Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
Goodreads blurb: “Kennedy Ryan pours her whole soul into everything she writes, and it makes for books that are heart-searing, sensual, and life affirming.”―EMILY HENRY, #1 New York Times bestselling author Hendrix Barry lives a fabulous life. She has phenomenal friends, a loving family, and a thriving business that places her in the entertainment industry’s rarefied air. Your vision board? She’s probably living it. She’s a woman with goals, dreams, ambitions—always striving upward. And in the midst of everything, she’s facing her toughest challenge caring for an aging parent. Who has time for romance? From her experience, there’s a low ROI on relationships. She hasn’t met the man who can keep up with her anyway. Until…him. Tech mogul Maverick Bell is a dilemma wrapped in an exquisitely tailored suit and knee-melting charm. From their first charged glance at the summer’s hottest party, Hendrix feels like she’s met her match. Only he can’t be. Mav may be the first to make her feel this seen and desired and appreciated, but he’s the last one she can have. Forbidden fruit is the juiciest, and this man is off limits if she plans to stay the course she’s set for herself. But when Maverick gives chase—pursuing her, spoiling her, understanding her—is it time to let herself have something more? A deeply moving and personal novel about sacrifice, self-reliance, and finding true happiness from “one of the finest romance writers of our age.” –Entertainment Weekly
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 4 out of 5. This is the last book on the Skyland series and it was a worthy end. IF you want female empowerement romance, kick ass characters with a side of fabulous friendship this is the series for you. and in this culmination you still get the Strong Female Characters with well written romance and that is always the goal. Also a FMC who is a kiss ass career woman, is empowered about what she wants in life and is a caretaker, its a cool vibe! Also Hendric is a pretty sexy male lead, so there was def no complaining on my side.
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh
Goodreads blurb: She’s out to prove that there’s no such thing as choosing happiness.
Isadora Bentley follows the rules. Isadora Bentley likes things just so. Isadora Bentley believes that happiness is something that flat-out doesn’t exist in her life—and never will. As a university researcher, Isadora keeps to herself as much as possible. She avoids the students she’s supposed to befriend and mentor. She stays away from her neighbors and lives her own quiet, organized life in her own quiet, organized apartment. And she will never get involved in a romantic relationship again—especially with another academic. It will be just Isadora and her research. Forever. But on her thirtieth birthday, Isadora does something completely out of character. The young woman who never does anything “on a whim” makes an impulse purchase of a magazine featuring a silly article detailing “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy”—which includes everything from smiling at strangers to exercising for endorphins to giving in to your chocolate cravings. Isadora decides to create her own secret research project—proving the writer of the ridiculous piece wrong. As Isadora gets deeper into her research—and meets a handsome professor along the way—she’s stunned to discover that maybe, just maybe, she’s proving herself wrong. Perhaps there’s actually something to this happiness concept, and possibly there’s something to be said for loosening up and letting life take you somewhere . . . happy.
my take: 3.5 out of 5. After reading and absolutely loving Everything’s Coming Up Rosie I decided I should start reading the back catalog of Courtney Walsh as there were plenty of books I had not read. This was nowhere near the high level that Rosie was, but it was a delightful story and Isadora is such a cute character. Uplifting and heartwarming, if a bit stressful in the secondhand embarrassment sense.
Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
Goodreads blurb: The stakes are even higher in this epic, romantic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Crimson Moth duology.
A WITCH…
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.
A WITCH HUNTER…
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.
AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE…
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.
my take: 4.25 out of 5. When I read Heartless Hunter, Which I really enjoyed, I wrote this in my review: I was an absolute fan of this enemies to lovers tale, but a hater of the total cliffhanger ending. Having to wait until the second installment comes out to know how the stories of Rune and Gideon are going to play out its going to be torture. Well here we are at the end and for all of you who have not read Heartless Hunter, good on you that you get to do it all in one go and miss the cliffhanger. Now the question is was what was waiting on the other side worth the wait and pain? Yes it Was! Although the start might have dragged a bit, the tension was stellar, the banter was still spot on and how it all got intertwined (from a position that I didnt even know who they were going to write themselves out of that mess) was satisfying and beautiful.
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Goodreads blurb: From the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller Wrong Place Wrong Time comes an addictive thriller about a new mother’s world upended when her husband commits a terrifying crime. How well does she truly know the man she loves? And what danger does she face if her entire life has been built on a lie? It is June 21st, the longest day of the year, and new mother Camilla’s life is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop her infant daughter off at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. Finally. But, when she wakes, her husband Luke isn’t there, and in his place is a cryptic note. Then it starts. Breaking news: there’s a hostage situation developing in London. The police arrive, and tell her Luke is involved. But he isn’t a hostage. Her husband—doting father, eternal optimist—is the gunman. What she does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind that morning says…
Famous Last Words is the story of a crime, a marriage, and more secrets than Camilla ever could have imagined. This novel cements Gillian McAllister’s reputation as “the best at putting her characters in impossible situations and making her readers not only contemplate but feel what it would be like to find themselves in those situations.” (Emily Henry)
my take: 3.5 out of 5. This was a good book, it was just not as engaging as I was expecting it to be from this author. It has some interesting turns, but I feel the reality was a bit of a thud versus my expectations. It really could just be a situation of expectations were to high, so if you go in blind you might enjoy the thrill of the ride.
The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha
Goodreads blurb: Most family reunions end in tears. This one will end in murder. Meet the Agarwals, who have gathered on a private, luxury island off the west coast of Scotland for a much-anticipated family reunion. Raj, the patriarch and a business tycoon, is about to announce to his wife and three children the succession plan for his multimillon-dollar Delhi-based company. Shalini, the fragile matriarch, is ready to have her husband to herself after years of sacrifice to the family business. Myra, the golden child, owner of the island and host of the reunion, is, unbeknownst to her family, on the brink of bankruptcy. Aseem, the son and supposed heir, is torn between his love for his wife and his duty to family. Aisha, the youngest, a party girl whose antics are legendary, can’t pass up an opportunity to wreak havoc. And then there’s Zoe, Aseem’s wife, the outsider whose #InstaPerfect life is built on a foundation of lies.
They’ve all got secrets they would die to protect. Who will survive this high-stakes reunion, and who will become a victim of their own greed? One thing is certain: this family gathering will shatter more than just their illusions of unity.
my take: 4.25 out of 5. This was a rollercoaster that you don’t event know its going to be a rollercoaster. And just when you think they are letting you off, it takes you for one last crazy spin. I was definitely not expecting the twist at the end. Few books surprise me and this one did, so in my book that is the key factor for a great thriller. Its not perfect, there is a bit of a drag in the middle, but the ending is worth the ride. Reading note: There are multiple narrators and sometimes it got confusing in audio so I would actually say this one might be better in print than audiobook, but i still loved it so choose what you love best.
Tati's Tidbits 