Review: A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
A Holiday by Gaslight
Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Publication Date: November 13, 2018
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Links: Amazon Barnes & NobleGoodreadsStoryGraph
Rating:4 Stars

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!

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Review: The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes
Cat Sebastian
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Series or Standalone: London Highwaymen #2
Links: Amazon Barnes & NobleGoodreadsStoryGraph
Rating: 4.5 Stars


MY REVIEW

CW: Blood; murder; gun violence; Alzheimer’s/dementia

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes was a delightful surprise of a book. I went into this book with no exceptions, but I came out completely enamored. Something about the romance between Rob and Marian touched a special part of my soul, and this book was so sweet, loving and tender that I feel like I have a dopey smile on my face every time I think about it.

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Audiobook Review: The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian
The Queer Principles of Kit Webb
Cat Sebastian
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: June 8, 2021
Series or Standalone: London Highwaymen #1
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating:4 Stars
Performance Rating:4 Stars
Story Rating:4 Stars

MY REVIEW

CW: Gun violence; death; blood; homophobia; death of a child; death of a parent

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb was so fun and so unexpected! Not only did I love the romance, but these characters stole a piece of my heart. 

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Review: A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
Adriana Herrera
Publisher:HQN
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Series or Standalone:Las Léonas #1
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating: 4 Stars

MY REVIEW

CW: physical abuse; emotional abuse; racism; misogyny; sexism; references to slavery

This book made me thirsty in more ways than one! All I wanted to do was pour a glass of whisky and find myself a hunky Scotsman after reading this. With a diverse cast of characters, a fantastic romance, and a compelling plot, A Caribbean Heiress in Paris was an engaging, fun read.

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Review: How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long

How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long
How the Marquess Was Won
Julie Anne Long
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: December 27, 2011
Series or Standalone: Pennyroyal Green #6
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating: 5 Stars


MY REVIEW

CW: bullying; gun violence; sexual assault

This book. THIS BOOK! Unputdownable. Fan-freaking-tastic. This is my favorite thus far of the Pennyroyal Green series. I had actually read this book way back in 2016, but forgot I had read it before, so I loved rediscovering the story as bits and pieces came back to me as I started reading.

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ARC Review: Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean

Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean
Heartbreaker
Sarah MacLean
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Series or Standalone: Hell’s Belles
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating:3.5 Stars

MY REVIEW

CW: Violence; blood; child abuse

This review is a tough one for me to write. I’ve had to sleep on my rating for this book as there were many things I liked, but a few things stopped me from loving it. Weirdly, I think this is a book I’ll enjoy more on reread than on the first read.

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Review: Wildfire by Ilona Andrews

Wildfire by Ilona Andrews
Wildfire
Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: July 25, 2017
Series or Standalone:Hidden Legacy #3
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating:4.5 Stars


MY REVIEW

CW: Kidnapping; Torture; Gun Violence; Death; Gore 

Wildfire wraps up Nevada’s arc of the Hidden Legacy series, and what a satisfying conclusion it is! This book does a great job wrapping up some of the overarching plot points from the first half of the series while leaving the door open for Catalina to take over the reins in the second half. 

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Review: White Hot by Ilona Andrews

White Hot by Ilona Andrews
White Hot
Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Series or Standalone:Hidden Legacy #2
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating:5 Stars


MY REVIEW

CW: Murder; violence; gun violence; death of a parent; kidnapping; torture; grief; panic attacks/PTSD 

Is it cliche to say White Hot is white hot? Because it’s the truth. When I think of the Hidden Legacy series as a whole, this is one book that always standouts in my head as it packs an emotional punch in so many ways. 

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Review: Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

Burn for Me By Ilona Andrews
Burn for Me
Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Series or Standalone: Hidden Legacy #1
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating:5 Stars


MY REVIEW

CW: Murder; violence; fire/fire injury; gun violence; cancer; death of a parent

No one does urban fantasy romance quite like Ilona Andrews. When I first read Burn for Me back in 2019, I was immediately hooked. I’ve since reread the series multiple times, so pardon me if I get a bit gushy. 

The Hidden Legacy series is one of my absolute favorites series and does not get talked about enough. The cover of this book does not do the story justice. Not only does this book have a swoon-worthy romance, but you also get fantastic world-building, a unique magic system, an action-packed plot and unforgettable secondary characters all in one book.

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ARC Review: All the Duke I Need by Caroline Linden

All the Duke I Need by Caroline Linden
All the Duke I Need
Caroline Linden
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Series or Standalone: Desperately Seeking Duke #3
Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads
Rating: 4.5 Stars


MY REVIEW

All the Duke I Need took me by surprise in the best way! I went into this book with no expectations but found it so cute and ended up loving it by the end. The romance was adorable, and I loved how Caroline Linden brought all the pieces together to solve for the lost heir to the Carlyle dukedom that has been central to the plot of the Desperately Seeking Duke series.

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