stephsbooktalk's reviews
772 reviews

Thank you so much to Berkley for the free copy of this book!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary audio!

This book is out now!

I immediately wanted to read this after seeing the cover and reading the synopsis and seeing gothic horror - SOLD. And let me tell you, it is hard to believe that this is the author's DEBUT novel! It was so well written and all the characters were well thought out. The ending kind of leaves you on a cliff hanger and there was just one small (kind of big) storyline that we never fully got closure on. I may re-read the last chapter just incase I missed it the first time around as I was eagerly reading it.

"It's the living you need to be scared of. Haints can't hurt you, but maybe they can tell you some things you want to know."

There were a lot of characters in this and I thought I was going to have a hard time remember who was who but I ended up being okay. Jemma is our female lead who travels from Chicago to New Orleans for a new start to her life. She had had a rough few years and even rougher recent weeks and thought this would be a fresh start. What she doesn't know is the chaos she is about to thrust into - whew! She learns she was asked to come to their home as they feel she will be the one to break the curse. See the family around bound to their home.

There is a lot that happens throughout the course of this book and it kept me wanting more each chapter. The set up of the premise and the hows & whys were probably the slowest parts of the book. I could totally see this book be done as limited series (hello Jordan Peele) as I think if done correctly, could be done so well that it would be really creepy on screen. Jemma is surrounded by ghosts and they communicate with her and when she arrives at this home, she is overwhelmed by these spirits and the mystery that she is so desperate to solve.

I absolutely loved Jemma. In the beginning of the book she is this broken woman and by the end she was such a badass! She grew throughout her time in New Orleans which gave her the strength to travel at the end to find out where she exactly belongs. I really liked one of the quotes towards the end, "All her life, she'd looked ot other people for acceptance, for love. She'd thought that if she were only pretty enough, smart enough, or something else enough, the would love her." No Jemma, you are perfect just as you are!!

I am trying to be vague in all the things that are revealed in the book as that would take away the fun in reading. You will root for Jemma, you will get invested in the side characters (love me some Magdalene & Fosette), you will dislike most of the Duchon family and your heart will break for others.

I paired my reading with the audio and Chanté McCormick knocked it out of the park!! She had a lot of characters that she needed to embodied and did it flawlessly. Credit to the author & narrator, when I would listen as I did chores, I felt like I could still capture all that was happening with no issue. I do not believe I ever listened to her before but I would listen to other books narrated by her.

I know we are heading into the holiday season, but if you are looking for a book to put you into the fall/Halloween spirit - I highly recommend this one!

Thank you so much to Avon for the complimentary!

This book is out now!

I had been saving this book until closer to the holiday season but I just couldn't wait any longer! A Jingle Bell Mingle is the last book in the Christmas Notch series and focuses on the last remaining boyband member of INK - Isaac Kelly. I had absolutely adored the first book in this series, the second one was read so I was a little nervous going into this one. But turns out I had nothing to fear because this one was so much fun!

The chemistry between Isaac and Sunny was so strong! We learn this early on in which Simone did not let us down in that department. She wasn't looking for anything serious because her time in Christmas Notch was temporary and he was afraid of making the next step after becoming a young widow. Sunny ends up staying with Isaac in his mansion where she attempts to work on her screenplay and he attempts to write new music. And if you're a fan of romance books, you know what happens with forced proximity *smirk*.

Isaac very quickly became protective of Sunny and you could feel how much he just wanted to be with her even through her resistance. Sunny had a lot of stuff happening with her family's business and I was happy to see that she worked through her relationship with her brother. I wanted to shake both of them when they just couldn't admit their feelings for one another.

I understand the inclusion of the mystery that Sunny is trying to solve to help with her screenplay but I didn't fully think it was necessary to have. It seemed like a filler? And perhaps I just am being selfish and I just wanted more of the folks of the prior books or just more of Isaac & Sunny.

Overall I really enjoyed this one! If you are looking for a holiday series to read this upcoming season, I suggest giving this one a try. All have been fabulous on audio as well!

Thank you so much to Hambright PR for the copy of this book!

This book is out now!

"Is it possible to fall for two people at the same time? To want them in different ways but also recognize that without one, the other couldn't make me whole?"

This is the 2nd book in the Boston Bolts Hockey series and I absolutely loved Hockey Boy that I read last month. And this book I will be honest, I am not sure how I feel about it.

On one hand I love being back in this world with all the familiar names from Hockey Boy but on the other, I am not sure if having more than 2 people in a relationship is for me? This is the only 2nd book where the female character has multiple love interests and I wasn't fan of that one so perhaps it very well could have been me.

There was some plot in this story but not as much as the prior book. The plot vs spice was not balanced, very heavy on the spice. So if you enjoy a lot of spice with little plot this one may be for you. I really was more interested in the relationships between the characters especially between Cade and Declan. I also would have loved to see each of the characters interact more with other people besides one another. Majority of the plot centered around how this relationship looks to the outside world and if this is what each of them would want.

"Hope. It's the biggest risk of them all. I promised myself I'd skate backward down a mountain before I'd fall for this again. And yet here I am."

Melina escaped to Bristol to stay with Declan due to her agent being abusive and we did a moment later in the book where he does reappear. It was a scary moment for Melina when it happened and I'm glad Declan was there to protect her. I know she had writer's block and took a break from performing due to everything happening with her ex. I wish we did see more of her as a performer and how the 3 of them balance their relationship.

As I mentioned this book has a lot of sex. And look don't get me wrong I love a good sex scene but this had a lot and I was trying to imagine all the positions. And Brittanee can write a hell of out a sex scene. The 3 characters are completely obsessed with one another and obsessed with watching one another. They were so delicate and respectful towards Melina but even when Cade & Declan moved forward with their feelings, they both were so careful at first with one another.

Overall I did end up enjoying this and could not tear myself away from reading it. I will say this is much shorter than Hockey Boy by over 100 pages so it went really quick. Also you do not need to read Hockey Boy to understand this book but they do reference past characters.

If you are looking for a throuple, lots of spice, little plot starring two best friends (hockey coach & a fire chief) and a pop singer - give this one a read!

I have been wanting to read this book last year after seeing that hearthrob and still a hottie Joshua Jackson was named as one of the narrators. Even though I had a year to digest this info, as I was listening I still couldn't believe that THEE Charlie Conway was narrating a hockey romance in 2023!

I never read a Jenny Holiday book before but I know she is a popular romance author but I had no clue what to expect. This was such a charming read and I would read more books by her after this! I know she has some holiday (no pun intended) books that I need to check in out in the next couple of months.

I thought the relationship between Aurora and Mike was really sweet! Mike is almost at a year since his wife's passing and after meeting Aurora he was starting to feel these new feelings. He was hesitant in leaning into a relationship but there was just something about Aurora that drew him in. Their relationship develops throughout the book and eventually becomes physically. Each are falling for one another and Aurora does put a stop to their physical contact because it just becomes too much since he does not want to move further. His daughter was such a delight throughout the book! Her relationship with Aurora felt very special and I think that added to Mike's attractiveness towards her.

One of my favorite moments of the book was when Mike invites Aurora to his parents house and he takes her camping to go see the Northern Lights. They were able to have vulnerable conversations and reignite their physical connection. It also just made me really insanely jealous that they had this magical night under the Northern Lights.

I had to chuckle while I listen because Aurora cracked me up because I totally could see teenage me making up scenarios in my head over someone I just met or went to school. I also had to laugh that they met at Mall of America which famously was in D2 Mighty Ducks and made me want to visit (hello rollercoaster in the mall!?). I do feel like Mike overreacted when she told him that they met one time before and then all her diary entries written out to him. But I get it, we need that 3rd quarter conflict and that was it.

As I mentioned above Joshua Jackson was the male narrator and thought he did such a good job for his first time narrating a romance book! Emily Ellet did a great job as Aurora. And I love how the audiobook was done where the dialogue went back and forth with one another. Their voices just went well together. Highly recommend the audio especially if you are a fan of Joshua.

If you couldn't tell, I just really enjoyed this one! This book did deal with some heavy topics but even within them it had some comedy and light hearted moments as well.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the opportunity to read this!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary audio!

This book is out now!

This book made me want to take a trip to New York City or Vermont and try the local coffee shops and stroll through the town with my warm drink admiring how beautiful the landscape it.  

I will be honest the FMC Abby came off as very unlikeable to me at the start of the book until I got to learn more about her.  I am used to FMCs always being bubbly and happy and Abby just was neither of them. Could that make her more realistic? Perhaps.  Abby is in charge of a Hanukkah festival in her town but its not going as well as she had hope. In exchange for some help with his family, one of her customers at her coffee shop Seth offered to help her with the festival. 

Seth was such a warm personality and brought Abby back to life throughout the book. Abby had a not so great childhood while under her parents roof and it has left her incredibly guarded. Seth introduced her to his family and friends (included his ex fiancee) and really just helped putting herself out there. Seth's relationship with his family was very sweet and supportive especially compared to what we learned about Abby's parents. 

I felt that a lot of the book was them flirting and showing off to make their relationship come off real as opposed to really seeing them together. When they were together they were so sweet and you could tell it came off genuine. 

I read this book majority via audiobook and I thought narrated Kelli Tager did a great job! I checked and I do not believe I ever listened to any books narrated by her. Her voice made Abby come to life and make her feel lifelike. 

Check this book out if you enjoy fake dating, yummy food, set along the winter season!  

Thank you so much to Hambright PR for the opportunity to read this book and the ALC!

This book is out now!

This was labeled as a Romeo & Juliet Hallmark Christmas movie and I totally could see this being a movie (wouldn't it be something if we could get some spicy scenes on tv)! It has everything you look for in those movies, heart, love, rival families and somehow in the end they all make up. I love that this book took place in a town call Tinsel and that it has Christmas all year long!

This was such a cute book! Dane and Amanda were childhood friends and Amanda thought of having a fake dating relationship in hopes that it would bring the two families back together and so she . No one knows why the families are supposed to hate each other but Amanda was destined to figure out how/why this is even happening. Dane always had a crush on Amanda so he went along with it because if this was his way of getting to spend time with her.

The book takes place over a short amount of time leading up to the couple's fake wedding but just like with any fake dating book, feelings between the two start to blur and neither of them want to call off the wedding.

The narrators for the audiobook Connor Crais and CJ Bloom were so good! Connor's voice is such a dream for a male character and CJ has such a great voice for a young vibrant woman! It made the listen experience such a breeze and helped move the story along.

I first read a Kelsey book last year and fell so in love with her writing and the characters she creates. In this one we are thrown into a world of high school politics. Now I am not a huge fan of politics in romances but this was low angst. I have not read a YA that centered around running the office so I was a little nervous about how that would go but this was such a treat!

One thing I have learned while reading a Kelsey Rodkey book is that she is so good with flirty banter and swoony MMCs! Patrick oozed bad boy charm the moment we met him and he started talking to Ella. Heck he even crashed detention just to talk to her when he didn't even have to be there. Over the course of the book, their relationship changes and are tested but in the end they come back together to rule over their school's student body.

"Are my good looks too distracting?"
"You're just --"
"Yours are distracting, too."

I did pair my reading with the audiobook and as always Jesse Vilinsky did a wonderful job as Ella! I am sure I've said this before and I'll say it again, she has such a knack for the teenage voice. Between the way Kelsey wrote and her narration, the listening experience was really good!

I got to meet & hear Kelsey talk about this book. Hearing the author talk about their work and their inspo for it. One thing I love and she spoke about was how she always wanted to name the sisters after states (Delaware - Ella and Connecticut - Connie) and this was the perfect opportunity to use them.

Check this out if you love a YA romance that isn't too juvenile, high school politics great banter and a swoony MC! 

Mini Audiobook Review:  I remember seeing a lot of people reading this book last year and the reviews were sub par and that it was going to be too much magical realism/fantasy. Turns out it was much better than I had expected!

I did read via audiobook and my book but I primarily did through the audio. I was happy that they had 3 different narrators for each of the females (Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, Nell Barlow). They were British if you struggle with accents while listening. I thought I was able to follow the story pretty well. The middle got a little unforgettable but the beginning and especially the half half, things really ramped up.

Taking place during three different timelines, the Weyward women are all related and have this magical connection between them. Oh and this book will make you angry at men. I thought it was a good book to read during this time of year as it was very atmospheric. One of the question during a book club meeting asked which character did you connect to and it wasn't that I connected to this person but I was more drawn to Kate's story. I am not sure if it was because it was in recent time or because there was a lot happening for her.

Overall I do recommend reading esp if you love witch trials, multi POV & timelines

Thank you so much to the author Carly Robyn for having me on her street team!!!

This book is out tomorrow - Oct 24th!

"Theo?"
"Yeah, Jos?"
"You're my favorite."

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of reading Drive Me Crazy and I absolutely LOVED it! It was my first Formula One romance and I was hooked since. And once again I am head over with Carly's writing and the world she has created with these characters.

I absolutely loved Theo and Josie's relationship & their banter was top notch! Theo is naturally flirty and is known as the playboy of the group but there was something Josie that made him want to change his ways. They had such a great friendship and Josie especially was nervous if they have sex, what it would do to that aspect of their relationship. Once it happened, they knew things couldn't be the same. Their love for each other is so strong even without the intimacy. They have such a mutual respect for one another. Theo left everything in Jos's court and followed her lead on things.

One thing I love that was such a small piece of the book but I thought it was really creative of the author to do. Music is very important to Josie and Theo knew that and made her a playlist. But the playlist spelled out sentences and then she responded in a playlist with sentences. It was just such a moment and a pivotal turn for the characters.

"You're my biggest adventure and my safe space all rolled into one gorgeous girl with a fantastic rack."
"That was very sweet until you brought my tits into it."

Though some of my favorite moments where when Theo and Josie were together, I can't overlook the growth that each of them had throughout the book. Theo has this guilt looming over him for wanting to leave McAllister but feels like he can't because it was his dad's former team & a team he loved prior to his passing. The addition of the new owner does not make things easy for him. He doesn't know if he should continuing with a team that meant so much to his family or move forward to a new team that won't hold him down? Josie in a way like Theo feels stunted in her current position has the marketing manager for McAllister. She does freelance work for her friend Ella but an offer to work with a chef and his upcoming restaurant makes her contemplate her role with the team.

I just thoroughly enjoyed this book so much & I'm looking forward to the next book in the series that will be coming out next year! We are introduced to Theo's sister Charlotte and a certain race car driver catches her eye.

If you are a sucker for friends to lovers, formula one, banter, music references, workplace romance - this one is for you! Also bonus you do not need to read the first book to understand this one but it definitely helps as you catch up with the stars of the first book.

Mini Audiobook Review: Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the free book!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary audio!

This book is out now!

I have read other books by this author and I absolutely loved the Bright Falls series and was excited to see that they were making a holiday book!

This book was a tough one for me in the beginning. I was getting the characters confused and who did what with who but I eventually got it all straightened out. There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed and other parts I felt that it was dragging a bit.

I am such a fan of second chances and in this one they were forced to be together in a snowy setting in Colorado during the holidays. The tension is high between Charlotte and Brighton. Charlotte rightfully so is still not over Brighton leaving her at the altar.

One thing that Ashley is so great at doing is spice! She made the intimate moments between Charlotte and Brighton feel so real and you could feel their passion towards one another. The old feelings never quite left them.

The audio was well done by seasoned narrator Kristen DiMercurio! I do wish we had 2 narrators for each person and perhaps that might have helped my confusion in the beginning. But I will always enjoy anything Kristen reads.

I thought this was a really cute read and great for the holiday season!!