Review: Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate

What a sweet and wonderfully complicated story! The romance bits and cuteness convinced me to try this one, but I ended up feeling blown away by the depth of emotion that resonated so clearly. Ms. Kate is certainly an author to keep an eye on!

Firstly, let's talk Natalie and Jem. They have their super adorable moments, yes, but also have a super complicated relationship. The hurt and pain they're both struggling underneath are weights on their shoulders that they don't know how to handle. Watching as they breathe new life into each other while simultaneously balancing that chemistry between the two of them...it makes for a good read, is what I'm saying. Both have made mistakes and have need of some growth when our story opens. But as the chapters flew by, I loved that they continued to push each other onward, even if unconsciously.

Secondly, I have to mention Lili because I loved her pretty much from the moment she showed up on the page! I wanted SO badly to give her a hug several times because the poor girl has a whole lot of yuck to deal with in her life. (I will also say that I am not a fan of her parents at all. *frowny face*) Still, she's got some awesome people around her, namely Nick, and I loved all their moments together. I think Lili's chapters were my favorite actually. Her uncertainty, her fears, trying to figure out her life...I just connected with all her emotional upheaval and was with her every step as she pushed towards a shaky but clearer future.

So! This is a pretty intriguing story that seems like a romcom only it chooses to go a lot deeper with the issues its characters are going through. But don't let that keep you away! There is a depth here that is very worth diving into, reader friends. And I hope you do so and soon. :)

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Mid-Year Freak Out Tag

Hello, my lovelies! I know I've seen this going around the blogosphere for many a year. (Who knows but that I may have actually used this idea myself before! Alas, since I cannot remember and don't want to take the time to research my own posts...) This fine day in July I happened upon it over here and thought it'd be fun to join in today. So here I am!

BEST BOOK YOU'VE READ

I've read several good ones so far this year, but nobody has topped my love for Katherine Reay yet. She just knows how to write a story that I will love!

BEST SEQUEL YOU'VE READ

Because HAMISH IS AWESOME. And I love Rachel McMillan. What more do you need?

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN'T READ YET, BUT WANT TO

This one has been out for several months now and I cannot believe that I haven't read it yet. Must remedy that!

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2019

I am super excited for this one! The synopsis intrigues me and the author...well, I know I love her writing, so... Perfect combo! :)

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

This isn't really a bad book, I don't usually finish reading a book that I don't like at all. But I will say that while this one is fun, it simply wasn't as gripping a read as I was hoping for...

BIGGEST SURPRISE

This one was quite different than I'd been expecting, but I mean that in a very good way. Because I loved it! I pretty much bought it without knowing all that much about it other than the synopsis intrigued me and, as I was overseas at the time, I was desperate for an actual book to hold in my hand and to be written in English. Ms. Honeyman proved to me that I made an excellent choice! :)

FAVORITE NEW TO YOU OR DEBUT AUTHOR

This one was easy peasy! Amanda Dykes' book is AMAZING, people. SO, so good.

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

Drake is pretty much adorable, so yeah....

NEWEST FAVORITE CHARACTER

The Nina's for the win! Both of these main characters are named Nina and I happen to think they're both amazing. Plus they LOVE to read and both work with books every single day. One owns her own traveling bookshop and the other works in a bookstore. Also they both happen to be quite bookish and endearing... 

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

Hands down. This one is just....yeah. Good stuff, people!

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

I loved this one so much that when it was time to take the library's copy back, I had to go to B&N and purchase my very own because I refused to not have this lovely story in my house and always around me!

FAVORITE BOOK TO FILM ADAPTATION

So I have not watched any of new film adaptations this year, but I did rewatch the '95 version of Persuasion and decided it was definitely my favorite of all the Persuasion adaptations out there right now. :)

FAVORITE POST YOU'VE DONE THIS YEAR

As I haven't done too many other than book reviews, I would have to go with this one:

Old & Familiar Friends

Rereading that post just reminded me of the happiness that books and especially familiar, well-loved stories bring to me. Ah, my heart!

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU'VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR

To be honest, I haven't bought very many actual physical books. Most have been on my kindle and let me just say that a kindle book cover is not nearly as glorious as a real book cover. So! That's why I chose this book again. Because it really is lovely and I really don't have any other prettier books that I've bought this year to choose from!

BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR

All the things! No, but seriously. I have so many yet to be published that I'm excited over, I have so many yet to be read that I'm excited over, and I just have lots of books I want to get to! As I've been voraciously reading since I've been home again, I'm just looking forward to whatever bookish delights awaits me next. :)

Review: Just One Kiss by Courtney Walsh

I'm not sure how Ms. Walsh does it, but wow. She simply knows how to write emotions and characters that I get. Every single time! The situations her characters are in may be different than mine, but their emotions? The choices they face and the uncertainties that surround their hearts? That I get for sure. So of course you know that means I fell in love with this story, right?

Let me set the record straight by saying that yes, Ms. Walsh writes a fabulous romance in this book. And as we all know, I am a big fan of romance! (And goodness, what great chemistry those two have going on!) But what really stood out to me with this story were the struggles and the growth that needed to happen for our characters to truly reach their happy ever after. Carly and Josh felt like real people who have made real mistakes, have dealt with real hurt, and have real emotions that need processed. I was with them every step, rooting for them both to realize just how much they bring out the best in each other. How they challenge and motivate the other to live life with all they've got. Josh's utter devotion to Carly is to be noted as well. Because whoa that man knows how to make a woman swoon. ;)

Can I also add that I loved Jaden? He was such an awesome addition to Carly and Josh's journey! Not to mention all the other characters that make their way throughout the chapters. Especially a few familiar ones! Each one just adds depth to the story and swept me into this wonderful community that I wish were real.

Long story short? Ms. Walsh writes so beautifully and the characters are so worth spending time with. Soooo....I say you'd better just stop everything and check this story out now! It's a keeper, folks. I think you should discover this wonderfulness for yourself.

**I received a complimentary copy via the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Blog Tour Review :: Curse and Consequence by Savannah Jezowski

I am so pleased to participate in the blog tour for this book! I am definitely a fan of tales that take place during regency times and the synopsis of this story intrigued me. So it was a happy day when I was able to get this book for review! :)

My Thoughts

The first words that came to mind once I'd finished this story were cute and entertaining. Plus a bit of silliness, which came from the brothers of the story. Sedgwick and Hugh could both use a bit of growth seeing as how they are constantly frustrating each other and acting like children. And then Sedgwick decides a curse is a good idea. Never a good idea! The consequences bring lots of shenanigans.

But the cuteness? That comes courtesy of watching Rea and Sedgwick figure out their hearts. These two are pretty perfect for each other and made me giggle several times. I enjoyed watching them banter back and forth a bit, as well as just swoon over each other. I didn't need to do any swooning, the two of them did plenty enough by themselves! ;)

The only downside to the story that I found was the fact that it ends on a cliffhanger of sorts! And now I have to wait a whole year or so before I find out what happens next! In the meantime, I'd better go back and reread this one over again.

** I received a complimentary copy via the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book

When Love visits Ravenhead Hall, sparks fly…quite literally.

Miss Rea Abernathy only wants to honor the family who has taken her under their wing, rescuing her from a life of poverty. But thanks to two determined suitors, she finds herself in a state far worse than the one from which her benefactress saved her.

When Mr. Sedgwick Whitby sets his sights on his mother’s sweet-tempered pig keeper, his orderly life is thrown into chaos: Rea’s station is less–than-desirable, and another gentleman may be pursuing her. Hoping to get his annoyingly charming twin brother out of the way, Sedgwick purchases a simple curse from a disreputable faery which consequently plunges them all into a misfortune far more serious than troubles of the heart.

With time running out to break the curse and tempers flying high, can Sedgwick and Rea set things right and find love after all? Jane Austen meets dragons in this frolicking fantasy romance about a comely pig keeper, two wealthy gentlemen, and the curse binding them all together. Perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones and Gail Carson Levine.

Amazon (Available on Kindle Limited!)

About the Author

Savannah Jezowski lives in Amish country with her Knight in Shining Armor and a wee warrior princess. She is the founder of Dragonpen Designs and Dragonpen Press, which offers author services such as cover design, developmental edits, and interior formatting. Her debut novella “Wither” is featured in Five Enchanted Roses, an anthology of Beauty and the Beast, and is a prequel to The Neverway Chronicles, a Christian fantasy series filled with tragic heroes and the living dead. She is also the author of When Ravens Fall, a Norse Beauty and the Beast retelling. She is featured in several Fellowship of Fantasy anthologies, including Mythical Doorways, Tales of Ever After, and Paws, Claws, and Magic Tales. When she isn’t writing, Savannah likes to read books, watch BBC miniseries, and play with cover design. She also enjoys having tea with her imaginary friends.

Website — Newsletter — Facebook — Facebook Group — Twitter — Amazon Author Page

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, June 1^st

• Katherine Brown Books: Book Review
• C O Bonham: Book Review
• Beka Gremikova: Book Review & Book Excerpt

Tuesday, July 2^nd

• Jessica Belmont: Book Review
• Lands Uncharted: Guest Post on Magic
• The L. Palmer Chronicles: Guest Post on Themes of Curse and Consequence

Wednesday, July 3^rd

• Paper, Ink, Lizard: Book Review
• Baroness’ Book Trove: Book Review

Thursday, July 4^th

• She Hearts Fiction: Guest Post on Themes of Curse and Consequence & Book Review
• Flowers of Quiet Happiness: Book Review

Friday, July 5^th

• Annie Louise Twitchell: Book Review
• Selina J. Eckert: Book Spotlight
• Kyle Robert Shultz: Book Review & Author Interview
• Pooled Ink: Book Review

Saturday, July 6^th

• The Rustic Reading Gal: Book Spotlight
• Bold Reads: Book Review & Book Excerpt

Sunday, July 7^th

• Unicorn Quester: Blog Tour Wrap-Up