The Perfect Rom-Com - Melissa Ferguson The cover is what drew me in, I had no idea what it was about and I didn’t care. So Bryony is trying to sell her manuscript… She goes to a writers conference and things do go the way she hoped. She doesn’t sell her manuscript but she is offered the chance to ghost write for a hot author… She never expected to write the kind of books millions of people read but it hurts that she cannot take the credit for her work and yet she can’t give up the hope of publishing as herself… Jack is the only bright side to her current predicament and it's up to him to keep her happy in her contract… It’s cute. Too blinking CUTE!!! Jack… ah Jack!! I love their friendship. I love that he respects her as a person and author and admires the heck out of her. They are such good friends that they wordlessly do things like take the food the other person doesn’t like off their plates and swap it for something else. It’s intense. To build a friendship like that and move seamlessly to love. It’s too cute… SIGHHHHH I am not a massive fan of friends to lovers but I kinda feel like the lover part was always there they just didn’t know it yet ya know. I love books that have book talk within them and this is clean cut and adorable! Great narration and I enjoyed the heck out of it. 4 stars

I just finished Realm of Ice and Sky by Buddy Levy and here are my thoughts. This book is all about explorations to the arctic… in an airship. I already see a million things that could go wrong and thanks to Buddy Levy, I know how much can and did go wrong! Never thought this would be the kind of book that would get me going but hells bells this was an intriguing read. The author does a really good job of giving the official narrative without padding it out with the waffle. It’s well researched and beautifully written. The explorers were great and there was a lot of info here about them and how they must have felt but it was the airships that really entertained me! Wow just wow! Am I a dork? Yep. I am a dork! Guilty as charged and 4 stars for this great adventure book. Thank you to @stmartinspress for my gifted copy. #nonfiction #arctic #adventurereads #buddylevy #airships #realmofsky #Biography #travelliterature #smpinfluencers #stmartinspress #bookreview #bookreel #bookblogger #bookish #readerofig #bookalorian

Compass Points by Jillian Witt @author.jillanwitt I don’t know why I waited so long. I don’t know why I don’t have the next two installments. I think I need to get with the program. Rose ran from the fae court and never expected to go back but when the Mist and Luc arrive in her town at the same time, it's become clear that her weapons are the only hope they have of surviving. Now she has to return to a place that she never had any intention of thinking of again. Rose and Luc are amazing! I love their banter, I love their connection. The plot is amazing! The writing is superb! I have sooo many questions I’m hoping are answered in book 2! The world building was captivatingly beautiful and I am so glad I got the audiobook of this book. I loved the narration, I felt like I was truly there. Ari is my favorite character though. He is such a stinker I loved it. You need to grab this series TODAY. Don’t be a dough head like me and wait… NOW! RUNNNN don’t WALK! :) 5 stars

I just finished Your Unconscious is Showing by Dr Courtney Tracy and here are my thoughts. I know… I’ve been reading a lot of self help books lately and it’s purely because I need to know if there is any help for a weirdo (a happy weirdo) to live a fuller life… Do I feel out of control? I don’t know if I am but this book, if you can admit to being out of control, can help you live a meaningful life. I was hooked. It spoke to my inner fruit! I never spent the time trying to improve myself in ways that I see others improving. I eat right, work out, I don’t drink or smoke. I don’t take prescription meds and I take the time to meditate and do some tai-chi… Now am I healed from my trauma? Doubtful so I cracked this bad boy open and began. The book is loaded with personal stories and didn’t feel clinical and preachy. That was the first win. It’s not a textbook but it's also not not a textbook. It’s written from a very humanist perspective. You don’t feel judged. It’s like being guided by a friend you can trust. You can’t control everything and this book will help you to accept that. I thought it was well written, easy to follow and was brimming with personality. I need that in my non-fiction! Highly recommend it. 4 stars Thank you @stmartinspress for my gifted copy #selfhelp #nonfiction #yourunconsciousishowing #smpinfluencer #stmartinspress #selfhelpbook #igreads #nonfictionbooks #libri #goodreads #bookclub #readmorebooks #literature #readingtime #bookobsessed #nonfiction #currentlyreading #libros #ilovebooks #instagood #livre

I just finished Naples 1944: The Devil's Paradise at War by Keith Lowe and here are my thoughts. Been on a bit of a war kick lately. It wasn’t planned but it just kinda happened that way and I am not sorry. I haven’t read a lot of World War II historical narratives but I was totally intrigued with the concept of this book. It was really well researched. It didn’t feel like the author was padding it out with drivel so that was a huge plus for me but it did drag a bit in spots. Nothing overly concerning but I had to say something negative or you won’t believe what I have to say. It’s bloody heartbreaking. The violence. The endless hunger. Ugh it ripped me apart inside. The book is loaded with information on what happened during threat time. So much chao. The allied soldiers were monsters. They took advantage of the situation, it's black market contraband and it was a real contrast to what they had versus what everyone else had. You always hear about the same countries and what happened to them so this was something different and if you love a good WWII read, you should grab this one. 4.5 stars Thank you to @stmartinspress for my gifted copy. #naples1944 #nonfiction #worldwar2 #historybook #bookreview #bookishreview #bookloversunite #bookloversofinstagram #bookloverproblems #fictionreader #readerslovebook #readersoninstagram #readingislife #readingtime📖 #bookworm #bookslover

I just finished A Rage to Conquer - Twelve Battles That Changed the Course of Western History by Michael Walsh and here are my musings. I have studied history but I haven’t spent a lot of time studying battles.. This book takes us on a journey through 12 of the most important battles in recorded history. Our history is littered with wars raged over many things over the course of time. Julius Caesar was one of the leaders that was brought up! Firstly, one of my favorite places in my hometown was a place called Caesar’s camp. He was in that area around the time of one of his campaigns and it’s all very exciting! We learned a lot about the Romans in school and one of my favorite teachers was Mr Wright, my history teacher because he was so excited by history and it showed.. I thought this book would be exciting! Now do not get me wrong, this book was obviously well researched, immaculately so but this book was like taking a stereo manual dry. It was loaded with info and told like a lecture from Professor Binns. There was no life to it. If you are looking for a history book of wars with zero personality.. this is it. Right here! A lot of people prefer their books written this way but not me. I like to know the personality of the author and to hear their voice. I learned a lot and I felt I got a lot out of the book though and it started a healthy debate between my husband and I. 3.5 stars. Personality would have sent this one to a near perfect score! Thank you @stmartinspress for my gifted copy. #aragetoconquer #stmartinspress #michaelwalsh #nonfiction #militaryhistory #historybook #bookreview #bookalorian #bookfiles #bookish #reader #war #booklover #bookloversoftiktok #bookchat #readingallday

I just finished Chain Reaction by James Byrne and here are my thoughts - A Dez Limerick thriller. Book 3. Well I thought the second book was the one to beat.. not now.. this book was non stop action from the get go! For those of you who haven’t read any of the books from this series yet.. (I’m giving you some serious side-eye.. 😒😒) Dez isn’t you run of the mill hero. He had a very colourful past.. some pretty serious skills… he’s retired but he is often called in for action! He finds himself in the middle of a terrorist attack. Joining forces with Cat (a thief) and Liv, also a gatekeeper like Dez but what she wants.. doesn’t align with what Dez is after and that makes for some excellent entertainment. There is something you need to know about the characters. They are all well written and he has a gift of writing strong women and I am here all day for that! There is so much more to this thriller series, it’s refreshingly original and while this makes a great standalone book.. I highly recommend them all! I just got the first book as an audiobook because I need to hear Dez’s voice.. yep I’m that girl! 4.5 stars Thank you to @minotaurbooks for my gifted copy! #chainreaction #minotaurbooks #dezlimerick #jamesbyrne #thrillerseries #bookishreview #bookcommunity #thrillerreader #thrillerbooklover #readercommunity #bookstagramreads #readersofbookstagram #bookalorian #readervlog

I just finished Bonded in Death by J D Robb and here are my thoughts. Firstly, this series is insanely long. And I do mean insanely long. This is book 60.. yeah. I’m not joking. It’s JD Robb’s really successful In death series. I’ve read maybe 9 books in the series. They all work as standalones before you throw in the metaphorical towel before you even started. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single one I’ve read. You will have a fast paced mystery on your hands with a ton to keep you entertained. Now it does help to at least know something about the characters. It's an excellent plot and I love Eve! I am a bit of a sci-fi lover so all the tech is adapted really well into the series! 4.5 stars Thank you @stmartinspress for my gifted copy. #bondedindeath #jdrobb #indeath #mystery #Dystopia #NonlinearTimeline #Whodunit #bookreview #booklover #readerofig #bookblogger #bookishblog #readerofig #igbooklover #bookalorian #tiktokbooks #mysteryreader #mysterybooklover

I just finished Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao and here are my thoughts. Being Asian in America is hard but Gemma doesn’t let that get in her way but when her grandfather dies and leaves her a clue for a treasure hunt… she is going to Taiwan.. Trouble is she has to ask her ex and rival Xander for help and that doesn't sit well with either of them but there are lessons for them both along the way. OK this book was too cute to poot! I am not a fan of enemies to lovers but this took an interesting route with a rather overdone trope. The treasure hunt was well done and the balance of Gemma finding out about who she is and who her grandfather was.. Wow, it was clever. It was brilliantly paced as well. I couldn’t imagine feeling like neither of the “identities” fit and knowing that her mother deliberately kept her from exploring a part of herself… UGH. The writing was really great! I loved the banter and the snark was on fire…. It did get a little sloppy in places but with so many balls in the air… It’s a really hard thing to keep straight for over 350 pages and getting lost a little didn’t take away from the fact I enjoyed the heck out of it. I read it all in one go and if you like mystery romances set in a YA world… Grab a copy! Thank you to @penguinteenca for my gifted copy. OUT NOWW!!! #exmarksthespot #gloriachao #YA #mysteryromance #bookreview #booklover #bookreview #booksbooksbooks #igreader #bookblogger #readervlog #bookishpodcast #bookloversofig #booktube #penguinteens