the_shelfrighteous_writer's reviews
57 reviews

Ugly cry. Ugly silent cry. Because, of course when I finished this book, everyone else in my house was asleep. So that ugly cry that would have sounded so horrible was painfully silent. So sad. And then SO INCREDIBLY HAPPY. That is one of my favorite things about Melissa Foster - you can count on one or both of the main characters not wanting to fall in love, then lots of steam, and a happy ending. I have yet to read one of her books that doesn't have a happy ending. And this one . . . oh, Mr. Bad, you are SO good. I used to think my heart could only belong to the Bradens, then I opened up to the Seaside a bit. But now, they have had to move over and make room for the Bads. And not just Brett and Sophie! Yet another thing I love about Melissa's writing - if you read a series like the Bad Boys After Dark series and fall in love with one of the side characters, there will probably be a book about their love story, too. She makes it so easy to completely immerse yourself in the world of her characters. In fact, I have already purchased Mick's book and will be diving into his and Amanda's story next. The characters - I love how real Brett and Sophie are. Brett is a bad boy (and not only because of his last name), who really isn't looking to settle down and be a one-woman man. In fact, he doesn't want it at all. But he does want Sophie. And I loved how it was obvious at first that Sophie wanted him, but she tries to deny it. There were many points in this book where I just couldn't put it down. And the ending - don't worry, no spoilers - but I think this is probably my favorite ending of any of her books, so far ;)

Two words – book hangover.

This book was beautiful. I loved the deep friendship Emery and Dean had right from the start of the book. And Emery was such a unique character. She’s a wild, free spirit who speaks her mind and doesn’t sugar coat things. She also doesn’t really think before she does stuff, which I found comical at times. And Dean! Right from the first time you get in his head, you see that he is already falling for Emery, who thinks they are only friends.

It was one great big courtship. He takes her on “example outings”, not real dates because she doesn’t want to date friends. And everything about Dean’s outings is incredibly romantic. Not to mention, as her best friend, he gets her. He knows what makes her tick, what she’s scared of, and what makes her happy. He also accepts her for her, unlike many of the guys she’s already dated.

There’s one tiny hitch. Emery thinks she’s broken. She thinks that, because of her parents’ failed relationship, she breaks all relationships she’s in and therefore is destined to be alone. I absolutely love how she’s not perfect. And Dean’s issues with his father make him not perfect, too. Two imperfect people made the best love story!

I started Violet's story almost immediately after finishing her sister, Desiree's. Violet was the flaky, unreliable, just-like-their-mother, rough sister I just didn't connect with. 

Until Andre. Until I was given a closer look inside. A look at what makes Violet tick and the reason she keeps everybody at arm's length. Watching her deal with emotional scars left behind by her mother's flighty lifestyle, Bayside Escapes lets us see a whole new Violet. 

I enjoyed Violet and Andre's story. I'm used to rough bikers from Melissa Foster, but seeing a rough-around-the-edges character in female form was a nice change. Violet and Desiree are opposite enough that they complement each other well. It felt good to see Desiree get the bond with her sister that she wanted so badly in the first book. Of course, things are always interesting when Lizza (their mother) makes her appearance ... 

This book centers a lot around volunteering, art, and working with kids - all aspects I love seeing. I felt bad for Violet, thinking she had to keep her two worlds separate, and really wanted to see her get a happy ending with Andre. 

Definitely a must-read for all Bayside Summers and Melissa Foster fans!

I am not a fan of novellas. They're too short, too rushed, and rarely leave me satisfied.

In For a Penny is nothing like most novellas. I loved Penny and Scott so much! Their love story is already fully formed and it's just a question of wanting more with each other. Scott feels broken because of his abusive parents and it's obvious Penny wants more ... a future and a family together. 

This book is a reunion of some of my favorite characters - Finlay and Bullet! Dixie, Red, and pretty much all of the Whiskeys. And I wanted so badly for Penny to get her happily ever after with Scott. 

To obtain 5 stars, this little novella had to make me cry ... and it did. I loved everything about this book and being dropped back into the world of the Whiskeys just in time for Sarah and Bones' wedding!

I have been a Lucille Ball fan since I was a little kid, watching episode after episode of I Love Lucy with my Nana. I loved the way this autobiography took us behind the scenes of Lucy's life and the narration - done by Lucy & Desi's daughter, Lucie Arnaz - makes it feel like Lucy is telling her own story.

Love, Lucy is an entertaining, emotional, and at times, sad story. This book shows Lucy and Desi as they were: passionately in love but also very volatile at times. It also touches briefly on Lucy's second marriage, as well as Desi's, and the peace it brought both of them. 

While listening to this audiobook, I had a strong desire to binge-watch old episodes of I Love Lucy or even The Long, Long Trailer! This is such a wonderful way to remember a brilliant and entertaining woman.

Dare has ruined me for all other book boyfriends.
⁣
I loved this story, how protective and loving that big, sexy biker is. He is a daredevil, as well as an extremely intuitive therapist, and I could not get enough of him. ⁣He protects Billie, even when she cuts him out of her life, and the things he does for her (no spoilers) are so romantic! 
⁣
As for the other characters - Kenny's was one I enjoyed, though I thought he was going to frustrate me in the beginning. But he goes from this trouble-making, grumpy teenager to a mini-Dare, honestly. And both Dare and Billie's parents ... oh my gosh I loved them!⁣ Especially Tiny. 
⁣
I really liked how this book tied into <i>Then Came Love</i> and I can't wait to see what happens or for more Redemption Ranch. I'm especially eager to see how things turn out for Cowboy!

SHEETS is the story of Marjorie, a 13 year old girl who's mom passed away. She goes to school and runs her family's laundromat. The other half of the story is about Wendell, a child ghost who doesn't fit in among the other ghost kids. Wendell ends up in Marjorie's laundromat and causes quite a bit of trouble for her, along with the creepy guy who keeps trying to convince her to give him her family's business so he can open a spa.

I really liked the pastel quality of the illustrations and the washed-out colors of the ghost world made it fit well.

While I enjoyed the ending of this book, the sad quality of the rest of it just wasn't for me. I felt bad for Marj because she just lost her mom and the kids in her school were rotten to her. It was a fairly depressing book and I would have liked to see more happiness with her and Wendell.

I liked Wendell's character, though he definitely got into some trouble. I guess that's what 11 year old boys do ... even if they're ghosts. I'm intrigued to see Brenna Thummler's illustration of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, though this book just wasn't for me.

I picked up Sword Princess Amaltea because of the draw of a female-dominated society. A Queendom instead of a Kingdom. While the premise of this story is appealing, it was executed poorly. 

Maybe the intent was to poke fun at typical fairytales but all the author did was copy and paste those same stories,  switching the gender roles as it goes. 

I couldn't stand Amaltea through most of this book. She's arrogant, self-centered,  whiney, and just a jerk. Her prince was a little better, though still not a character I enjoyed much. 

The horse commentary was great! I wish there had been more of it because I found it very entertaining. 

Same with the art style. It's what kept this book from being a lower rating. Very well done drawing.

I went into NOVEMBER 9 completely blind. Like I said, it was one of those books that everybody on Bookstagram and BookTok has been reading so I borrowed it from my library to see what all the fuss was about. I don’t think I really expected to get drawn into this book the way I did. I started it on a Saturday afternoon and was done by Sunday (a rare thing in my house). Hoover expertly wrapped me up in the lives of her characters, even though I only got to see them on one day each year … November 9th.

The premise of NOVEMBER 9 was very intriguing to me as I started to read. Fallon doesn’t believe you can fall in love before you’re 23 so they agree to meet each year on the same day. Every other day of the year, no contact. And Ben will chronicle their “love story” into a novel. I loved that idea! And it was so addicting to watch this story unfold.

It fascinated me how much could happen in the span of just a year, when all you get to see is one day. Births, deaths, and even new romances. Hoover worked tragedy and happiness into each and every page, leaving me captivated.

I adore dual POVs!

Dual (or even multi) POVs are my weakness. I love a story that puts you inside the heads of more than one character. Reading this story from both Fallon and Ben’s perspective made all the difference. Especially once you get to the end and big secrets start coming out. Ben’s attraction to Fallon is so strong and it was easy to tell that Fallon’s attraction to him was just as strong, even though she had her 5-year rule.

On a similar note, I was worried that the characters would fall flat with the timeline jumping a year ahead each time. But that wasn’t the case. I could understand where Fallon’s insecurities about her scars came from and there was enough mystery with Ben that the shocking moments were very effective.

And the Ugly Cry ...

That’s my qualification for 5 stars in a romance. NOVEMBER 9 had me sobbing like a child. My heart broke for Fallon and Ben because so much of this book is the turmoil of will they or won’t they end up together. I saw all the Bookstagram posts claiming this book would give you the ugly cry factor and Hoover did not disappoint.

Hannah Jones is a brand new Pelham College student and, though she's not supposed to have a roommate, she ends up with rich prankster, April Clarke-Cliveden. Despite their differences, she and April become besties. That is, until someone murders April. 

Ten years later, Hannah is married to Will, another Pelham student and April's ex-boyfriend, and they're expecting their first child. Hannah's working in a bookshop and trying her best to move past everything with April until she receives an email from a reporter who thinks John Neville - the man who went to prison for April's murder - might have been innocent. Because it was Hannah's eyewitness testimony that basically convicted Neville, she starts spiraling down the "what ifs". 

THE IT GIRL is told in dual timelines, which happens to be one of my favorites. The entire book bounces back and forth between the Before and the After. 

This is my first Ruth Ware book and oh my gosh, I am already obsessed with her writing style! It starts out slow, laying the foundation for Hannah's relationship with April, highlighting all of her not-so-funny pranks, and showing what Hannah has had to live with for ten years because of reporters and podcasters. 

About two-thirds of the way into this book, it picks up. And really picks up. Ware doesn't make you wonder throughout the book who the killer might be and then hand over the answer. No. She sends you down one trail, thinking it might be this person, only to backtrack with a new piece of info and send you down another trail! There were moments when I was sure I knew who the killer was and my only thoughts were "No, not that person!" and then I'd find out I was completely wrong!

I haven't read a thriller that had my heart pounding quite the way THE IT GIRL did. I finished it at 10:30 at night with the lights on.