Review: That Swoony Feeling by Meghan Quinn

THAT SWOONY FEELING

Meghan Quinn

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Released: August 6, 2020

Source: Purchased / Kindle

Rating: 4.25 stars

I'm single . . . so single it's painful.

Yup, ladies, Brig Knightly--that's me--is still a lonely bachelor, stumbling through the streets of Port Snow, looking for the girl he's supposed to end up with.

That is until my brother, Rogan, presents me with the opportunity of a lifetime. The Summer of Love, a secret pen pal program in Port Snow is looking for applicants and I'm the perfect fit.

I couldn't sign up fast enough.

I found myself quickly falling in love with a pair of red lips at the bottom of a letter. Just like in the movies...

Life could not have been better, that was until I started hanging out with Ruth Barber. Starting a new business right next to my shop, I found myself gravitating toward her. Her smile, her humor . . . her tea sandwiches.

My attraction for Ruth came in full force, leaving me dazed, confused, and *ahem* excited.

As new feelings for two women come to a screeching halt, I have to figure out who to choose. But when I discover my pen pal is Ruth, it might be too late.

All I want in life is to experience that swoony feeling . . . but I think I might have just missed my chance. 

I have totally enjoyed Meghan Quinn’s Getting Lucky series and was so happy to finally dive into Brig’s story. As the youngest Knightly brother, Brig has been desperate to fall in love and has often provided comedic relief throughout the series. He could be something of a goofball, but his irrepressible charm was also impossible to resist. Unfortunately, he was also completely clueless and totally blind to the girl right in front of him.

I was made to woo, and damn it, I'm going to fucking woo. I'm going to woo this girl so hard.

Since the death of her parents, Ruth had been lonely. Sure, she had friends in Port Snow, and she stayed super busy running her coffee shop, Snow Roast, but she’s also been pining for Brig Knightly for years and he apparently only sees her as the girl who serves up his morning coffee. 

I love how easygoing he is. Holding a conversation seems simple for him. Always the social butterfly. The guy everyone wants to be around because he puts a smile on your face. His humor is infectious and his teasing personality makes me feel like I belong... belong somewhere.

Thankfully, Ruth isn’t the only one that thinks she and Brig would be perfect together because when the Knightly clan gets involved… look out. I adored Brig and Ruth’s story and it cemented itself as one of my favorites from the series. I loved the friendship that developed between them and the way Brig declared Ruthie was his new best friend. But I could practically feel Ruth’s heartache when Brig seemed to friend-zone her again and again and not realize that he was falling in love. And Brig, bless his heart, he was a total romantic, but he was also an idiot. The ending of their story had my heart melting and the tears flowing. I wish this wasn’t the end of the series because I could keep reading about the Knightly family for a long time.

YOU CAN FIND THAT SWOONY FEELING HERE:

GOODREADS | AMAZON

My Bookish Planner 2021 #AlwaysFullyBooked

Let me start by saying: I'm not a "planner person." I don't live and die by my planner. And the fact is, I only use a planner because it's a bookish one, and if I didn't have this bookish planner I just wouldn't use one at all. So there's that.

But, thankfully, there is a bookish planner and its bookishness is exactly what drew me to it. I'm sure there are a variety of book planners out there, and they all have something to offer, but it's the Always Fully Booked planner from Little Inklings Design that makes my bookish heart go pitter pat.

So basically what I'm saying is, I'm sharing this more from a bookish perspective rather than a planner perspective. Someone who is a hardcore planner might go in depth about all the aspects that makes it a great planner for them: a specific layout, a certain paper, a particular binding. Since my planner is simply here to allow me to do a deep-dive into more bookishness and is in no way meant to make me more productive (bahaha!), that's where I'm focused. 

This is my second (or third?) year buying the Always Fully Booked planner and I'm a wee bit obsessed. The quality is top notch with a hard cover, a metal coil binding, and corner protectors. But inside... that's where all the fun is! 

There's a page to record your yearly goals, pages to track book series, pages to jot down your favorite quotes, reading challenges, wish lists, coloring pages, and more. Each month includes pages for a TBR, new releases, book hauls, wrap-ups, and reviews. 

    

I love that it's so easy to personalize the planner to suit my needs. I don't do reading challenges so I just skip those pages. I use the reading checklist pages to keep track of the books that I *really* want to read - basically, a top-tier TBR. I don't do a whole lot with the monthly spreads, but instead focus more on the weekly pages. There, I track my daily reading and page count, as well as any daily notes/appointments/etc. 

   

   

Note: The last two pics are from my 2020 planner. The 2021 planner still has the bookshelf coloring pages (among others), and that's where I fill in everything I read throughout the year. The new planner also still has the monthly wrap-up page but it's set up a bit differently than what's shown here.

Unfortunately the 2021 Always Fully Booked planner is sold out (I'm pretty sure they sell out every year - you have to jump on them pretty fast to nab one), but Megan offers other bookish notebooks that are set up very similarly and I believe they are still available.

Speaking of Megan (designer of the Always Fully Booked planner and owner of Little Inklings Design), she is such a sweet person! I love following her on Instagram and YouTube. Not only is she an avid reader, but she is crazy talented and I get heart eyes seeing her planner pages and her stunning hand lettering. Her YouTube videos are a lot of fun and she shares how she sets up her planner, monthly wrap-ups, even her favorite pens and planner supplies. 

DO YOU USE A BOOKISH PLANNER? 

DO YOU TRACK WHAT AND HOW MUCH YOU READ?

 LET'S CHAT ABOUT IT IN THE COMMENTS!

Reviews: Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese & Until the Last Breath by Shanora Williams

ONLY WHEN IT'S US

Chloe Liese

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Released: April 1, 2020

Source: Hoopla Audiobook

Rating: 3.5 stars

Ryder

Ever since she sat next to me in class and gave me death eyes, Willa Sutter’s been on my shit list. Why she hates me, I don't know. What I do know is that Willa is the kind of chaos I don’t need in my tidy life. She’s the next generation of women’s soccer. Wild hair, wilder eyes. Bee-stung lips that should be illegal. And a temper that makes the devil seem friendly.

She’s a thorn in my side, a menacing, cantankerous, pain-in-the-ass who’s turned our Business Mathematics course into a goddamn gladiator arena. I'll leave this war zone unscathed, coming out on top…And if I have my way with that crazy-haired, ball-busting hellion, that will be in more than one sense of the word.

Willa

Rather than give me the lecture notes I missed like every other instructor I’ve had, my asshole professor tells me to get them from the silent, surly flannel-wearing mountain man sitting next to me in class. Well, I tried. And what did I get from Ryder Bergman? Ignored. What a complete lumbersexual neanderthal. Mangy beard and mangier hair. Frayed ball cap that hides his eyes. And a stubborn refusal to acknowledge my existence.

I’ve battled men before, but with Ryder, it's war. I’ll get those notes and crack that Sasquatch nut if it’s the last thing I do, then I’ll have him at my mercy. Victory will have never tasted so sweet.

Sooo, Only When It’s Us was something of a mixed bag for me. Some things I liked, others not so much.

What I Liked:

Ryder – Was the term cinnamon roll invented for this guy, or what? What a sweetheart. I’m a sucker for a gentleman and Ryder had that going on. He’d been dealt a rotten hand in some regards, but he wasn’t bitter and angry. Sure, he had his moments, but for the most part he had acceptance and he still had a good heart and a kind nature.

The Bergman clan – I loved this family! What an amazing group of spirited people. Not to sound all saccharine, but it was obvious that the parents had raised good people and instilled good values in their brood. I loved the interactions between Ryder and his mom, Ryder and his dad, and all the siblings.

Not So Much:

Willa – Unfortunately Willa embodied several of my character pet peeves all rolled into one and it was almost impossible to get past that. She was a hothead who had no issue letting her temper fly on whomever she felt wronged her. Her attitude: I need something, so how dare you not give it to me immediately. While that did lessen over time, she was still testy and easily irritated and I wasn’t a fan. I lost track of how many times she called Ryder an a**hole, a guy that did nothing to her. I get that she was dealing with something extremely difficult, but it wasn’t a free pass to treat people so shabbily.

The ”Did I Say That Out Loud” Moments – Ugh. I’m sorry, but I have never “accidentally” given voice to my thoughts. But apparently Willa does this All. The. Time. And never realizes she’s done it until someone comments on what she said. And then there’s the inevitable “oh, did I say that out loud?” response. Maybe it was supposed to be quirky, but it was just unbelievable and repetitive.

Overall:

Despite my issues with Willa, I did warm to the overall story. It took a *long* time for her to actually trust Ryder but once she did I was all-in with their relationship. I enjoyed the secondary characters and Ryder’s family was a real highlight.

UNTIL THE LAST BREATH

Shanora Williams

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Released: April 1, 2020

Source: Hoopla Audiobook

Rating: 1 Star

Years ago, I fell in love with a man named Maximilian Grant - tall, smooth talking, handsome as hell Maximilian Grant.

He was my everything -- a man who could do no wrong -- but then he did the one thing he promised he'd never do: he broke my heart.

Now, nearly four years later, I'm happily married to a man who has completely changed my life...but with my health hanging in the balance, I often wonder what his future entails because I know there is a possibility he'll have to live on without me. John, my husband, is the love of my life, and I have never questioned our love...that is until my past comes knocking at the door.

Every girl has that one guy--the one whom she can't seem to forget or completely let go of, no matter how toxic the relationship was, or how badly it ended. Well, this story is a little different.

This is the story of how Maximilian Grant went from being my toxic first love, to the man who ultimately saves my life.

And, trust me, this will not play out the way you think it will.

When I read the synopsis for this one I was intrigued, and I did something I rarely do – I purchased a physical copy of a book by an unknown-to-me author. Yeah, bad move on my part.

I’m all for a good tearjerker now and then but in order to make your readers cry, you have to make them care. You have to give them characters worth crying over. And these were not those characters. Main character Shannon was, well… awful. I suppose having a terminal illness was supposed to automatically make her sympathetic but being ill does not make you a decent person. Shitty people get sick, too, and Shannon was a shitty person. She was married to a man who loved and adored her, who she called her soulmate, and yet she still pined for her equally shitty ex-boyfriend, Max. She thought about him all the time and kept in touch with him. She lied by omission to her husband about who the guy was and then took off with him, only telling her husband once she was on the plane and about to leave the country. Who does that? Shannon was selfish, a liar, and an emotional cheater. She spent a lot of time reminiscing about the past when she and Max had a craptastic relationship, which is apparently what she got off on. Max seemed to think he was some irresistible player and Shannon obviously agreed. So they both adored him. I couldn’t figure that out, either, since he acted like an ass, but again, this seemed to be the kind of relationship she preferred.

So Max showed up now that Shannon was hella sick, becomes the good time guy, wanting to give her what she wants, unlike her poor husband who works like crazy to be able to pay for the hospital, doctors, home care, treatments, etc. Max is the good guy swooping in to give poor Shannon what she wants, while John is just the poor sap that loves her and is there day in and day out caring for her.

The ending was schmaltzy and unrealistic and, frankly, undeserved. This was my first read of 2021 so at least it can only go up from here.

HAVE YOU READ EITHER OF THESE BOOKS?

Review: In the Penalty Box by Lynn Rush & Kelly Anne Blount #NewRelease #EntangledTeen

IN THE PENALTY BOX

Lynn Rush & Kelly Anne Blount
Publication date: January 5, 2021
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Entangled Teen
4 Stars
ADD TO GOODREADS
 

The Cutting Edge meets Friday Night Lights in a sizzling new hockey romance from bestselling authors Kelly Anne Blount and Lynn Rush.

Willow
Figure skating was supposed to be my whole world. But one unlucky injury and now I’m down...but I’m definitely not out. I just need to rehab—a boatload of rehab—and who’d have thought I could do it on the boys’ hockey team?

Of course, the infuriatingly hot captain of the team seems to think I’m nothing but sequins and twirls. What’s a girl to do but put him in his place? Game on.

Brodie
Hockey is my whole world. I’ve worked my tail off getting my team in a position to win the championships—hopefully in front of major college scouts, too—so what’s a guy to do when a figure skater ends up as our new goalie?

Of course, the distractingly sexy skater thinks I’m nothing but a testosterone-laced competitive streak. And surely she’s only biding her time to heal, then she’s gone. Game over.

Figure skater Willow is back at home to recover from an injury. She is determined to rehab, get back to 100%, and return to the elite training facility where she has her eye on the Olympics. But not only is her recovery taking longer that she wants, it seems like her parent’s are arguing all the time.

Brodie lives for hockey and, going into his senor year of high school, the pressure is on to take his team to the championships and become a third generation Boston College hockey player. But things at home are falling apart. Since the death of his mom, his dad is gone all the time, and he’s trying his best to be there for his little brother.

Here was this amazing guy sitting before me who was sweet, sensitive, and so very loyal. He was strong and an amazing athlete, but he had to carry so much on those broad shoulders of his. Way more than a seventeen-year-old should. - Willow

I really enjoyed my time with Willow and Brodie. It was great to read about two athletes who were so focused and dedicated. Willow’s take-no-prisoners attitude had me silently cheering her on and I was so impressed with her tenacity and determination. But it was Brodie’s story that really engaged my emotions. I have a soft spot for characters who shoulder a lot of responsibility at a young age and that certainly fit Brodie. This was a young man who was still grieving the loss of his mother, living without the emotional (or even physical) support of his father, and taking on the burden of care for his sick little brother. Rush and Blount did a great job at showing Brodie’s struggle to keep all the balls in the air as well as his inevitable breaking point.

Watching as Willow became more entrenched in the hockey team, and formed bonds with her teammates, was a real highlight for me. For the most part she was judged on her talent and what she brought to the team, and most of her new teammates welcomed her with open arms. There were a few holdout’s, however, and I appreciated how Willow handled herself when faced with opposition. The team was a tight-knit group of friends, both on and off the ice, and it was fun to be a part of their banter and ribbing and support. If I had any quibble at all it would be that the dialogue didn’t always ring true. Granted, I don’t spend a lot of time with teenage boys, but it seems unlikely they use terms like “what’s the tea” when it’s just the guys.

The intensity with which she played hockey, battled off all those slapshots from Right Hand of God, and then the crap Pax, Eric, and even some of the town had thrown at her, she’d handled it all with grace. The grace of a figure skater and the guts of a pro hockey player. - Brodie

In the Penalty Box was a sports romance that was heavy on the sports – and I loved that! As a hockey fan, I enjoyed the training scenes, the pick-up games, the trash talk, and the mental and physical strength that was required. The romance aspect was definitely on the slow-burn side and rated-PG. This was a great YA contemporary with a strong focus on friendship, loyalty, and overcoming hardship. Definitely recommended!

Disclosure: I received a a complimentary copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

YOU CAN FIND IN THE PENALTY BOX HERE:

GOODREADS | AMAZON | AMAZON UK 

BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

The Sunday Post #235 | January 3, 2021

     

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's a chance to share news: a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books,

 and share what's coming up on your blog in the week ahead. 

Happy New Year! So how did everyone ring in the new year? Anybody actually go out? :) We stayed home but since that's the norm it didn't feel any different than any other year. LOL And also like every other year, I went to bed by about 10:00 or so. Or at least I tried to. The fireworks in my area started around 7:30 that evening and were virtually nonstop until waaay after midnight. Over five hours of nonstop fireworks. Gah! I woke up once around 3:30 in the morning and... you guessed it... more fireworks. Sheesh.

Where do you fall on the resolutions debate? Do you make them diligently every year? Consider them pointless and just carry on? Or are we all just happy that last year is behind us and we're not feeling too particular about 2021 just as long as it's an improvement over the dumpster fire that was 2020? LOL

I followed tradition and made a big pot of black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. Maybe it's just a Southern thing? I'm not sure. But it's traditional and is supposed to bring prosperity in the new year. It's also traditional to make collard greens but The Husband is not a fan so I skipped that part. :) Do you follow any New Year's traditions?

We've been laying low the last few days. Hanging around the house, putting things back in order, that kind of thing. I cracked open my 2021 book planner and had fun getting it set up. Had an iced chai tea latte. It's the small things, isn't it? Last year was certainly a good reminder of that, if nothing else.

Instead of an 80's golden oldie, I'm sharing one a lot more recent (2005, I think). Enjoy Van Morrison's Celtic New Year.

Sunday, December 27

The Sunday Post #234

Tuesday, December 29

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2020

Thursday, December 31

#BestReadsof2020: Days 26-31

Most Read Authors, Best Sidekick, Best Bromance, 

Best New Series, Best Underrated Book, Best Book of 2020

WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK

Read:

Christmas in the City - Anthology

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING

   

I've just barely started Until the Last Breath but I get the feeling it's going to be quite the tearjerker. 

And I'm still on the fence about Only When It's Us. I spent the first 20% or so considering if I should DNF. Willa is one of the most unlikable characters I've encountered in a long time. The only thing making me hang in there is Ryder.

Reading:

Until the Last Breath - Shanora Williams

Listening:

Only When It's Us - Chloe Liese

Not a thing.

How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share?

I'd love to hear about it!