Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer

Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer

4.5 Stars

This was so FUNNY! If you are in a mood to read something super funny and full of chaos, YOU GOTTAAAA check this out! 

Nate and McKenna have a funny "meet-cute" if you will....she's trying to set up the perfect proposal for her sister. They run into each other during this, the chaos ensues....the ring goes missing....and a trip to Tennessee brings her to Nate in Tennessee at his family B&B. They get to know each other, searching for the missing ring, planning a community concert, hiking in Tennessee...so much fun!

I really liked the Tennessee setting as my little small town was included in this book, with our bookstore, donut shop and hiking areas inspiring Becca in her writing! Becca has always been a joy to meet in our local indie bookstore in Cookeville, TN!

The enemies to lovers went on for a little longer than I usually like but around 40% I really started to connect with them as a couple. I recommend as a fun time read!

As an audiobook girlie, the narration was 10/10! She did a great job with all the character voices and really made you feel like you were with each scene as a movie. Made me laugh with her tones during the chaotic funny scenes!

It was also nice to have the short statements of faith in the end!  Romance was clean with kisses only.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for a gifted copy of the audiobook to listen to for review. All thoughts are my own. I purchased a physical copy as well.

Libro.Fm Audio Link: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780310182412

Libro.Fm Referral Link (Supports Local Indie Bookstores): https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798400514395-not-what-we-pictured

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4voEirg
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9781496489098_not-what-we-pictured

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

The Music of Us by Emerald Alexandrea

The Music of Us by Emerald Alexandrea

3.5 rounding up to 4 stars

Y'all, this was a delightful surprise! A clean, YA romance that is great for teens and young adults - and really anyone! Thank you to @librofm and @blinkyabooks for a complimentary ALC to listen to for review. I had a lot of fun with this, it was a breath of fresh air honestly. I am also OBSESSED with this cover!

So if you like boy bands, cats, cafes and sweet romance reads, this is one to pick up! Lucy is helping manage her mom's cat cafe....but the fancy coffee shop across the street is causing them to lose customers and people to adopt their special cats in the cafe. Lucy emails her ex-best friend and first crush Jake, who is in a music boy band with his friends and pretty famous, to help attract more people to the cafe via a livestream performance. But Lucy and Jake haven't talked in years....and their feelings resurface. 

I think this was a fun audiobook to listen to. Yes, there was some miscommunication bits, but expected in a YA romance. I love that this was wholesome and appropriate for young readers with no explicit sexual content or language. We need more of these type of reads out there! The cats were SOOO CUTE and the narrator did a fantastic job with the voice and the tones/inflections for each character.

The family bits were great too, seeing her Mama especially was so precious.

Definitely recommend!

I received an ALC of this book from the publisher and libro.fm. All thoughts are my own.

Content: no language, no spice, kisses only, few “omg” statements, no real content warnings I found 

Libro.Fm Audio Link: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780310182412

Libro.Fm Referral Link (Supports Local Indie Bookstores): https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bjP1vN

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

All The Stars by Mandi Blake

 

All The Stars by Mandi Blake
Unfailing Love Book 5

3 Stars

Leah's husband left her to raise their daughter alone and she's trying to get back on her feet. She goes to the hardware store and ends up having a "meet-cute" with the handsome owner, Brian. They keep meeting and he becomes interested in her. However, she has such significant stranger danger because of the trauma of her ex-husband leaving and his deceitfulness. She doesn't want to let anyone in but Brian has never met a stranger, so they are complete opposites in that regard. Leah works through her hesitations and a romance comes together.

I liked this one, just not a favorite. This series has been quick, Christian romance reads that I have enjoyed but just not the same as the newer books Mandi has written. Most of her new releases are 4 and 5 stars for me so as I read her backlist, I get to see where she started to where she is now, which is great. 

Leah was a character I just didn't end up loving. She had too much stranger danger in my opinion that didn't match up with the trauma she went through but I did love Brian and his relationship with her daughter, very sweet.

Overall, glad to read another in this series and looking forward to finishing it.

Romance was clean with kisses only.

Libro.fm audiobook link: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781664948037-all-the-stars

Libro.Fm Referral Link (Supports Local Indie Bookstores): https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798400514395-not-what-we-pictured

Amazon series link: https://amzn.to/4fAlUa2

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

I'm The Worst - How Freedom is Found in Admitting Our Faults by Nathan Clarkson

 

I'm The Worst - How Freedom is Found in Admitting Our Faults by Nathan Clarkson
4 Stars

Wow, this was a surprising audiobook for me. I received a gifted copy from @libro.fm in the July influencer list for their audiobook listeners program and truly enjoyed this one. This wasn't even on my radar but it's a great audiobook experience, as it felt like a true conversation or podcast, narrated by the author himself. 

This was a book I needed right now as someone who has been frustrated by judgement but also been the judge herself on things. We are not the judge and jury. We are not the be all for everyone's choices. We should never shame people in their choices or experiences. He talks about current and recent events, cancel culture, hero worship and idols and tribal mentality. He shares his own personal stories, references media in today's world and points us back to the Lord and His word related to sin and judgements. He touches on some tough topics but it was an honest, reflective look at sin, our own sin nature and looking at our own mess before we cast the first stone on others. He really encourages you to take a look at yourself and seek the Lord. 

This book felt especially timely because I’ve been increasingly frustrated by the judgment that often exists within the bookish community over what people choose to read. If I’m honest, I’ve been guilty of it myself in the past, judging others’ reading choices and even gatekeeping certain books.

Over time, the Lord has worked on my heart in this area and reminded me that it is not my place to sit in judgment of others, especially when I have experienced judgment for my own reading choices. We can certainly be a resource for those seeking cleaner books or specific content preferences, but we do not have the authority to act as judge and jury over someone else’s reading journey.

Reading is deeply personal and shaped by our individual experiences, convictions, and perspectives. What resonates with me may not resonate with someone else. What affects me may affect another reader differently. We can respectfully share our opinions and have honest conversations without shaming people for the books they choose to read. 

This book served as a powerful reminder that before we pause our scrolling to criticize others online, we should first examine our own hearts. It challenged me to look at my own shortcomings before focusing on the choices of others, and I think that is a lesson worth remembering.

I am definitely going to get a physical copy to highlight some great quotable items and refer back to. While some chapters hit more than others, there's a LOT to notate here that is so valuable.

Thank you to the publisher and @libro.fm for a gifted audiobook to listen to for review. All thoughts are my own. 

Libro.Fm Audio Link: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781545933640-i-m-the-worst

Libro.Fm Referral Link (Supports Local Indie Bookstores): https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4p7RJuf

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh

 Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh
5 Stars

Stay tuned for my reading vlog on this one!

COURTNEY DOES IT AGAIN! WOW! I loved this book so much! Her books just bring me so much joy. I laughed so much. It was giving early 2000s rom-com, I kept picturing Katherine Heigel and James Marsden from 27 Dresses LOL. SO GOOD.

If you want all the joy, read this.

Second chances, funny moments, plenty of depth, clean romance - the best.

I love that the characters are middle age in their 40s. Such a breath of fresh air to see this, especially as I just turned 36 this year and I find myself seeking characters in their 30s and 40s out in books these days.

Claire is recently divorced, as her husband cheated on her after 20 years of marriage.  Claire moves from Colorado to Chicago, a place dear to her heart, as she loved being in rural Illinois growing up. She moves to a new apartment in the city and is ready for a fresh start. Her daughter Minnie is trying to set her up on dates though and makes her a dating profile online. Things get a bit complex when the apartment building owner, Miles, and her have quite the meet cute. Miles is also divorced, isn't seeking getting married again himself...and he starts helping with the matchmaking for Claire. Only you already know....the chemistry is more between Claire and Miles than anyone else they may be trying to date along the way...disastrous dates by the way....little do they know where their own relationship will end up.

But this book was more than just a romance.
This book was about self-discovery after your life turns upside down. It's a reminder to be with someone who supports you in what you enjoy. Lift each other up. I had the best time with this book and would recommend this book to everyone. It's truly one of those books that felt like real life. The epilogue was the best and gave me all the emotions - I teared up it was so beautiful.

The audiobook was also top tier. As an audiobook girlie, I loved the narration. She did a great job and I felt like I was right there with the characters while listening.

Will always recommend a Courtney Walsh read!!

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and libro.fm for a gifted ebook and audiobook to read and listen to for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores): 
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781400352906-brighter-than-before 

Sign up for Libro.fm here: https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RawKds

Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9781400352883_brighter-than-before

*Amazon link is affiliate link and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Sirens and Sea Captains by Courtney Denelsbeck

 

Sirens and Sea Captains by Courtney Denelsbeck
3.5 - rounding up to 4 Stars 

This was a fun novella to read! I like pirates and mermaids so it was a good little novella to escape in throughout the week at bedtime when I picked up my kindle. 

This is a YA fantasy romance where Lenora is betrothed to the pirate captain. Her father sends her on the boat with her betrothed and Lenora's devastated because the man she thought she would be with has moved on to someone else and she is left betrothed to a pirate captain.

She's on the ship with the roughest crew, having to help out unexpectedly throughout the trip with her loyal pet axolotl by her side. Sirens lurk the waters out in the deep ocean though and they all endure quite the adventure on the seas.....

I think if you like pirates, creatures, mermaids, adventures on ships, check this out. There is some Christian allegory as well as she prays to the "Maker", which was nice.

Lots of action as sirens attack and Lenora is trying to figure things out along the way since the pirate captain is so mysterious to her.

The romance is clean with kisses only. Since it's a novella, things moved super quick, so I would have like a bit more details of Lenora and the Captain interacting and talking I think. But overall, it was a good, quick short novella I had fun reading to suspend reality for a bit. 

Thank you to the author for sending a copy of the ebook to honestly read for review. All thoughts are my own.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4vFX1j4
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego
4.5 Stars

THIS WAS A WILD RIDE Y'ALL! This is a very clever, twisty locked-room mystery! If you love thrillers or mysteries, this will be one to check out for sure!

6 thriller authors are invited to an exclusive writing retreat on a private island as a game centered around classic mystery tropes....but things turn deadly when one of the guests is murdered. You know what's next...

I loved the cast of characters, the atmosphere, the isolated island...it was giving And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie vibes honestly! (Another favorite of mine from this year!)

As somebody who never figures out the "who-dun-it" in the book, you already know I never knew who to trust but it kept me engaged as I read along. I was just here for the ride!

The premise is especially fun for thriller fans because the characters themselves are mystery writers. They know all the tricks and tropes, which adds another layer to the cat-and-mouse game unfolding on the island. The author clearly had fun playing with classic mystery conventions while still delivering surprising twists.

The large cast occasionally made it challenging for me to keep track of everyone and their motivations, particularly in the beginning but thats a ME thing. The audio helped me keep track since it was a FULL CAST! I LOVEEEE a good FULL CAST AUDIOBOOK! :) I became fully invested in this one.

If you enjoy locked-room mysteries, isolated settings, and stories that keep you second-guessing every character, this one is worth adding to your TBR!

Content/Trigger Warnings: Mild to moderate language, murder, psychological tension, lots of death in general 

Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores): 

https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780593949863-you-are-fatally-invited (on sale as of 6/24)
Sign up for Libro.fm here: https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3R0O9VZ
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.