Book Review Round-Up #38

• Read 8 books a month to hit my reading goal of 75
  • Month Total: 8
    • Physical Books: 0
    • eBooks: 3
    • Audiobooks: 5
  • Year Total: 32/75
• Library vs Ownership
  • Borrow: 7
    • Library: 5
    • KU: 2
  • Own: 1

• Category _{(don’t just read romance)}
  • Romance: 8 … oops!
    • Cowboy Romance
    • Polygamy Romance
    • SiblingAdoption Romance
    • Romantasy
• Read more books with POC 👩🏻👩🏼👩🏽‍🦳👩🏽👩🏾
  • Main Character: 2
  • Author: 0

^{Ooop, guys. I failed a bit this month but all was traveling so much that I’m just proud of myself for reading!}

The Talk of Coyote Canyon by Brenda Novak

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💖 I really enjoyed the second in this Brenda Novak series. It’s my favorite one she’s done yet. I loved how Ellen and Hendrix really ease into one another. They had to navigate communication hurdles and let go of preconceived notions, which made their journey all the more heartwarming.

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

_{Format: eBook | Amazon | Bookshop.org | B&N}

💖 This book had me hooked from the start, but around the 60% mark, things took an unexpected turn. I feel like I’m the minority on this one, and that’s okay, but hear me out—Ada turned into someone completely different in the last 40%. It was so strange. That said, Weston is a keeper and you’ll fall in love with him. You’ve been warned! My favorite part was him owning how he’s on antidepressants and working through his emotions. If only all men were like this. Please, go to therapy and do it more than once a month.

Wild Love by Elsie Silver

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💖 I’m in love with Ford Grant. That’s it. The end. This book was super cute and though not as great as the Chestnut Spring series, I love Elise Silver. So, everything she writes – I’ll read it.

The Messy Life of Jane Tanner by Brenda Novak

_{Format: Audiobook | Amazon | Bookshop.org | B&N}

💖 Though I loved the first two books in this series, this one fell flat for me, which was a disappointment because it was the one I was looking forward to the most. Short rundown: Jane is in her mid-30s and wants to be a mother. She’s ready, but after running the numbers, takes a chance and asks Kurt to donate sperm the old-fashioned way. He, obviously, has been crushing on Jane for years so you know where this goes.

Honestly, I thought this was a little insensitive. If you have infertility issues or your biological clock is ticking, this might not be a good choice for you.

Pucking Around by Emily Rath

_{Format: Audiobook | Amazon | Bookshop.org | B&N}

👀 Ummmmmm… Haha. Okay. Let me start by saying I’ve never read a book with multiple partners before, never mind three partners. I was determined to finish this book for multiple reasons.

1. I want to try reading new things
2. I have a natural curiosity when it comes to polyamory, love, relationships, family, etc. Anything unconventional.
3. The start of this book was INSANELY good

That said… I don’t think I liked it? I tried so hard and I wanted to, but I felt like it could have been 30% shorter, and one of the relationships felt incredibly forced. I also don’t know if I can say that because maybe that’s how polygamy works. In short: this book was not for me. It was also pretty foul-mouthed and the most explicit content I’ve read in a book but it got uncomfy every so often too.

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young

_{Format: Audiobook | Amazon | Bookshop.org | B&N}

💖 OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK. This book is about two people who take custody of their siblings and end up living together to make it work… and boy does it work. Chloe and Warren have seen a lot of life though only 24ish years old. They also have more responsibilities than most. I loved watching them find feelings for one another and learn to trust others.

Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher

_{Format: Audiobook | Amazon | Bookshop.org | B&N}

💖 Lauren Asher consistently delivers 4-star reads for me. This being the first book of hers I read in eBook form, I thoroughly enjoyed it. While it dragged a bit towards the end and didn’t quite match the intensity of her F1 series, I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment. I was captivated by Julien’s subtle affection masked behind sarcasm and feigned rivalries, and Dalilah’s strong personality was incredibly relatable. Overall, it was quite a spicy read.

The Coven by Harper L. Wood

_{Format: Audiobook | Amazon | Bookshop.org | B&N}

😑 No. Just… no. Listen, I have to be honest here. While I acknowledge that this book is well-written, it simply didn’t resonate with me. Despite the hype surrounding it, I found myself disliking about 90% of it. Here’s the thing: This book is absolutely more suited for women in their 20s. However, it’s marred by the excessive use of certain language, over-sexualization, and an uncomfortable dynamic between a 20-year-old protagonist and her headmaster—who happens to be a vampire/demon. But let’s be real, that doesn’t make it any less problematic. In fact, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and doesn’t contribute positively to the empowerment of women. We need stories that uplift and inspire, not ones that reinforce damaging tropes.

In short, it didn’t sit well with me at all and I said “ack” a lot.