Tag: reading

This Chick Read: A Grave Robbery (Veronica Speedwell #9) by Deanna Raybourn

Lord Rosemarren purchases a wax figure of a beautiful woman reclining and asks Stoker to install a clock mechanism to give the Rosemarren Collection its own Sleeping Beauty, a la Madame Tussaud’s. When Stoker cuts into the woman he makes a gruesome discovery. This woman is not a wax figure but a perfectly preserved body. Who is this woman and why would someone preserve her like this? As Veronica and Stoker investigate the scientific community they find themselves pursued by someone who wants the Beauty back and will do anything to make that happen.

I love the uncommon pairing of Veronica Speedwell, lepidopterist and illegitimate child of the Prince royal, and Stoker, her lover and friend. His knowledge of taxidermy and the preservation of beings is stretched to the limit in this investigation and while the discovery of the preserved woman is gruesome, they both want to do right by her, find her family, and give her a proper burial. Unfortunately for them, an obsessed scientist wants her back for their own which puts them, once again, in peril.

Despite the setting of Victorian England, this novel reads more regency romance, with an investigation by day and fade to black love scenes at night. Despite, or maybe because of the romance I enjoyed this novel more than the previous couple of books in this series. More so because of the eccentric side characters, but also because the two main protagonists are just so interesting to read about. Neither of them are perfect, nor do they want to be. Although at times they are too smart for their own good. A Grave Robbery was a refreshing addition to this somewhat steady series. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Grave Robbery

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This Chick Read: The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead

When librarian, Alexis Stone gets dumped by her boyfriend for being boring in bed she decides to prove something to herself. She puts on a stunning outfit and goes to a sophisticated bar in a hotel to have a one night stand. When she is harassed at the bar by a drunk patron, Logan, a rather abrupt and brash man in a suit, comes to her rescue. They strike up a conversation and Alexis goes for it.. and Logan takes her up on the offer. Their chemistry is off the charts but unfortunately someone pulls the fire alarm just when things start to get interesting. Twisting her ankle on the way down the stairs, Logan carries her down, right into a crowded parking lot. He drops her with an EMT, but when he spots the press he takes off without getting her number.

Logan ended up being a candidate for Governor and of course their photo gets taken. When his team tracks her down they offer her a deal. Her image is just what he needs- a beautiful and sweet librarian who might help his brash reputation. In return she can have a favor. This was a cute premise with a charming main characters. They were total opposites but you know what they say about opposites attracting!

Logan and his political team get more than they asked for when Alexis decides to use her new notoriety to help teachers and librarians get better pay. I loved how she jumped out of her comfort zone and came out guns blaring. Logan seemed to love it as well. In politics he may have been brash but in a romance novel he was all alpha male and I loved their pairing. They were sweet and salty and watching them fall for each other under the premise of dating was really fun to read. For those of you who like to know the heat factor, the intensity was certainly there but this was a slow burn novel. This author knows how to build tension! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Boyfriend Candidate

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This Chick Read: Scandalized by Ivy Owens

Investigative journalist Georgia Ross is stranded in an airport while trying to get home after an exhausting overseas trip. The airline can’t rebook her until the morning and the person before her got the last room available in the hotel. When Gigi realizes that he’s the older brother of a childhood friend she strikes up a conversation that leads to her using his shower and then drinks in the lobby of the hotel. Alec Kim is handsome, intelligent, and they have amazing chemistry and Gigi does something she never does. She has a one night stand that is unforgettable. When morning comes Alec is distant, but treats her to a first class ticket home. When she sees flight attendants flutter around him, and fans with signs in the airport she realizes he was not only her childhood friends older brother but a very famous actor. She feels ridiculous, until he tracks her down…

This book was riveting. Then tension between these two was palpable. Gigi’s story that she was investigating was incredible, and Alec was almost too good to be true. I was hooked from the very first scene and was amazed at this “first time author’s” debut novel. I did find out that this author is actually Lauren Billings of the duo Christina Lauren and then wasn’t so surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. It was very different than a Christina Lauren novel though. It was filled with tension and I wasn’t sure if there was going to be an hea for our couple. It really read more mystery-fiction than romance, but regardless it was sooooo good!

What did I love about it? Well, the story Gigi was investigating was jaw-dropping and horrifying. Alec’s acting persona was interesting and added more drama to a drama-filled story. Their chemistry was page on fire type of chemistry. Their romance was emotional, connected, and did I say emotional? I was so caught up. I know I’ll be getting the audiobook soon just so I can see if I like it as much the second time around. I’m not sure I’ll live through those heat the sheets scenes though.

I love Christina Lauren novels, but you know what? I hope Ivy Owens has another riveting novel drop because I loved her solo writing style too. The bio said she wrote it during the pandemic but I hope she carves out the time to go solo again soon. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Scandalized

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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This Chick Read: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

Finding her dream man is harder than Annie Walker thought it would be. When she accidentally hears her blind date ask a friend to call and bail him out because she’s “so unbelievably boring” she figures she needs to practice being more exciting. Who better to teach her than tattooed bodyguard to the stars, Will Griffin. Will is back in Rome, GA to guard her soon to be sister-in-law while she plans her upcoming nuptials. When he finds himself tasked with helping Annie out, he knows he’s in trouble. He has always had a soft spot for the shy, flower shop owner, but a few “practice” dates shouldn’t be too hot to handle. Or are they?

I found this novel on a Best of 2023 romance book list and thought I’d give it a try. The plot was pretty simple but I was intrigued by this guy who doesn’t want to put down any roots and how a small town girl was going to rope him in. I’ll admit that they had a bit of chemistry and some of their practice dates were cute, but I thought there was a lack of depth in our heroine that made it really hard for me to connect with them as a couple.

I will back off a bit and say that I haven’t read this author before and it could be that not having read Annie’s brother and soon to be sister-in-law’s romance might have provided a back story that could’ve helped me like Annie a bit more. Maybe. However, this novel isn’t a second in a series and is said to be ok to read as a stand alone, so I think it just didn’t fit what I needed when I picked up a book to read. Sometimes that happens, right? ❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Practice Makes Perfect

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This Chick Read: Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros

A much anticipated sequel to the bestseller Fourth Wing, I chose to listen to the sequel as I did the first book despite it’s length at 808 pages. The first novel caught me by surprise. I love fantasy novels, especially if there be dragons, so was immediately swept up in the fervor for Fourth Wing. Because I was late to the party, I didn’t have to wait too long for the second book, Iron Flame, to come out. I was eager to see how it would start as the preceding book left us hanging on a huge plot point. Luckily it started off right where we left all the characters and I anticipated immediate action sequences and lots of romance. I got a bit of one and not much of the other for a good length of the book.

Violet and Xaden had to regain trust in each other and it took a really long time for Violet to forgive him. A long, long time. Now, if I had been reading this book I could’ve skimmed through a hundred, or two hundred pages, and still got the set-up to the main plot for Iron Flame. However, I was listening to this novel and I don’t really know why but the story wasn’t grabbing me without that love interest side plot. When looking at it, I think my emotions followed what was happening with Violet. She was protecting her friends so she became a bit of loner and that lack of camaraderie which was so fun in the first novel was not around to carry chapters in Iron Flame. At least not for a while. Xaden, was also absent as he was of a different rank and was now on active duty. It wasn’t until a key pivotal plot where Violet has to come clean with her friends and that core group is back together that I started to enjoy Iron Flame. I’m unsure how far into the book that was but it felt like 50%. It just took too long for the momentum to start building.

Needless to say, I thought this story wasn’t as solid as the first, but there were still some great action sequences, Violet was still a worthwhile and interesting heroine, and Xaden was still the flawed hero who will do anything to keep her alive. Plus the friend group expanded, more interesting characters were brought into the story and Violet was put to the test in different ways. I guess I just preferred the quickness of the first novel. For that reason I’m not giving this a five rating but it still gets a solid four from this lover of fantasy novels. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Iron Flame

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This Chick Read: Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Chandler Cohen has never felt more dissatisfied with her job as a ghostwriter than when she attends the book signing of her most recent book and the author doesn’t even recognize that she helped her write her book. A drink at the bar is just what she needs and connecting with the handsome man sitting next to her has her doing something she never does… have a one night stand. Unfortunately for her, despite their connection, it didn’t translate to good sex. She thinks she’s better off forgetting the night entirely until she sits across from him the next day and finds out actor, Finn Walsh is her next client. Wanting to keep things professional she admits to the imperfection of their night together. He is distraught at this news. She is still intrigued by this interesting man who she likes outside the bedroom so she agrees to a deal to “tutor” him on a few things that would help his technique, but only when they aren’t working on the book.

This was such an original premise! The hero isn’t good in the bedroom? That scene was hilariously done and the tutor sessions certainly added heat that was missing in their initial interaction. Chandler and Finn were both great characters. They had interesting back stories, conflicts, and personalities. I loved them both. It’s been awhile since I’ve connected with two characters so easily and enjoyed watching them find their way to each other. I think because of how the book started imperfectly, it just helped it all feel so real.

I’ll admit to that fantasy of attracting a famous actor and while Finn is famous it’s for a part he played in his early 20’s in a paranormal show- think werewolves and vampires. Finn’s dissatisfaction with his career, personal imperfections, and even actors from that show just made him more interesting. Chandler’s job as his ghostwriter gave her insights into all of those things and his hopes and dreams. It made it so easy to like the two of them and root for their hea. Something I did from the get-go. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Business or Pleasure

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This Chick Read: Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

Eve Hatch’s life is comfortable and steady. She’s in a job that is just ok, she lives close to her best friend Willa, and she loves her little one bedroom apartment. Her life doesn’t have any surprises, until she has a one night stand and gets pregnant. Her best friend who is struggling to get pregnant has trouble with the news and her brother, Shep, steps in to help Eve. From notifying the father-to-be to navigating pregnancy, Shep steps up. Delivering surprise lunches, listening to her complaints, and well, being her best friend. Suddenly she finds him kind of hot. Is it just pregnancy hormones or does Shep feel the same?

I discovered Cara Bastone by listening to her Audible Original novels and loved her ready to love characters and the way her humor shines through in her writing. Ready or Not may not usually have found itself to my TBR but because I’ve laughed my way through a couple of her novels I wanted to give this one a try. I am so glad I did! This was a true friends to lovers slow burn romance. Pre pregnancy, Eve’s life was kind of a hot mess. Her best friend’s goofy older brother Shep became her rock and she wasn’t the only one who saw him become more and more attractive. His faithful friend act was sweet and her growing attraction to him and his obvious feelings for her were a joy to read. And yes! There was some laugh out loud scenes in this novel too.

I think we all have a bit of an Eve inside of us. We feel like our lives are not quite as great as we’d like them to be and aren’t quite certain how to get ourselves over that hump and live our dreams. This made me like Eve so much which made reading this novel so pleasurable. Throw in a hero like Shep who was described as goofy and likable, which at first made me picture a Labradoodle, and then see him slowly transform into leading man material was unexpected and very attractive. I felt all of those mixed emotions with Eve and ate up each detail as it was revealed. I couldn’t find anything to dislike about this novel and plan to spend a credit getting the Audible book so I can experience the magic of Cara Bastone’s writing again.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Ready or Not

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: Fish Out of Water by Katie Ruggle

When Dahlia Weathersby receives the 911 text from her sister she rushes into the Colorado Rockies to come to her rescue. When she gets to the small town where her sister was last seen no one will believe that the innocuous phrase about their mother means that she’s in trouble. Dahlia decides if the police won’t help she will investigate on her own. That investigation leads to reclusive author and hermit Winston Dane. A hot bearded hulk of a man who is also a survival expert. He doesn’t usually like talking to people much but for some reason Dahlia makes him comfortable and he’s not about to let her go off into the forest on her own. A reluctant hero is born.

I was so glad to see another book by Katie Ruggle! It’s been a few years since her last novel and she was a quick favorite of mine with her very different romantic suspense novels. Despite the appearance of the cover, which reads contemporary romance, the quirky elements that I liked so much were readily apparent. Dahlia Weathersby with her stylish clothing and complete look earns her living by giving people makeovers and when she meets the very bearded yet handsome Winston Dane she wants to get her hands on him. Winston has been too busy hiding behind a big wall and his booby-trapped landscape to care much for what other people think of him, but when he meets Dahlia he quickly learns he wants her hands on him too. Truthfully, they were adorable together.

I also wasn’t disappointed in the dangerous turn the novel took as they searched for her sister. In fact, I would’ve been very disappointed if something hadn’t blown up or someone wasn’t hunting them down. Those are some of my favorite aspects of her novels. If I remember correctly Katie Ruggle she was a graduate of a police academy and has all sorts of survival and sportsman skills which she applies to her novels. Even though I can’t believe some of these things would actually happen, while I’m reading her novels I believe them and enjoy them 100%. If you love a little danger with your romance as well as swoony heroic leads, you will too. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Fish Out of Water

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: Simply the Best (Dallas Stars #10) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Rory Garrett is a hot mess. Her business partner in her candy business ran off with their product and left her with a run-down food truck and a $2000 fee to the city. Brett Rivers is her half brother sports agent. Driven, ruthless, and successful, he has a one night stand with Rory at her brother’s birthday party but doesn’t know she’s his sister. Trying to do damage control he tracks her down, at her brothers home where they find her brother’s murdered ex-girlfriend. Now working together to find him before the police the chocolatier and the sports agent but heads and fight an extreme attraction to each other while trying to solve a murder.

It’s been a little while since I’ve read one of Susan Elizabeth Phillips Dallas Stars novels and this put me right back in the mood to read them all. She is so good at creating moments and this novel had so many different kinds that drew me in and made me want to keep reading this quirky, fun, love story. This was truly a case of opposites attract. Brett seems to be so put together, and Rory is definitely a catastrophe and together they seem to unravel each others good intentions and bad ones too. The one thing they do have in common is that they want to find her missing brother and figure out what happened.

Murder, mayhem, chocolate, and romance. That’s what you know you’re getting from the synopsis of this book. What caught me by surprise was the humanity, depth of character and feelings that enriched the story. I had fun returning to this series and remembering how much a good book can create that escape from reality you might need. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Simply the Best

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

Ricki Wilde is the artistic, youngest daughter of an Atlantic dynasty. She’s the opposite of her famous socialite sisters, finding her own path instead of working in the family business. When she meets Ms. Della, she accepts her invitation to join her in Harlem and takeover the bottom level of her brownstone to open up her dream business, a flower shop called Wilde Things. Ricki has always been fascinated with the history of Harlem, and while she struggles to make her business work she finds happiness in her new network of friends. 2024 is a new year, and a leap year to boot. There’s something magical about a leap year and this year will become life-changing.

This book certainly was magical, from the amazing book cover, the dazzling drama of historical Harlem, to the complexity of Ricki’s character, and the smoothness of her new love Ezra. What I didn’t expect was that the story would also have hints of romantic fantasy. Told in current day as well as in flashbacks to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s the author balanced Ricki’s natural effervescence with the sultry sounds of jazz and blues. Ricki alone was interesting, her moneyed background could have provided her with a solid, staid existence, but she chose to go her own way without the backing of her family. She is a strong heroine and very easy to like, but it was her stylistic choices and confidence that drew me in. She was a different character than others and her light shone so bright it was hard to look away.

Ezra, who much of the story revolved around, was always magnetic, but in a smooth, easy, way. He was a mystery that you want Ricki to solve, but not at the cost of losing too much of herself. Unfortunately, this is a story about fate which often makes those choices predetermined and the author was very careful to ride that line of fantasy and reality. I didn’t stop to question the plot just rolled with those magical elements and enjoyed the story.

When you’re reading a romance where the two main characters connect in a way that is electric and palpable it’s really special and a Love Song For Ricki Wilde was that book for me.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Love Song For Ricki Wilde

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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