Review: My December Darling by Lauren Asher

About the Book

Catalina

Playing the part of my sister’s maid of honor is easy even if she’s marrying my ex.

But playing nice with the best man? An impossible task given our history.

Sure, Luke Darling may be suspiciously kind, incredibly handsome, and stubborn to a fault, but regardless of how hard he tries to make me see otherwise, I’m not interested.

It’s on me to remind him that he’s my ex-boyfriend’s best friend.

And the one I’m secretly starting to wish I met first.

Luke

My job as the best man is a simple one, except for one minor issue.

I’ve spent so much time avoiding my best friend’s ex that I didn’t consider what could happen if I started craving Catalina Martinez’s company instead.

She is only in Lake Wisteria for the winter wedding, but her January departure date won’t stop me from pursuing her.

Getting her to date me would be nothing short of a Christmas miracle, but I’m determined to make her mine.

‘Tis the season to fall in love…even if I’m the only one taking the risk.

Review

The romance between Catalina and Luke was the weakest part of this story. I won’t lie and say that they didn’t have any cute moments because they did. I adored that they both loved Legos and that that was something incorporated into their romance. However, other than that, I was not blown away by their spark. I felt that they would have done better as a supporting romance rather than the main romance.

What was more surprising to me about My December Darling was how Asher handled the trope of a sibling getting with the main character’s ex. It was refreshing to see no toxicity and read about how Catalina’s sister and ex, genuinely wanted her to be happy and pushed her towards Luke. I appreciated Catalina’s relationship with them both and loved her maid of honor speech. I thought it was nicely done. I also loved the growth of the relationship between Catalina and her mom. They were on rocky terms, and it was sweet that they could work that out.

Final Thoughts

The romance in My December Darling is the unfortunate weakest part of this novella. However, that should not discourage readers. It’s a sweet read. Despite the disappointing romance, Asher does deliver on several other things. The book provides a heartwarming family dynamic and also does really well with highlighting friendships. In addition, the book feels like the holiday season.

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Review: Dishonestly Yours by Krista and Becca Ritchie

About the Book

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHORS OF THE TIKTOK SENSATION, ADDICTED TO YOU!

Starting fresh is the only way Phoebe can escape a life of crime, but her best friend's older brother complicates honest dreams in this gripping new series from the authors of the Addicted series.

Phoebe Graves grew up in a family where deception and seduction are as commonplace as breathing. The Graves and her best friend Hailey’s family have been on the run their whole lives, but after a high-stakes con job goes south, Phoebe and Hailey decide to run away and start over. The small Connecticut town they settle in seems too good to be true.

The biggest flaw in their plan is Hailey’s frustratingly handsome brother, Rocky, who insists on coming with them. Living honestly isn’t in his DNA, and his past with Phoebe is downright messy. He’s everything she wants, but nothing she can have.

Phoebe worries that Rocky will tempt them back into their old ways, where lying is second nature. She doesn’t want Rocky to mess up the new life she’s begun for herself. The longer she stays in town, the more she realizes what it means to have a reputation—and what a normal life with the man she loves could look like

Review

Dishonestly Yours was different than I had expected. For the most part, I was entertained.  And I feel that the Ritchie twins did incorporate some beats that make their book shine. However, something was missing that I can’t quite put my finger on.

It was interesting that Rocky and Phoebe reminded me a little of a couple from their other books. I didn’t mind as much because there are some huge differences. As for the romance, I think it was a solid introduction to these two characters. I wish they hadn’t discovered their feelings about each other in this book. I wanted more longing and a little more dislike of each other before confessing their feelings.

Final Thoughts

After reading Dishonestly Yours, I am invested in how this series will play out. I think it has an interesting premise and that these are interesting characters. This was a solid start. I think the twists were unexpected and did increase my chances of reading the next book. As for the characters, I did love Phoebe. And I loved her friendship with Hailey. Most of the plot depended on that friendship, and I think the authors really sold that. Unfortunately, I’m not fully invested in the other characters. There’s nothing wrong with them per se. I’m hoping that the second book will sell me on them.  

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Review: Something Better by Diane Parrish

Diane Parrish’s debut novel, Something Better explores the story of Ruth and David. A suburban couple whose life begins to shift after the sudden loss of their close friends. As they navigate how to deal with their grief, they find themselves drifting separately into the unknown.

As Ruth takes on a job across the country, we see the unraveling of their relationship. Ruth’s move to the West for work becomes physically and emotionally challenging. Grappling the sacrifice of her desire to be a mother and her marriage. David with his own challenges, his isolation fuels a desire for Annabeth, the daughter of the friends who died. Complicated between dealing with his new grief and yearning for something unknown he makes an impulsive decision that affects the foundation of his commitment. 

Through their struggles, Parrish opens the introspection of forgiveness, faith and the choice you make when faced with the challenge of marriage remaining true to your vows and exploring the subconscious something better. 

As characters, I enjoyed Ruth and David. They represent suburban life and what many folks go through in the trials and tribulations of living married life. They dealt with grief, infertility, and the challenges of long distance for an extended period of time. My issue is for a couple like this, in terms of the challenges to their vows and the enticement for something better, David made a choice that I wish would’ve been explored and dealt with. It was glossed over as if nothing had happened. That was a big deal and it should’ve been dealt with. And then what about Annabeth? How did it get to that point? Ruth later thinks the possibility and brushes it out of her mind isn’t reality. Her husband sort of checks out and that’s ok? That period of time in the book where there was a sequence of events that needed to be confronted and dealt with going into the conclusion, I wish would’ve been addressed to see how couples deal with these types of obstacles. We can infer things based on the circumstances but for me, it would’ve been a more stronger read for me to experience them dealing and overcoming. 

Overall, despite wishing things were explored differently for a more impactful read, this was her debut and I look forward to seeing what she has in the future.

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Review: It's Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth by Zoe Thorogood

About the Book

A provocative graphic memoir perfect for fans of Allie Brosh's Solutions and Other Problems

The 2023 Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award winning cartoonist, Zoe Thorogood (writer and artist of The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott, artist on Joe Hill's Rain graphic novelisation), records six months of her own life as it falls apart in a desperate attempt to put it back together again in the only way she knows how. It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth is an intimate and meta-narrative look into the life of a selfish artist who must create for her own survival. A poignant and original depiction of a young woman's struggle with mental health—through the ups and downs of anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome—as she forges a promising career in sequential art and finds herself along the way.

Review

This book was recommended to me by Amazon, and I gave it a chance because I thought it had an interesting concept. I also liked the cover and was excited to see the rest of Thorogood’s art within the pages. I had no prior knowledge of Thorogood or her work.

It’s Lonely At The Centre of the Earth is probably one of the most brutally honest autobiographic novels, I have read in a long time. Thorogood is upfront about her depression, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts. She doesn’t hold back. Thorogood writes about her trying to understand the world, understanding herself while also wanting to create.

This book did jump from place to place, and that felt intentional—as if the author was working it out as she wrote. As much as I respect it, it was hard to follow at times.

I adored the art in this—especially how it switched up art styles depending on the emotions or situations. I found that to be creative and it really helped drive home the emotions and what the author was trying to say.

Final Thoughts

It’s Lonely At The Centre of the Earth is an extremely raw book, and I hope Zoe Thorogood is in a good place mentally. It’s clear that the author put all her emotions into it, and some parts very hit at the heart.

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Review: Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco

About the Book

Two rivals torn apart by a dark memory reunite on a deadly hunt—and in an irresistibly twisted fairy tale—in the next steamy standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco.

A wicked prince determined to save his kingdom.

Gabriel Axton—infamous as the Prince of Gluttony, the self-proclaimed rake of rakes—has always lived for indulgence: in delicious food, in tantalizing women, and most of all, in the thrill of the hunt, where his love of danger can take over. But when his favorite adventure takes a deadly turn, he realizes something is very wrong in his demon court. With the clock ticking, he must turn to the only one who might uncover the truth: a journalist he has spent a decade avoiding…

A reporter hell-bent on finding the truth.

Adriana Saint Lucent has been on the hunt for years—if she could just report something damning enough about that no-good scoundrel Gabriel Axton, she knows others would finally see the demon as she does. But she never expected to turn up a rumor too terrifying to be believed: could the ice dragons to the north be growing restless? Drawn into the secrets of the Underworld, Adriana’s investigation leads her into the place she dreads most…Axton’s infamous court. 

A dangerous rivalry—and deliciously twisted fairy tale.

To stop darkness from falling over their kingdom, Axton and Adriana will have to unite against an escalating danger. But with each holding tight to their own secrets, can they find the truth before it’s too late? And what will they do with an equally troubling rumor: that they might not actually hate one another, after all?

Review

I read the Kingdom of the Wicked series back in 2022, and those books got me through a dark period in my life. I have such fond memories of being sucked into that world and loving everything about Emilia and Wrath. Even now I still believe that is an amazing series and one day hope to revisit it. Because of how highly I regarded the King of the Wicked series, I was quite excited to read the spin-off series—Prince of Sin. I rushed to read the first book – Throne of the Fallen— when it first came out. I don’t have a strong connection to that book and can admit that it didn’t meet my expectations. I was well prepared to disregard Throne of Secrets. Obviously, I did not.

Throne of Secrets was incredible. I didn’t read the summary so as soon as I saw that Adriana was a reporter in the first chapter—my excitement soared. Ask me in a few months, but I think it might be my favorite book by Maniscalco. I was not prepared for the goodness that is Axton and Adriana. They completely blew me away. The two of them might have taken the crown away from Emilia and Wrath as my favorite characters within this world. I loved them both so much. I especially loved their entire rival dynamic going on. That was delicious. I am absolutely still thinking about them and their incredible moments days later.

A bonus about this book is that the twists are completely unexpected. This book kept me guessing until the very end. Side note, there were quite a few Cinderella similarities with Adriana and her backstory. I’m not sure if it was done on purpose, however, if so Maniscalco added her fun twists to the mythology that makes this one stand out.

Final Thoughts

Throne of Secrets has ramped up my interest and excitement for this series. Maniscalco stuck gold with Axton and Adriana. A reporter who is trying to undercover the truth, and a prince who is trying to hide the truth. Bonus points that they are rivals to lovers. There are dragons, excitement, twists, hidden identities. There’s so much good packed into this book.

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Review: The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

About the Book

Can you love the dark when you know what it hides?

Some things aren’t supposed to exist outside of our imagination.

Thirteen years ago, monsters emerged from the shadows and plunged Kierse’s world into a cataclysmic war of near-total destruction. The New York City she knew so well collapsed practically overnight.

In the wake of that carnage, the Monster Treaty was created. A truce...of sorts.

But tonight, Kierse―a gifted and fearless thief―will break that treaty. She’ll enter the Holly Library...not knowing it’s the home of a monster.

He’s charming. Quietly alluring. Terrifying. But he knows talent when he sees it; it’s just a matter of finding her price.

Now she’s locked into a dangerous bargain with a creature unlike any other. She’ll sacrifice her freedom. She’ll offer her skills. Together, they’ll put their own futures at risk.

But he’s been playing a game across centuries―and once she joins in, there will be no escape...

Review

I found The Wren in the Holly Library mysterious, fun, and thrilling. The world-building was unique. It’s a modern world where monsters and humans are forced to live together after war. There are laws to protect the treaty. Most of the humans are living in poverty with the rich thriving and mingling with the monsters. The author did a great job of explaining things well. It wasn’t overly confusing.

Kierse became a skilled thief to survive the dangerous new world. She was abandoned as a kid, and all she had were her best friends. She was written as a strong and capable woman who didn’t need anyone to rescue her.

I loved her and Graves’ first meeting. She was tasked with stealing a diamond from his home, unaware that he was a monster and that she was breaking a treaty. He caught her and wondered if maybe she was a monster. They have this very fun scene. Their relationship was good. There are some hints of a Beauty and the Beast inspiration. I do wish we would have gotten more of Graves’ depth and character development. One thing that I did love about Graves and Kierse was all the exciting missions that they went on.

Final Thoughts

The Wren in the Holly Library is an engaging and fun modern fantasy story. It has a skilled and interesting female lead with an interesting supporting character list. The romance doesn’t burn as bright in this one; however, I have hope for future books.

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