Twice In a Blue Moon

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

Publisher: Gallery Books

Published: October 29th, 2019

Rating:

Summary: Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak.

During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good.

Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice.

With Christina Lauren’s signature “beautifully written and remarkably compelling” (Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author) prose and perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, Twice in a Blue Moon is an unforgettable and moving novel of young love and second chances.

Wow this book is one of my favorites from them. I keep reading their books and they just keep getting better and better. I love their writing so much and I love their characters and everything. They create such real characters that you can’t help but love, and you get so invested in their lives and their path in the novel. I really loved Tate and Sam! I loved their beginning, their romance story, and I liked the complexity of their emotions.

Tate was a great main female character. And she really is a good example of children trying to get the approval of one parent, wanting to gain their love, no matter how farfetched that might be. She had a good head on her shoulders, and I liked seeing Tate as a teenager and now as an adult, working and doing her best with what her life had given her. Her relationships were very important to her, and I adored the relationship with her agent, and her best friend. That was sweet to see, and it was nice seeing positive friendships, with supportive friends.

Sam was also a great character, and he was a nice picture of someone who was raised by his grandparents, and the love they all share with each other. I loved Sam as a character, and I see why he did the things he did, along with how sorry he was that he felt he had to do it. But I love the direction his life went, and how he used his love of writing to create magic.

I also loved the romance, and how the focus didn’t seem to be them falling in love again, but also learning to move past what happened to them in the past, They really grew as characters, and learned to make peace with that and see what potential they had in the future. Overall I loved loved loved the romance, and I loved how complex that was and how it felt so real and so true! I felt like I knew them and their struggles from reading this book. I just love Tate and Sam! I love them so much!

This book just really made me happy! I cannot wait to read my next Christina Lauren book!

If you’re looking for great romances, I highly recommend checking Chrsitain Lauren out! I have read so many of their novels over the years and I have never been disappointed! They have romances for everyone! Hate to love, steamy, silly, everything! They really set the bar high for other romance authors!

 

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Teeth in the Mist

Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Published: June 11th, 2019

Rating:

Summary: Before the birth of time, a monk uncovers the Devil’s Tongue and dares to speak it. The repercussions will be felt for generations…

Sixteen-year-old photography enthusiast Zoey has been fascinated by the haunted, burnt-out ruins of Medwyn Mill House for as long as she can remember–so she and her best friend, Poulton, run away from home to explore them. But are they really alone in the house? And who will know if something goes wrong?

In 1851, seventeen-year-old Roan arrives at the Mill House as a ward–one of three, all with something to hide from their new guardian. When Roan learns that she is connected to an ancient secret, she must escape the house before she is trapped forever.

1583. Hermione, a new young bride, accompanies her husband to the wilds of North Wales where he plans to build the largest water mill and mansion in the area. But rumors of unholy rituals lead to a tragic occurrence and she will need all her strength to defeat it.

Three women, centuries apart, drawn together by one Unholy Pact. A pact made by a man who, more than a thousand years later, may still be watching…

Wow! I really am enjoying Dawn’s novels! This is making want to check out her earlier books! I read last year And the Trees Crept In and loved the audiobook, and I listened to the audiobook of this one and wow it’s so good! I also love the format of this novel. When I was home I would follow along via physical book, and it’s really cool reading the format! It’s kind of like Illuminae, but not as crazy format wise. But there are moments where the words are super tiny, written backwards, etc. Its so interesting! If you listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend checking out the physical copy as well!

But its so cool, because the audiobook has like a full cast! There are so many people adding their voice to this audiobook and it makes the experience so good! It also really helped me distinguish between the different characters that were present! It made everything make more sense in my head!

And yeah I really liked Roan! I thought she was a really interesting character, and I enjoyed her storyline! Her secrets and the reveals about her were unique and I didn’t expect any of it! I also liked her romance that was happening with a certain character. It wasn’t the focus of the novel, but the author still made sure you knew her romance was important!

Zoey’s storyline was interesting as well. Her background was cool, and I liked the LGBTQ aspect in her life and I thought that Dawn made sure you knew that her sexuality was just her, and it wasn’t like made a big deal. You felt like it wasn’t a huge thing, but that it was just who Zoey was as a person. I’m not sure if that made sense or not, but yeah! I liked the relationships Zoey had with Len and Poulton. They weren’t perfect but they really benefited her in her journey.

Overall this novel was really interesting, unique, and scary! It was really scary in my opinion! I couldn’t listen to this book at night or when it got dark! It was really scary but I really did enjoy myself and I highly recommend checking out Dawn’s work! I really want to read her earlier books so I might go check them out! With the way this ended, I really wonder if this is the end of this book or if it will have a sequel! The ending was kind of open! I’m not sure what to think yet!

Have you read Dawn’s work? What is your favorite book of hers so far?

Before the Broken Star

Before the Broken Star by Emily R King

Publisher: Skyscape

Published: June 1st, 2019

Rating:

Summary: Everley Donovan is living on borrowed time. The lone survivor of her family’s unexplained assassination, she was saved by an ingeniously crafted clockwork heart. But the time she was given won’t last forever. Now, every tick-tock reminds her how fragile her existence is and hastens her quest to expose Killian Markham, the navy admiral who shattered her world and left her for dead. But Everley’s hunt for justice will be a long and hard-won voyage.

Her journey takes her to a penal colony on a cursed isle, where she will be married off and charged to build the new world. It is here, and beyond, that hidden realms hide, treasures are unearthed, her family secrets are buried, and young love will test the strength of her makeshift heart. When Everley discovers Markham may not be who he seems, her pursuit for truth is bound to his redemption, her tragic history, and her astonishing destiny

So I will say I didn’t like Everley that much as a person, but in a way I did like her at the same time. I was conflicted with my feelings about her. I liked her caring heart and how even though it messed with her plans, she cared for other people when maybe she didn’t want to. Quinn is a good example of that. She really didn’t want to care about herald in the end she really put herself out there for Quinn.

And also I think another character she really hated she ended up caring about. Or basically two characters. But you get the idea right??

But it was interesting to see her anger and see how she let her anger go, and also let her anger drive her to do what she wanted to do. But going on the point of her letting go of her anger, I can really tell about her character progression because she wasn’t letting it go for nothing, and after what was going on in this book, she definitely found it in herself to let her anger towards certain people go and embrace the time she had with them.

I do think that Everley was unique, and her past was dark, but also interesting to see how going through what she did at her young age really shaped the person she is. But it was hard seeing her use people at times, and I didn’t like what she did at the end. And how she treated people. Like she treated a person I ended up really liking kinda horribly but I did let it pass because I kind of understand why, but again it made me upset lol. I’m so torn with Everley!!! I like her but I’m also like “Don’t be a dick!” But I think that’s what made me so interested in her and so excited to see where her character goes in this book and in future books!

As per usual though I loved Emily’s writing! She really hooks you into her story and you can’t really help but get sucked along and taken on a journey! I like her characters she creates, I like her world, the stakes she puts in her novels are so intense! This one was no different! The secrets and reveals were insane! And all the conflict was unique! I cannot wait to see what happens in book 2, and see how Emily raises the stakes in that novel! It can only get better from here as it always does for her so I’m excited!

If you’re interested in fantasy, and fast paced action, highly recommend you check this series out! And also check out her other series as well, the 100th Queen Series is so good!!!

 

Serious Moonlight

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Published: April 16th, 2019

Rating:

Summary: After an awkward first encounter, Birdie and Daniel are forced to work together in a Seattle hotel where a famous author leads a mysterious and secluded life in this romantic contemporary novel from the author of Alex, Approximately.

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell…discovering that most confounding mystery of all may be her growing feelings for the elusive riddle that is Daniel.

This is probably one of my favorite books I’ve read this year so far! It’s so good! I loved it! I loved the characters of Birdie and Daniel! I liked how while reading this they felt so real! They were also super unique contemporary characters! They were interesting and I loved reading about them! I related to Birdie being a mystery fan because I love mystery novels and the fact that the novel had random case files was super cool and added a fun feel to this novel.

It was fun being taken on this journey where they try to solve a mystery! I thought it made the novel so much fun and it really kept you guessing and kept you hooked trying to figure out where their journey took them throughout the novel. I liked also watching them get to know each other and really become friends and something more. It was cute seeing them open up to each other, and meet each other’s families. Daniel’s relationship with his family was super sweet. And Birdie’s relationship with her grandpa and her Aunt was cute to read about as well. I liked seeing them together. Her aunt was an out there character and seeing them have their ups and down was super relatable and interesting to see how they handled and fixed that.

I honestly just loved this story and I loved the characters and I enjoyed the romance and just the overall feel of the novel. The characters felt so real to me, and I thought that Jenn did a really great job writing a fun novel and an awesome romance. The romance didn’t feel weird, it felt real, and was so sweet. I was rooting for Birdie and Daniel so much. I wanted their romance to succeed.

Highly recommend checking this novel out! I really loved it so much! I cannot wait to read her other novels! I have one already which I am hoping to dive into soon! Her writing is so amazing I loved it!

Falling for the Cowboy

Falling for the Cowboy by Kennedy Fox

Published: January 31st, 2019

Rating:

Summary: Never trust a man who wears nothing more than a cowboy hat and ripped jeans who asks if you’d like to save a horse and ride a… well, you get the picture.

That should’ve been enough for me to walk away.

I’ve been warned on several occasions about southern men — with their sexy accents, charming manners, and the ability to easily get any woman in bed — which is something I’ll be avoiding.

Being a professional photographer has many perks — traveling around the world, calling all the shots, and working with subject matter that isn’t bad to look at — but Colton Langston with his washboard abs and baby blue eyes, could care less about my current project. He’s trouble, I know it, and he’s determined to make me work for every single photo. When I’m forced into riding lessons, I get way more than I ever bargained for, and by the time my trip is over, I’m in too deep.

Being with him was thrilling, but falling for him was unpredictable.

And ignoring him will be impossible.

So I read Taming Him which is the first book in The Bishop Brothers series by these authors, and I loved it and picking up this book in the stand-alone series by the same authors, I thought I would absolutely love it.

And yeah I was kind of disappointed.

I liked the characters, and I enjoyed their romance and the direction it went and everything. But I just think the writing wasn’t the best it could have been honestly. The writing was cheesy at times, it didn’t feel mature in other points. I just didn’t like the writing for this novel, and while I devoured the book, I mainly devoured it for the characters and honestly wanting to know what happens to them in the end seeing their romance play out. I think again the writing was just off for me and I didn’t really feel like it sold it for me.

But overall the storyline was interesting and I wanted to see more of the characters, but mainly they kept me coming back to see things through. I did like how the conflict wasn’t really full of drama, just them trying to do what they thought was best for themselves and each other. I liked that the climax in this book wasn’t something full of drama and more about them following what they love. I mean overall the book was okay, but honestly not something I’ll ever read over.

I do think the Bishop Brothers series is much better than this series honestly, but I do enjoy the characters in this one!

I liked that Presley was a bookstagramer because it made me relate to her a lot! I liked that she was involved in the book community. That was a funny aspect of this novel, but I liked that she was able to get Colton involved in her work! That was super sweet and cute! But overall I just think this novel wasn’t as great as I had hoped it would be, and I think I might just finish the Bishop Brothers series instead, because honestly that was way more interesting.

I might see the other books in this stand-alone series and see if I feel that way about them all, or if it was just this one. But yeah I just wasn’t sold on this book and it was just average for me. I highly recommend you check out the Taming Him series because that series so far is so good! I loved it and I will for sure be finishing it! 

Have you read their books? If you have what did you think of them??

 

Beautiful Secret

Beautiful Secret by Christina Lauren

Publisher: Galley Books

Published: April 14th, 2015

Rating:

Summary: When Ruby Miller’s boss announces he’s sending her on an extended business trip to New York City, she’s shocked. As one of the best and brightest young engineers in London, she knows she’s professionally up to the task. The part that’s throwing her is where she’ll be spending a month up close and personal working alongside and staying in a hotel with Niall Stella, her firm’s top urban planning executive and The Hottest Man Alive. Despite her ongoing crush, Ruby is certain Niall barely knows she’s alive until their flirty overnight flight makes him sit up and take notice.

Not one for letting loose and breaking rules, recently divorced Niall would describe himself as hopeless when it comes to women. But even he knows outgoing California-girl Ruby is a breath of fresh air. Once she makes it her mission to help the sexy Brit loosen his tie, there’s no turning back. Thousands of miles from London, it’s easy for the lovers to play pretend. But when the trip is over, will the relationship they’ve built up fall down?

As I mentioned before, reading Christina Lauren is always so much fun and entertaining! I laugh out loud the whole time I’m reading! The writing is so witty and unique, with great sass, and when reading I always want more! I’m never ready to end the story.

This one is just like the others, I wanted more and I was sad when this book ended! Christina Lauren really set the bar high for new adult romances. When I read New Adult I honestly tend to compare them to the Christina Lauren novels I read. These authors are just amazing and create stories and characters I can’t help but fall in love with and I really think they’re some of the best new adult authors out there.

Ruby and Niall were so cute! I love their story and their romance! It was super cute and they had such great chemistry! They had a respect for each other and what they brought to the table business wise. Ruby was so quick witted, smart, and it was great seeing her tackle new challenges with gusto. Plus she’s a up and coming engineer! I love that! Ruby’s super smart! I love that about her as well! Plus she’s so straight forward in personality and I adored that about her, and she was kind of strange with her humor and such, like she did her homework on Niall! Ha! She’s funny and that was a hilarious that she did that!!

And then there is Niall with his overthinking!

I’m weak when it comes too amazing Brit’s in romance novels! Niall is no exception! It was also . It’s interesting to see how different he was from Max! Max was a playboy to the letter, but it was interesting to see that Niall had only been with his ex-wife! And it shows! He doesn’t have much game when he deals with Ruby, and that leads to a lot of interesting dialogue between them, as he falls in love with her while trying not to mess it all up with his thinking. I loved their romance, it felt so slowly built, but their chemistry was instant! And let me tell you that this novel felt way more angsty than the other novels! And then Niall makes a big mistake, which I won’t talk about, but in my opinion he shouldn’t have answered the call when it happened. When you get there you’ll see what I am talking about. I mean I totally understand why he did and why he went, but I think it was still think that wasn’t something he should have done. But I think it lead to them both being able to work things out mentally even though it seemed that Niall suffered during this time, but it put them on the same level in the relationship.

But overall I loved this novel! Ruby was super smart, a great character; and Niall wasn’t the typical new adult male character, he didn’t take what he wanted, Alpha male character. He was his own unique character and I loved that about him! He was a sensitive guy and Stella or anyone else in his life gave him crap for it! Was so great! Highly highly recommend you read their novels! But I would suggest reading these novels in order! Makes much more sense and they spoil things from the previous books! But if you’re looking for awesome new adult novels check out Christina Lauren!

Have you read these books before? If you have, what’s your favorite couple? Mine is tied with Ruby and Niall, and Bennett and Chloe! 

Wicked Sexy Liar

Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren

Publisher: Gallery Books

Published: February 2nd, 2016

Rating:

Summary: London Hughes is very content to surf daily, tend bar, hang out with her group of friends, and slowly orient herself in the years after college. Everything’s going great and according to the non-plan.

But when a wave knocks her for a loop one morning, then Luke Sutter’s flirtatious smile knocks her for another that evening, she veers slightly off course…and into his path. Sure, he’s a total player, but the Why not—it’s only one night is a persistent voice in her ear.

For his part, Luke’s been on hookup autopilot for so long that he rarely ever pauses to consider what he’s doing. But after an amazing time with London, he realizes that he hasn’t been moving on from a devastating heartbreak so much as he’s been drifting to wherever—and whomever—the current takes him. With London he wants more.

Every relationship involves two people…plus their pasts. And as much as she enjoys her fling with Luke, when London learns about his past—more specifically, who’s in it—everything becomes the brand of complicated she strives to avoid. It’s up to Luke then to change some things in order to try and ensure he’s not something she’ll outright avoid as well.

So I’ve had a bit of a break reading Christina Lauren I guess. Like I read a bunch of their novels, took a two year break for some reason, read Love, and Other Words, and then waited like 3 months to read more from them.

And I forgot how much their romance novels can be so funny and cute!! I love them and I love the characters! I had so much fun reading this novel and I was so sad it was over when it was! I always want more form their novels! I always do! I legit would laugh out loud at some moments! I couldn’t help it!

They have such a witty way of writing! It’s just really different, without making it boring or simple! I love it so much! I really do! I enjoy their characters and they make them so unique and interesting! They’re all well rounded people!

London was fun! I like that she was a surfer! She was different! And it was great seeing how she was so in love with surfing and how much it really helped her settle down and everything. It was so infused with her! I just thought that London was so fun! She had a lot of good things to say. And I appreciated that she took the steps to mention to Mia that she was interested in seeing her ex-boyfriend.

Luke was another playboy, but I liked him more than I liked other playboys in other novels I’ve read! He’s super sweet, adorable, and I liked his relationship with his family! He and his sister were super close and I liked seeing their dynamic. They were there for each other, and his sister gave him a lot of good advice, and I thought it was sweet that he felt comfortable enough to go to her for advice. And she knew him well enough to give him advice and give him good advice! I loved that about them both.

I just think that overall the characters were really interesting, their chemistry was amazing, their relationship was super cute and something I enjoyed seeing it develop! I really loved this novel and I can’t wait to continue reading their books! I have a few more before I catch up so I’m really excited to read them!

Highly highly recommend their novels if you’re looking for fun romance novels with character plots and great chemistry between characters! You’ll really love Christina Lauren’s novels!

Have you read any of their novels? I highly recommend Love and Other Words as well! Check them out!