Tag: Sassy Heroine

Mistakes We Never Made | Hannah Brown

Posted 06/07/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Mistakes We Never Made | Hannah Brown
Star Rating: 2.5 Stars
Spice Level: 3.5 Flames
Published by Forever on 05/07/2024
Format: DRC (329 Pages)
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This review was tough to write. I didn’t hate Mistakes We Never Made, but I can’t say I enjoyed it either. It was just thoroughly…meh. On paper, this rom-com had all the ingredients of a story I would normally love. A forced proximity road trip, high school friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, and a second chance romance. There were flashes of brilliance here and there, but when all was said and done, the story fell flat. The worst part was the ending—more on that later. The story centers on Emma and Finn, high school friends and debate partners whose relationship slowly blossomed […]

For the Plot | Katie Van Brunt

Posted 05/17/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
For the Plot | Katie Van Brunt
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 5 Flames
Series: All for Love #1
Published by Independent Publisher on 03/15/2024
Format: Kindle (400 Pages)
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For the Plot is a deliciously spicy, star-crossed lover, second chance rom-com. It’s filled with so many tropes—one bed & he falls first & forced proximity, OH MY!—and it ticked absolutely every one of my boxes. Joey and Cam are amazing together and watching them dance around their feelings for each other was just, chef’s kiss. And the setting—Greece—you couldn’t ask for a more romantic backdrop.  Katie Van Brunt has written a book filled with comedy, heart, healthy relationship goals, and a whole lot of spice. She also touches on some difficult topics and traverses them with grace and empathy. Joey’s […]

Butcher & Blackbird | Brynne Weaver

Posted 05/13/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Butcher & Blackbird | Brynne Weaver
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 5 Flames
Series: Ruinous Love #1
Published by Zando on 10/23/2023
Format: Kindle (355 Pages)
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Butcher and Blackbird is a dark romantic comedy about two serial killers who only kill other serial killers. Think: a sweet, protective Dexter meets an artsy, sassy female Dexter—but make it a rom-com. There’s pining and piercings, a little light stalking, some cooking, and, of course, killing, dismemberment, elaborate crime scenes, lobotomized butlers, and mildly inappropriate use of a mummified corpse. Basically, it’s a lot of messed-up serial killer chaos. It’s pretty awesome. Oh—and every year, they play a rousing game of who-can-identify-hunt-and-kill-the-serial-killer-first—you know, for funsies.  Sloane and Rowan, our serial killer couple, meet by chance when they unknowingly go […]

Catching Feelings | Maren Moore

Posted 05/06/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Catching Feelings | Maren Moore
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 5 Flames
Series: Orleans University #2
Published by Independent Publisher on 03/22/2024
Format: Kindle (356 Pages)
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Reese Landry is not what he appears to be. Sure, he’s Orleans University’s all-star catcher and the number one MLB draft pick. And there is no question that he’s devastatingly handsome, my-family-owns-a-private-jet rich, and stupidly charming. But underneath that silver-spoon playboy appearance, he’s sweeter than honey, the kindest soul you’ll ever meet, and much to his chagrin, the bane of Vivienne Brentwood’s existence. Vivienne Brentwood is an introverted extrovert who’s obsessed with all things spooky. When Viv was in 11th grade, her dad passed away, and her mom has been consumed by depression ever since. Viv has had […]

The Veiled Kingdom | Holly Renee

Posted 04/26/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
The Veiled Kingdom | Holly Renee
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 3 Flames
Series: The Veiled Kingdom #1
Published by Independent Publisher on 03/19/2024
Format: Kindle (364 Pages)
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The Kingdom of Mamoris is ruled by an evil king who covets magic and power. His firstborn and only child, Princess Verena, is the sole heir to Mamoris’ throne. But, despite the king’s many, and often abusive, attempts to draw out Verena’s magic, she remains powerless. When Verena turns ten and is still without magic, the king refuses to acknowledge her as his heir and locks her in one of the castle’s towers because a kingdom cannot be ruled without significant power. After many failed attempts at producing a worthy heir, the queen (Verena’s beloved mother) dies in […]

What Is Love? | Jen Comfort

Posted 04/08/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
What Is Love? | Jen Comfort
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 […]

Funny Feelings | Tarah DeWitt

Posted 04/05/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Funny Feelings | Tarah DeWitt
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 3.5 Flames
Published by St. Martin’s Griffin on 05/02/2023
Format: Kindle (311 Pages)
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Farley Jones is a lot of things. But ask anyone, and the first thing they will tell you is, that she is funny. Like really, REALLY funny. But booking gigs as a woman in comedy is hard. Especially when you’re crass, high-maintenance, and have no filter—consequences be damned. Meyer Harrigan was once a very successful standup comedian. He retired from comedy when he unexpectedly became a single dad and the sole caregiver to his daughter, Hazel. It’s Hazel’s 7th birthday, and things aren’t going well. A freak rainstorm tears through LA, ruining her perfect water park party plans. Every […]

Legendary | Stephanie Garber

Posted 02/12/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Legendary | Stephanie Garber
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 […]