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.
Thank you BookSparks and Dr. Joan Sung for including me in the #WinterPopUp for Kinda Korean. This memoir published on February 25.
Synopsis:
For fans of Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H-Mart and Cathy Park Hong’s Minor Feelings comes a coming-of-age memoir about a daughter of immigrants discovering her Korean American identity while finding it in her heart to forgive her Tiger Mom.
In this courageous memoir of parental love, intergenerational trauma, and perseverance, Joan Sung breaks the generational silence that curses her family. By intentionally overcoming the stereotype that all Asians are quiet, Sung tells her stories of coming-of-age with a Tiger Mom who did not understand American society.
Torn between her two identities as a Korean woman and a first generation American, Sung bares her struggles in an honest and bare confessional. Sifting through her experiences with microaggressions to the over fetishization of Asian women, Sung connects the COVID pandemic with the decades of violence and racism experienced by Asian American communities.
Obidos, located about an hour north of Lisbon, Portugal has the UNESCO Creative City of literature designation. It’s a town of book shops and storytellers, wrapped up in a medieval walled town right out of a storybook.
We stayed at The Literary Man – a “book and cook” hotel just outside of the city walls. The entire place was filled with books. There was a small bookshelf in our room, and just outside our room was a large library with a fireplace, comfy reading chairs, and floor to ceiling bookshelves. (Admittedly, I wanted to rearrange the shelves so they were alphabetical, but Hubs stopped me.)
LER Devager (a popular bookshop to visit in Lisbon) has two locations here. The one is located in Sao Tiago Church near the entrance to the Obidos Castle. This spot is gorgeous, and you get a beautiful view of Obidos from the top of the entry stairs. The other is Livraria do Mercado in town, which sells books, as well as fresh produce and plants. LER does sell English language books, as well as books in many other languages (mostly Italian and Spanish).
Just outside the walls of the city is, Livraria Artes & Letras. Not only will you find a wide selection of used books here, but also original artwork (the artist’s studio is downstairs) and prints. If art isn’t your thing, you can purchase their artwork as notebooks, bookmarks, postcards, etc. Books here were mostly in Portuguese, and there was a box of 0.50€ books when we stopped in.
Also just outside the main gate to the city (and just down from Artes & Letras) is Silver Coast Volunteers Book Exchange. They are located on the second floor, (the stairs are behind a flowering bush) and have short hours as everyone there is a volunteer. Definitely worth planning ahead to fit this one on your itinerary. There are mostly English language books and volunteers who run it are mostly American ex-pats. The Book Exchange reminded me of a library/LFL – take what you want, bring them back when you’re done (or don’t). There was no charge for books and puzzles and any money they do bring in is used towards helping the Obidos region. We spent a while here chatting with the volunteer about Portugal, moving abroad, books, and more. This shop really made my heart warm and fuzzy – a community of people who are trying to help each other and the country they have adopted as their home.
I don’t even know where to start to describe Corny by Sabrina Cross. I went into this knowing it was going to be weird (I mean, sentient stuffy?), but I didn’t expect to fall in love with Candy as much as I did.
This was a fun read – finding true love, demons, FF love story, sentient crocheted stuffy. I’m looking forward to the next in the Yarn & Monsters series.
I was really looking forward to Deja Brew by Celestine Martin. I really enjoyed Watchful Thinking, the first in the Elemental Love series of stand-alones. In Deja Brew, Sirena is a kitchen witch whose powers are on the fritz. This was a super slow burn between Sirena and Gus.
I listened to Deja Brew as an audiobook and found this one to be just okay – definitely not one of my top reads of 2024, but a cute witchy read with lots of fall vibes.
I’ve had Pushin’ Cushions by Vera Valentine and Unfortunate Reads on my Kindle for a few months – I downloaded it just after Election Day in the US. It’s a political satire and I knew it would make me laugh. I’m glad I waited to read it until Inauguration Day – it was definitely brought some cheer on this otherwise dark day.
While this was short (only 44 pages) it was absolutely hilarious.
While I enjoyed The Red Woman and the White Bear, it did take me a while to get into this story; and it is not a unique enough story that it will stay with me for a long time without muddling into a mix of others like it.
Aisling is prophesied to be the chosen one who will turn the tides of war between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts but where everyone is morally grey.
This was a slow (slow) burn, shadow magic, enemies to lovers and a lovely debut fantasy romance from Fern A Ellis.
Thank you to the author and Book of Matches Media for the digital copy!
I almost DNF’d The Holiday Cottage – I had a hard time getting into the story in the beginning and didn’t really vibe with Imogen at first. But I knew Sarah Morgan never disappoints, so I kept with it and I’m glad I did.
This wound up being a very sweet holiday read with found family, cute animals and crazy kiddos. It definitely made me want to spend time in small towns for the holidays.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ebook!
Leann Reads Books 