Review: Rewrite Our Story by Kat Singleton

Cade Jennings was always there for me when I needed him—until he wasn’t.

I’d spent my entire life loving my best friend’s older brother. Every single one of my birthday wishes was spent hoping Cade would finally notice me.

And then one day, he did.

But not all love stories have happy endings.

It's been years since I left the small town of Sutten Mountain devastated and heartbroken. I’d used the pain to fuel a bestselling novel that solidified I’d never have to return.

Until tragedy struck, forcing me to face the man who shattered my heart.

I thought I’d be strong enough to see him again. I didn’t expect the angry, broken man staring back at me.

But the more time we spend around each other, the more I see glimpses of the man I fell in love with. His touch still owns me. His kiss still brands me. And even after all this time, the feelings I have for him still consume me.

Cade and I are unfinished business, and this time, he’s not letting me leave until we rewrite our story.

Review

Rewrite Our Story is one of those books that the more I think about it, the more I wonder if I did enjoy it. For the beginning, I knew this wasn’t going to be my favorite by the author. I had initially tried to read this book in May, but stopped because I couldn’t get into it. Recently, I had to just go for it and focus myself to sit down and read it. Was it painful? No, it caught my attention as I read it.

And at times, I found myself enjoying it. I really enjoyed the flashbacks between Cade and Marigold. At times they were easier to read because the present was just so sad, and they were not on speaking terms. I liked how even since they were children, he had always been someone who she can count on. And I was eager to learn what drifted them apart.

Their big “fight” was something I’m sure a lot of couples had. However, what rubbed me the wrong way was Cade constantly blaming Marigold for how it ended. She showed him and told him how he felt, and he pushed her away. And blamed her for walking away. It irked me, and it made me dislike him several times throughout the story. He does get better towards the end of the book, but it doesn’t completely save the couple for me. In fact, I was much more interested in seeing Cade’s younger sister’s romance play out. Her and her love interest meet in this book and in their few scenes together they completely stole the show. I can’t wait until September to get their book.

Final Thoughts

Rewrite Our Story was fine. I feel that is the only way to describe it with my constant back and forth. With the MMC’s constantly annoying need to blame the FMC for something he did, I think that left the biggest bad taste in my mouth. 

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Review: A Hundred Days Till Tomorrow by L. S. Case

There’s a line in the book that resonates and speaks volume. Within the course of the book, there’s a line that is summed up to, “God looks down the road and places people where they need to be.” We often hear that sentiment about how people are placed in our lives for a reason. For many, this book not only gives life into that but what a beautiful story to get swept into. A Hundred Days Till Tomorrow takes us on a journey where the past and present reconcile for a new beginning of love life and hope.

Miranda Blair has a tough upbringing. Having a mother that loved her, the departure of her father left a debilitating imprint that included having an estranged relationship with grandmother. Upon her passing, Miranda was named her sole heir. To fulfill her obligation of the inheritance, she must stay 100 days at her New England cottage. Reluctant, she agrees despite her resistance to confronting a past she has so desperately tried to run away from.

After arriving in Cobbler’s Hill, her grandmother’s home isn’t the only thing that could be repaired. If these walls could talk, they brought a past that held answers to questions that needed answers. Going into this with the mindset to just get it over with and not open herself or her heart, little did she know how two people placed where they needed to be would have the key to unlock her guarded heart.

This is one of the books that just wraps your heart and makes it smile. The charming coastal town will just sweep you away with its charm and lovable and relatable characters. The takeaway from Miranda’s journey is so beautiful and the fade of the dark in her life inspires hope, love and a second chance at life. The best part was the invaluable wisdom and confidence she gained from her evolving relationship with Jake, his gram and the blended messages from her deceased grandmother that inspired her to live made such an endearing book.

This is my first book that I read from this author and look forward to another sweet, charming read in the future.

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Review: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Summary

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And he’s the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

Review

Out of the one other Ali Hazelwood book that I have read I can with great confidence say that this one is my favorite. And I can also with the same amount of confidence say that this book is one of my favorites of the year. I wholeheartedly enjoyed Love, Theoretically. I feel as if I’m five seconds from shouting it in the middle of the street.

Did I understand all the physicist conversations and explanations? Absolutely not. I’m not even going to pretend that my brain even processed them, they went over my head. However, that did not hinder my reading experience. I still had a great time. Ali Hazelwood has crafted an addicting love story between Jack and Elsie, and I was hooked.

Very early on readers learn that Elsie is fake dating Jack’s brother and Jack has been acting a little weird towards her every time she is around him. Elsie believes that it’s because he suspects that she’s a fraud. As the book continues, and secrets are revealed, it’s clear that her assumptions about him are wrong.

One of my favorite things about this book were the interactions between Elsie and Jack. Some of them were completely ordinary and normal things that people do in relationships, but I got so giddy because I loved seeing the progression of their relationship and how they built trust with each other. And I will say, I will happily read six hundred pages of them doing nothing but loving each other. Ali Hazelwood, give me a sequel, please? There doesn’t need to be a plot!

Another thing I really enjoyed was Elsie coming into her own. She’s been a people pleaser her entire life and it was rewarding to see her stand up for herself and start to demand to be respected.

Final Thoughts

Love, Theoretically was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The main character--- Elsie, was an incredible and real character who I loved deeply. The romance was one of the best that I have read this year. I loved how patient and understanding Jack was, and how he and Elsie had this one-sided hate to lovers thing going on in the beginning. And it was beautiful to watch their relationship progress. One of the biggest issues I had with this story was the ending. I felt it to be a little rushed, and I had to read the last few pages multiple times because it felt like I was missing something. All and all, I still really enjoyed this book.

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Review: You Look Beautiful Tonight by L. R. Jones

Summary

A secret admirer’s devotion turns deadly in a twisting novel of psychological suspense.

Mia Anderson is an invisible woman. An unremarkable thirty-two-year-old Tennessee librarian, she’s accustomed to disappearing in a crowd, unseen and unheard. Then she receives an anonymous note: You look beautiful today.

It doesn’t stop there. The attentive stranger—a secret admirer named Adam—has plans for Mia. With each new text comes a suggestion for her hair, clothes, or attitude, and for the first time in memory, Mia feels noticed. Slowly, she develops a confidence in herself she’s never had. But Adam has a surprise coming…and Mia finally sees him for who he is and what he’s prepared to do for her. Even kill.

Fearing she could be implicated in the murder, Mia’s forced to turn to the stranger in the shadows watching her every move. Adam’s game of cat and mouse begins with Mia as the prey. In order to survive, she must also become the predator.

Review

Well, that plot took a hard unexpected twist that made this thriller unexpected. My curiosity was piqued along the way with suspicions but never would I ever have suspected the outcome giving that ending. I found this to be a good suspense without having that predictable feel which kept me hooked, wanting to know what was going to happen. This makes the psychological drama to come all the more satisfying.The book slowly builds then turns very quickly.

I will say given this being a character driven plot, you really connect with the characters. The characters in the book are what made me want to keep reading. On a side note, had this not been a thriller, this could’ve been an amazing contemporary romance. Wishful thinking pairing up Jack and Mia but in the context of this book, I loved their friendship. Then there’s Jess. Well, you’ll love her and then you won’t.

Overall, You Look Beautiful Tonight was a good psychological thriller with a slow unravel that really became quite the page turner. Given my experience with this author only in the contemporary romance genre, I’m ready to explore more of her thriller and suspense side.

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Review: Gods & Monsters Series by Amber V. Nicole

Summary

Book of Azrael: World Ender meets Ender of Worlds...

A thousand years ago, Dianna gave up her life in the deserts of Eoria to save her dying sister. She called upon anyone who would listen, not expecting a monster far worse than any nightmare to answer. Now she does what Kaden asks, even if that means securing an ancient relic from the very creatures that hunt her.

A King thought long dead and long forgotten.

In the old world his name was Samkiel. In the new world it is Liam, but one title remains true throughout time. He is the World Ender, a myth to his enemies, a savior and King to those loyal to him. After the Gods War, he locked himself away, hiding from the world. He denied his crown and responsibilities, leaving the very ones who needed him most to deal with the fallout of the death of their homeworld. Now an attack on those he holds dear sends him back to the one realm he never wished to visit again and into the sights of an enemy he thought imprisoned eons ago.

Now enemies older than time must put aside their differences and work together in hopes of saving both their world and every realm in between.

The Throne of Broken Gods: “Then, Samkiel, you will know this is how the world ends.”

But it was not this world. No, it was mine.

It was Dianna.

The world quakes in fear as the last shred of Dianna’s humanity is ripped from her. As it should. Grief consumes Dianna, burning away any semblance of good within her and threatening the budding relationship between her and Liam. Now, Liam must pull her back from the brink of complete damnation before time runs out.

Review

I went into this book series with zero information and zero expectations. Truthfully, I had only decided to read it because I saw a pretty photo of it and decided why not. I hadn’t expected to spend a weekend digesting these books, and being absolutely wrecked when I finished both-- The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters 1) & The Throne of Broken Gods (Gods & Monsters Book 2). It felt like a dragger straight in my heart, and I was gasping for air because I can’t believe they ended the way that they did.

It’s safe to say that I loved the book. It is worth mentioning that at times the writing did get a little confusing as well as the world feeling complex and all over the place. However, the characters make up for every single flaw, and even a few weeks later, both books are still on my mind, and I’m itching to read them again. The characters are just too good, and there’s such a great dynamic between them. True enemies to lovers. Amber V. Nicole has crafted multiple beautiful characters with an addicting all-consuming romance that should be the standard for all enemies to lovers. They are again, that good.

I adored Dianna and Samkiel despite all their flaws and along with their heartaches and tragic pasts. The two of them are some of the most powerful beings in the world, and they can’t save everyone. That is an important thing to keep in mind while reading these books, and it was very heartbreaking as the books progressed. Their journeys are incredible, and I understand how they get to where they are in the second book.

I sobbed real tears, and I’m not so patiently awaiting the next book because I need to know what happens. I am completely sucked into this world and obsessed with the characters that have been created.

Final Thoughts

The first two books of the Gods and Monsters series felt almost flawless to me. Mainly because of the characters and the romance. Despite some flaws, the books are standout and quickly became some of my favorite reads of the year. They are action packed, funny, and heartbreaking. These are books about family and love and power. I need the third one in my hands—STAT.

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Review: Beginning of Forever by Catherine Bybee

If you haven’t been following this wonderful series, then you need to start. Beginning of Forever, is the third book in The D'Angelos series by Catherine Bybee. Each book just gets better and with no exception, this was another wonderful addition to the series.

If you have been following, this book centers around Giovanni, or as we have come to know “Gio”. Gio is such a lovable character that has always put his family first. Deep down, he has had some big dreams for himself but helping his family has been his priority. With a great family such as his, he got the best surprise of his life when they came together to show their love with a gentle nudge to his dreams. Little did he know how a three week tour in Tuscany would be the start of the life he always dreamed of.

All Emma Rutledge knows and has dreamed about was having a bigger part of her family’s wine business. As hard as she’s worked, she just can’t seem to get past the male dominated wall in the business.She can’t shake the feeling of them trying to push her out. Adding insult to injury, when her ex husband gets a promotion that should've been hers, she reevaluates her situation and decides she needs a break. With 6 weeks owed to her, she decides it’s time to consider her options. What other place to do that is to explore a beautiful wine tour vacation. Little did she know that when you’re not looking, the answers seem to find themselves in front of you.

As fate does its thing, Gio and Emma find themselves connecting on the tour. As they get to know each other, they find themselves bonding over similar aspirations and share their hopes and dreams. As the trip progresses, inspiration isn’t the only thing in the air. Their growing chemistry seems to sparkle more than the wine and they find themselves growing closer with the openness to the possibilities of the future.

When Emma receives some unexpected news that affects her future, Gio tries to show her that he’s more than just this moment. For someone not wanting or expected love, could this be her Beginning of Forever?

I just can’t say enough about how wonderful this series is. This family pulls you in and makes you feel a part of them. I love how you can feel the influence and love of each member in each book. As we get to know them more and each series introducing more intimately another member, your connection to them doesn’t fade. It’s the stories like this that make you feel good and want to dive into. Gio is so swoon worthy because he is the type of guy that any woman would dream of. Emma is fierce, strong and determined and just fits so well with the D’Angelo clan.

If you have been following along, the next book will be about Salena so you know that it’s going to be fun. You can read more about it on Catherine’s website. Until then, it looks like we will have to wait until the fall. If you aren’t familiar with her or this series, go back and read to catch up.

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