New York, New Year, New You: a self-discovery with a happily ever after

New York, New Year, New You by Rachael Bloome is a story of one woman’s journey to prove herself. Quincy Carmichael is the youngest in a very overachieving family. So overachieving that she can’t keep up so she stopped trying. Earning the nickname, Quincy the Quitter, she finds a reason, any excuse to stop before she gets hurt. When the opportunity for a major promotion comes up, she is challenged to move to New York City and complete 10 year’s worth of unfinished New Year’s resolutions. She stays with her childhood friend, Brynn, and Brynn’s older brother, Ethan, who happens to be Quincy’s childhood crush. With Brynn and Ethan’s help, Quincy finds herself on an eye opening journey of self-discovery she never thought possible. 

New York, New Year, New You is a light, wholesome, feel-good, unable to put it down, novel full of heart, hope, and humor. I loved Quincy and my heart broke for her from the very beginning. And I cheered as she faced each challenge, despite her nerves, and finished each one with success or not. But she keeps going and learns who she truly is and what she really wants in life. I laughed, smiled and teared up as she finally found the strength to stand up for herself and have the confidence to be herself. I also loved Ethan’s character and his interactions with Quincy. If you enjoy sweet, emotional stories with a happily ever after, I highly recommend New York, New Year, New You. 

New York, New Year, New You is available in paperback and eBook

Warrior Girl Unearthed: one simple summer reveals many secrets and mysteries

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley is book two in the Firekeeper’s Daughter series. Perry Firekeeper-Birch is getting ready for her Summer of Slack but plans change when she gets into a fender bender. She is now stuck in a summer program with other outcasts and even her smarter twin sister, Pauline. Together they ace obstacle courses, listen to lectures and plan vigils for missing women in the community. One particular meeting at a local university, Perry learns about the “Warrior Girl,” an ancestor whose bones and knife are stored in the museum archives. She makes it her mission to return Warrior Girl to her tribe. She begins to research the NAGPRA, a federal law that allows tribes to request the return of ancestral remains and sacred items. Perry finds herself hitting wall after wall to bring the ancestors home. As she digs deeper, she learns there are more secrets and mysteries than she realized.

I loved Ms. Boulley’s first book, Firekeeper’s Daughter and when I learned she wrote a follow up story, I knew I had to read it. Taking place a few years after Firekeeper’s Daughter, Perry is now 17 and loving life. When she is faced with a summer program with other tribal youth, she can’t imagine any other torture. She soon finds a purpose and nothing is going to stop her. I loved Perry and her passion for righting a horrible wrong. She is fiercely loyal and caring but she doesn’t back down from a fight. The book is filled with heart wrenching reality and gut punching truth as the residents of Sugar Island battle to bring their ancestors home, to protect themselves and build a stronger community. Overall, I loved this book and I hope that Ms Boulley will continue to give us stories from Sugar Island. I highly recommend Warrior Girl Unearthed.

Warrior Girl Unearthed is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

A Lily in Disguise: secrets, lies, and finding home

A Lily in Disguise by Jessica Scarlett is the first book in the Wycliffe family series. In order to escape the scandals tied to her name, Lillian Markley has lived under an alias for eight years. She hopes to find work as a lady’s maid in order to save enough money to join her sister in America. When a heiress offers her a salary for doing the unthinkable. Miss Mary Raynsford does not want to spend the summer at a country estate, parading around to “catch a husband,” She asks Lily to go in her stead. If she is caught, Lily faces prison but Lilly agrees. Two months, easy right? From the moment she arrives, she is met with a suspicious young boy, run-ins with kidnappers and another guest who seems to know her secret. While she is trying to keep her lies and stories straight, she can’t help but be drawn to Peter Wycliffe, the young Viscount, and very eligible bachelor. One woman with three identities and a handsome lord trying to learn the truth, what could go wrong? 

I normally don’t read Regency era romance novels. I’m not sure why but I usually don’t enjoy them. However, I was intrigued by the premise of A Lily in Disguise that I took a chance. It had a great beginning. I loved Lily from the beginning. She is smart, witty and thinks on her toes. Peter is a great match to Lily’s wittiness and their flirtatious moments were wonderful to read. However, once everyone gathers at the estate and her secrets are threatened, it starts to drag a bit. I think the possible love triangles and the cattiness from a supporting character slowed the story down. But I kept going though and it picked and ended with sweet moments. The ending was a nice wrap up to the story and I closed the book with a smile. While I enjoyed it, I may or may not continue the series. Although I read other reviewers state that the other books were better, I may continue if the opportunity arises. If you enjoy Regency era romances, you may enjoy A Lily in Disguise. 

A Lily in Disguise is available in paperback and eBook

The Bridge: heartbreaking reality with hopeful possibilities

The Bridge by Kay Bratt. In present day China, the home of an old woman faces the Lucky Bridge, the famous bridge where birth parents leave their children in the hopes that someone will find them and give them a better future. In the old days, walking over the bridge during a marriage ceremony or at the New Year was said to bring the individual good luck. Mothers hope that the bridge’s luck would be bestowed on their children. Jing is the unofficial and reluctant guardian of the bridge. When no one else steps in, Jing does. Briefly taking them in and then delivering them to a local orphanage. She always said she was done, no more children. Until one day, one little boy, Fei Fei, softens her heart and changes her life. 

Inspired by her real life experience while working in a Chinese orphanage, Kay Bratt writes a heartwarming and compassionate novella. The Bridge is a short but powerful read. She also wrote a memoir about her experience in China and in the orphanage, Silent Tears; A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage. Having read the memoir and knowing the background of this phenomenon of parents abandoning their children gives The Bridge its heartbreaking reality and yet hopeful possibilities. I loved the main characters of Jing, Fei Fei, and Jing’s daughter, Qian. I highly recommend reading The Bridge as well as Silent Tears. It will break your heart but leaving you believing in the power of the change a single person can bring. 

The Bridge is available in eBook

Silent Tears; A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage 

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

My Bad Fake Boyfriend: bringing the worst possible boyfriend home for the holiday, what could go wrong?

My Fake Bad Boyfriend by Sara Whitney is the first book in the Hot Under the Mistletoe series. Darby St Claire needs a fake boyfriend. No, the worst fake boyfriend in the world. She needs a man to be so bad that her parents never bother her about her love life again. Gabe Dickinson says he’ll pretend to be that boyfriend. To be so bad that she is never asked to bring anyone home again. He promises he is up to the task. As they arrive at her parents’ home for Thanksgiving weekend, he’s a little too good at being bad. Darby and Gabe get so good at their little game, they forget it’s supposed to be an act. By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, Darby realizes that their flirty game has gone too far and she wants Gabe to be the gift she unwraps. But if she does, will she be able to walk away? 

I bought this book as the synopsis sounded fun. Fake dating is usually a hilarious trope to read. However, I quickly learned it was not the book I thought it was. First, it is a reverse age gap, which I have learned is not the trope for me. Strike one. Second, when Darby learns about their age difference, she quips “You were in kindergarten when I was getting boobs!” Ugh, I rolled my eyes so hard, I thought they would fly out of my head. Strike two. Third, this story was a fast burn. So fast, that they went from flirting to wanting to get into bed. Strike three. I don’t mind spiciness in a romance but it happens so fast that it was hard to enjoy this story. If you enjoy fast paced, fake dating, reverse age gap romances, My Fake Bad Boyfriend may be the story for you. 

My Fake Bad Boyfriend is available in paperback and eBook

Say Yes to the Mess: an age gap fake dating romance

Say Yes to the Mess by Kira Archer is an age gap fake dating romance. Summer Laurent is finally on a path to a better life. Her divorce from her ex-husband is freshly inked, She loves her job and her new house. Her group of ride-or-die friends adds to the joy in her life. Garrett Vogel was doing a favor for a friend of a friend, when he overhears an egotistical jerk disrespecting Summer. Without thinking, he jumped in and introduced himself as Summer’s boyfriend and put her ex in his place. What he doesn’t anticipate is accompanying Summer to her boss’s weekend long wedding festivities. What could go wrong? To Summer, everything. Almost ten years older than Garrett, she doesn’t see a future for them. Can Garrett convince her otherwise? 

Kira Archer is a new author to me and Say Yes to the Mess sounded fun. I usually don’t read the reverse age gap (or age gaps in general) stories but I decided to take a chance on it. Unfortunately, this story reminded me why I do not read the reverse age gap. I did not find Summer relatable. Although, the initial meeting between Summer and Garrett was electric and how he swooped in and put Summer’s ex husband in his place was hilarious. However, I didn’t buy their relationship. Overall, I didn’t enjoy the story. However, readers who enjoy the reverse age gap genre will likely enjoy it. If you enjoy age gap romances, I recommend checking out Say Yes to the Mess. 

Say Yes to the Mess is available in paperback and eBook

Southern Sunshine: when coming home is life changing

Southern Sunshine is the eighth book in the Southern series by Natasha Madison. Reed Barnes never wanted to be a cowboy. He saw the military as a way out. He enlisted and never looked back until he was injured in the battlefield. Now he is heading back home. Hazel discovered she was pregnant the night before she was supposed to leave for college. While her plans were altered, she was able to keep her baby and built a life for them both. She vowed never to return to her hometown as there are too many memories and too many watchful eyes. However, when she learns about the sudden death of her grandfather, she is forced to return home in order to settle his estate. The plan was to stay for two weeks. In and out before anyone asked questions. She didn’t account for Reed being in town as well. 

When I started Southern Sunshine, I was not aware it was the eighth book in the series. As I read, there are numerous supporting characters that came in and out and their interactions with Reed and Hazel had me confused as to the relationships and history. It wasn’t until I started to write this review that I refigured out why. That being said, the main story of Reed and Hazel was still readable as they are both back in town after six years away. Unfortunately, I could not stand Reed as he desired to leave town as he was sick of living in the shadows of his father and older brother. Ok, understandable. However, when Hazel tries to get in touch with him, he ignores her message. Overall, I did not enjoy Southern Sunshine and I have no desire to go back and read the previous books in the series. 

Southern Sunshine is available in paperback and eBook