Kindle

The Space Between Here & Now

By Sarah Suk

Coming soon on October 31, 2023

(4.5 / 5)

The Space Between Here & Now was unique because the main character, Aimee, has a fictional condition called Sensory Time Warp Syndrome, which causes her to physically disappear and relive memories. Unlike most time travel stories, she is not able to change anything, she’s just an invisible observer. While not common, the condition is known by the general public, but not understood very well.

We meet Aimee as a 17-year-old high school senior in Canada. Her mom disappeared when she was just 6, and her relationship with her father is strained. Recently her disappearances have become more frequent, making her afraid to really live her life because she doesn’t know when it might happen again. Plus, her memories are revealing information about her mother that she didn’t realize before. In order to learn more about her mother, she travels to Korea during Spring Break to see what she can find out.

While STWS is fictional, the stigma and feelings associated with it could be applied to many conditions in our real world. I think it’s a good lesson for all of us to have empathy for others who are different from us instead of dismissing them as weird or giving them unwanted attention.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked Aimee, and it was interesting to experience her rare condition through her eyes. There’s a lot of looking at family relationships and how they change over time. There’s a sense of mystery as Aimee tries to figure out what happened to her mother. A little bit of romance mixed in. And the setting in Korea was interesting, beautiful, and gave insight into Korean culture. I enjoyed watching Aimee grow over the course of the story, and I liked that things didn’t always turn out quite how I was expecting.

Thank you to HarperCollins Childrens Books, Quill Tree Books and NetGalley for the free review copy of The Space Between Here & Now. All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

Snow Days With You

By Leonie Mack

Coming soon on October 20, 2023

(4.5 / 5)

Snow Days With You is a sweet, slow-burn romance that left me with a cozy feeling. It takes place in Chamonix amidst the snow-covered mountains of France, which was an amazing, beautiful setting. There’s a lot of French dialog throughout the book, but it’s done in a way that makes the setting feel more authentic. I don’t know French and didn’t have any issues since most of it was translated or could be figured out from context.

The story’s main characters are Luna and Yannick. Most of the book follows Luna’s point of view but some parts follow Yannick, which I liked so I could see his perspective as well. On the surface, these characters seem completely different from each other: Luna has lived a very sheltered, safe life, while Yannick works as part of a rescue team for the mountains, traversing dangerous terrain that they must access by helicopter. But the characters are also both dealing with a lot of grief from losing loved ones and the ending of serious relationships. Luna travels to Chamonix after she receives a large insurance payout from a man she didn’t know, and it’s almost like fate with how Luna and Yannick’s paths keep crossing with each other. I liked these characters, and I thought they really brought something good out of each other.

The story has a sense of mystery to it, as Luna is trying to figure out why she was the benefactor of the money and also discovering things about her late mother that she never knew. That part of the story took some turns I wasn’t expecting, so it kept things interesting. There was also an “air of excitement” with mountain rescues and mountain climbing being a major theme.

Character development over the course of the story was huge. It was almost like the Luna at the end was a different person from the Luna at the beginning. And Yannick grew over the course of the story as well. The book kept me immersed and interested. I would love to read more books by Leonie Mack now that I’ve had a chance to read one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free advance copy of Snow Days With You! My review is my own honest opinion of the book.

October 3, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

Woke Up Like This

By Amy Lea

Coming soon on October 1, 2023

(4 / 5)

Woke Up Like This was my September early access pick through Amazon Prime First Reads. I often pick a book and save it to read later, but this one caught my interest enough that I decided to read it right away.

The main character of this book is Charlotte, who is only weeks away from graduating high school. She is hoping for the perfect experience to end high school, especially a memorable prom. She’s a planner and takes charge. But she feels like her nemesis, J.T. Renner, is out to ruin everything for her. Honestly, at the beginning of the book it felt like Charlotte was a bit immature and was unfairly putting the blame on J.T. for everything that didn’t go right for her. I was afraid that this book might be a little too “high school drama” for me. But I kept going and it did improve. There were definitely some funny moments, especially when Charlotte wakes up and is suddenly 30 years old.

An interesting theme in this story was the “coming of age” look at teens vs adults – Charlotte thinks adulthood will be fun because there won’t be curfews and you can do what you want, plus you’ll have all the answers. But then once she experiences life as a 30-year-old, she sees that that’s not necessarily the case. Also, it’s important to appreciate the present, because you really can’t predict how things might change in the future.

Overall, this was a fun, quick read that kept me wanting to read more. While the book might be more directed towards a younger audience, there were some things that Charlotte learned along the way that spoke to me personally.

September 21, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Young Adult 0

Missing

By Ruby Speechley

Coming soon on September 27, 2023

(4 / 5)

TW: abuse, nonconsensual sex

Missing was one of those thrillers that left me feeling a bit creeped out, hitting me on a level that not many books reach… like maybe I should make extra sure my doors are locked before I go to bed. I really don’t like to give spoilers of the books I read in my reviews, but this was one that I definitely felt like it needed the trigger warnings I included at the beginning. That said, the Prologue hints on these topics, so I don’t feel like it’s a true spoiler.

This book was a quick read. The chapters were fairly short and had a bit of a “potato chip effect” where “just one more chapter” turned into reading many chapters at a time. I pretty much read the last third of the book in a single sitting.

This story follows Elle, a single mother in England with a 3-year-old son, Tyler. Elle feels a bit “weak” in the beginning, as she obviously lacks self-confidence, only has a couple people she can consider friends, and is still in love with Darren, who broke up with her 4 years ago. It’s pretty early on that a missing poster that shows a picture of her son starts circulating, and this is just the beginning of a chain of disturbing events that happen in the story. I found myself questioning the intentions of almost every character at one point or another, though I managed to piece together a lot of what was going on (and who was responsible) a while before it was all actually revealed. I was glad to see a decent amount of character development along the way, and I grew to like Elle more and more as the story progressed. The book ended in a way that left me feeling satisfied with the outcome.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free advance copy of Missing. All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

September 17, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Thriller 0

Match Me If You Can

By Sandy Barker

Coming soon on September 28, 2023!

(4 / 5)

I’ll be honest, when I first started this book, I wasn’t sure if I would like it. It alternates points of view between the two main characters, Poppy and Tristan. In the beginning, I felt like Tristan had no real personality at all. Which, I suppose is meant to represent the “grumpy” trope, while Poppy was the “sunshine”. I’m glad I kept reading and gave this book a chance, because I did end up liking it. As the story progresses, the main characters definitely gain depth, and Tristan actually becomes likable. There’s definitely some unexpected situations that keep the story interesting.

One thing I enjoyed about the book was the variety of settings. The majority of the book takes place in London, which is admittedly one of my favorite cities. The characters also go to Greece and Edinburgh, which were beautifully described and fun to visit through the eyes of the characters.

Overall, this was a fun, lighthearted read. As I got closer to the end, the book kept me so engrossed that I may have stayed up later than I should have to finish it that night.

I will note that the book included a trigger warning in the beginning regarding infertility and IVF. It was a pretty minor part of the story, but still good to know in advance if it’s a bothersome topic for someone.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the free advance copy of Match Me If You Can! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

September 11, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

Bittersweet in the Hollow

By Kate Pearsall

Coming soon on October 10, 2023

(4 / 5)

It’s hard to summarize a book like Bittersweet in the Hollow. This young adult novel was so much more than just that genre… add in paranormal abilities, murder, mystery, legends of a Moth-Winged Man, a dash of romance, and the powerful bonds of family. This story takes place in present time, following 17 year old Linden, whose family has passed down paranormal abilities through generations of women. Linden’s ability is that she can taste the emotions of other people, so there’s an ongoing theme of flavors and food throughout the book, especially since Linden’s family also owns a restaurant.

The book takes place in the small town of Caball Hollow where everyone seems to know each other. There’s an isolated feeling since the town is surrounded by a national forest, and families have lived there for generations.

There’s a lot of mystery woven into this story. Linden disappeared for a night a year ago, but is unable to remember what happened during that time. Now a friend has gone missing exactly a year later. Could these disappearances be related to the little boy that vanished 18 years ago? What about the Moth-Winged Man that Caball Hollow is known for? All this put together definitely makes for a complex story that keeps you wondering how it will all come together. There’s some interesting twists along the way, and though some of them I suspected, there were definitely some surprises along the way too.

Overall this was an interesting story with a unique feel to it. While at times it felt a little slow-paced, it really picks up in the last third of the book, to the point that I just couldn’t put it down until I finished it at 2am. It was definitely worth reading!

A special thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the free advance copy of Bittersweet in the Hollow. All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

September 5, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Young Adult 0

Love to Hate You

by Camilla Isley

Coming soon on August 10, 2023

(5 / 5)

This is the 4th book that I’ve read in Camilla Isley’s First Comes Love series that is being re-released, and I’m finding that I really enjoy this author. Love to Hate You was previously published as Sweet Love and Country Roads. Though a few characters from previous books appear in this one, it could easily be read as a standalone.

Unlike the previous books I read in the series, Love to Hate You is written from only one perspective, that of movie producer Samantha Baker. I’ll be honest, at first I wasn’t sure how much I would like Sam, since her character begins the book with an abrasive personality and a focus on fashion that just isn’t something I relate to. As I kept reading, though, I found that more likable parts of her personality become more apparent, and I ending up liking her character a lot. She’s a strong female character that gets things done, but underneath it all she has insecurities just like everyone. I also enjoyed the main male character, Travis. I’m not into cowboys, but it didn’t take long to see that his character was far more complex than he first appeared.

At first the locations and people in the story felt a little bit stereotyped, but I think it was mostly to set up the “city girl stuck in the country” scenario. Also, it makes sense since we are seeing everything from Sam’s perspective, and that’s how she felt. I was glad to see that over the course of the story, Sam was able to see the country as more than cows and pastures, just like Travis turned out to be more than just a simple cowboy.

Despite my reservations at the beginning, I ended up really enjoying this book. I got sucked into the story and devoured most of the book over the course of a day. I was satisfied with how things ended, and of course it was fun to get a few glimpses of some favorite characters from previous books. I’m definitely hoping to read more by Camilla Isley in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free advance copy of Love to Hate You. All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

July 26, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

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.

July 11, 2023 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Young Adult 0

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