Fat Stack Friday!

  FAT STACK FRIDAY BOOK HAUL!

This post is for the last two weeks as I missed last Friday! Shame on me! Check out all my different new books!

In Print and in the mail:

Physical books! The bottom three are my Goodwill haul, just 99 cents each! The top three are from publishers for review. I'm looking forward to Red, White, and Royal Blue as I've heard great things. I've already started and let go of Blood at the Root. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan.

This one, though! My friend had an extra copy her friend had asked her to order and then she didn't want it. I've been searching for this one at a decent price but it's impossible to find. She sold me this for what she paid for it plus shipping! First edition, first print! I'm freaking out!

From the library

I had quite a few audio books the last two weeks. I DNF'd Out on a Limb and The Nanny. Loved the Christina Lauren series. Just for the Summer audio was my second time around with this title, last time on Kindle. And I'm currently reading Destroy the Day (Defy the Night #3). 

What did your haul look like this week?

Review: The Serpent and The Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia #1) by Carissa Broadbent

 

Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Title: The Serpent & The Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia #1)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Original Publisher: Nasyra Publishing

Original Publication Date: August 3, 2022

Traditional Publisher:Bramble
Traditional Publication Date: December 5, 2023

Review:

Where to begin with this. I picked this up at the recommendation of many in the book world after finishing another story that left me in a reading slump. I honestly wasn't expecting it to pull me out. Imagine my surprise when the story and the characters totally captured me!

Humans versus vampires is always an interesting mix. You would think, inevitably, the humans would lose. After all, the powers of the vampire along with the almost impossibility of them being "killed" is unsurpassed. But this story takes a very "human" girl and puts her in circumstances where she must defend herself and survive. 

The plot is common enough: the humans and vampires live separately, the vampires pretty much in control of all. Yet here we have a girl, Oraya, who has lived her whole life amongst the walking dead because one of the vampire kings chose to keep her and protect her. The reasoning is initially unclear but I will say I kind of figured it out early on. This didn't detract from my love of the story, though. I like the idea of the world being split into different kingdoms of vampires, each with their own abilities and form. That is something that is new to me and made the story line much more interesting than if the powers had been the same for all the vampires. I also like the Hunger Games type plot line that was woven into the story line. While the elements were very similar to what we saw in Collins' books (it's obvious Broadbent used this story line to jump start her own story), I still enjoyed how the paranormal elements were incorporated into that part of the story line. Plus this book gives us a slow burn romance with sexy times, which you definitely don't get from the other story, and is much more terrifying with the vampire story line that's given to us.

The world building here is phenomenal. But it's also why this book only got 4.5 stars from me. The set up is factions of vampires who control different parts of the world while the humans live in sections where they are meant to be kept safe. I enjoyed the set up, but I felt the build was a bit slower than I would have liked it to have been. And at some points it was a bit confusing to flesh out. The flashbacks are important but I think there were too many of them, information that was interesting but not necessarily important to the story line overall. I kind of wanted the action to pull me through the book the whole time but it was not until about 50% through until I really felt this happening. After that, the action kept the pace fast and enjoyable. And Broadbent easily incorporates one of my favorite tropes: Enemies to lovers. And it's slow and simmering. One of things I loved most about the world building and plot was that the romance did not overshadow the main reasoning of the story. It was there, but it was not why I kept reading; it was the action and intense plot line that pushed me along. I also feel like this book could have benefitted from more than one point of view. I needed to be in Rhain's brain, and possibly even Vincent's.

The characters are so well developed in this story. Each and every one important in some way to move the story along. Enemies, friends, allies, lovers, all built to round out a world that is beautiful and terrifying all at the same time. Oraya, the FMC who is set up to break down all the barriers in her way. Rhain, the reluctant vampire. Vincent, the controlling morally grey ruler. And Mische, the best friend! This was another of my favorite parts of the story. I just loved her connection with Rhain. He cares so much for her throughout the book and by proxy Oraya begins to care, as well. 

Oraya is probably one of my most favorite female protagonists ever. She's smart, sassy, and willing to do just about anything to stay alive; even align herself with the enemy if she must. Think Katniss with more wit and a few surprises thrown in once we find out a bit more about her background. Throughout the book, Oraya surprises us again and again with her keen knowledge of vampire ways and her ability to fight them off.

Raihn is what every sexy vampire should be. Is he cut-throat, for sure. But he has this soft side that I was not expecting. It kind of threw me a bit because you see it right off the bat, rather than him morphing into it. He has humanity, which is unexpected for sure. There was never a point in the book where I hated him or wanted him to go away because he really was built out to be a caring, concerned character despite his vampire ways.

The Kejari (the vampire Hunger Games) is where the book really takes off. So much action. So many twists and turns. And that ending. I didn't even know what to think. The sacrifices from the characters were unbelievable. But I do wish the plot had been somewhat different from what we got from Collins in her first book. It was just a tad too similar to me and I really wanted originality.

Overall, this story was fantastic. I'm truly looking forward to seeing where it goes from here because how could things possibly turn around with those twist at the end!

Author:

I've been concerning teachers and parents with mercilessly grim tales since I was roughly nine years old. Since then, my stories have gotten (slightly) less depressing and (hopefully a lot?) more readable. Today, I write fantasy novels with a heaping dose of badass ladies and a big pinch of romance.

When I'm not writing, I'm working at my day job in cybersecurity marketing, watching too many movies, or drawing. I live with my fiance, one very well behaved rabbit, one very poorly behaved rabbit, and one perpetually skeptical cat in Rhode Island.

ARC Review: Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill

Two total opposites. One race through the Great Outdoors. In this grumpy-sunshine teen romance from the author of Love from Scratch and Not Here to Stay Friends , the trail to true love doesn't always come with a map.

Natalie Hart has always been loud, unfiltered, and unapologetically herself. But then comes her freshman year of college, when she loses her merit scholarship and gains one pesky little anxiety diagnosis.

Hesitant to take out more student loans, Natalie decides to shoot her shot and applies to Wild Adventures , a popular outdoorsy reality show. Sure, Natalie prefers her twelve-step skincare routine to roughing it on the Appalachian Trail while competing in challenges against other college kids, but that scholarship prize money is calling her name. High risk, high reward, right?

Enter Finn Markum, her randomly assigned, capital- O Outdoorsy teammate whose growl could rival a black bear. These partners have more friction than a pair of new hiking boots. Or is it flirtation? Turns out falling in love might be the wildest adventure of all...

Title: Wild About You

Author: Kaitlyn Hill

Publisher: Random House Children's

Expected Publication Date: May 21, 2024

Review:

I want to thank Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
When you need money, you'll go to just about any extreme to get it. That's why Natalie Hart signs up for the reality TV show, Wild Adventures. But when her sunshine is paired with grumpy Finn Marcum, she's sure she's chosen wrong. Through their adventures, they grow close, and from the forced proximity a friendship, and more, evolves. But can they ultimately win the money, and each other's hearts?
I love a good YA romance. They are clean and fun and the tension between the characters is fun to watch. I was prepared for a slow burn from this one but the love interest actually took off sooner than I thought it would. Either way it was fun to watch the two main characters have their adventures.
Natalie started off as a high maintenance girl. She fills her backpack with all types of skin care products she refuses to leave behind. And, being a drama major with the hopes of becoming an actress, she talks up the cameras a lot. At first it turned me off a bit. But then she slowly transforms into more than just what you see on the outside. She has so many nuances to her character. Hill did a great job in helping her evolve and develop. It was fun to watch her learn. Finn, on the other hand, is Mr. Grumpy, and I was not a fan of his at first. He was very standoffish and definitely erected a wall between himself and Natalie. But she slowly wears that wall away, and helps him find more of his own sunshine.
I wasn't all in for the chemistry with these two. I think this was mostly because it was told in first person from only Natalies point of view. For me, romances work so much better in dual point of view. It seemed to me the author was more interested in telling Natalie's story than Finn's but at the same time, I don't feel like I truly go to know Finn. Natalie's personality and character overshadowed him.
The plot was fun. I love a good survivor type show and this one gave me those feels. It was also nice to see the history of the Appalachian Trail worked into the story line. I enjoyed learning the tidbits the author chose to share. I don't know much about Kentucky or Tennessee so it was fun to learn that a bit. I especially liked that the author chose to incorporate Natalie's anxiety into the plot line. This is such a wide spread mental illness that so many do not even know they have. The author took good care to show the spirals that happen with anxiety and also giving the audience information on how such things can be handled: therapy, medications, meditation, etc.
I felt like the side characters were fun but would have liked to see a bit more of them. I feel like the only character I understood anything about was the female enemy. We got what she was all about right away. Overall the characters were relatable and real. I can see how people would easily see themselves in these characters.
The pacing was good with this book. I wasn't truly hooked until the romance took off, to be honest, which seemed to be about half way through the story. I enjoyed watching the banter between this unlikely couple.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was cute. This was my first Hill book and it seems her books are connected through her characters. But you can definitely read this one as a stand alone. I think readers who enjoy Lynn Painter, Kasie West, and Stephanie Perkins will enjoy books by this author.

Author:

 

Kaitlyn Hill is a writer who lives to tell love stories and make people laugh. While books make up most of her personality, Kaitlyn also enjoys messy reality TV, has never met a tea she didn't like, and thrives on overly ambitious home improvement projects. She resides in Kentucky with her real life romance hero. Find her on Instagram and TikTok @thekaitlynhill and at thekaitlynhill.com.

Moat Anticipated Releases: April 23 ,2024

   Happy Tuesday April 23, 2024 release day! 

These are my picks for most anticipated releases this week.

A Whisper in the Walls (Waxways #2) by Scott Reintgen

In this sequel to the New York Times bestselling, “pulse-pounding” ( Publishers Weekly ) A Door in the Dark , Ren’s intellect and cunning are stretched to the limit in her quest to take down the system that stole her father’s life.

Ren Monroe is a wolf among lions. After infiltrating one of the greatest Houses in Kathor through her successful bond with Theo Brood, she finds Theo’s father is two steps ahead. He exiles Theo and isolates Ren, strategically working to break her unwelcome grasp on his son—and foiling Ren’s first step to enacting the revenge she’s been planning her whole life.

Ren might have more resources than she’d ever imagined growing up, but she’ll still get nowhere without allies. Enter House Tin’Vori. Years ago, House Brood led an unprecedented raid to destroy a fellow House of Kathor. But a few siblings survived, and they haven’t forgotten the horrors waged against their family. Quietly, they’ve plotted their own revenge, waiting for the right moment to strike. And Ren Monroe might be their best chance.

Like fire, the Tin’Vori siblings are as dangerous as they are useful, both gifted in rare magics. Ren must decide how to unleash them against House Brood without hurting Theo in the process. Her feelings for Theo are growing past the boundaries of their bond, and Ren finds herself balanced on a knife’s edge, a breath away from immense power or utter ruin.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series. I was supposed to get a copy of this to read and review but the publisher never sent it as they said they would so I guess I'll be getting my own copy today!

Funny Story by Emily Henry

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

I really enjoy Emily Henry. I had the fortune of reading an early copy of this and as usual, she hits lots of spots. This one is the forced proximity, adult making new friends tropes. I kind of wish I had this one to read again when I go on vacation because Henry always has great beach read books!

Check out my review HERE

What are you most anticipating?

ARC Review: One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

Harkening to Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None, this high-tension and ingenious thriller follows five couples trapped on a storm-swept island as a killer stalks among them—from Ruth Ware, the New York Times bestselling author who “is turning out to be as ingenious and indefatigable as the Queen of Crime” (The Washington Post).

Lyla is in a bit of a rut. Her post-doctoral research has fizzled out, she’s pretty sure they won’t extend her contract, and things with her boyfriend, Nico, an aspiring actor, aren’t going great. When the opportunity arises for Nico to join the cast of a new reality TV show, The Perfect Couple, she decides to try out with him. A whirlwind audition process later, Lyla find herself whisked off to a tropical paradise with Nico, boating through the Indian Ocean towards Ever After Island, where the two of them will compete against four other couples—Bayer and Angel, Dan and Santana, Joel and Romi, and Conor and Zana—in order to win a cash prize.

But not long after they arrive on the deserted island, things start to go wrong. After the first challenge leaves everyone rattled and angry, an overnight storm takes matters from bad to worse. Cut off from the mainland by miles of ocean, deprived of their phones, and unable to contact the crew that brought them there, the group must band together for survival. As tensions run high and fresh water runs low, Lyla finds that this game show is all too real—and the stakes are life or death.

A fast-paced, spellbinding thriller rife with intrigue and characters that feel so true to life, this novel proves yet again that Ruth Ware is the queen of psychological suspense.

Title: One Perfect Couple

Author: Ruth Ware
Publisher: Gallery Books

Expected Publication Date: May 21, 2024

Review:

Thank you to Net Galley and Gallery books for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I like a good thriller. Ruth Ware has definitely written a few that have kept me on the edge of my seat. I was excited to jump into this one and see where it went. Clearly she knows how to keep the suspense up as evidenced in this fast paced thriller! There's a reason she is one of the psychological queens of suspense!
Five couples set out to take part in a reality show where they are challenged to show they are the perfect couple, But things go exceedingly wrong when a storm hits the island where they are located and they are left to fend for themselves without any of the staff to help them out. Now they have to fend for themselves with limited supplies and no way to potentially be saved.
This book gave me total Lord of the Flies feels. I remember reading it in school and not believing something so horrific could happen. But the truth is, it is our instincts as humans to keep ourselves alive. And in stressful situations we will do anything to survive.
Ware introduces us to characters who are each distinct and bring something interesting to the plot. She writes them so true to life, you feel easily connected and know they could for sure be real life people you might meet every day. For me, it was easy to get attached to certain characters. At the same time, I was worried to truly like any of them because I knew there would be deaths among the group. And Ware did well to keep you in the dark as to the true reality of why the couples were chosen until the last moment when all is revealed!
The narrator is Lyla, a virologist whose boyfriend is trying to break out as an actor. When presented with the opportunity to come on the show, he wants to jump at the chance. But she is skeptical, even after she meets with the producer. She doesn't have a good feeling about any of it. But she gives in and decides to let him have his time in the spotlight. During the book we get some glimpses of other characters who use the one radio left to try and contact someone for rescue. And we get a glimpse of Zana, who writes diary entries of what is happening on the island. These perspectives allow a good amount of mystery to build as each character slowly gets picked off.
I think what I liked most about this book is Ware didn't make circumstances that seemed too far out of the box to have happened. I could truly see myself reacting as the characters did in their situation. It was very true to life.
This book delivers great tension which kept me captivated and often on the edge of my seat. I found the first 50% to be more of a slow build as characters were established and things started to happen. Since the cast of characters was larger, it took a bit for me to sus out each one and remember who they were. Then in the second half I could not put the book down. I was thrown into the intensity of the plot and gripped by the suspense. I needed to know where it would go and how it would end. There was definitely some pulse pounding happening during many scenes. And the ending was not at all what I thought it would be!
This is my favorite book by Ware by far. If you're interested in Love Island meets Survivor, you'll love Ware's twists and turns in this action packed thriller!

Ruth Ware grew up in Sussex, on the south coast of England. After graduating from Manchester University she moved to Paris, before settling in North London. She has worked as a waitress, a bookseller, a teacher of English as a foreign language and a press officer. She is married with two small children, and In a Dark, Dark Wood is her début thriller.

Find her on twitter at www.twitter.com/ruthwarewriter, on facebook at www.facebook.com/ruthwarewriter or via her website - www.ruthware.com

 

Most Anticipated Releases: April 16 2024

   Happy Tuesday April 16, 2024 release day! 

Just one this week for me:

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly S. Change

She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one?

Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.

Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.

When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.

Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

I just love the idea of this book. And how gorgeous is that cover?

What are you anticipating this week?

Fat Stack Friday!

 FAT STACK FRIDAY BOOK HAUL!

This week was a great haul for me! Check out all my different new books!

From the library:

Sweet Filthy Boy (Wild Seasons #1)

Chaos & Flame (Chaos & Flame #1) by Tessa Gratton and Jessica Ireland

Sweet Filthy Morning After (Wild Seasons #1.5) by Christina Lauren

I'm trying to make my way through all of Christina Lauren's books. I've done all but one stand alone so I decided to jump into one of their "series". I'm so glad I did. I loved this one so much and cannot wait to read the rest. I got the short for the series from the library, as well. Chaos and Flame, why are more people not talking about this book series? It's like Leigh Bardugo met Carissa Broadbent but on the YA side. I have the second book (see below) to read early so I wasn't sure what to expect but I certainly wasn't expecting what this brought!

New on my Kindle:

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
Rebel Rising by Rebel Wilson

The Nanny by Lana Ferguson
Dirty Rowdy Thing (Wild Seasons #2) by Christina Lauren

Dark Wild Night (Wild Seasons #3) by Christina Lauren

Wicked Sexy Liar (Wild Seasons #4) by Christina Lauren

Be Still My Heart by Emily McIntire and Sav R. Miller

So many books, so little time. Excited to read all the Christina Lauren! Plus LEIGH BARDUGO! I need all her books so I cannot wait to read this new one. Have heard amazing things about The Nanny. And I'm giving the newest Sarah Adams book a try, though I've had some issues with her books in the past. I've actually requested these on my Libby app, as well, to try and tandem read! I'm a new to McIntire fan so I'm trying to read all her books and have seen good things about her collaboration.

For review:

Blood & Fury (Chaos & Flame) by Tessa Gratton and Jessica Ireland

Blood at the Root by Ladarrion Williams

One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti
Body Check by Elle Kennedy

Really looking forward to reading the second book in the Chaos & Flame duology to see what the conclusion is! Excited the publisher sent it to me! Blood at the Root is one the publisher contacted me for. I have a physical and digital copy. One Cursed Rose and Body Check are both from Edelweiss!

This was a busy book week for me!

What did you get this week?

ARC Review: The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

Christina Lauren, returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.

Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

Title: The Paradise Problem

Author: Christinas Lauren

Publisher: Gallery Books

Expected Publication Date: May 14, 2024

Review:

Thank you to Gallery Books and Edelweiss for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Christina Lauren are back at it again with another romcom about a two people who marry for convenience that ends and the couple later fakes their relationship to receive a huge inheritance. 

I'm pretty sure there is nothing these two can write that I won't love. To say I look forward to their books being published is an understatement. There is just something about how their characters grow together and bond that gets me every single time. It's a slow burn with tons of tension and tense moments. And you just know there will be a happily ever after, even if there is some hell to get through to that finale. Their formula just works for me!

Anna Green is a starving artist who was married to West to secure easy housing during her time in college. But she and West divorced three years ago. Or at least she thought they did. When he shows up on her doorstep telling her otherwise, you can bet she's surprised. But even more surprising is that his family still thinks they are together! Anna is fun but quirky character. She has great sass and she is totally relatable. And her heart is so big. She wants to give and give and give and never takes for herself. She also has no idea how beautiful she is or what effect she can have on men.

Liam "West" Weston is heir to a fortune, but only if he meets his grandfather's clauses for the inheritance. He's desperate to get his hands on that money, but not at all for the reasons you might think. Enlisting Anna is the only way to do it. How could he know he'd fall for his wife during the process? I love Liam. Yes, he comes from wealth. And, yes, you definitely can see it. But he's so much more under that fancy clothing and car that he drives. 

Who would turn down the chance to go to a wedding as a fake wife on an exclusive island for a ton of money when you can't afford to pay your rent? I don't think there are many who would not want to step into the role. Lauren not only brings together two unlikely to fall in love characters but they do it with great finesse. It's a slow burn that has you rooting for the characters to just get together already! And they do it with humor, as well. I had so many laugh out loud moments. It's sweet how the characters learn about each other in playful ways.

Lauren definitely rips out the emotional in me. I'm always on edge with their books because I know eventually there will be a third act whoops before the characters finally realize they are meant to be. Pretty sure I create that tension in myself. But I love how they do it because it's never this huge scene and the authors are masters at making it realistic.

Another thing these author do so well is the description of the world they build. This book primarily takes place on a tropical island. The descriptions truly made me feel like I was right there (also they made me a little jealous because who doesn't want to be on an exclusive island with a hut over the water?). 

And the side characters! Some are totally fabulous. You want to them be on Anna's side, and they are. While others are just downright mean and you'd be more than happy to throw the off the pier into shark infested waters!

If your looking for a fun romantic book where the characters aren't likely to be a perfect match but end up complimenting each other, this one is that book. So grab this one and your favorite cold cocktail, it's the perfect Summer read.

Authors:

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced nineteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 30+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)


We don't respond to private messages here, so please contact us via twitter (@seeCwrite for Christina and @LolaShoes for Lauren) or our site. Thank you!!