Tag: Independent Heroine

Just Don’t Call Me Yours | Heather Garvin

Posted 03/14/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Just Don’t Call Me Yours | Heather Garvin
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Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 3.5 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Just Yours #1
Published by Tuskan Publishing on 03/15/2024
Format: DRC (315 pages)
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Well, color me shocked. I didn’t think I liked the rockstar romance trope, but apparently, I was very, VERY wrong.  Jackson Phillips may come off as a sarcastic, uncaring, rockstar playboy, but deep down, he’s a loyal, loving, tender-hearted teddy bear. And he loves to play the guitar—like, a lot. All Jackson wants is to be in a band and go on tour. However, Jackson’s dad thinks he’d be throwing his life away and vehemently disapproves of Jackson’s musical dreams. So Jackson is begrudgingly attending his first semester at the University of South Florida with his best friend, Matt. But […]

What Is Love? | Jen Comfort

Posted 03/07/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
What Is Love? | Jen Comfort
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Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 4 Flames
Published by Montlake on 04/01/2024
Format: Kindle (345 pages)
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I have always loved all things trivia — my husband and I fell in love going to “nerd” trivia at our favorite bar — and let me tell you, What is Love? by Jen Comfort just took trivia to a whole other level. Theodore “Teddy” Ferguson III is an Oxford-educated professor of geography and geoscience at Princeton University. He likes to play it safe and loves a good schedule; consistency is his middle name.  Maxine Hart is a skydiving, video game loving, public school dropout. She has horrible ADHD and lives by the seat of her pants; chaos is her […]

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands | Heather Fawcett

Posted 02/29/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands | Heather Fawcett
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Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 2 Flames
Series: Emily Wilde #2
Published by Del Rey on 01/16/2024
Format: Kindle (340 pages)
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Heather Fawcett has done it again. She successfully created a new fantasy wonderland filled with Fae, both deadly and delightful, and then sent Emily and Wendell on a quest that kept me turning pages until the wee hours of the morning. One of the things I enjoyed most about the first book was the way the story was told in a journal-like format. Thankfully not much has changed, and we still get to experience the story through Emily’s detailed journal entries. The events of this book take place about a year after the end of book 1. Emily is […]

The Rom-Commers | Katherine Center

Posted 02/22/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
The Rom-Commers | Katherine Center
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Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 1 Flames
Published by St. Martin’s Press on 06/11/2024
Format: DRC (321 pages)
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This was my first book by Katherine Center, and it will definitely not be my last. I was hooked from the first page and voraciously devoured Emma & Charlie’s story. I was pleasantly surprised how Center effortlessly spun a fun and epic love story but managed to sprinkle in bits of tragedy, hardship, and perseverance. The more somber moments didn’t detract from the levity of the story. They, in fact, made it better; more believable & real. Just two wonderfully flawed characters, trying their best to deal with the tragedies of their past. All while hoping for a […]

Finale | Stephanie Garber

Posted 01/21/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Finale | Stephanie Garber
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Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 1 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Caraval #3
Published by Flatiron Books on 05/07/2019
Format: Kindle (416 pages)
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It’s over & I want more. Stephanie Garber is a master of descriptive writing. I was constantly blown away by how real everything was in my mind. I always had vivid pictures in my mind of how the fabric of the dresses felt, how the city of Valenda looked, & even how the character’s signature scents smelled. Reading one of her books is a fully immersive experience, & I LOVE IT. Finale was less magical game where you can’t tell the difference between illusion & reality, & more rounding out of the character’s storylines. Every single one of […]

Legendary | Stephanie Garber

Posted 01/18/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Legendary | Stephanie Garber
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Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 1 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Caraval #2
Published by Flatiron Books on 05/29/2018
Format: Kindle (416 pages)
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The first book follows Scarlett as she plays the game & tries to save her sister, Tess. On the way she falls in love with Julian, learns who she is, what she wants, & what she’s capable of. This book follows Tess as she plays the game & tries to save their mother, Paloma. Dante helps her along the way & of course, they fall in love. Sounds like the first book, but trust me, it’s very different. And Dante. Oh Dante, you sexy, tattooed, secretive, morally grey, beefcake. Your conflicted, brooding & brilliant character arc made this […]

Ruthless Vows | Rebecca Ross

Posted 01/11/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Ruthless Vows | Rebecca Ross
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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, […]

Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross

Posted 01/07/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross
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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 […]