Source: Purchased

Caraval | Stephanie Garber

Posted 02/09/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Caraval | Stephanie Garber
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 1 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Caraval #1
Published by Flatiron Books on 01/31/2017
Format: Kindle (407 Pages)
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This was a “stay up until 4am because I couldn’t put it down” book. I absolutely loved it! Think Cirque du Soleil meets “The Night Circus” with a splash of “Alice in Wonderland”; but make it dark & a little twisted. UGH!!! So, so, so, so good! I didn’t know this series was a prequel to the “Once Upon a Broken Heart” series. I started to tuck into OUABH, and something made me stop 2 pages in & look online to see if I should read Caraval first. Everything I could find (while avoiding spoilers) said yes, read […]

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Ruthless Vows | Rebecca Ross

Posted 02/05/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Ruthless Vows | Rebecca Ross
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 1.5 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Letters of Enchantment #2
Published by Wednesday Books on 12/26/2023
Format: Kindle (419 Pages)
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While I loved this book equally as much as Divine Rivals, it was very different. The story was less Winnow/Kitt romance, & more Dacre/Enva war story. Roman & Iris spent much of the book apart. Roman acting as Dacre’s war correspondent; Iris trying to find him. Making contact through wardrobe letters, slowly reconnecting, gaining trust; trying to get Roman to remember. Roman falling in love with Iris all over again, regaining his memory & then ultimately having to stay apart so they could work together to end the war. The few precious moments they had together were electric, […]

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Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross

Posted 02/02/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 1.5 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Letters of Enchantment #1
Published by Wednesday Books on 04/04/2023
Format: Kindle (368 Pages)
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My heart hurts & I am unwell. I don’t even know where to start. The short of it: Divine rivals is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. It was sublime. Transcendent. Positively divine. (IYKYK) I held off on reading Divine Rivals until the duology was complete. On the one hand, I’m very glad I did. Being able to tuck into Ruthless Vows immediately after was (no doubt) imperative to my sanity & mental health. On the other, OH MY GOD, I should have read this book the day it came out. I feel […]

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Waiting for Christmas | Cynthia Eden

Posted 01/26/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Waiting for Christmas | Cynthia Eden
Star Rating: 2 Stars
Spice Level: 4 Flames
Published by Hocus Pocus Publishing on 11/14/2023
Format: Kindle (135 Pages)
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Eh, it was ok. Honestly, I feel kind of icky now that I’ve finished it. The FMC’s name is Christmas (Chrissy). Because she was born on Christmas Eve. Her brother is Forth. Because he was born on the Fourth of July. Seriously, I can’t make this shit up. Really, REALLY cheesy. I feel like MMC, Wyatt, threw up red flag after red flag. I just didn’t like him. He was too protective & alpha. In a creepy way. Maybe it’s because this is a novella & there wasn’t time to develop the characters as much. Or maybe it’s […]

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Matching All the Way | Veronica Eden

Posted 01/15/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Matching All the Way | Veronica Eden
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 5 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Published by Independent Publisher on 12/18/23
Format: Kindle (384 Pages)
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Eve Lombard is a quirky, neurodivergent (ADHD), creative, who hyper-focuses, forgets to eat, & buys planners with the intent to get organized only to forget about them soon after. She has a deep love of crafting & wants to start a small business making handmade earrings, stickers & stationery. Recently dumped by a jerk who criticized & shamed her for being neurodivergent, her confidence is shaken & she’s ripe with imposter syndrome. Cole Kincaid is Eve’s older brother’s best friend. He’s the full package. Sweet, supportive, protective, intelligent, understanding, patient, & kind. A former Heston U hockey player […]

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A Kilt for Christmas | Tricia O’Malley

Posted 01/08/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
A Kilt for Christmas | Tricia O’Malley
Star Rating: 3.5 Stars
Spice Level: 3 Flames
Series: Enchanted Highlands #3
Published by Lovewrite Publishing on 10/24/2023
Format: Kindle (240 Pages)
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This was my first read by Tricia, and it definitely won’t be my last. The story was cute & well-written. MMC, West, was smart, nerdy, sweet & 100% swoon-worthy. FMC, Maisie, was quirky, strong-willed, relatable & adorably grumpy. The addition of magic & Scottish folklore was chef’s kiss, but I’m just not a huge fan of insta-love. Which is why I only gave this 3 stars. I need a little more will they/won’t they to tick all my boxes. I’d say this is a solid 3.5-star read. Well worth the time, just not my favorite trope.

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The Burnout | Sophie Kinsella

Posted 12/25/2023 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
The Burnout | Sophie Kinsella
Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Spice Level: 2 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Published by The Dial Press on 10/10/2023
Format: Kindle (416 Pages)
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This book resonated with me on so many levels. I fully identify with Sasha & her burnout. Sophie Kinsella was writing directly to me/about me when describing Sasha’s state of mind about work & how it was affecting her mental health & personal life. Have I tried to join a convent & run into a brick wall while escaping my horrible office & coworkers? No, no I haven’t. But the landslide of emails, the constant inescapable workload & the irritation with useless colleagues/upper management? Yup. The lack of desire to cook, see friends & have fun? Yes, 100%. […]

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