Review: On The Rocks by Kandi Steiner

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Buy on Amazon | Audible

Buy on Amazon | Audible

On the Rocks was simply good. It wasn’t bad nor was great. It told a cohesive love story and kept my attention. 

On the Rocks tells the story of nineteen year old Ruby Grace Barnett. She is the mayor's daughter and after getting engaged to a promising almost Politician, she returns to her hometown to plan her wedding. Her life is turning out exactly how her parents wanted it to. That is until she meets Noah Becker. Well, reintroduced to him. She met him before when she was nine. 

Like mentioned before this was an okay book for me. It kept my attention and it was nicely written. And it is always nice to read  about the politics of a small town. The author didn’t dive too much into it, but I enjoyed the mentions of how everyone knows everyone and their business. That was a nice touch and added a much needed layer to the book. 

I think one of the aspects that I didn’t particularly live about the book was the romance. I supported the two main characters together and felt their chemistry; however, it wasn’t captivating. It didn’t blow me away. But I’m okay with that. 

Characters 

I felt bad for Ruby while reading. She has the privileged and wealthy life but unfortunately almost every aspect is controlled and she is sort of unable to do what she wants. I really enjoyed how the book finally allowed her to be free in a sense and no longer be held back. 

Unfortunately, I thought the backstory with Noah's father was more interesting than him and I wish that would have been explored more. 

Final Analysis 

On The Rocks tells a fine story of two people falling in love in a small Tennessee town. 

Review: Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud

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This was an adorable book about two teens from opposite worlds coming together. It was completely unrealistic; however, teenage me would have died of excitement if this had happened to me. 

Truly Madly Royalty tells the story of Zora and Owen. For the summer, Zora is attending a very prestigious summer program. Unfortunately, for her she is having a little trouble connecting to the other students. But that doesn’t bring her down, because she working to change her small New Jersey community with a program she’s working on. While sneaking away in the library, she meets a stranger who she’s vibing with.  The conversation is cut short when she has head home and she abruptly leaves the library. With his phone in her hand. And the stranger? He’s a prince of a small European country. 

Like mentioned earlier, this is a completely unrealistic story. But I ate it up and enjoyed it so much. It was extremely adorable. And I loved all the characters.

Zora had such this passion and drive. And she was so inspiring. Unfortunately, for her somethings don’t work in her favor at one point in the book but she doesn’t give up. Instead of letting her dreams go, she comes up with another plan to achieve her goals. 

Zora and Owen had this sweet and innocent romance. And I couldn’t help but smile as I read their journey. I think it was well written and nicely paced. And although they were different worlds, I think they handled the differences well. Neither one of them tried to force the other to fit into their world and change. I thought that was very nice. 

Although I greatly enjoyed the book, I did come across an issue. I feel like it abruptly ended. Towards, the end the author had introduced some plot points/details that I think were not fully explored. Obviously, I understand that this book is meant to be light and refreshing, but she lightly touched upon some serious issues that would have been interesting if she had explored them.

Final Analysis 

Truly Madly Royalty is a cute love story between an average New Jersey teenager and a European prince. It’s captivating and as dreamy as it should be. 

Review: Niccolaio Andretti by Parker S. Huntington

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Parker S. Huntington has done it again. Constantly raising the bar and providing an engaging and well developed story with amazing/developed characters and an outstanding romance. 

Just like the previous books I’ve read by her, I’m obsessed with Niccolaio Andretti. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I’m not into to Mafia stories. I tried to read on months ago and I could not get in to it. However, I’m 100% hooked in this world that Parker has created. I’m here for it, and I can’t wait to see what else Parker has in store. 

Niccolaio Andretti gives an in-depth look of two characters who readers have already been introduced to. Both characters were introduced in Asher Black. Minka was sort of like the “mean girl” type, who eventually ended up helping Lucy. And Niccolaio was sort of like a mystery character, who helped Asher. Prior to starting Niccolaio Andretti, I wasn’t a fan of Minka and I didn’t necessarily have an opinion of Niccolaio. After reading the book, I can proudly say that I love both of these characters. So what’s the book about?

Like mentioned earlier, I grew to love Minka in this book. In Niccolaio Andretti, we learn that everything she does is for her little sister, who is in a group home. This includes dating someone who is twice her age, so that she can get access to his money. It’s a tough situation. And when he breaks up with her, she is forced to use blackmail on his neighbor so that she has a place to sleep. But that neighbor, Niccolaio has a million dollar bounty on his head. Unfortunately, for them both they don’t really like each other in the beginning and are both doing what they need to survive. And as the book progressives, we learn that both of them have been doing that for the majority of their live and have been making sacrifices for their younger siblings.  

This book was a moment. An invite that I was happy to invite. In addition, to getting to see Asher and Lucy again (main characters from Asher Black), I got to experience a new romance and story that was just as captivating as the previously books. Besides the Mafia ties and enemies to loves tropes, Parker does not recycle any old tropes from her previous books. Niccolaio Andretti is a book that is great on its own and also great when you compare it to the other books in the series. 

Review: Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan

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I think this book had potential. Unfortunately, it was a real struggle for me. Enemies to lovers is one if my favorite trope, but Dear Enemy failed to hold my attention and gain my praise. 

The premise behind Dear Enemy is that ever since Macon and Delilah were children, they have had a strong hatred for each other. And even when Macon begun dating Samantha, Delilah's sister, that hatred was still strong. Now adults, Delilah is forced to pay her sister's debt after she steals a valuable item and skips town. Unfortunately for Delilah she has to pay off her sister's debt by working for Macon- her enemy. 

When done correctly, enemies to loves is a superior trope. Unfortunately, Dear Enemy fails to provide a captivating and developed romance. I didn't connect to the story or the characters. And there were times were they felt too dull or upsetting. There was no spark; and it lacked any feelings for the most part.

I didn't understand the draw both Macon and Delilah had for each other. Of course, they hated each other growing up, but again there was no spark. It didn't feel authentic. And the majority of their disagreements could have be resolved if they stopped lying to each other and stopped all the miscommunication. 

Another issue that bothered me with the relationship between Samantha and Delilah. It is established pretty early on that Sam isn't the best sister. And as the book progresses, readers learn that she is quite frankly a little cruel. Her behavior wasn't acceptable, and I don't think that the situation was handy correctly when she finally was confronted. The scene between Samantha and Delilah should have had more impact, and the stakes should have been higher. Unfortunately, it felt like that scene was rushed to pave way for a scene between Macon and Delilah. 

Final Analysis 

Dear Enemy fails to deliver on a quality enemies to lovers story. 

Review: The Shape of Family by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

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Summary

The Olander family embodies the modern American Dream in a globalized world. Jaya, the cultured daughter of an Indian diplomat and Keith, an ambitious banker from middle-class Philadelphia, meet in a London pub in 1988 and make a life together in suburban California. Their strong marriage is built on shared beliefs and love for their two children: headstrong teenager Karina and young son Prem, the light of their home.

But love and prosperity cannot protect them from sudden, unspeakable tragedy, and the family’s foundation cracks as each member struggles to seek a way forward. Jaya finds solace in spirituality. Keith wagers on his high-powered career. Karina focuses relentlessly on her future and independence. And Prem watches helplessly as his once close-knit family drifts apart.

When Karina heads off to college for a fresh start, her search for identity and belonging leads her down a dark path, forcing her and her family to reckon with the past, the secrets they’ve held and the weight of their choices.

The Shape of Family is an intimate portrayal of four individuals as they grapple with what it means to be a family and how to move from a painful past into a hopeful future. It is a profoundly moving exploration of the ways we all seek belonging—in our families, our communities and ultimately, within ourselves.

Review

Keith and Jaya, a blend of different cultures and backgrounds, find the strength of their love a guiding force to make a lovely family and home. They bore two children, Karina and Prem, who bring joy and happiness that shine bright in their hearts and lives. An unexpected tragedy comes into their lives that eventually splits them at their core but through the dark find the light that reconcile with the past, present and future.

The Shape of a Family was such a beautiful book. Beautiful writing and sweeping storytelling, it captured the depth and affects of grief on a family and how they found their way back to each other. Reading the book through the perspectives of each family member gave an insight into their experiences and emotions which allowed us to connect and experience their journey with them. Jaya, found comfort in surrendering her pain to spirituality. Seeing her transition through this enlightening period was moving and inspirational. Keith poured his life into his work which led to some poor decisions that had consequences. Karina's journey was a tough one. As a young woman dealing with her pain, this was hard to experience but ultimately she found her way. Grief is a powerful thing that can really break a family but depending on its strength, no matter what obstacles or hardships might come your way, love and light will find a way back to mend.

Overall, The Shape of a Family was a beautiful book that once you start reading you'll not want to put it down. I'd recommend reading this one.

Review: Frenemies by Emma Hart

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There are times when it is hard to connect to a story where the characters already have a history. No matter how hard the authors attempt to establish their background and reinforce that they have this history, it still falls short. And unfortunately Frenemies falls victim to that. 

Frenemies tells the story of Mason and Imogen who were friends with benefits in college. After Mason fails to call Imogen back one night, their relationship ends and they move on with their live. That was until Mason becomes Imogen's neighbor years later. Their complicated past leads them to begin a prank war. 

This was a okay book. It has the banter. It was a meddling grandmother and a cute toddler. It has a dog. But unfortunately I couldn’t connect with it, and I had trouble finishing it. 

It felt like one of those stories that has all the right ingredients, but still something felt off. 

Like mentioned earlier, the story begins years after Mason and Imogen had met. I think that might have contributed to my lack of connection. There was so much history that I didn’t get to witness. I would have much preferred if it had started earlier in their relationship. There would had been so much more to explore. 

Final Analysis

Frenemies is just one of those books that I just didn’t connect with it. Nothing is remotely wrong with it. It just wasn’t for me.