It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #3

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Date. The idea is to share what you've read lately, what you're currently reading, and what you plan to read next. I love seeing what other people are reading and then adding to my never-ending TBR, so I thought this would be a fun meme to participate in each week!

What I Read Last Week:

Worth the Wait by AJ Pine {My review}
Fateful by Claudia Gray

What I'm Currently Reading:

London Belongs To Me by Jacquelyn Middleton

What I Plan to Read Next:
I honestly don't know. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with books. There are books I need to read for review and books I want to read, and I'm torn between genres and new books and backlist books and...yeah. I'm definitely overthinking it, but for once I'm not sure what to read next. Hopefully by the time I finish London Belongs to Me, something will jump out at me. Do you ever have that problem?


Last Week on the Blog:
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #2
Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Satisfy Your Wanderlust
Review: Sweet Pursuits by Pauline Wiles (4 stars)
Review: Worth the Wait by AJ Pine (5 stars)

What have you been reading lately? Have you read any of the books I've been reading? I'll be doing the rounds of fellow It's Monday! What Are You Reading? participants, but in case I miss you, be sure to leave a link below so I can visit you! Also, if you did a general weekly recap, feel free to leave a link so I can check it out!

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Review: Worth the Wait by AJ Pine

Worth the Wait by AJ Pine
Series: Kingston Ale House #4
Published: January 16th, 2017
Publisher: Entangled
240 pages (ebook)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Acquired this book: Bought
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon || Kobo}

I like to think of myself as a man of pleasure…

I enjoy a good pint of ale, being in the arms of a beautiful woman, and living by my own rules. The only thing I try to avoid? Commitment. And I’ve got a three-year success rate to prove it.

I wasn’t planning on Grace—the beautiful, funny, totally off-limits massage therapist who keeps popping up in my life. She’s on a six-month mission to rid her life of toxins. No alcohol. No red meat. And, yeah, no men. I’m talking full-on man cleanse.

I know I should walk away, but I can’t…and the only way to keep her in my life is to live by her rules. I’ll need to prove to a woman who’s lost all trust in men that I’m worthy of her love. And do it all without so much as a single kiss.

The only problem? If I win, I’ll lose the one thing I swore I’d never give up. My heart.

AJ Pine’s Kingston Ale House series quickly became a favourite of mine. Starting with Brynn and Jamie’s story in The One That Got Away, then Holly and Will’s story in Six Month Rule, then Annie and Wes in Three Simple Words, and finally Grace and Jeremy in Worth the Wait, I loved each new book more than the last.

We got to see Jeremy throughout the series, so I was excited to finally read HIS book. After having his heart broken by his former girlfriend, Jeremy is resistant to commitment or letting anyone get close. He’s always been the sort of guy who goes with the flow and accepts whatever falls into his lap. He’s okay just getting by, doing what needs to be done, but not really striving for more. Enter Grace - strong, driven, independent. Having been deeply hurt by her ex, she decides she needs to make some big changes in her life. She goes on a six-month cleanse, which includes no men. She needs to figure out how to separate physical connection from emotional connection, and hopes once the cleanse is over she’ll have everything figured out. She wasn’t expecting Jeremy to enter her life, or to have an instant connection with him.

Worth the Wait had so many of the elements I love in romance. I enjoyed the themes of trust and commitment, learning from mistakes, and learning to move forward after being hurt. I loved watching Grace and Jeremy form a friendship that slowly turned into something more. Considering Grace was on a ‘man cleanse’ I didn’t expect there to be much in the way of sexytimes but OH BOY let me tell you: this book is sexy. I’m talking need a cold shower sexy. There’s a lot more to it than that, though; Grace and Jeremy form a real bond, and they grow a lot over the course of the story, both personally and as a couple.

One of the things I love most about Pine’s books is her ability to write fantastic ensemble casts. I fell in love with her characters in the If Only series, and fell just as hard for the Kingston Ale House gang. I can imagine being part of this group, hanging out at the Ale House, and being part of this mismatched group of family-like friends. I’ll miss these characters and think of them often, the way I still do with the If Only characters. While each of the books in the Kingston Ale House series can technically be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the whole series - in order - so you get the full effect of the relationships between the characters. I got excited every time familiar characters showed up, and I'm not even going to lie, I cried like a baby at the end of Worth the Wait seeing everyone get such beautiful happily ever afters.   

Fun, romantic, and sexy, Worth the Wait is the perfect end to one of my favourite series. Grace and Jeremy are relatable characters who are easy to fall for separately, and make you want to root for them as a couple. Pair that with great side characters, plenty of giggles, and an engaging plot - oh and the SUPER HOT SEXYTIMES - and Worth the Wait is definitely a book that should be on your TBR.

Have you read Worth the Wait or any of the other Kingston Ale House books? What did you think? If you haven't read them, do you plan to? What are some of your favourite books with great ensemble casts?

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Review: Sweet Pursuits by Pauline Wiles

Sweet Pursuits by Pauline Wiles
Series: Saffron Sweeting #2 (However, can be read as a standalone)
Published: January 26th, 2017
Publisher: Self-published
303 pages (eARC)
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Acquired this book: From the author in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon US || Amazon CAN} 
 

What’s the recipe for a second chance at love?

After six blissful years with scientist boyfriend Owen, Bella Beecham was convinced he was about to pop the question she’d been longing to hear. Instead, he accepted a prestigious job in California and left England without a backwards glance. Now, Owen’s back in the village of Saffron Sweeting, and appears to be more eligible than ever. Bella’s determined that the man of her dreams won’t slip through her fingers again.

But her plans to tone up, trim down, and tempt Owen back into her life prove bittersweet. Although Bella’s talent for baking wins her new friends, her tasty treats have a disconcerting tendency to sabotage her own intentions. And as her increasingly bold attempts to recapture Owen’s heart stumble, Bella must question whether she’s chasing a guy who wants to be caught.

If you know me well, you’ll know I love romantic comedies - bonus points if they happen to be set in England. Sweet Pursuits fits both of these categories. Set in the small town of Saffron Sweeting, this book follows Bella on her quest to win back her ex, the ‘love of her life’, who not only dumped her, but took off to America without a backward glance...until several years later when he returns to England for his job. Bella, having never moved on, is determined to win Owen back by shedding some weight, sprucing up her wardrobe, and reminding him of the good times they shared.

I’ll admit, at first I had some issues with Bella wanting to lose weight to get Owen back. I’m generally against people changing to impress someone else, but I hung in there, having a feeling Bella’s misguided attempts would eventually turn into something more. They did. I grew to really admire Bella - she was smart, funny, and determined, the type of heroine who’s capable of saving herself from distress, albeit with a bit of help from loyal friends, both old and new. She learned a lot through the course of the book, and grew as a person. It was a pleasure to watch, and it inspired me in my own quest to become healthier and stick to my goals. 

Besides Bella, Sweet Pursuits had a great cast of characters. There were a lot of people to keep track of, which threw me a bit at first, but as each character’s personality began to shine through, it was easy to keep up. Each character added something special to the story, and it was nice to see Bella opening herself up to new people as well as new experiences.

Funny and charming, Sweet Pursuits is the type of chick lit I love. With a smart, well-rounded main character, a fun ensemble cast, and a plot that kept me interested, I'd definitely recommend Sweet Pursuits. 

Have you read Sweet Pursuits? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Do you enjoy women's fiction/chick lit?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Satisfy Your Wanderlust

  

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is a freebie, so I decided to spotlight some of my favourite books that involve travel. Whether you're strictly an armchair traveler, or you're a real-life adventurer who's between trips, these books should satisfy your wanderlust...at least temporarily.😉

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (Paris)

2. Every Word by Ellie Marney (Set in Australia, plus the main characters visit London) 

3. London Belongs to Me by Jacquelyn Middleton (London - obviously - plus Manchester)

4. Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae (Italy)

5. Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch (Italy)

6. A Place in the Sun by RS Grey (Italy)

7. Wanderlost by Jen Malone (Various countries in Europe, including Austria, Monaco, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic)

8. Just One Year by Gayle Foreman (Various places in Europe, Asia, and North America, including Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai, and Mexico)

9. The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall (Paris and Istanbul)

10. This is a total cheat since it's 10 books in total, but I couldn't pick just one! If there's one series I wish more people knew about, it'd be the Passport to Peril series by Maddy Hunter. Each book is set in a different country/countries, and they're hilarious and clever, plus after almost a dozen books I've never guessed the killer.

• Alpine for You (Switzerland)
• Top o’ the Mournin’ (Ireland)
• Pasta Imperfect (Italy)
• Hula Done It (Hawaii)
• G’day to Die (Australia)
• Norway to Hide (Scandinavia)
• Dutch Me Deadly (Holland)
• Bonnie of Evidence (Scotland)
• Fleur de Lies (France)
• From Bad to Wurst (Germany)

If you're like me and have a wicked case of wanderlust, be sure to check out my Wanderlust tag!

 

 

Do you like to read books set in different countries? What are some of your favourites? Tell me in the comments, or if you did a TTT this week, leave me the link so I can check out your list!

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #2

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Date. The idea is to share what you've read lately, what you're currently reading, and what you plan to read next. I love seeing what other people are reading and then adding to my never-ending TBR, so I thought this would be a fun meme to participate in each week!

What I Read Last Week:

 

Even if the Sky Falls by Mia Garcia (Review to come)

What I'm Currently Reading:

 

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Worth the Wait by AJ Pine 

What I'll Be Reading Next:

London Belongs to Me by Jacquelyn Middleton

The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro

Last Week on the Blog: 

• It's Monday! What Are You Reading #1
• Top Ten Tuesday: Hidden Gem Books of the Last 2 Years
• Review: Dreamology by Lucy Keating

What have you been reading lately? Have you read any of the books I've been reading? I'll be doing the rounds of fellow It's Monday! What Are You Reading? participants, but in case I miss you, be sure to leave a link below so I can visit you!

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Review: Dreamology by Lucy Keating

Dreamology by Lucy Keating
Series: Standalone
Published: April 12th, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
336 pages (eARC)
Genre: Contemporary YA/Science Fiction
Acquired this book: Via Edelweiss in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon || Chapters/Indigo}

For as long as Alice can remember, she has dreamed of Max. Together they have traveled the world and fallen deliriously, hopelessly in love. Max is the boy of her dreams—and only her dreams. Because he doesn’t exist.

But when Alice walks into class on her first day at a new school, there he is. It turns out, though, that Real Max is nothing like Dream Max, and getting to know each other in reality isn’t as perfect as Alice always hoped.

When their dreams start to bleed dangerously into their waking hours, the pair realize that they might have to put an end to a lifetime of dreaming about each other. But when you fall in love in your dreams, can reality ever be enough? 

Dreamology is a breath of fresh air. It combines my favourite YA genre - contemporary - and adds in elements of fantasy and science fiction that set it apart and made it wonderfully unique. After reading several meh books and a DNF, Dreamology was exactly the type of light, fun, and funny book I needed.

Alice was a fantastic main character. She had a great voice that felt age appropriate and her thoughts and actions rang true to her age. I connected with her easily and wanted to see her succeed in everything she did because she seemed so real. Besides Alice, this book was full of fantastic characters. I adored Max; he was literally Alice’s dream boy, but he wasn’t perfect, which I appreciated. He was a bit of a mystery at times, since Dream Max and Real Max were so different to Alice, but despite that, he clearly knew Alice well. I loved how even when he seemed distant, he was always looking out for Alice and clearly cared about her. Alice’s best friend Sophie, and her new friend Oliver were stand-out secondary characters. Oliver was hilarious, and if I hadn’t loved Max so much I would have wanted Alice and Oliver together. Alice’s dog Jerry deserves a special mention too. I loved how he was always there, a special part of Alice’s life and her memories of growing up. Keating did an incredible job with all the characters; they were all so real, all had a purpose, and they all leapt of the page.

The dream sequences in the book were so much fun to read. They were wild and crazy and imaginative, and as someone with a vivid imagination, I loved reading about Alice and Max’s dream adventures. It was also fascinating to learn some of the science behind dreams. Dreams are such a mystery to most of us, so I appreciated how those facts were woven into the book in a natural, interesting way. I also appreciated that even though there were fantastical elements that made you feel like you were in a dreamworld, there were also realistic situations - Alice’s family issues, school, trying to figure out what to do with her life, her feelings for Max, a friend’s unrequited feelings for her. There was a lot of real ‘teen stuff’ and it all felt really authentic. 

Dreamology is a book that will stick with me for a long time. Full of vivid descriptions, memorable characters, and an original plot, Dreamology is a must-read for fans of contemporary YA who are looking for a little something extra.

Have you read Dreamology? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Do you have vivid, memorable dreams or do you forget your dreams the minute you wake up?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Hidden Gem Books of the Last 2 Years

  

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Underrated/Hidden Gem Books I've Read in the Last Two Years

Note: all links lead to my review, except for The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love, which leads to GoodReads. I'm a space case and just realized when I made this list that I never reviewed TGGTUL. I'll have to rectify that soon!

1. Every Breath by Ellie Marney
"What if Sherlock was the boy next door?" A lot of adventures and sexytimes would happen, that's what. This will always be my number one choice for underrated book. It's such a shame that books by Australian authors that are released first in Australia seem to be less popular in North America. This is hands-down one of my favourite series, and so few of my reader friends have read it. If you enjoy contemporary YA with lots of mystery and intrigue, plus a swoony romance, and/or if you're like me and will read anything Sherlock-related, this is a must read. 

2. Upside Down by Lia Riley
A smart, strong neuro-diverse main character and a hot, broody hero. Australian setting. Lots of giggles and feels and crazy-hot sexytimes. All the books in this series are great.

3. What If by AJ Pine
This is actually the second book in the If Only series, but I loved it even more than the first, hence choosing it for the list. This is a beautiful story about self-discovery and love, with complex, memorable characters. Plus, it has one of my favourite side characters ever! 

4. Swimming to Tokyo by Brenda St John Brown
All the feels and all the swoons, plus a fun, interesting setting you don't often see. This is one of those books that sneaks up on you and grabs your heart.

5. Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine
6 words: Steampunk Phantom of the Opera retelling. Yes, it's as good as it sounds. 

6. The Architect of Song by AG Howard
Most people are probably familiar with Howard's Splintered series, as well as her newest release, RoseBlood, but The Architect of Song is her first foray into New Adult. This gothic historic fiction/paranormal book was beautiful, haunting, romantic, and had a good dose of mindfuckery that kept me guessing. Also, the main character is deaf, which was one of the first things that drew my attention when I read the synopsis, because my brother is Deaf. 

7. The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash
This book made my nerdy little heart so, so happy. If you're a nerd and/or fangirl/boy/person, this book is a must read. Funny, adorable, and realistic. 

8. Without Borders by Amanda Heger
Set in Nicaragua, this book has lots of adventures, plus romance and feels. It's completely different from other New Adult I've read, which I love.  

9. The Turning Point by Marie Meyer
Are you sensing a theme here? I really like books set outside North America. This one is set in Italy (*swoon*). This is an emotional, thought-provoking read about self-discovery and  the power of love. 

10. Losing at Love by Jennifer Iacopelli
This is the second book in the Outer Banks Tennis Academy series, but like with AJ Pine's If Only series, the second was my favourite. When I initially picked up the first book, Game. Set. Match. I wasn't sure I'd like it because I have zero interest in or knowledge of tennis, but I LOVED it. The first book came out in 2013 and the second in 2015, and the wait was torture. I'm pretty sure I read there was going to be a third book, and I sure hope there is!

Have you read any of my favourite underrated books? What are some books you consider hidden gems? Tell me in the comments, or if you did a TTT this week, leave me the link so I can check out your list!

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #1

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Date. The idea is to share what you've read lately, what you're currently reading, and what you plan to read next. I love seeing what other people are reading and then adding to my never-ending TBR, so I thought this would be a fun meme to participate in each week!

What I Read Last Week:

 

Love, Hate, and Other Lies We Told by Deirdre Riordan Hall (Review to come)

Londontown by Susannah Conway (Review to come)

What I'm Currently Reading:

 

Fateful by Claudia Gray
Even if the Sky Falls by Mia Garcia

What I'll Be Reading Next:

   

Worth the Wait by AJ Pine

London Belongs to Me by Jacquelyn Middleton

Last week on the blog:

• Review: RoseBlood by AG Howard

• Top Ten Tuesday: Too Many 2016 Releases Not Enough Time

• Full House Reading Challenge Sign Up

• 5 Things I’ve Learned in 5 Years of Publishing

What have you been reading lately? Have you read any of the books I've been reading? I'll be doing the rounds of fellow It's Monday! What Are You Reading? participants, but in case I miss you, be sure to leave a link below so I can visit you!

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