kimalah's reviews
1401 reviews

Feisty by Julia Kent

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A good enemies to lovers story with a very slow burn, but the first chapter involving fending off an attack by a non-custodial parent on the preschool the FMC teaches could be very triggering for some. The growth of the main character after this event and its aftermath is well-done, but it is a jolt of a start for sure.
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The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I love India Holton’s books. Her mix of absurdity and heart fit me perfectly. The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love is no exception. I laughed a lot reading this road trip, forced proximity, fantasy historical romance but also was moved by two vulnerable main characters who, while in top form in their professions, were so unsure about their deserving of love (of course they do). It’s a lovely book with a little spice, a lot of heart, and more bastardizations of the word “ornithologist” than I could have ever dreamed up. So excited for the next book in this series out this year.
Carnage from the Cursed Crown by Deb Marlowe

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Good addition to the series. Well-plotted mystery, romance moved forward, easy to read and engrossing. A very enjoyable time. Glad to learn there are more books to follow.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

My Big Fat Fake Marriage is an enjoyable fake romance/forced proximity story with a cinnamon roll type of guy and a prickly woman. 

While I enjoyed the book and appreciated the plus-size representation in both characters, I did not enjoy it as much as the first book, When Grumpy Met Sunshine. The characters did not connect with me as well and I did not find it as funny as the first. All that said, I still liked the romance and look forward to future books from the author.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Unromance by Erin Connor

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Unromance was a greatly welcomed surprise of a romance.  A debut romance, to boot. It was sexy and snarky and somehow both cynical yet endearingly loving. I enjoyed the premise a lot. Often I found myself smiling while reading. It is a gem of a book, and I look forward to more books by the author. 

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.
Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Well, this was wonderful. Just wonderful. Earl Crush is smart, funny, sexy, emotional, kind and unabashedly romantic, full of pining and needing. Lydia and Arthur are awkward yet strong and brave. I can easily state that this is one of my favorite books of the year. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.
Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Playing Flirty is an endearing, kind and nerdy romance involving gaming, both video and board, and Lord of the Rings. It also looks at learning how to build a life gaining the things missing in childhood without allowing those needs to negatively dictate adulthood. I was very impressed by how there were no bad guys. The FMC ends her relationship not because her ex is a cheating sleaze but because she needed more than he could provide. The book seemed to go on a little too long but it’s not a huge criticism. I enjoyed Playing Flirty and the group of friends depicted.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

No Ordinary Duchess is the third book in the Greycourt series. I liked this book the best of the three so far.  It’s dramatic with assassination plots, an unequivocally evil bad guy, a secret organization, hidden books, and a submissive future duke. There is a lot going on in this story, most of which I enjoyed. I appreciated that the intimate scenes did not require inserting tab A into slot B. Overall, an enjoyable journey. I’m interested to see how the families’ stories continue.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
All's Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally

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lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery is an engaging and fun mystery with likable characters. There were a couple of times I felt like rolling my eyes at the FMC’s behavior, but I set that aside, just went with the story, and ended up having an enjoyable time. I really like the female friend group in this series. 

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Duchess Material by Emily Sullivan

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Duchess Material is an enjoyable historical with an idealistic schoolteacher and a Duke whose inherited title weighs heavy on his shoulders. There is quite a bit of sneaking around investigating disappearances and deaths while two people obviously drawn to each other learn what they want not only in love but in their lives.

I had fun with this story but did find it dragged at a few points. I’m looking forward to Alex’s book. She sparked my interest.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.