I hate “reviewing” a memoir because it can come off as judging a person’s life. I can, however, say that I absolutely loved Good Game No Rematch: A Life Made of Video Games by Mike Drucker.
I enjoyed this memoir as an audiobook, which was narrated by Drucker himself.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the audiobook!
I heard “Incan Lore” and I was all over Qoya. I’ve been loving books with lore and mythology recently, so this was perfect and unique read.
Qoya is written as a dual-POV, and I really liked Azucena and Rurac, especially their growth throughout the course of their adventure.
I did have a hard time liking Azucena until the very end. She started out entitled, and during their trip back to the palace, she comes across as weak. I did grow fonder of Rurac, and found him to have a lot of depth as a character.
This story was full of adventure, with some romance and some spice.
Thank you Happily Booked PR for the #gifted ebook!
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Blurb:
Azucena is under the impression that she is the most loved empress in the history of Sipan. So when she wakes up trapped in a home in the hills with a peasant man who doesn’t believe she’s the one running the empire, she knows there must have been a terrible mistake.
Will she be able to convince him to return her to the palace before it’s too late? Or will he hold her prior rulings against her…after all, it’s her fault he doesn’t have enough provisions to survive the winter…
Tropes:
⚔️ Only One Tent
☀️ Forced Proximity Romance
⚔️ He Falls First
☀️ Incan Lore
⚔️ Dual POV
I loved Blood of Hercules – I listened to this as an audiobook. I think that made a huge difference between finishing this book and getting distracted by other books on my TBR. The main narrator was charming and glib, and the full cast narration helped move along the plot (especially in a 16-hour audiobook).
I did find there to be some humor from Alexis’s inner monologue. I found myself chuckling more than I typically do while reading a fantasy book.
I did want more depth to the characters, especially Alexis and her mentors and her brother. As this is book one in a series, I am optimistic that more character building will occur in future books.
There is some steamy parts at the very end. I’m still not sure how Alexis went from “don’t touch me” to being okay with that steamy-touchy-multiple men situation.
The blurb says this is a dark romantasy for reader who loved Zodiac Academy or When the Moon Hatched, but to me it felt like Greek Gods meets Hunger Games.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and htp Hive for the audiobook!
Came for the romance, stayed for the family drama. Frenemies with Benefits was a cute second chance romance, perfect for a beach read!
This is book 3 in the Peach Tree Cove series, and I don’t feel like I missed too much by not reading the first two.
Thank you to HTP Books (@htp_hive and @htpbooks) for the audiobook for review.
Do you believe in Bigfoot?
Saved by the Grumpy Bigfoot was a fun, short read set in the Yukon Territory.
There’s the mating bond trope in this book, as well as a finding your place trope.
This was my first Bigfoot romance and if you didn’t already believe, you’ll definitely be scanning the woods twice after reading this steamy book!
The Night Before Christmas by Nicola Knight had me at cute kittens. But the love triangle, friends-to-lovers, and the cute Christmas romcom kept me focused to the audiobook.
While this is a Christmas romcom, only the beginning and epilogue are actually Christmas, and the chapters in between are the days and weeks after the holiday. Those days and weeks that all blur together until New Years and then drag into the grey skies of January.
This was a sweet, fade-to-black romcom – thank goodness since I was listening to it as an audiobook in my car driving to work. It’s always awkward pulling into the parking garage with smut over the speakers.
It always difficult to review a memoir, but I can say I enjoyed Fly Girl. Ann Hood was a TWA flight attendant during the height of air travel and tells stories of her travels, both in the air and on her layovers.
Sometimes this felt a little disjointed, although I appreciated this history of air travel and flight attendants, alongside the memoir.
Thank you W.W. Norton and Netgalley for the review copy!
I really enjoyed Scot & Bothered. It was a little bit of adventure and hiking and a little Bir romance, with a side of writing and photography – so most of my favorite things.
There was a lot of great detail put into detailing Edinburgh, but I wish there had been more detail and world building put into describing the Isle of Skye trail.
You know the story is good when the reader wants to know more, and I found myself googling photos and videos from the actual Isle of Skye trail – like the Bad Step. Unfortunately, the richness of the landscape that I got from the videos and pictures was definitely not represented in the book. I wanted more from the portions on the trail.
This is a second chance romance that I didn’t hate – although I don’t think we needed the third act break up in this one. Also, only one tent (and that situation, definitely made me laugh.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for the review copy!
I always love a cozy mystery! I met Misty Simon at Getting Witchy With It in Salem in 2023, and I knew I needed one of her books since she’s both local to me AND this book – Cremains of the Day – is set is a fictional small town in Pennsylvania.
It’s possible that I imagined Tallie to look a lot like Misty. (I love her super cutesy dresses for signings!)
This was a fast read for sure, and I definitely did not guess the ending! There were so many good red herrings in this that kept me guessing the whole way through!
Thank you to TLC Boom Tours and author Molly Booker for the finished copy of Magic in the Mess!
Synopsis:
From an early age, Molly Booker was taught to follow rules, please others, and meet high standards. This drive for perfection became her most significant asset and heaviest burden, manifesting as academic success as well as emotional isolation and feelings of inadequacy. Booker’s stunning and heartfelt debut memoir, Magic in the Mess, is a reflective account of her life as she navigates perfectionism, societal pressures, and personal trauma.
In a culture that constantly demands perfection-whether through social media, career achievements, or personal appearance-Magic in the Mess delivers a much-needed reminder that imperfection is not a flaw but a powerful force for growth and authenticity. Booker’s experiences echo the struggles of countless people, especially women who feel pressured to live up to impossible ideals. Her memoir offers a message of hope for those struggling with self-worth, identity, and mental health challenges. Come along for Booker’s story of redemptive hope and walk away changed.
Leann Reads Books 