Previously read and reviewed as a standalone novella, but I actually read back through this because I remember liking it so much. At fA Midnight Clear
Previously read and reviewed as a standalone novella, but I actually read back through this because I remember liking it so much. At first, I was a little concerned it wouldn't hold up, but ultimately it did. And the wedding night scene was every bit as charming as I remembered.
A Midnight Kiss
This was one of the stories in this series that I somehow missed, and I'm so glad I went back and read it. It's honestly impressive the way the novellas in this series still manage to build a believable connection between the leads even over a condensed period of time. I think it helps that this story showed why Greg and Betty had a connection, but also showed that they ultimately built their relationship from that connection over time. Anyway, this was great, and it was nice to read another New Years themed novella as 2021 comes to a close....more
I don't really have much to say about any of these. They were all sweet but short. I enjoyed them enough while I was reading them, but they didn't leaI don't really have much to say about any of these. They were all sweet but short. I enjoyed them enough while I was reading them, but they didn't leave much of a lasting impression on me. Except for the cat's name. Authors, please do not have your characters name the cat they rescued from the snow Princess Flufferbella. It's extremely distracting....more
This did have some good moments, but on the whole, this just really didn't do much for me.This did have some good moments, but on the whole, this just really didn't do much for me....more
Finally (finally!) almost caught up on this series as we approach the end of the year.
After some time away, this was the reset read I've been looking Finally (finally!) almost caught up on this series as we approach the end of the year.
After some time away, this was the reset read I've been looking for. This was more or less what I was expecting. I enjoyed Hutch's turn as the lead, and I liked Noelle quite a bit. There was a bit too much drama at the end, but I'm into the setup for this particular series arc and very excited Michael finally gets a book next.
Reread 2/3/23: Hutch thinking of Ian as his father figure is a lot. This really is a great intro to this quintet, excited to read the conclusion soon....more
I really liked what little we got of this quite a bit, but there was plenty here to fill full-length story and I wish we'd gotten it.I really liked what little we got of this quite a bit, but there was plenty here to fill full-length story and I wish we'd gotten it....more
This ended up being a real chore to get through. I really love the idea of it, but it came off as trying way too hard to be cute and ended up completeThis ended up being a real chore to get through. I really love the idea of it, but it came off as trying way too hard to be cute and ended up completely failing for me. It was all twee with nothing to support it, and I just didn't care for anyone involved in the story at all....more
2) I don't think she actually intended for me to read this, but it's still her fault. (Love you, Jess xoxo.)
3) This was mostly1) This is Jess's fault.
2) I don't think she actually intended for me to read this, but it's still her fault. (Love you, Jess xoxo.)
3) This was mostly fine, actually? The characters were interesting and I liked the different setting, and I think on the whole this could've been an enjoyable read that wouldn't have stuck with me for very long. But I ended up being so damn frustrated that the characters did not just talk to each other and, really, books where half of the main relationship thinks that the other half of the relationship has another lover for basically the entire novel is just taking things a bit too far for me. So, yeah idk. This was almost fine, but not quite....more
So I think there is a version of this story that would've worked for me, but this wasn't it. I found Westcliffe to be so unlikeable, and the entire plSo I think there is a version of this story that would've worked for me, but this wasn't it. I found Westcliffe to be so unlikeable, and the entire plot with his mistress Anne was just ridiculous and terrible (even before the ending, which just... what?!?!). I didn't understand Claire's love for him (like yeah, she screwed up, but she was so young and he just assumed she'd be happy to marry him when he'd basically never spoken to her before, and then he treated her horribly and threatened her with divorce, thinking somehow that it wouldn't be too much of a scandal that it would allow her to marry again). And given the lack of trust displayed that still persisted after the second scene with Stephen, I didn't really believe in the HEA here. I definitely didn't believe he suddenly trusted her.
I didn't really understand why Beth was written the way she was. She didn't need to be that irritating. I also found Westcliffe's mother to be pretty irritating in this one. I liked her well enough in Ainsley's book, but here not so much....more
I haven't read anything else in this series, but I've been in the mood for holiday reads so I figured I'd give this a try. For the most par3.5/5 stars
I haven't read anything else in this series, but I've been in the mood for holiday reads so I figured I'd give this a try. For the most part, I found this pretty enjoyable. I would've liked it to be a bit longer and I think her terrible ex should've gotten what he deserved, but for a holiday novella, I enjoyed this....more
This was a fun, easy read. I would have liked a little more from the romance - as is the case with most historical mysteries, the romance took a bit oThis was a fun, easy read. I would have liked a little more from the romance - as is the case with most historical mysteries, the romance took a bit of a backseat to the larger story - and I especially would have liked to have seen a little more about what drew Caro and Val together in the first place, since so much of their story is tied to their previous engagement. But this was fun and I liked the characters a lot....more
Overall, this was probably a three star read for me. I really liked Samiah and I liked her friendship with Taylor and London. That was fantastic and IOverall, this was probably a three star read for me. I really liked Samiah and I liked her friendship with Taylor and London. That was fantastic and I look forward to both of their stories. But I never warmed up to Daniel at all, so I struggled to get into the romance here. Ultimately, I’m knocking this down to two stars because I really didn’t think enough work was done at the end to get them over the lying and what Daniel did....more
This definitely had some cute moments, but it didn't quite get there for me. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt and attributing it some to my choiThis definitely had some cute moments, but it didn't quite get there for me. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt and attributing it some to my choice of listening to this as an audiobook, but the prose didn't work very well for me here. And I wasn't into the relationship enough that I could ignore the very convoluted fake dating set up.
I liked the main characters as individuals, and I really liked Luis's family and the setting. The relationship was just too fast for me, and I felt like it was based way more on them being in lust than anything else. I know romance novels are fast, but they've known each other for a week! ILYs were just a bit too much. I was warned about some of the stuff with Sarah's family, so I was prepared but I also just don't usually enjoy reading that kind of family dynamic. And it all wrapped up a little too neatly for my tastes.
Anyway, I feel like I'm being overly critical of a book that definitely had good moments. I just think it probably could have been a little bit better....more
This was a really interesting one just on the subject matter. I really appreciated seeing a subject like revenge porn and how awful it is being addresThis was a really interesting one just on the subject matter. I really appreciated seeing a subject like revenge porn and how awful it is being addressed in a book like this. I liked both characters, and while I know the focus of Griffin's books aren't going to be the characters or relationship, I do wish there had been a little bit more on that front. Just in general I could have used a little bit more from the end of this. Still, there were some interesting things Griffin did with this one....more
Okay, it's been almost two weeks since I finished this book. Let me see what I can remember about what I originally wanted to say about it.
In a lot ofOkay, it's been almost two weeks since I finished this book. Let me see what I can remember about what I originally wanted to say about it.
In a lot of ways, this book was an improvement on the first book - it was less messy and had fewer major storyline distractions. I liked this overall and I liked both Kit and Alice, but although I liked them, their relationship didn't quite reach its full potential for me. The ending was also a bit rushed and I would have liked a little more from Kit on the romantic resolution (although the grand gesture at the end was very nice).
(view spoiler)[I was also pretty jarred by Forrest's death. I had been expecting him to be the lead in the final book in the series (perhaps paired with Nelly), so it was jarring on that front but also his death just didn't quite feel earned. When Kit and Preston identified the body, I was just expecting more, and it didn't happen. It felt like missed potential.
Since I am told this is still a four book series, I'd guess it's Nelly and Lockwood then for the fourth book. I'm not opposed to that. I really like Nelly and want to see more of her. (hide spoiler)]
Looking forward to the next one. Katherine/Preston has a lot of potential....more
This was very good. Great characters and relationship, and a lot of great supporting characters too. I really enjoyed Drake's whole family, and I can This was very good. Great characters and relationship, and a lot of great supporting characters too. I really enjoyed Drake's whole family, and I can see that at least a few of them also have their own books so I'm gonna have to check those out....more
The mystery plot here wasn't a huge draw for me, but I continue to really like Iris and Gwen and their partnership. I liked how things are moving alonThe mystery plot here wasn't a huge draw for me, but I continue to really like Iris and Gwen and their partnership. I liked how things are moving along for both of them in their personal lives....more
The thing about Cynthia Eden books is I know exactly what I'm going to get when I pick one up, and sometimes that's exactly what you need.The thing about Cynthia Eden books is I know exactly what I'm going to get when I pick one up, and sometimes that's exactly what you need....more
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