Audiobook Review: Skip to the End by Molly James

Summary:

In this joyful romance, one wild night results in three kisses—only one successful—and leaves a perpetually single Amy searching for her perfect match so she can find a happy ending.

Amy Daniels has a pretty nice life. Her career is on the up, she loves her friends, and she's about to buy her very own flat. On a good day, Amy could be described as a catch—so why is she perpetually single?

The trouble is, Amy can see something no one else can: the end. As soon as she kisses someone, she knows, in intimate, vivid detail, how their relationship will finish. A screaming argument in the middle of the supermarket over milk. An explicit email sent to the wrong address. A hasty escape through a bathroom window on the second date. At the altar—runaway-bride style. There seems to be no end to the unhappy endings.

After years of trying, and failing, to change a pre-written future, Amy has given up. But then she drunkenly kisses three men at her best friend's wedding and sees three possible endings: two painful, one perfect. The problem is, Amy can't really remember who she kissed, and worse, what ending belongs to which person—the only thing she knows for certain is that she's determined to find out…

Review

To be honest, I'm curious how my experience would've been had I read the book prior or instead of. I didn't initially connect with the audiobook. It took some time to connect with the narrator partly due in part in the dialect. That isn't something problematic, it was just something to adjust to. Once the story delved into why Amy was perpetually single, I was able to zone into the progression of the plot.

Ideally my curiosity piqued after that conversation with her mother. My anticipation grew with the book and the enthusiasm of the narrator kept my interest. In the context of the plot of the book, I personally would've enjoyed dual narrators, especially in those moments to differentiate which guy when she was trying to figure out who she kissed. Also, I would've loved more time with Amy and Garrett and less on the others. Once her discovery was made about him, it felt rushed. I was completely absorbed with this moment and wanted to hear more but ultimately it was interesting book.

In reflection, for my own personal experience and preference for this book, I probably would've enjoyed the book version better. That being said with no criticism of the audiobook because the narration was good. It's just for the type of plot this was and what I'd hope to take away from it, the book would've given that experience for me. You may feel differently and love the audiobook.

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Review: Pity Pact by Whitney Dineen

Returning to the Pity Series, Pity Pact is the third book featuring Paige Holland. I was really curious from the last book when things didn't work out between Missy and Tim. Would the chemistry between Paige and him go anywhere? Well, as I anticipated how her journey would go, it was so worth the wait. Paige was fun, sassy and made this quite the page turner. The banter between her and Tim had me laughing out loud the whole book.

For those who don't know, Paige Holland is a teacher in their local town. After making a pact between her and best friend Missy, if love didn't find them, they would take their chances on a dating realty show. Since Missy found her love, Paige followed through and things quickly had her thinking this was the biggest mistake.

Things got complicated when Tim was asked to be a participant. Despite her being friends, there had been this unexplored what if. Tim wanting to stay far away from reality dating shows, saw an opportunity to make his ex jealous, didn't realize that he'd find himself facing unexplored feelings of his own towards Paige. Will these two find their way to their destined hea?

Even though I enjoyed reading the first two books, this one really got me hooked. Considering what happened in this book, I have some strong feelings with what happened and are opened to seeing Trina get her hea. She don't deserve it but I will be open minded. This was definitely a slow burn romance that when it happened was worth all the agony. These characters were meant to be with each other. These were two broken hearts that mended each other.

Overall, this is now my favorite of the series. We'll, have to find out what happens to Trina in the concluding book, Pity Parade.

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Review: The Stunt by C.L. Rose

About the Book

MAVERICK:

As the star defensive end for the Boston Blizzard, I pride myself on keeping my nose clean and my head in the game. I’m a no-nonsense kind of guy, but when I’m approached to fake date the world’s biggest popstar to stir up publicity for her halftime performance at the biggest game of the year, I throw caution to the wind and agree to the crazy plan. But when I get to know the real Bella Simon, the one she doesn’t show to the rest of the world, my feelings for her quickly start to become something very real.

BELLA:

For the last ten years, I’ve toured the world, performing for millions of adoring fans. And while my life looks flashy and exciting from the outside, the reality is anything but. The friends I have are all for show, and at twenty-four years old, my busy schedule has prevented me from ever going on a proper date. So, when my publicist tells me the hottest pro football player to ever exist will be my fake boyfriend, I decide to enjoy the ride. I try to keep reminding myself that none of it is real, but my heart isn’t getting the message. Because I can’t seem to stop myself from falling for him...even though I know our whirlwind romance is just a stunt.

Review

The Stunt was a short, run, and sweet romance. Going in I was hesitant because I did not want this book to be heavily influenced by a certain real-life romance between a mega pop star and a football player. Luckily, the author was able to make these characters her own and not make them feel like poor copies of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. 

One thing that I loved about the main characters—Bella and Maverick, was that they were very nice and humble. For such a short book, there were several instances of them being great humans. That heightened my enjoyment, and it made their love story feel sweet and cuddly. 

Another thing about this book is that it didn’t feel rushed. It felt longer than what it was—in a good one. There were good character moments and time for Bella and Maverick to grow comfortable with each other and build this love that they ultimately find. 

Final Thoughts 

The Stunt is short; however, the author did craft a fun, entertaining, and sweet romance that will entertain readers the entire book. 

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Review: Baby X by Kira Peikoff

There hasn’t been an author that has captured my interest in medical thrillers such as Kira and with her latest Baby X, an interesting plot considering our current climate regarding this subject area, I was drawn in from the start. 

Baby X, definitely raises an interesting perspective into the future involving technology and science with embryos. If you had the choice to be able to create a child with the most desirable genes, would you? When a black market operative, The Vault preys on famous people to make money on their cells to create embryos, it becomes their worst nightmare not knowing who will get them. When superstar Trace Throne finds himself on the black market, he decides to do whatever is necessary to keep himself safe. He hires Ember Ryan to protect him from any chance of his cells getting out there to keep him safe from theft. 

Despite Ember’s expertise with biosecurity and her fierce loyalty to protect Trace at all costs, they find themselves growing closer but just one problem. When a stranger confronts Trace with his worst fears, secrets are revealed and challenge her loyalty and their relationship. 

Told in alternating perspectives, this was an interesting plot. Incorporating science and technology with a future perspective that might not be too far fetched, piqued my curiosity as the book progressed. To be honest, as the first chapter initially hooked me into the book, there was a period of time that cooled down for me but once it got going again, I couldn’t stop reading. That ending wasn’t anything that I would’ve anticipated. I’m still thinking about it. I actually had to sit back and wonder if I missed something because that was a twist that I wasn’t expecting but brought the book together perfectly. 

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Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

About the Book

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Review

Bride completely blew me away. Admittedly, when I saw so much praise for this book, I was slightly worried. I didn’t want to go in with high expectations and be disappointed. On the other hand, I also saw almost the same amount of people not being able to finish this book because they felt it was “silly.” I was conflicted. This book isn’t some groundbreaking masterpiece, but it’s my first five-star read of the year. 

I have zero complaints about this one. When I think about my experience while reading this book, all I can think about is how much fun I had and how I was utterly sucked in. 

The plot of Bride is very simple. It’s a modern-day vampire and werewolf story. Like most in this genre, the vampire (or vampyres) and werewolf don’t get along. Each of group has their own designated area in North America and doesn’t mix. They also don’t mix with humans unless necessary. Our female lead, Misery, has lived amongst humans for years. She’s never felt like she belonged with the vampyres and certainly doesn’t belong with the human. However, she’s willing to mold herself to fit. Misery was a heartbreaking character. From a young age, she’s been a pawn of her father’s, and the poor girl is just trying to find her own. The only person she truly has is her best friend ---Serene. Her best friend is the reason that she agrees to marry Lowe. 

I want to personally thank Ali Hazelwood for giving readers tiny peeps into Lowe’s mind. For all of the chapters before Misery’s POV begins, there’s a paragraph or a sentence of what he’s thinking. I am forever in debt to Ali. Lowe is a character who is powerful, dangerous, and dedicated to his pack. He also loves his little sister—Ana. What I loved about his character is that he wasn’t a typically grumpy male lead. He’s also very empathetic. 

Final Thoughts 

Bride is currently my favorite book of the year. I will proudly shout that from the skies. I enjoyed this book. Misery had such a wonderful, dry sense of humor, and I found her charming. And Lowe is also incredible in his own right. I could read a thousand books about them. Bride has a fantastic cast of supporting characters, too. Ana, Lowe’s little sister, deserves her shoutout. I mentioned earlier that I had no complaints about this book, and I’m going to change that and say that my only complaint is that there was not enough Ana.

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Review: Rise of the Cinder by Whitney Dean

About the Book

Born and raised in the forgotten and broken kingdom of Ashbury, Elora has spent years resenting the royals of Pumpkin Hollow, the kingdom that forced the fall of Ashbury and procured the town as its own.

Separated by a mysterious glass bridge, Ashbury is treated as the orphan kingdom, left to squander and starve with only the promise of protection from King Jasper, preventing anyone outside their realm from searching for the magic that lay within the ashy valleys and red skies.

Because twenty-five years ago, the Cinder Fae arrived. As mysterious as the magic encompassing Ashbury, the Cinder Fae bargained for their lives by promising to keep the entire realm warm with their ability to mine mountainsides into coal.

But Elora and the Cinder Fae hold a secret that could bring the end to Ashbury and the mysterious winged creatures, who, despite Elora's best efforts to pry, refuse to share where they came from or why they can't return.

In her desperation to prevent the downfall of her kingdom and the death of her beloved Fae, Elora drinks from an enchanted spring, convinced she can make the prince of Pumpkin Hollow fall in love with her and guarantee their safety.

But magic takes to give.

And Elora didn't realize her heart would be the sacrifice.

Review

I'm not entirely sure how to rate Rise of the Cinder Fae. On one hand, I finished the book without being overly disappointed. On the other, I had issues with how the story was composed. As the book progressed, it felt like the author was still figuring out the fantasy aspect. The author would introduce ideas, and those ideas didn't feel as migrated into the story or feel organic. There were several instances where something was being introduced, and I wondered what that had to do with the overarching plot. Other ideas –like the Fae—would be dropped for several chapters and turned out to be less prominent than the title promises. 

At its core, this book is a dark Cinderella retelling. Not all the plot points within Cinderella were hit; however, you best believe there were pumpkins. Lots and lots of pumpkins. Oh, and the kingdom was called Pumpkin Hollow. That part felt a bit silly to me. 

Final Thoughts 

Rise of the Cinder felt like a bunch of pieces trying to fit together, and it mostly did not work. The book felt overly long at times. The romance was fine. At the beginning of Elora and Finnian's relationship, there were several moments that I really enjoyed from them. I think I enjoyed the earlier parts more. The later parts of them felt repetitious. In summary, I would have loved this book if it felt more focused and edited. 

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