Review: Texas Legacy by Lorraine Heath

March 30, 2023March 29, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Texas Legacy
Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 15, 2019
Series or Standalone: Texas Trilogy #3.5
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Rape; sexual assault; gun violence; abuse

It feels fitting that I’m revisiting the Texas Trilogy after many months because that is EXACTLY what Lorraine Heath did as she published this novella nearly 20 years after the publication of Texas Splendor.

Texas Legacy is the perfect novella to wrap up the series as we see the second generation of the Leigh family – particularly Dallas’ kids. This is basically one long Lorraine Heath epilogue, and I LOVE her epilogues as they always make me emotional. And boy, did this novella make me feel ALL the things. It’s truly amazing that Heath managed to cram in so much heartache and emotion in so few pages.

Blog Tour – Review & Excerpt: A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas

March 14, 2023March 14, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

A Tempest at Sea
Sherry Thomas
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: March 14, 2023
Series or Standalone: Lady Sherlock #7
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: murder; blood; suicidal ideation

I’ve been a huge Lady Sherlock fan for years now as it falls perfectly into my favorite (made-up) genre – lady detectives in Victorian England. Truly, we are so blessed that Berkley gave us a new Veronica Speedwell and a new Lady Holmes story within a week of each other.

A Tempest at Sea marks the seventh entry in Sherry Thomas’ incredibly smart spin on Sherlock Holmes. This book, more so than the previous few books in the series, feels like a lighter adventure – if you could say murder is light. In many ways, this feels like a classic detective story in the vein of Christie’s Death on the Nile. The stakes are lower as the threat from Moriarty has lessened after the events of Miss Moriarty, I Presume?, so it’s a nice change of pace to have a self-contained murder mystery aboard the RMS Provence. Now, that’s not to say the threat from Moriarty is gone entirely – he’s still lingering out there, but it’s nice that he’s not at the center of the mystery this time.

Review: The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole

March 10, 2023March 9, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The Book of Azrael
Amber Nicole
Publisher: Rose and Star Publishing
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Series or Standalone: Gods & Monsters #1
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Violence; torture; murder; death; depression/PTSD; suicide; war

I came to this book for the hero but stayed for the villain. Or villainess, I should say.

Don’t be scared of the length of The Book of Azrael – once you start reading it, you’ll fly through it and not want to put it down! But be warned – there is a killer cliffhanger at the end!

ARC Review: Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly

March 6, 2023March 5, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Something Wild & Wonderful
Anita Kelly
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: March 7, 2023
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: familial estrangement due to queer identity; harsh homophobic language (used in Chapter 16); religion and strict religious upbringing (Christianity); mentions of Alzheimer’s/dementia care; brief references to past toxic romantic relationships.

How do your review a book that was literal perfection? I don’t throw that word around often, but Something Wild & Wonderful was perfect. This was a beautiful tale of two people finding themselves and finding love while on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). I didn’t expect to fall in love with this book so quickly, but the characters and their journey hooked me immediately and swept me away. I was an emotional mess at the end because I was just so happy for Alexei and Ben.

ARC Review: A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

A Sinister Revenge
Deanna Raybourn
Publisher: Berkley Books
Publication Date: March 7, 2023
Series or Standalone: Veronica Speedwell #8
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: murder; death; violence; infidelity

I was so giddy reading A Sinister Revenge – and I’m still giddy thinking about this book. I read this whole book with a smile as it was everything I wanted and more, especially after everything that happened in An Impossible Impostor. Deanna Raybourn seamlessly blends the humor, wit, and emotions you’ve come to know yet makes it feel new and exciting in the eighth installment of the Veronica Speedwell series.

This book gives over major A Dangerous Collaboration vibes. That book just happens to be one of my favorites in the Veronica Speedwell series, so I knew early on that I would be a fan of A Sinister Revenge, and I was not wrong. I was seriously smitten with this book within the first chapter. What is not to love as we have some delicious tension between Veronica and Stoker, time with my favorite Templeton-Vane brother and DINOSAURS?

ARC Review: The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The Counterfeit Scoundrel
Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: February 21, 2023
Series or Standalone: The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction #1
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Domestic abuse; death of a parent; references to child abuse & infidielity; drug use & addiction (off-page)

If you know me, then you know that The Duchess Hunt is my all-time favorite historical romance novel, and Lorraine Heath is one of my favorite authors. So it should come as no surprise that The Counterfeit Scoundrel was my most anticipated read of 2023.

Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one, and it fell short of my expectations. This book leaned way more into detective fiction than I expected, which meant the romance took a back seat. I wanted more swoon-worthy feelings that I know Heath can deliver.

Review: The Astronaut and the Star by Jen Comfort

February 14, 2023February 13, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The Astronaut and the Star
Jen Comfort
Publisher: Montlake
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Kidnapping; threats of gun violence

Jen Comfort is a true writer of rom-coms. So many books nowadays get slapped with the rom-com label, which is so often misleading. But with Jen Comfort, her books are actually funny and are actually romance. After reading and loving Midnight Duet, I wanted to pick up her first book, The Astronaut and the Star. I enjoyed this one as it’s super cute, but it didn’t capture my heart quite like Midnight Duet did.

Review: The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary

February 8, 2023February 8, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

The Worst Guy
Kate Canterbary
Publisher: Vesper Press
Publication Date: December 28, 2021
Series or Standalone: Vital Signs #2
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Eating disorder; abandonment; strained parental relationship

If you’re looking for a good hate-to-love, enemies-with-benefits, “good girl” filled romance that delivers on the sexiness and the emotions, look no further than The Worst Guy. I can understand why so many people have been talking about this book. This was my first Kate Canterbary book, but it won’t be my last.

Review: Once Upon a Winter’s Eve by Tessa Dare

January 13, 2023January 13, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

Once Upon a Winter’s Eve
Tessa Dare
Publisher: Samhaim Publishing
Publication Date: November 15, 2011
Series or Standalone: Spinde Cove #1.5
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

CW: Violence; sexual harassment

I somehow skipped this novella when I did my last reread of the Spindle Cove series. Now, normally I adore Tessa Dare’s work – she writes some of the funniest, smartest, and sexiest historical romance novels out there. But this novella was not it. I think I actually hated it? And that pains me to say. Violet should have stayed FAR away from Christian as that man is a walking red flag.

Review: A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

January 11, 2023January 11, 2023 Dani @ Overflowing ShelfLeave a comment

A Holiday by Gaslight
Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Publication Date: November 13, 2018
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph
Rating:

MY REVIEW

Did I read this book after Christmas? Yes. I don’t know why, but I always want to read holiday novels AFTER the holidays.

A Holiday by Gaslight was a super cute, light and fun holiday romance novel! Novellas can be very hit or miss for me as it’s hard to balance the plot, characters, and romance in such a small amount of space, but Mimi Matthews had no problems with that!