katiedermody's reviews
1930 reviews

And now, for what I *think* is my favorite book in the series so far (I think). Book four is all about oldest brother and second child Axel, who is the most reserved out if anyone in his family and intentionally lives on their Washington property miles from anyone else (or did until Ryder and Willa moved to a near-ish by city). In this story, Willa's best friend Rooney goes up to the Bergman's A-frame cabin in the woods for a break after she has to temporarily withdraw from law school after a huge flare up of her inflammatory bowel disease. Willa and Ryder said she'd be alone but she soon realized that it's Axel's turn at the A-frame and just like she's kept her chronic illness a secret from everyone (even Willa), he has kept the fact that the A-frame is falling apart and he is trying to get serious repairs done from his family. He's looking for a way to get an inheritance from an uncle he didn't know well but the stipulation is that he has to get married. Rooney, nursing a massive crush on Axel, agrees to marry him so he can get the money and she can continue staying on the property in his cabin. I loved this one! He has feelings for her but doesn't know what to do with them because his autism (also a secret) doesn't let him express feelings as easily as others, and she has feelings for him but doesn't think the future she's always wanted for herself will happen because of her IBD. As someone with IBS, I appreciated the handling of the topic. Plus, I just loved their interactions and the fact that they sort of rescue a dog and a cat.

Mayo Clinic Fibromanual: this was easily the best one. I always appreciate the info the Mayo Clinic puts out, since it's very well researched and summarized for a lay person. I also read the most of this one. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Living with Fibromyalgia: this one was decent and had a lot of good information. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Understanding Fibromyalgia: this had one good chapter on the connections between Fibro and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which I found helpful. Otherwise I'd heard lots of it before or didn't find it applicable. ⭐⭐

Career or Fibromyalgia: Do I Have to Choose: this one was not at all what the title made it appear to be. There was one chapter that was pretty good but I'd read or heard a lot of it already. ⭐⭐

This was short and spicy poly holiday novella, but there were a handful of things that made me enjoy it less than I'd like. Starts with a kiss (not just one solitary kiss, it's long and drawn out) between two of the three but she has a boyfriend so that is cheating in my books. Granted, he's a shitty boyfriend and they break up the next day but still. Then she runs into kissing guy (who she also works with and is going against policy by fraternizing) and his roommate (and they were roommates) on Christmas Day. She agrees to have them share her and they have a wild few days together that leads to more than just a rebound as planned. But they had no sexual health talk or safe sex practices during their first times together so that bothered me too. There was another spicy novella by this author I was going to read but now I'm not sure I will. 

This was a really lovely, informative, sometimes heart wrenching graphic novel by an artist sharing their non-binary experience and some general knowledge. As a cis woman, I like to learn from people whose experiences with gender are different and am grateful to Theo for sharing their story. The art is in a cute, easy to follow style (not too text heavy, not too busy visually) and I really do think this could be an important piece of literature to share with people who are new to learning about what it is to be trans and nonbinary because it's full of information and insight, not holding back while also not being didactic. 

This was a cute little holiday novella that tied up the series, bringing something into reality that was alluded to but wasn't originally going to get its own story. It's second gen, and the off-limits in the title refers to the fact that at quick glance people might guess they're cousins because they share mutual extended family. But they're not related to nothing is really off-limits (his uncle married her stepmom's sister). Liam and Izzy were kids in the original trilogy and either teens or new adults in the final epilogue, so this was fun. He moves back to the city she's living in and they end up in close proximity while he introduces software to the company she works for. She's had feelings for him for years but it's been almost a year that they drifted apart when he brought a girlfriend home to the family last Christmas. What she doesn't know at first is that he broke up with that girlfriend right after the holiday because seeing them together made him realize how no one could measure up. It's closed door but has a little flirting and some kissing. Seeing the family was fun again too, including the newest rescue racoon named Ukulele (long live Banjo), and though not a huge part of the story, one MC has Celiac.

This was cute and I think my fave of the series! Josie has a new adorable student named Lucy in her kindergarten class and is shocked to discover the girl's dad is Wyatt, the one who got away. They were first loves, grew up together and planned on forever until he broke up with her when he got the chance to go away to play football. He's regretted it other than that he has Lucy now, and his feelings and attraction are back immediately. Josie still feels the attraction but is more hesitate, obviously. The three end up on a team competing to complete a list of holiday activities for the town competition. I liked the way he just went for it and started flirting and telling her how he felt. There was a nice mix of sweet and spice, and for a short novella I thought the pacing was done well. I did think this one would have been good as a full novel, though. Also, I don't know if there are going to be more books in the series (I feel like the author said this is our last trip to Strawberry Hollow) but one of Josie's brothers was teased to have a secret girlfriend, so.... are we going to find out about that?

This is a fun, spicy novella (more spice than plot, but intentionally, and still some plot) set around Christmas time about two runners. She's newer at the sport and meets him when she finishes her first half marathon, which she started training for fo prove her douchey ex-boyfriend wrong since he said she'd never be able to do it. Margo is a bit shaky on her feet and Finn is a paramedic working the medical tent who catches her. Then they run into each other again shortly after and he admits that he knows who she is because she used to date his son briefly (recall the ex?). It's a one night stand to definitely not one night, kinky, sixteen-year age gap holiday novella. I always trust I'm in for a good time with a Chelsea Curto book and it was true again, plus I like reading sports stories from people who clearly love the sport, like I know she does. Also, I'm pretty sure the epilogue was inspired by someone we probably both follow on Instagram who that just happened to because I think I saw her share the reel, but maybe it was a weird, cute coincidence!