Romance

Give Me a Sign

By Anna Sortino

Released today!

(5 / 5)

I was initially drawn to this book because the main character, Lilah, struggles with being deaf but still having some hearing, which makes her feel like she doesn’t fully belong in either world. It felt similar to my own teen, who is legally blind but still has sight, which is often misunderstood.

This book primarily takes place at a summer camp for deaf and blind children, where Lilah is a Junior Counselor. It was great to see so much representation of both blind and deaf people who were independent and in an environment where they could thrive. It also gave a lot of perspective about misconceptions of these people and the struggles they face in a world that is not accommodating, especially in scenes that take place outside the camp environment.

In the beginning of the book, Lilah wonders if she is “deaf enough” – she wears hearing aids and can lip read, but there’s still a lot she misses out on in conversations. She returns to the summer camp she attended when she was younger, and is able to become immersed in deaf culture, though it’s a struggle when she doesn’t know much ASL, which is how some of the other counselors communicate. With the patience of another counselor, Isaac, who is willing to help her learn, she is able to become more confident and comfortable with who she is.

There’s a romance element throughout this book, which I enjoyed a lot and I think adds to the charm of the story. I really liked the characters and the growth they achieve over the course of the story, even many of the more minor characters.

This book was written well and flowed beautifully. I was drawn in immediately and had a hard time putting it down. I basically read the whole book over the course of a day, I was that immersed in the story.

Overall, I thought this was a great read with a lot of great lessons that anyone, disability or not, can really benefit from what it has to offer. I will never know what it’s like to be like these characters, but I think it gives me a better appreciation for their experiences and ways we can make the world more inclusive.

I received a free advance copy of this book through NetGalley, but my review is voluntary and my own personal opinions.

The Love Proposal

By Camilla Isley

Coming soon on July 22, 2023!

(5 / 5)

The Love Proposal, formerly published as You May Kiss the Bridesmaid, is the 3rd book in Camilla Isley’s rerelease series. Though part of a series, this book can easily be read as a standalone.

This story’s main characters, Summer and Archie, are both from previous books in the series. Before reading, I was a little concerned I might not like Summer since she was more of a villain in the first book. However, I ended up liking her a lot and appreciated seeing the past events from her perspective. Of course, it was also fun to see other characters from the previous books as well.

Most of the book takes place over the course of a week that leads up to the marriage of the previous book’s couple, Winter and Logan. Summer and Archie begin what is meant to be just a week-long fling, but feelings start to develop between the two. I think both characters showed a tremendous amount of growth over the course of the story, which is something I like to see. The story had plenty of comedic moments intertwined with closed-door adult scenes. I really like how things ended in this story.

It sounds like there is at least one more book that will be released in this series, so I’m excited to see what comes next!

I received a free copy of the book, but all opinions are completely my own.

June 30, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

Love Quest

By Camilla Isley

Coming Soon on July 8, 2023!

(4 / 5)

Love Quest is the 2nd book in a series of re-released books by Camilla Isley, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Love Quest was previously released as From Thailand with Love. I haven’t read the previous version, so I’m not sure how many changes were made between releases, but I did enjoy reading this version. I’ll admit, The Love Theorem is still my favorite between the 2 books I’ve read so far in the series, but not every book can be my favorite, right?

I’ll be honest, it took me a bit to warm up to the two main characters in this book, Winter and Logan. I think a lot of that was influenced by the characters’ opinions of each other, as this is an enemies to lovers romance. I definitely took to Winter faster than Logan.

I really enjoyed the exotic setting in the remote jungle of Thailand. Plus, the search for a lost city gave a great sense of adventure. The book ended up with a lot more action than I was expecting which kept things interesting and exciting. It all definitely made this book different from many romance books I’ve read!

I’m happy to see that this series will be continuing, as I’ve enjoyed it so far. I’ve already been approved to receive an advance copy of the next book, The Love Proposal, so I’m excited to continue the series.

I received a free advance copy of this book, but all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Camilla Isley for the opportunity to read the book early!

June 22, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

The Love Theorem

By Camilla Isley

Coming Soon on June 13, 2023

(5 / 5)

This book was previously published as To the Stars and Back as part of the First Comes Love series. I never read that version, so I don’t know if many changes were made, but I do know I really enjoyed reading The Love Theorem. I’m excited that the series will continue to follow some of the supporting characters we met in this book.

I was pulled into this story from the first chapter, and it kept my interest throughout. I found both main characters felt relatable, even if they were different from me personally. I especially enjoyed the depiction of Lana, an intelligent woman engineering student. The chapters alternated between the points of view of the two main characters (Christian and Lana), and I thought the author did a good job at giving the characters different voices. While this wasn’t one of the most complicated or unpredictable books, it was a great relaxing read that was exactly what I was looking for when I read it. I’m excited that I’ve already been approved to read an advance copy of the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Camilla Isley for the free advance copy of The Love Theorem. My review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

June 10, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

Every Time You Go Away

By Abigail Johnson

Coming Soon on December 5, 2023

(4 / 5)

Every Time You Go Away is a young adult story that follows two teens, Rebecca and Ethan, as they both work through some difficult traumas they have been through. The story alternates between Rebecca and Ethan’s points of view and also has some flashbacks to the past.

I enjoyed reading this book and liked the main characters. They were both flawed but it made them feel real. Both characters had to deal with issues with their moms and learn to stand up for themselves. It was great to see the growth of these characters as they had to make life-changing decisions.

Rebecca is in a wheelchair, and the author writes from her personal experience as a wheelchair user. I appreciate the perspective it gave since it highlighted challenges for Rebecca but also showed Rebecca as a strong, independent person who could still do many things that others do, just a little differently. But it also showed that it’s important to take her needs into consideration and communicate effectively. Rebecca’s boss was also a wheelchair user, so it gave even more perspective of an adult mother and business owner who has adapted to life in a wheelchair.

Overall, this book was a good read that delves into some difficult topics: abuse, addiction, survivor’s guilt, parent-child relationships, and figuring out who you want to be.

I received a free ARC copy of this book through NetGalley. My review is voluntary and completely my own opinions.

May 10, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Young Adult 0

The Prince & the Apocalypse

by Kara McDowell

Coming Soon on July 11, 2023!

(5 / 5)

Wow, I absolutely loved this book! It was one of those books that captured me from the very first page and was so hard to put down, even when it was well past my bedtime, and I was losing sleep. The book flowed beautifully and kept me captivated until the end. Who knew a book about the apocalypse could feel so… fun? There’s action, adventure, romance and a dash of comedy that feels like the perfect combination. And this book filled me with emotions that I could feel long after finishing the last page. I think anyone who likes young adult romance will enjoy this book.

The story follows the perspective of Wren Wheeler, the girl who always had a plan until it all fell apart during her senior trip to London. By chance she meets the (fictional) crown prince of the UK, and when she misses her flight back to the US amidst an impending apocalypse, she asks for his help to get back home to Chicago. It’s quite an adventure from there as the two travel across Europe together. I really enjoyed the pairing of these two characters who seemed so different from each other at first but ultimately brought out the best in each other. The story felt so real and really made me feel. I was so sad for this book to end, and it didn’t end quite the way I would have liked, but… well, I don’t want to give anything away, so you’ll just have to find out on your own.

The Prince & the Apocalypse was my first book to read by Kara McDowell, but I would love to read more of her books in the future.

I received a free advance copy of this book through NetGalley. All of the opinions in this review are completely my own.

May 1, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Young Adult 0

Miss Matched

By Wendy Million

Coming Soon on June 13, 2023

(3.5 / 5)

I had the opportunity to read a free advanced review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Keep in mind that the published version will have been edited from the advanced version I read.

Miss Matched is a 2nd chance romance that alternates between the points of view of the two main characters, Tayla and Simon. The premise: about six years ago, the two had a bad breakup after dating for a couple years. You can imagine Tayla’s shock when she uses an expensive dating service to find her soulmate, only to be matched with Simon.

Overall, this book was a fairly quick read that flowed well, but there were certain aspects of the story that just didn’t seem very believable, which is why I didn’t like it as much as I could have. From the beginning, the dating service seemed like a bit of a farse. Only women can use it, and it costs as much as a down payment on a house? Over the course of the book, we learn other shady things about the company, yet somehow all of this has managed to stay quiet for years? I also found the full story about Tayla and Simon’s original breakup, which is revealed gradually, seemed a bit too uncharacteristic for a couple who was supposedly so close.

I honestly thought Simon was a bit of a jerk, especially at the beginning of the book. He did eventually grow on me more though. One thing I noticed was that the “voice” between Tayla and Simon’s points of view felt too similar, and sometimes I even had to remind myself which character I was following.

Despite my complaints, I found this to be an easy read that kept my attention, and I really enjoyed the ending. While this book didn’t turn out to be a favorite for me, I’d be willing to read more books by this author in the future.

April 27, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

Love & Panic

By Raina Ash

(5 / 5)

TW: mental illness, alcoholism, suicidal thoughts

This book pulled me in almost as soon as I started reading it, and I found it very hard to put down. It follows 2 main characters, Natalie and Dean, who are each struggling with mental health and trauma from their past. As someone who has anxiety and has experienced panic attacks, I thought the descriptions were spot-on and realistic. Natalie and Dean end up meeting in an unconventional way, but I loved how they each accepted the other for who they were and didn’t judge. The story was interesting with a lot of ups and downs that kept me invested in the story. I was glad to see a lot of growth in both of the main characters over the course of the story while also being realistic about how these things take a lot of work, time, and sometimes you fall backwards in the process, but that’s okay. The book left me with a feeling of hope and a positive outlook about a topic that often holds a lot of stigma. I really enjoyed the romance aspects of the story as well and found that it came to a satisfying conclusion. There’s a couple steamy scenes, but it’s not excessive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A special thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of the book and the opportunity to provide my honest feedback!

February 17, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0