violet is fighting hard to keep it all together. But Violet knows a big threat is coming and she will do whatever it takes to keep her loved ones safe.
This book was fairly slow the first 100 pages, was amazing from there to about 400 pages in and then kind of slowed down for me again. Not sure if it was me personally, or if the pacing of the book was off, but I found some parts riveting and others to be a bit boring. I do love all the characters, that's the strong point of the series for me. The dragons are the best and I loved a lot of the new characters introduced in this book as well.
While I didn't enjoy this book as much as Fourth Wing, it's still very good and I am hoping I won't forget everything by the time the third book comes out....more
Repeat after me: We are allowed to like predictable books
What Lies in the Woods follows Naomi, a woman who was attacked by a serial killer when she Repeat after me: We are allowed to like predictable books
What Lies in the Woods follows Naomi, a woman who was attacked by a serial killer when she was a child and she and her friends were instrumental in putting him away. Now, they're all adults and the man they sent to prison has died, and with his death brings new questions. Naomi hunts for answers as she realizes those closest to her have been lying to her for years.
I really enjoyed this book, despite having predicted almost every single twist in it. There's actually something comforting about knowing where a book will go. I thought this book did a great job weaving the story and mystery together and I thought all the character dynamics were super interesting. This would make a really great tv series or movie....more
Taking place where Maid ended, Class is the personal memoir of Stephanie Land and her time at college in Missoula. After leaving 3.5 stars rounded up
Taking place where Maid ended, Class is the personal memoir of Stephanie Land and her time at college in Missoula. After leaving behind her abusive ex and starting fresh at college in a new state, Land is still struggling to raise her daughter and attend school at the same time. Child support and food stamps are not enough, and Land faces new hardships while working to make a better life for her and her child.
I really loved the book Maid, it's one of my favorite nonfiction books. Class is similar and yet different from its first book. Land is an excellent writer and has a way of drawing in her readers with her stories. It definitely was hard for me to understand some of Land's choices in her new life. Yes, she worked really hard and earned every great thing that came her way. I had a hard time reading why Land let go of some friendships seemingly so easily, I don't think as a reader we got enough context. And there were many different men mentioned, to the point I lost track of who was who.
But what makes this book is the little moments: where someone was kind when they didn't have to be, getting ice cream with her daughter, a trip to the hair salon. I can find myself getting choked up at certain moments when listening. If Land writes more about her life, I am seated and ready to read it. She writes what not many people are writing and I very much enjoy her stories....more
Incoherent review alert. Originally when I read this book I thought it was a new to me author and after reading discovered I had already read one of hIncoherent review alert. Originally when I read this book I thought it was a new to me author and after reading discovered I had already read one of her books and enjoyed it. That was a shock to me because this book... it was not good. A grumpy sunshine with a man that honestly was not very grumpy, just slightly introverted with some trauma and an annoying heroine.
Normally with Christmas books we don't get enough of the holiday, in this book we got too much. It was too much Christmas and had every Hallmark story shoved all into one book. If the author had stuck to the original story outlined in the description, it would have been very good! But instead too much was added in and everything went all over the place. Lots of potential but it just fell flat. Don't forget it had incredibly cringe sex scenes I disassociated and tried my best to forget...more
Romantic Comedy is a celebrity romance between a TNO tv writer and a famous singer. Sally has written for TNO for many years when Noah comes on as a hRomantic Comedy is a celebrity romance between a TNO tv writer and a famous singer. Sally has written for TNO for many years when Noah comes on as a host. For a week, the two have insane chemistry, but then they lose touch. Now, years later during Covid lockdown, one reaches out to the other and the two reconnect.
I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. I do think the title is misleading because the book isn't a romcom in any stretch of the word, more like a romance that centers around a comedy writer. It was fun to see the author use SNL as a meet cute, and I liked the idea of a celebrity falling for one of the writers. Lots of great questions asked in this book about attractiveness, sincerity, fame, insecurity and more. I really enjoyed listening and it was nice to read a romance with characters approaching their forties....more
“Mysteries of attraction could not always be explained through logic. Sometimes the fractures in First read 2016, reread December 2023
4.5 stars!
“Mysteries of attraction could not always be explained through logic. Sometimes the fractures in two separate souls became the very hinges that held them together.”
Devil in Winter is probably the most hyped historical romance novel I’ve ever come across, and while I really enjoyed it, I didn’t love LOVE it like everyone else did.
This is the story of Evie the wallflower, cursed with a stutter she has spent much of her life on the side. Once her home situation becomes life threatening she approaches Sebastian St. Vincent with a proposition: marriage. St. Vincent needs money and Evie needs a way out and the two run off in the night and elope. Sebastian realizes quickly that he desires Evie very much, but with his reputation Evie won’t do more past the consummation of the marriage. So they make a deal, if he can go celibate for three months, Evie will succumb to him.
“It’s impossible,” he snapped.
“Why?”
“Because I’m Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent. I can’t be celibate. Everyone knows that.”
I think this is one of the best historical romances I’ve read, but as I said before I didn’t love it quite like everyone else. It had too much instalove for me and Sebastian’s sudden interest in only Evie didn’t really convince me, I wish I had seen him getting to know her more along the way. Basically more character development between the two main characters.
Positives were I couldn’t put this book down, from the very first page I needed to read it straight through. I also thought it was interesting that Kleypas placed this book primarily in a gentleman’s club instead of all the English estates and manors we have become accustomed to in this genre. I can tell Kleypas did her homework and I found the setting just as interesting as the plot.
I was able to read this without having read the first two books and while there were moments were it took me a moment to put everything together this book can be read as a standalone. I am definitely intrigued by the other characters and want to check out their stories asap!
“I want to fill every part of you, breathe the air from your lungs and leave my handprints on your soul. I want to give you more pleasure than you can bear.” ...more
I thoroughly enjoyed my reread of this series ten years after I first read it, I am so glad it holds up. B First read June 2013, Reread December 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed my reread of this series ten years after I first read it, I am so glad it holds up. Book three begins with Clara in her first year of college and she is paralyzed by her new visions of purpose. Working with Christian, Clara hopes to figure them out. But her best friend Angela is evasive and Clara can't get her ex Tucker out of her head...
I remember this book devastating me the first time I read it, and while it didn't have the same effect this way, I still loved it. This reminds me of the golden age of YA when everyone was publishing dystopians and urban fantasy stories. This book was part of the angel fad and among some of the best! I also remember being more torn between Tucker and Christian, but this time I was pretty clear who was the better love triangle option (view spoiler)[ It's Tucker, there's no question. He loved Clara for who she was, and Christian wanted to own her (hide spoiler)]. So glad this series holds up, even if there are cringy references to Farmville that make it dated....more
First read in 2008 right when it came out, Reread December 2023
I remember being really disappointed reading Breaking Dawn when it came out, and now First read in 2008 right when it came out, Reread December 2023
I remember being really disappointed reading Breaking Dawn when it came out, and now rereading it 15 years later I can appreciate it more. Are there still some super cringe things in this book? Absolutely? Did I still enjoy the heck out of it? Yup.
I won't say much about plot, but it was fun to read and see the differences between the book and the movies, what worked and what didn't. I think this book suffers from it's pretty much about all the other characters and the Bella/Edward relationship wasn't the focal point anymore after the beginning of the book. Still enjoyable and a great final line to end the series.
Next year I am going to reread other YA series that I loved when they came out, what should I read next?...more
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