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elle_laine's reviews
113 reviews
The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
When Riley is laid off her marketing job during the holiday season, she is dismayed. But then she finds out that her mom, Beth, had a minor accident and needs her help at the inn she runs in Riley's hometown. Riley is promptly cheered up with mugs of hot cocoa and excursions around the decorated town.
Beth is frustrated that her accident is keeping her from running her inn with the same vigor as she is used to. But with the arrival of her daughter, the inn is brought back to life and Beth can finally enjoy herself around the holidays.
Franny just lost her sister, but her sister was sure to leave a piece of herself behind in the letters that are gradually doled out to Franny. Will Franny change her mind about the small town her sister called home?
Thank you Pamela M. Kelley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed her are mine.
This was such a perfect book to curl up on the couch with a hot cup of tea with! The storyline was so sweet and made all the characters endearing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book the entire time I listened to it.
I am glad that I listened to this book via audiobook because it just makes sense for this book. It gave all the vibes of a hallmark movie and having a narrator read it to me made the experience so cozy and enjoyable. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Beth is frustrated that her accident is keeping her from running her inn with the same vigor as she is used to. But with the arrival of her daughter, the inn is brought back to life and Beth can finally enjoy herself around the holidays.
Franny just lost her sister, but her sister was sure to leave a piece of herself behind in the letters that are gradually doled out to Franny. Will Franny change her mind about the small town her sister called home?
Thank you Pamela M. Kelley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed her are mine.
This was such a perfect book to curl up on the couch with a hot cup of tea with! The storyline was so sweet and made all the characters endearing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book the entire time I listened to it.
I am glad that I listened to this book via audiobook because it just makes sense for this book. It gave all the vibes of a hallmark movie and having a narrator read it to me made the experience so cozy and enjoyable. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Who's That Girl? by Mhairi McFarlane
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When disaster strikes and Edie becomes an outcast at her office, she is assigned to move back to the town where her dad and sister live to ghostwrite a memoir of a famous actor. Unluckily for Edie, this actor seems to be a difficult one. Thus begins the connection of Edie and Elliot. 💕 ✍️
This is such a delightfully funny and poignant book! I often found myself laughing out loud and gasping at all the drama. The characters are so lovable and you can’t help but cheer them on.
This is such a delightfully funny and poignant book! I often found myself laughing out loud and gasping at all the drama. The characters are so lovable and you can’t help but cheer them on.
You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Edie and Elliot are together after their tumultuous meeting and whirlwind romance. But will it actually work out in the long run? Elliot's fame as an actor is only growing and Edie is finally in a good place with her sister. She simply is not going to give up her life to follow Elliot around the world as he picks up acting jobs. Is their relationship sustainable?
Thank you Mhairi McFarlane and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ebook ARC copy of this poignant and funny story! All thoughts expressed here are mine and mine alone.
This book picks up right where the first book left off which was so necessary because of how the first book ended. I really liked the continuation of how two people try to form a lasting relationship when one is a famous actor. This book tended more toward the serious side, but at the same time, upheld the hilarious nature of the first book. But that ending? Phew! It really was a rollercoaster and I felt all the emotions right alongside Edie.
I think it is so challenging to write a sequel of a romance because the reader cannot simply finish the story with "and they lived happily ever after." More context and more struggles are depicted, which is so much closer to reality than most romances portray. I really appreciated the reality of love in this book, but I was not expecting it to be so sad.
Thank you Mhairi McFarlane and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ebook ARC copy of this poignant and funny story! All thoughts expressed here are mine and mine alone.
This book picks up right where the first book left off which was so necessary because of how the first book ended. I really liked the continuation of how two people try to form a lasting relationship when one is a famous actor. This book tended more toward the serious side, but at the same time, upheld the hilarious nature of the first book. But that ending? Phew! It really was a rollercoaster and I felt all the emotions right alongside Edie.
I think it is so challenging to write a sequel of a romance because the reader cannot simply finish the story with "and they lived happily ever after." More context and more struggles are depicted, which is so much closer to reality than most romances portray. I really appreciated the reality of love in this book, but I was not expecting it to be so sad.
But He's My Grumpy Neighbor by Annah Conwell
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Juliet has a new neighbor. And boy is he attractive. But when her attempts to get to know Adrian do not go as she planned due to his grumpiness, Juliet decides to take a different approach at getting to know him. And (unsurprisingly) Adrian finds himself unable to ignore his cute blonde next-door-neighbor.
Thank you Annah Conwell and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC of this delightfully refreshing book. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
This book was one satisfying cup of tea paired with a delightful scone. All the references to classic books was the cherry on top. Although this book had a lack of a plot, it did not matter. I greatly enjoyed cheering for Adrian and Juliet and their inevitable relationship. All the encounters between the two were like scenes from a Hallmark movie that made me kick my feet up and squeal a little.
I had no issue with listening to an audiobook version of this book. It did not add or take away from the experience. The narrators were fine even if pacing was a tad slow. You cannot go wrong with listening to the audiobook or reading the hard copy of this adorable love story!
Thank you Annah Conwell and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC of this delightfully refreshing book. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
This book was one satisfying cup of tea paired with a delightful scone. All the references to classic books was the cherry on top. Although this book had a lack of a plot, it did not matter. I greatly enjoyed cheering for Adrian and Juliet and their inevitable relationship. All the encounters between the two were like scenes from a Hallmark movie that made me kick my feet up and squeal a little.
I had no issue with listening to an audiobook version of this book. It did not add or take away from the experience. The narrators were fine even if pacing was a tad slow. You cannot go wrong with listening to the audiobook or reading the hard copy of this adorable love story!
House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Stella, a best interest attorney for children, takes a case with a new client who is younger than the clients she usually takes. Her name is Rose, and as a nine-year-old caught in the middle of her parents' divorce, she needs the best and most neutral advocate she can get because of recent circumstances that led her to witness the accidental death of her nanny. Or was it an accident? Stella sets out to be the best she can for Rose because she too remembers being in a vulnerable position as a child.
Thank you to Sarah Pekkanen and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions shared here are solely mine.
This was definitely an edge-of-the-seat thriller that kept me hooked the whole time. Every time I had to set down the book, I was eager to pick it up again. That is one of the main things I look for in a thriller. I also liked the ending and how the story was wrapped up neatly. Although the main twist was not as gripping as some other thrillers are, I really liked how it all turned out.
The audiobook version of this book added to my enjoyment of the story. The narrator was excellent at putting fear, joy, sadness, and all the other emotions into each of the characters' voices. I definitely recommend getting ahold of an audiobook version of this book. What a wonderful read for the end of summer!
Thank you to Sarah Pekkanen and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions shared here are solely mine.
This was definitely an edge-of-the-seat thriller that kept me hooked the whole time. Every time I had to set down the book, I was eager to pick it up again. That is one of the main things I look for in a thriller. I also liked the ending and how the story was wrapped up neatly. Although the main twist was not as gripping as some other thrillers are, I really liked how it all turned out.
The audiobook version of this book added to my enjoyment of the story. The narrator was excellent at putting fear, joy, sadness, and all the other emotions into each of the characters' voices. I definitely recommend getting ahold of an audiobook version of this book. What a wonderful read for the end of summer!
The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Chloe, a fourteen-year-old resident of a care home for troubled teens, is a suspect in the murder of one of the staff members of the care home. But DI Vera Stanhope quickly deduces that Chloe isn't a suspect; rather, she is in grave danger. Chloe must be found in order to figure out what is going on before she and others get hurt.
I received an audiobook copy of this ARC on Netgalley from Ann Cleeves and Macmillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions here are mine and mine alone.
I enjoyed the elements of the police force and those politics, but the mystery surrounding the murderers was rather disappointing. I think I knew that it would be a political and money-focused wrap-up, but it still disappointed me. I also found it difficult to follow who was who purely because this was an audiobook. Having the physical book in my hands and being able to visualize the characters better would have made it easier to follow.
The narrator did a great job of changing her voice for the characters, but she did speak quite slowly. I prefer a narrator that chugs along with the book and does not try to speak slowly. It just made the story drag on a bit too long. I was ready for the book to wrap up around hour 7.
I received an audiobook copy of this ARC on Netgalley from Ann Cleeves and Macmillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions here are mine and mine alone.
I enjoyed the elements of the police force and those politics, but the mystery surrounding the murderers was rather disappointing. I think I knew that it would be a political and money-focused wrap-up, but it still disappointed me. I also found it difficult to follow who was who purely because this was an audiobook. Having the physical book in my hands and being able to visualize the characters better would have made it easier to follow.
The narrator did a great job of changing her voice for the characters, but she did speak quite slowly. I prefer a narrator that chugs along with the book and does not try to speak slowly. It just made the story drag on a bit too long. I was ready for the book to wrap up around hour 7.
The Queen of Fives by Alex Hay
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Quinn le Blanc is the reigning queen of the chateau. And her next target? A rich nobleman. But this con is not the same as the others. Quinn is upping the stakes and putting more on the line for this job because desperate times call for desperate measures.
I received a complementary electronic copy of this book from Alex Hay and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
I really wanted to like this book. The idea of it was intriguing, but the execution did not quite capture what I was hoping for. The details and certain characters were too complicated and it was hard to keep everything straight in my mind. I also felt like the story was dragged out too much in the middle.
What I liked: I enjoyed the drama of the ending and the overall mystery that encompassed the story. The mystery definitely added to the story, so I am glad that was included.
Overall, I might recommend this to someone who was looking for a historical con artist novel, but I do not see myself recommending this to all of my friends and followers.
I received a complementary electronic copy of this book from Alex Hay and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
I really wanted to like this book. The idea of it was intriguing, but the execution did not quite capture what I was hoping for. The details and certain characters were too complicated and it was hard to keep everything straight in my mind. I also felt like the story was dragged out too much in the middle.
What I liked: I enjoyed the drama of the ending and the overall mystery that encompassed the story. The mystery definitely added to the story, so I am glad that was included.
Overall, I might recommend this to someone who was looking for a historical con artist novel, but I do not see myself recommending this to all of my friends and followers.
The House on Cold Creek Lane by Liz Alterman
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Laurel and Rob West find the perfect house for the perfect price for their growing family. After living in an apartment the size of a shoebox for the past few years, this house is a dream come true. Until Laurel can't shake the feeling that her neighbors aren't who they say they are. And then there is the secret that the house holds. What exactly happened there?
Corey Sutton, a recently divorced woman who moved back in with her mother, is struggling with her past. Bad decisions and overwhelming grief follow her. Set on revenge, she does whatever she can to get back at whoever it was that hurt her.
Thank you to Liz Alterman and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions here are completely mine.
I 100% enjoyed this audiobook! I binged the whole thing in two sittings. The intrigue and angst of the story kept me engaged and I was highly satisfied with the ending. Although the plot did not end up being very complicated, in this case, that made the story stronger, with the ending tying everything up in a neat little bow.
Because I listened to the audiobook version of this book, I think that it enhanced my enjoyment of the story. The narrator was excellent, changing tone for each character. I definitely recommend the audiobook version of this book and have already recommended it to a friend. I am excited for its publication day!
Corey Sutton, a recently divorced woman who moved back in with her mother, is struggling with her past. Bad decisions and overwhelming grief follow her. Set on revenge, she does whatever she can to get back at whoever it was that hurt her.
Thank you to Liz Alterman and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions here are completely mine.
I 100% enjoyed this audiobook! I binged the whole thing in two sittings. The intrigue and angst of the story kept me engaged and I was highly satisfied with the ending. Although the plot did not end up being very complicated, in this case, that made the story stronger, with the ending tying everything up in a neat little bow.
Because I listened to the audiobook version of this book, I think that it enhanced my enjoyment of the story. The narrator was excellent, changing tone for each character. I definitely recommend the audiobook version of this book and have already recommended it to a friend. I am excited for its publication day!
Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
•A long-lost princess. A dissatisfied prince. An outcast. Deadly games with players who all have their own agendas. How complicated could it get?
•I finally decided to dip my toes into fantasy again, and boy am I glad that I chose this one! The whole concept of people jumping was super cool and I enjoyed the games that the characters competed in. But just as a warning, the ending leaves the reader at a cliff-hanger, which means I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series! 🖤 🗡️
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First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
•Evie Porter has it all. Even her relationship with her wealthy boyfriend is going well. Until an accident and an accusation begin to shake her well crafted life. And then she’s on a journey to clear her name.
•This book was definitely different than the other thrillers I’ve read. I liked the concept of the book, but sometimes I was a little confused. I also guessed some of the twists, which didn’t make it less enjoyable, just somewhat predictable. If you’re looking for something different to read, I would definitely recommend this one to you!
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