"he wanted her to be the living proof that he was worth loving."
"no way i would be able to focus on my work anymore while olinski’s and my mother’s words danced together in my head. a tango in which the roses were all thorns."
"life can be a little shit sometimes. but shit also makes great fertilizer. grow from your experiences, don't let them smother the light out of you."
"be kind to me, alaric had said. he’d been at her mercy, broken and bruised and the valerian ensuring that he had no defenses left, and that was what he’d asked of her. be kind to me."
"caring too much for objects can destroy you. only—if you care for a thing enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn’t it? and isn’t the whole point of things—beautiful things—that they connect you to some larger beauty?"
"it’s okay to sing. hell, it’s okay to record and release songs for absolutely no one but yourself. so what if they don’t top charts? you don’t have to feed the machine for the rest of your life."
Wild Eyes is the second book in the Rose Hill
series, and another amazing, emotional and beautiful story by Elsie Silver.
Skylar Stone is a famous country singer that has had her whole life written out for her, been betrayed and controlled by the ones who are supposed to protect her, especially her parents, and suffers from anxiety. Her pet parrot Cherry is the only one who has truly been there for her during her lows. I loved all the moments with that sassy, but loving, bird. Then Sky just wanted an escape from her stifling and crazy starlet life. Her desperation and broken trust led her to Rose Hill and to West and his family. Tired of living a fake life as a starlet, she wanted to explore herself as a human and an artist. In pursuit of finding joy in making music just for herself, she journeyed to Rose Hill to record in Ford Grant’s new studio.
Due to her timing, he has to stay with West. He and his children entered her life, and taught her that there are kind people who like her for her and treat her as though she isn't famous but one of them. The moments with West's children Emmy and Oliver were so precious. I was really fond of the moments between her and Ollie. And it was comforting to see her take control of her life and career and finally be the Skylar Stone she wanted and deserved to be. Her character development and healing is two of major plot of Wild Eyes and it was done steadily and exceptionally.
Weston Belmont is a horse trainer, and Rosie’s brother. He is a sweet gentleman who is funny, hot, has tattoos, is known as the town’s flirt, and is a single dad. He is brimming with love and hope and has such an optimistic and wild approach to life. He is raising his kids with so much love, devotion, patience and admiration. I loved every moment of him and Ollie and Emmy together. He is also mature enough to be on good terms with his ex, with whom he co-parents. Though, underneath all that easy-breezy attitude, he hides his insecurities and abandonment issues. It was good to see how he shared his inner worries and vulnerabilities with Skylar because he knew she would understand him without any judgment. West a man who loves hard and wholeheartedly is now one of my favourite man written by Elsie.
These two truly give off those 'meant for each other' vibes. This is the story of two lost souls who find their right person at the right time. Their first meet-cute was hilarious. (P.S. Don’t take selfies with bears.) They shared an undeniable bond that could not be quashed just by anything. The slow-burn was the perfect build up with palpable and burning sexual tension between them. The endearing simplicity of their friendship and small family moments with West’s kids breathed life in their love story. West was there for Skylar in every moment, he soothed her, helped her heal and find comfort in life she was building for herself. He was her companion, her friend, her lover, her home in just one person. Truly what she needed but what she never thought she’d have.
I really liked these stories, and am looking forward to more love storis by Elsie Silver.
"because as much as i don’t need a knight in shining armor to defend my honor, i’m relieved i have one who feels compelled to do so."
The first book in Elsie’s new Rose Hill series, ‘Wild Love’
takes us on a journey with Rosie and Ford, childhood frenemies who may have
been something more all along.
Ford Grant, the world's grumpiest and hottest billionaire (the
second one according to Forbes) is actually a nerd. He is ambitious, thoughtful
and has held a candle for his best friend's sister for years. He is
soft-hearted but hides it all behind the untouchable façade in order to protect
himself. He moved to Rose Hill, where he spent summers as a teenager, to get
his recording studio off the ground and escape the spotlight. This all comes to
a halt when a young girl shows up on his doorstep, claiming that she is his
daughter. A test soon confirms that Cora is indeed biologically his, conceived using
sperm he donated as a student. While he's trying to balance this new life with the
new business and parenting, his best friend’s sister comes barreling back into
town. Unable to say no to her, Ford soon has a new assistant when she asks for
a job.
Rosalie Belmont has always been a people pleaser and
tried to be the good kid with her scholarly and bright personality, in order to
contrast her older brother who was nothing but trouble. She never wanted people
to feel burdened by her, and thus became what they expected her to be but she
lost herself in the process. Rosie went through some rough times in the big
city, with her boss undermining and sexually harassing – then promptly firing –
her. Realizing it's time to recreate herself with grace and kindness, she
leaves her spineless boyfriend and goes back to the town where she grew up. Rosie
is an imperfect character and at times she can be annoying with her antics but
I found her funny and charming and I loved how she's been driving Ford wild to
the point of insanity. The relationship with her and Cora was so sweet as they
were very similar in some instances and just bonded so well.
Rosie and Ford have pretended to hate each other for years because being
frenemies was easier than giving in to their feelings. Hating and exchanging
verbal jabs is their kind of foreplay. Their romance was a result of years of
hate-love friendship, animosity, yearning and longing for each other and
tantalising sexual tension and desire that was simmering between them. It was a
beautiful transition from Ford and Rosie finally realising that they were
always more than just frenemies. The diary segments from her teenage years gave
an insight into Rosie's feelings for Ford and just how smitten she was with him
and his nerdy and introvert personality. The sentimentality of the diary key he’s
been keeping as a pendant around his neck just killed me.
The grumpy man and sunshine girl dynamic is always a win,
and Rosie and Ford pull it off perfectly. The way she teases him at work, gets
him all flustered, and brings out his jealous side is a fun read. Rosie
definitely has Ford wrapped around her finger, and his protectiveness over her
and his daughter, Cora, made my heart melt.
Ford’s humble and down-to-earth nature added so much depth to his character,
but despite all the fun with Cora and his attempts to be a good guardian, I
didn’t really feel like his role as a father landed for me. Cora was sweet but
felt more like a background character, and I never fully connected with how
Ford became a dad—it just didn’t sit right and was unnecessarily convoluted. I
actually felt Rosie had a stronger connection with Cora than Ford did (thought
their bond through music was very sweet), which left me wanting more from their
relationship.
All in all, it was a cute story and, since I never expect
too much depth from novels like this, I was overall left satisfied with it and
am looking forward to more books from this series.
"maybe something seems like a disaster. but if you look deeper, maybe it's an opportunity. it's all about how you look at it."
“Sometimes I wish I could just… I don’t know. Be someone
else.” These are the words Catherine Moonstone Lipton says off-handedly to an
old man in a moment of weakness, and she lives to regret them.
Catherine Lipton feels comforted by order and strict
planning. This is a result of being raised in a way that could be seen as
chaotic at best. Her single dad is a literal clown who seems more interested in
his performing than in paying bills or providing stability for his daughter. He
has tried getting a job before, but it never worked out, and Cath had to be the
responsible one in the household. She has recently moved out and found an
affordable apartment in a building full of elderly residents. The only person
her age seems to be the doorman, Luca.
She had a PhD in Mathematics and has just earned her dream
job as a Mathematics professor, a tenure-track position, when she discovers
that issues with her paperwork may mean that she has to give up the position. When
she attempts to attend the HR orientation at her new university, she find out
that her government documents aren't valid and she does not in fact exist at
all.
Her life takes a wild turn when she
figures out that she had mysteriously disappeared from all government databases
and the issue stems from her birth certificate being a forgery. Desperate to retrieve her original birth certificate from
the mother she’s never met, Catherine steps into a whimsical adventure filled
with silly detours that challenge her rule-following nature in the best
possible way.
Joining her is Luca Morelli, her
infuriatingly handsome and charismatic doorman. He is the embodiment of a ray
of sunshine. He is always helping out the elderly residents at the building and
taking them shopping, dancing with them – even sleeping on the floor of the
lobby in case they need help with the ever breaking elevator. There’s a sweet
and heartwarming mystery behind his quirky tendencies, and I loved how he
disrupts Catherine’s carefully controlled world.
With Luca’s help, she tracks down the parts of her past that
will set everything right again. Through Luca, she also meets her neighbors and
becomes more aware of the community around her – some new, but also the people she
has had in her life all along. Additionally, Luca’s boisterous Italian family
adds warmth and humor, giving the story a grounded, cozy feeling even amid the
suspense of Catherine’s lost identity. The elderly residence of DeGreco also
showed her a different side of life, by choosing to live out their golden years
living and enjoying themselves. There is also a thread of destiny here as well, as the identity of the old man who seems to have started this whole thing is revealed in a realy touching moment at the end.
Catherine's problems and anxieties struck a deep chord
with me since they were described so vividly that they were nearly tangible. It
was wonderful to see her quest for self-discovery highlighted in this story,
and it was uplifting to see her new family's support along the road. But, I
have to note, that she also frustrated me for a good chunk of the book. It completely
makes sense that she's so intent on being organized and responsible given her
father and the instability of her childhood. But, she makes so many completely
unexamined assumptions about people: if someone is charming then they must also
be totally irresponsible and unreliable – so she should steer clear of them; but
if someone appears responsible, then they must be trustworthy and reliable. She
holds onto these assumptions even after ample evidence suggests she should
reconsider. Yes, I am mostly talking about her mother. I found her naivety
regarding this cold woman who left her to be grating, considering she is otherwise
so smart. The way she pushed people away for basically no reason, but gave her chance
after chance to disappoint her – just because she has a pristine white home and
is an ER doctor was infuriating.
Despite my last point, ‘Wish I Were Here’ is overall a delightful
blend of whimsy, mystery, and romance, with just the right dash of magic to
keep readers hooked. There was something so light and refreshing about Cath and
Luca’s relationship. Catherine and Luca’s chemistry is so good, with a charming
opposites-attract dynamic that keeps you rooting for them as they navigate
everything from smoky bars to underground hospital records.
"care is reckless because it doesn’t come with the seat belt that selfishness offers. care has so much to lose, and almost always ends in heartbreak."
Amelia ‘Rae’ Rose, is in her mid-twenties and in desperate
need of a break before her upcoming concert tour, after endless rehearsals,
costume fittings, and public appearances. She misses her estranged mother, who
tried to take advantage of her stardom. Her demanding agent controls every
aspect of her life, turning her into someone who’s always polite and always
smiling—a fake version of herself.
One night, inspired by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, she
realizes she feels just like the movie’s princess: in desperate need of a break
from her stressful life. Though she can’t escape to the Rome in Italy, she
decides to head to Rome, Kentucky, staying in a B&B to lie low and reflect
on her life. However, her plan is quickly derailed when her car breaks down on
the front lawn of Noah Walker—a grumpy, brooding, yet charming pie-maker.
Enter our hero, a kind-hearted man who’s been keeping to
himself since his heart was broken by another city girl years ago. Noah
reluctantly allows her to stay in his guest room, but he knows he’s in trouble
the moment she walks through his door. She’s famous, beautiful, and has a heart
of gold. He can’t let himself fall for her, not again. But her car repairs will
take at least two weeks, and Mabel, the town’s B&B owner, insists there’s
no vacancy. So, they’re stuck together.
Noah doesn’t use a cellphone or have Wi-Fi in his house and
values his privacy. This seems strange to Amelia at the beginning, but soon she
is on board with the disconnect from her public life this affords her. Despite
their attempts at laying low, the entire town is quickly buzzing about Noah’s
love life, excited to have a pop star in their midst. How long can he resist
the charm of the adorable woman in his home?
I really loved the small town vibe Adams creates. Rome,
Kentucky is the closest I’ve seen to the beloved Stars Hollow in book format
and the author really captured that special vibe. The charming townspeople like
Mabel, Harriet and the other busybodies snooped, gossiped, and did everything
else I imagine is a crucial part of small town living.
I was also charmed by both Noah’s and Amelia’s relationship
with his sisters. I’ve already read Annie’s story (“Practice Makes Perfect”) so
I know how that turns out and it was kind of nice seeing the seeds planted in
this story – for both the characters that appeared later on, but also the
connection they have in the following installments.
All in all, it was a very cozy, quick read that did its job
of making me forget about real life for a bit by transporting me somewhere
nicer, where problems can be quite easily resolved and people are generally
kind. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this cast’s stories.
"roll with the punches, teddy andersen. and punch back if you need to."
This is the third and penultimate book in the 'Rebel Blue Ranch' series, this time covering our beloved enemies - Teddy and her best friend's brother, the grumpy Gus. I knew from the first mention that there must be something more between them and that trading insults was just their way of flirting. And, yes - I was right.
The boutique that Teddy worked at has closed permanently.
She needs a job for the summer while she figures out what she wants to do with
her life. Insert Gus – her nemesis, who has realized that he can't do
everything by himself and is in need of help with his daughter. Teddy is his
only option, as his sister Emmy so helpfully points out. He offers her a job to
babysit, and due to being unemployed and her father’s medical bills mounting, she's
not in the position to turn it down. We’ve seen these two in previous book, we
know what tension’s simmering. And we’re in for a ride.
Theodora Teddy Andersen has the fiercest and
softest heart. She is a chaotic, headstrong, and fearless person, but here she
is revealed to have a softer, creative, more caring, and compassionate side. She’s
also perceptive and supportive when the people she loves need her. He loves
fashion and creative pursuits. Her care of her ailing father was lovely, though
even he noticed that her reluctance to move on with her life – lest he need her
– was holding her back, and encouraged her to take chances.
And though Teddy never knew how to take care of herself or
be vulnerable with other people, it was reassuring to see her accept that she
could simply be herself with Gus and Riley. The way that she felt safe enough
to share and show her private thoughts and fears with him was heartwarming. Her
friendship with her lifelong best friend, Emmy, shows how changing
relationships and seeing other people succeed can bring challenges and sadness,
and how it takes time to embrace this part of life. She felt like she was
behind, and it was so real, raw, and life like most of us have felt this way. I
know that I have. I loved watching her go through the pains of growing in life
as an adult, when friendships drift a bit with the changes life brings: getting
serious as a couple, married, and other developments that sometimes take priority.
August 'Gus' Ryder, is the embodiment of the grumpy
cowboy. I've always known that behind his grumpy and cold-hearted exterior, he
hides a tender and caring side for the people he loves. He is the perfect blend
of tough exterior and hidden warmth. Gus is an incredible father – he is
thoughtful, affectionate, and so patient with Riley. The way he loves his
daughter is everything. But as the eldest Ryder brother, and the one in line to
inherit the ranch from Amos, he carries a lot of responsibility, and he’s often
reluctant to delegate his work or share his stress with family members, believing
that he has to be involved in all aspects of their business.
Teddy and Gus love fiercely and deeply when it comes to
their people and family, and they both fear not giving or loving enough, or
simply not being enough. Both are caretakers, burdened with the weight of being
the solid pillar of the family. They’re so similar in their fears and the way
they love others, and they bonded over this instantly. No matter how much they
bickered – and their banter is hilarious – it soon became obvious to both how
similar they are. I loved the dynamics between them, from friends who simply
spent time together doing mundane, domestic things – listening to each other
talk, taking care of Riley, comforting each other, and making sure the other
person was okay – to actually giving into their romantic feelings. I also loved
how Teddy helped Gus realise that he can't do it all on his own and that it's
okay to open up, let others in, ask for help and share some of his
responsibilities and weight that he tries to carry alone. The reason for their animosity is revealed as well, and it is actually believable that something so small could snowball into this big thing because that's exactly who these two are.
I absolutely adored the moments with Gus, Teddy, and Riley
together. The things they did as a trio added a nostalgic, cozy, and homey
vibe. They make such a beautiful family, and seeing Teddy dote on Riley as if
she were her own child was everything, and definitely had a role in Gus’
feeling bubbling to surface. Teddy and Riley are the perfect duo; I loved how
chaotic they both are and how deeply they care for each other.
These books are peak escapism. I love the word that
Lyla Sage built in Medowlark – it feels small, and secluded, cozy. Getting lost
in these characters’ stories is just what I need when life gets a bit too busy
and noisy, and I will can’t wait for the last book in this series to come out.
"i imagine your every detail, constantly. god, imagine the things i could accomplish if i could think of anything other than you. my favorite person."
a
"that kind of sacrifice creates a debt, and there's nothing magic likes better then the great hollow of a debt."
Look at that cover! How could I have possibly skipped this?
But also… folklore based books are a weakness of mine, and this one in steeped
in Slavic stories which brings it that much closer to home.
Dymitr comes from a long-line of hunters who put their souls
at risk to rid the world of monsters. But his newest task isn’t an easy one-
find, and kill, the head witch, Baba Jaga. Dymitr works with a pair of unlikely
allies, Ala and Niko, to seek out the witch, who each have their own reasons
for seeking out Baba Jaga. I loved the mystery and the slow reveal of it all,
truly engrossing.
Following an unlikely crew of three very different
characters who carry three different family burdens, this is a gorgeous and
captivating urban fantasy tale about regret, repentance, and responsibility. I
was not prepared for the deep commentary in this book about immigration,
cultural ties, and Christian imperialism.
It's richly layered magic in the fabric of Chicago's mundane
realities. I loved Roth's take on Baba Jaga and the different side seldom
seen in American depictions of her. All the characters felt real despite
not getting to spend a lot of time with them. I was thoroughly hooked on
everything going on as we moved from event to event over the 36 or so hours
that take place in the story.
I wish this was longer. Not because it felt incomplete or
because it suffered from world building or character development due to the
length, but because I just want... more. I want more in this world. I want more
with these characters - and thankfully, there's a sequel coming out later in the year.
"perhaps the only thing we never have to work for is the morning, which comes around to greet us every day."
We meet Jieun; a woman with magical power who accidentally
has caused her parents to vanish. She has been through many rebirths and has
been looking for her parents for an untold amount of time. In her journey to
heal her grief by providing a laundry service, the eponymous Marigold Mind Laundry,
that can erase any painful memories or one’s emotional trauma as stains on T-shirts.
They can then choose to completely wash away the stains into a whirlwind of
flower petals which later would drift into the air and lose the memory
permanently, or just iron out the creases, reducing the effect of the memory on
their psyche. Here she comes into contact with 5 strangers whose souls she
transforms.
The plot is centered along Jieun’s perspective and those
individuals that she met; of one’s life struggles and emotional mess that can
be both relatable and too heart-wrenching. I liked how their friendship built
and progressed heartwarmingly for Jieun. The individual stories weave in
patterns of human sorrow and regrets that we desperately wish to forget.
Despite the lesson and all, it engraves itself as hurt and pain. The story many
inspirational quotes that made ponder on the very essence of life and our
actions.
Reading this felt like I was sitting in a room with an
advisor giving me a list of tips on how to live my life well and be more
grateful. It was so rich with life advices and was more like a healing
self-help book rather than a magical realism fiction to me.
It's a sweet, somewhat sentimental story, but people showing
each other kindness makes me happy and I refuse to see stories like this as
corny or bad in any way. I certainly wished there was such a laundry in the
real world that could help me take stock of my life and get rid o some of the
negativity put upon my own soul.
The only complaint I have is the heavy use of “quotable
lines” – sentences that truly feel like they were put in place so they could be
quoted in Instagram posts out of context by people who have no idea as to their
meaning and want to sound deep. We all know those people. Aside from that, it
is a touching story that made me stop and think for a second – though maybe I should
set your expectations straight – don’t expect any lasting change.
"you know, if mankind has one universal superpower, it’s gaslighting women into thinking they’re the problem. you were never supposed to do more than he did. you weren’t supposed to be more. you sure as hell weren’t supposed to earn more."
This is a locked-room mystery about an eighty-one-year-old
crime queen’s mysterious disappearance in the middle of a blizzard from her own
study without leaving a trace, all signs pointing to a perpetrator who has been
threatening her life for a long time.
So, what happens when hot hunk Ethan and recently divorced Maggie,
both writers at the same publishing house, get invited to spend Christmas with
a fan who turns out to be Maggie’s favorite author, Eleanor? And, why did
Eleanor choose to invite Ethan and Maggie particularly to what has been an
annual traditional holiday family gathering only? And, while readers are taking
in the ambiance of Eleanor’s castle, and all her quirky relatives and other
guests, why and how did Eleanor suddenly disappear in the midst of a blizzard? Was
she murdered? Is there something sinister going on? If so, why? And, who is
behind it? Or, is this a contest for the mystery authors to solve for some
unknown purpose?
Maggie Chase, a successful cozy mystery writer, has had some
rough times around Christmas. She endured the loss of both her parents and her
husband leaving her for her best friend. Yes, she did catch them in flagrante
delicto. And yes, they were assholes. As Christmas approached, her publisher
advised that her presence was required at a party in England, hosted by a fan. Though
very reluctant, Maggie decided to go. When she arrived, she discovered that the
host was none other than Eleanor Ashley, the renowned mystery author, and her
idol.
The guest list included rival writer Ethan Wyatt, which she
found out aboard the plane. The two do not see eye-to-eye, and as we are watching
the story unfold through Maggie’s eyes – it seems Eathan hates her and feels himself
superior. But he doesn't seem to understand what he has done to make Maggie
hate him as much as she does. He has been running with this joke that he thinks
she remembers (calling her Marcie) but clearly she doesn't. He will, however,
never forget because it originated on the first day he met her. When she
changed his life. But then, just after the elevator, he found out she was
married. And now she is divorced and a shell of herself. Now, stuck with her in
this mansion, he is determined to get to the bottom of this misunderstanding
between them.
The two find themselves with some of Eleanor’s relatives
gathered for the holidays at her grand mansion. As the group is stranded by a
snowstorm, eighty-one-year-old Eleanor mysteriously disappears. Maggie assumes
this is all a clever game. Being an Eleanor Ashley superfan and fellow mystery
writer, she follows a breadcrumb trail of clues, while using passages from
Eleanor's novels in conjunction with her current work in progress to unravel
the mystery, only to discover that someone has been trying to kill Eleanor for
weeks. But when a guest is poisoned, things get serious. With Ethan, whom she
detests but needs to trust, Maggie tries to figure out what happened to Eleanor
and to uncover the villain in a household of likely suspects, most of whom have
a motive. And could Ethan's charms also be softening Maggie's heart?
As they sort through the clues, explore the mansion and
encounter various dangers, Eathan slowly starts to peel away his past for Maggie.
He lets her in unlike anyone else has been let in in a long time. All while
trying to keep her safe as she is prancing around this mansion acting like a
detective in one of her books. But she is smiling and laughing, looking
invigorated by revealing the clues of this puzzle, and he finds himself falling
even more. Things come to a head when Maggie is taken and they still don't know
who is behind all of the mayhem. One thing he does know is that Maggie is not
going to get hurt. He will die making sure she stays safe and maybe there’s a
chance that not only will they walk away but they will walk away together.
The story is a sort of inside a mystery as Maggie and Ethan are
summoned to solve Eleanor’s murder, but also what it is that’s gone so wrong
between them. The locked door mystery was very intriguing and involved more
twists than I expected and I loved the setting and the circumstances that
brought them to the remote English estate. It was cozy and still with this
element of tension that pierced through the holiday calm. Absolutely loved this
and would read more Christmas novels of this ilk.
