Review: Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade

Dog Friendly

by Victoria Schade

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 352

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Exhausted veterinarian Morgan Pearce is feeling overworked and under-thanked, so when two favorite clients ask her to watch their special needs senior dog in their Nantucket home, she jumps at the chance for a summer break. She hopes her time on the island will be a reset from the stress of her everyday life, but her chill vacation vibe takes a hit when she gets roped into fostering a challenging, anxious dog and helping plan the local rescue group's glittery annual fundraiser.

Her trip starts to feel more like a vacation when Morgan begins falling for Nathan Keating, an irresistible entrepreneur who thinks every problem can be solved on a surfboard. Just as the summer is shaping up to be the magical refresh she needs, thanks to a fling that feels like the beginning of something real and Hudson, the foster dog who reminds her how much she loves her job, a visit from her estranged brother and the discovery of who Nathan really is changes everything. Morgan finds herself at a crossroads, trying to determine if mistakes from the past must define the future, or if she should forgive, forget, and grab hold of a chance to finally rescue herself. 

Kritters Thoughts:  A book with a dog on the cover and knowing it is a romance will always be a book that I will start and probably like!  Morgan Pearce is a veterinarian who has been through it all and is about to lose all of her marbles when the perfect summer break shows up on her doorstep when a patient of hers needs extra care while their parents are away and it is in a semi secluded location - so off Morgan goes to Nantucket.  

While always in a romance, the reader can easily predict where the characters will end up, the journey is the reason for reading.  I felt at times there were a few pieces missing, but overall I felt as though the journey was a great ride.  It was interesting reading about the turmoil a veterinarian and how dealing with both pets and humans is hard, especially when it can be a hard day for all parties involved.  With dogs in my care, I spend a lot of time with our vet and never thought about how their job is difficult dealing with both animals and humans! 

I loved how the healing care of dogs was shown in this book.  We recently lost a pet and our other two have been a part of the healing process and dogs can definitely bring the heart rate down!  

My third Victoria Schade book and third time was a charm - I have loved all three.  I hope to catch up with her books that I haven't read shortly and sure hope that there is a dog or two in each one!

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2022 Challenge: 50 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Random House.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Out of Her Depth by Lizzy Barber

Out of Her Depth

by Lizzy Barber

Publisher: MIRA

Pages: 400

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  There are summers that will change your life.

There are summers that may end it.

In the lush green hills beyond Florence sits the Villa Medici—a graceful pensione surrounded by manicured gardens. Rachel, a college student from an unfashionable London suburb, can’t believe her luck in landing a summer job here. Especially when she’s drawn into a circle of privileged young sophisticates, including her glamorous coworker Diana, who promises to help Rachel win the affections of handsome, confident Sebastian.

But as champagne flows and rivalries fester in the Tuscan countryside, Rachel realizes that Diana has motivations of her own. Adrift in a world of backstabbing and bed-hopping, lavish parties and easy betrayal, Rachel feels the stakes rising along with the temperature until, one night, something snaps. Someone dies. And nothing will ever be the same…

Kritters Thoughts:  Rachel is a young woman headed to college, but before she goes to Cambridge, she lands a good job in a fun location - a mansion/hotel in Florence, Italy.  She is out of her league when another young woman arrives - Diana who is sophisticated and has access to her parents wallets which helps when their paycheck is limited.  And of course, an Italian summer isn't complete without a dreamy Italian guy and Sebastian fits the bill.  

The book is told in two different timelines - one in the present as Sebastian is released from prison and Rachel is trying to handle it all.  And the other storyline is 20 years ago as Rachel and Diana meet and work and the summer that really changed their lives forever.  I for sure loved the one from the past more than the present, but I am glad the author included the present to see where these characters were and are.    

While I have become quite the reader of the mystery/thriller genre, I have learned a few tricks of the trade and predicted the ending very early on, so this book for me was more for the journey to confirm if I was correct in my guessing - and I was!  

There is one book in Lizzy Barber's backlist that looks like this one and I hope to read it very soon.     

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2022 Challenge: 49 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from HarperCollins.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

A weekend spent recovering from a long work week made for some hours by the pool with a few good books!


A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

The Girl From Jonestown by Sharon Maas

Out of Her Depth by Lizzy Barber

Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade

 

Currently Reading:

Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare

Next on the TBR pile:

Reputation by Sarah Vaughn 

Review: The Girl From Jonestown by Sharon Maas

The Girl From Jonestown

by Sharon Maas

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 417

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  When journalist Zoe Quint loses her husband and child in a tragic accident, she returns home to Guyana to grieve. But when she hears cries and music floating through the trees, her curiosity compels her to learn more about the Americans who have set up camp in a run-down village nearby. Their leader, Jim Jones, dark eyed and charismatic, claims to be a peaceful man who has promised his followers paradise.

But everything changes when Zoe meets one of his followers, a young woman called Lucy, in a ramshackle grocery store. Lucy grabs Zoe’s arm, raw terror in her eyes, and passes her a note with a phone number, begging her to call her mother in America.

Zoe is determined to help Lucy, but locals warn her to stay away from the camp, and as sirens and gunshots echo through the jungle at nightfall, she knows they are right. But she can’t shake the frightened woman’s face from her mind, and when she discovers that there are young children kept in the camp, she has to act fast.

Zoe’s only route to the lost people is to get close to their leader, Jim Jones. But if she is accepted, will she be able to persuade the frightened followers to risk their lives and embark on a perilous escape under the cover of darkness? And when Jim Jones hears of her plans, could she pay the highest price of all?

Kritters Thoughts:  Zoe is a journalist who has returned to Guyana after traveling the globe trying to escape a tragedy from her past.  As she is staying with her aunt and uncle, there are weird noises at night and she comes to find out that the group called Jonestown is next door and many people are wondering what is going on, but don't want to intrude as this is a live and let live situation.  

What I wanted more in this book was more moments from Lucy's point of view from within Jonestown.  Without spoiling, there were definitely a lot of moments in the back quarter of the book that took place within Jonestown, but I would have loved more in the build up before Zoe arrives on property.  This was my only criticism of the book - I wanted more!    

I loved that while reading this book, I kept wondering where fact and fiction where and what was historical truth.  This book also made me want to read more, whether it be fiction or non fiction around Jonestown and that is always a positive feeling when I finish a historical fiction book.  

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2022 Challenge: 48 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Bookouture.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: When it Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee

When it Falls Apart

by Catherine Bybee

Publisher: Montlake

Pages: 364

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Brooke Turner has always had a complicated relationship with her father. But when his health takes a turn for the worse, she drops everything to care for him. He’s her dad, after all, and he needs her. What Brooke doesn’t anticipate is the unraveling of her long-term relationship and a cross-country move to San Diego’s Little Italy.

Luca D’Angelo is the oldest of three children and a single father to a young daughter. When his mother rents the top floor of their house to Brooke, he’s angry. Who is this beautiful stranger with no ties to the neighborhood? Can she be trusted in such close proximity to his family?

As Luca learns of Brooke’s difficult journey with her ailing father, his heart softens. And Brooke, who witnesses Luca’s struggle as a single parent, develops feelings for him, too. But when it all falls apart, will love heal their wounded hearts?

Kritters Thoughts:  Brooke Turner has a tough relationship with her dad and when he has a health crisis she decides to show up and showing up for her dad sends her own life into a tail spin.  She ends up moving her whole life from Seattle to San Diego and hopefully she can piece together a new life that looks better than the last.  

When it comes to romance book, I always have a hard time when the characters meet in the book and don't have any history.  For me it always feels like instalove and this one did.  I felt as though they went from oh hello to oh I am in love way too fast.  Going into the book knowing it was the first in a series, I was hoping for something a little different.  

The plot of the book was great and the characters were entertaining, so I will continue in this series, but just wish for a little more slow builds.  This Italian family in San Diego with a restaurant was just so much fun.  There were a few times while reading where I wish I had a bowl of homemade pasta to enjoy!  The plot was great, young woman new to town, single dad trying to keep his life afloat - and they both fit what the other needs.  

I hope that book two focuses on someone else in Luca's family and we can see Brooke and Luca in the future.  

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2022 Challenge: 47 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Pitchlit.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

Two books a week seems fair for now, with a work trip, I am hoping for some airplane reading!


A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Island Time by Georgia Clark

When it Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee

Currently Reading:

The Girl from Jonestown by Sharon Maas

Next on the TBR pile:

Out of Her Depth by Lizzy Barber

Review: Island Time by Georgia Clark

Island Time

by Georgia Clark

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 412

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, the two families find themselves stranded together for six weeks.

With only two island employees making up the rest of their party, everyone is forced to question what—or who—they really want. Island Time is a sumptuous summer read that dives deep into queer romance, family secrets, ambition, parenthood, and a bird-chasing bromance. This sexy, sun-soaked paradise of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush rainforest will show you it’s never too late to change your destiny.

Kritters Thoughts:  A set of sisters, a married lesbian couple, both of their parents and two outsiders get stuck on an island and crazy is about to happen.  Matty and Amelia are the sisters.  Matty and Parker are the lesbian couple and the Kellys are Parker's parents and the Lees are Matty and Amelia's parents and while that sounds confusing, they are written so uniquely that is easy to keep them straight from page one.  

While I can't pinpoint one thing, I can just say that I just didn't love this book.  This is my second Georgia Clark read and I would like to read more before I make a full decision.  The characters in this one were fine and they had a good arc, but I can say it felt weird that they weren't more exasperated that they were stuck on this island.  I felt their response to their situation was underwhelming.  The pacing also didn't work for me and I know that is part of my own reading life right now, as my reading time is limited, I need books that are constantly moving and this one had quite a few quiet moments that for me fell flat.  

I will say the characters kept me reading and I was definitely invested in them and wanting to know how all the things would be resolved, so I am thankful that from the beginning I cared about the entire cast and there was no way I was going to DNF and not know all the resolutions.  

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Atria Books.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Privacy by Nina Sadowsky

Privacy

by Nina Sadowsky 

Publisher: Bantam

Pages: 272

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  A therapist's patients are the victims in a campaign to destroy her life in this unsettling and electrifying novel from the author of Convince Me.

What is the cost of carrying not only your own pain and grief, but that of so many others?

Dr. Lana Landers is good at her job. She's an accomplished marriage and family therapist, dedicated and compassionate. When she is summoned by the police after one of her patients holds his wife hostage at gunpoint, she is able to intervene and dissuade him. Lana becomes a media sensation. But as her star rises, the target on her back grows larger.

How much can a person bear before breaking?

Not everyone is impressed by Lana's achievements. In fact, someone is after her. And to get to her, they are targeting what matters most to her: her patients. One by one, Lana's patients begin to spiral out of control after the receipt of unsettling "gifts." An embezzler and his wife receive "dirty money," bills soaked in rancid oil; a cuckold receives an audio file of his wife with her lover; a young woman receives a jar of formaldehyde that reminds her of a dreadful mistake from her past. Then Lana herself is the target of a home invasion, and when the perpetrators flee, they leave behind a message: I'm watching you.

Aided by Cal Murray, the ambitious and charismatic investigative journalist with whom she has an explosive attraction, Lana discovers that someone has it in for her. Someone with access to her patient records. Someone who wants to end her stellar reputation, her newfound success, and even, perhaps, her life.

Kritters Thoughts:  Dr. Lana Landers is a therapist and she has a plethora of patients who have come to her with a wide range of issues to work through.  She has been working with them to hopefully get them through whatever life circumstance that is keeping them from living a happy life and she is trying all sorts of ways.  Cal Murray, an up and coming journalist enters her life and is helping investigate what is happening to her patients and hopefully will figure out all the clues.  

With a sporadic reading life, the pacing of books really matters to me right now and for some reason this book moved so slow for me.  I felt as though it took a long time for some things to happen and for the balls to start rolling.  

The other thing that I use to base my thoughts on is the actual culprit and for me I didn't love who dun it.  I will not spoil it for you, but I wasn't satisfied by the outcome.  There is for sure someone else I wish had been the culprit and I was ready for the twist to come and sadly it didn't.  

To end on a positive note, I loved Cal Murray and I loved having a journalist as the investigator.  As a journalist he definitely has some professional skills to investigate, but he isn't the police, so he can maybe make some questionable moves.  Whenever the story went to Cal Murray, I loved those moments and wanted more of him.  

This was my first Nina Sadowsky read, but for sure won't be my last.  I like to read a few books of an author before I make an overarching decision on them.  

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2022 Challenge: 46 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Random House.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

I feel like a broken record, but 2022 just isn't the year of reading for me - too many things going on!


A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein

Privacy by Nina Sadowsky

Currently Reading:

Island Time by Georgia Clark

Next on the TBR pile:

When It Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee

Review: Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein

Meant to Be Mine

by Hannah Orenstein

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 288

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  What if you knew exactly when you’d meet the love of your life? Edie Meyer knows. When her Grandma Gloria was a young woman, she had a vision of the exact day she would meet her soul mate—and then Grandpa Ray showed up.

Since then, Gloria has accurately predicted the day every single member of the family has met their match. Edie’s day arrives on June 24, 2022, when she’s twenty-nine years old. She has been waiting for it half her life. That morning, she boards an airplane to her twin sister’s surprise engagement, and when a handsome musician sits beside her, she knows it’s meant to be.

But fate comes with more complications than Edie expected and she can’t fight the nagging suspicion that her perfect guy doesn’t have perfect timing. After a tragedy and a shocking revelation rock Edie’s carefully constructed world, she’s forced to consider whether love chooses us, as simple as destiny, or if we choose it ourselves.

Kritters Thoughts:  Edie Meyer is ready for HER DAY to begin as it will be the day that she meets the love of her life.  Her grandmother has predicted the dates of all of her family members and each found the person they were to marry on "their days."  Edie's twin Rae met her love in college and they have been together ever since, but waited a few years to get engaged once they were both settled in their careers and Edie is craving for a relationship that looks like theirs - can her guy arrive on HER DAY?!

What a sweet romance.  While I am not a huge reader of magic and witches and all of those things, this one is not that at all.  It was so fun to watch the main character try to live up to the expectations that are set by her family members and see how those dominos will fall.  Often we think about if we had known our death date, but to know the date you will meet the one is an interesting question to ask - does it help or hurt your other relationships that happen before and are there even more expectations put on the people you meet that day?  I loved how this book dealt with these questions and the story was so perfectly paced.  

With only a few steamy scenes that were appropriately placed, I would recommend this romance to those who avoid the overtly sexy times as these fit in the story and were quick and not too graphic.  

My second Hannah Orenstein book and there are two in her backlist and I hope to add them to my summer reading because this book was perfect for a day at the pool!  

Rating: absolutely loved it and want sequel

Ebook 2022 Challenge: 45 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Atria Books.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: The Brighter the Light by Mary Ellen Taylor

The Brighter the Light

by Mary Ellen Taylor

Publisher: Montlake

Pages: 364

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  When a shipwreck surfaces, old secrets are sure to follow.

Or so goes the lore in Ivy Neale’s hometown of Nags Head, North Carolina. When Ivy inherits her family’s beachfront cottage upon her grandmother’s death, she knows returning to Nags Head means facing the best friend and the boyfriend who betrayed her years ago.

But then a winter gale uncovers the shipwreck of local legend—and Ivy soon begins to stumble across more skeletons in the closet than just her own. Amid the cottage’s clutter are clues from her grandmother’s past at the enchanting seaside resort her family once owned. One fateful summer in 1950, the arrival of a dazzling singer shook the staff and guests alike—and not everyone made it to fall.

As Ivy contends with broken relationships and a burgeoning romance in the present, the past threatens to sweep her away. But as she uncovers the strength of her grandmother and the women who came before her, she realizes she is like the legendary shipwreck: the sands may shift around her, but she has found her home here by the sea.

Kritters Thoughts:  Two storylines in this one book.  One in 1950 as Ivy's grandmother, Ruth, is living through a tumultuous summer at her family's resort - a shipwreck is uncovered, secrets are revealed and it ends with a dead guy.  The current storyline takes place in 2022, with Ivy back in Nags Head, North Carolina cleaning up the family cottage that is left when Ruth passes and she is at a crossroads of her life and must decide which way to go next.  

Typically when I read a dual narrative storyline, I tend to love the historical one more, but not so in this one.  I loved Ivy so much and loved her story arc - I adore when a character has to return to their childhood to confront things in the past and then decide what they want for their future.  I did like how Ivy uncovering the things from her grandmother easily weaved into the historical storyline unfolding, I just wasn't as in love with that storyline as I usually am when history is involved.  

I loved Mary Ellen Taylor's Union Street Bakery series and I liked this stand alone from her.  I want to prioritize more from her backlist and enjoy these characters that she puts in interesting circumstances.  

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2022 Challenge: 45 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

I feel like a broken record, but so many things are taking my time other than reading and this is just the season of life I am in right now!


A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

The Brighter the Light by Mary Ellen Taylor

Currently Reading:

Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein

Next on the TBR pile:

Privacy by Nina Sadowsky

Review: The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery

The Boardwalk Bookshop

by Susan Mallery

Publisher: Mira Books

Pages: 448

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  When fate brings three strangers to a charming space for lease on the California coast, the Boardwalk Bookshop is born. Part bookstore, part gift shop, part bakery, it's a dream come true for Bree, Mikki and Ashley. But while their business is thriving, their personal lives are…not.

Bree, wounded by brilliant but cold parents and her late husband's ultimate betrayal, has sworn to protect her heart at all costs. Even from Ashley's brother, a writer and adventurer who has inspired millions. He's the first man to see past Bree's barricades to her true self, which terrifies her. Mikki has this divorce thing all figured out—somehow, she's stayed friends with her ex and her in-laws…until a new man changes how everyone looks at her, and how she sees herself. Meanwhile, Ashley discovers that the love of her life never intends to marry. Can she live without being a wife if it means she can have everything else she's ever wanted?

At sunset every Friday on the beach in front of the Boardwalk Bookshop, the three friends share a champagne toast. As their bond grows closer, they challenge one another to become the best versions of themselves in this heartachingly beautiful story of friendship, sisterhood and the transformative power of love.

Kritters Thoughts:  Three women are business partners and through this they have become friends.  Bree, the owner of the bookshop is a widow who keeps relationships at arms length.  Ashley owns the muffin business and is in a long term relationship, but she is ready for the next level.  Mikki is the gift shop and has been happily divorced for three years and may just enter the dating market, but it could turn her world upside down.  

As I like to warn folks who read my reviews, there were definitely some sexy times in each of the women's stories and while it worked in each of their stories, if you try to avoid books with these scenes, this one may be on the cusp - but you may want to try this one as there is enough plot to enjoy this book.  

Out of the three women and their storylines, I think I liked Brees the most.  She had the best arc from beginning to end.  From her rocky childhood to a bad relationship, she had the most bottom to top rise and I enjoyed her as a character.  On the other side, Ashley's story was frustrating.  To spoil a bit, her boyfriend isn't into the formality of marriage and that is what Ashley wants next.  Her story felt like it plateaued and fast and had no rise or fall - I found her to be whiny and just didn't love her story.  

I love a Susan Mallery stand alone book and always enjoy a summer weekend with one by the pool or just soaking in some sunshine!

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2022 Challenge: 43 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Harper Collins.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins

Out of the Clear Blue Sky

by Kristan Higgins

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 496

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Lillie Silva knew life as an empty nester would be hard after her only child left for college, but when her husband abruptly dumps her for another woman just as her son leaves, her world comes crashing down. Besides the fact that this announcement is a complete surprise (to say the least), what shocks Lillie most is that she isn't...heartbroken. She's furious.

Lillie has loved her life on Cape Cod, but as a mother, wife and nurse-midwife, she's used to caring for other people...not taking care of herself. Now, alone for the first time in her life, she finds herself going a little rogue. Is it over the top to crash her ex-husband's wedding, dressed like the angel of death? Sure! Should she release a skunk into his perfect new home? Probably not! But it beats staying home and moping.

She finds an unexpected ally in her glamorous sister, with whom she's had a tense relationship all these years. And an unexpected babysitter in of all people Ben Hallowell, the driver in a car accident that nearly killed Lillie 20 years ago. And then there's Ophelia, her ex-husband's oddly lost niece, who could really use a friend.

Kritters Thoughts:  Lillie Silva is ready for that empty nester life when her only child, her son heads to college, but her nest may be a little emptier than she planned when her husband announces that he is leaving also for the new woman in his life who lives just down the road.  Lillie must rethink what she thought the future would look like and make new plans.  

For Kristan Higgins books, I don't read the synopsis because she has rarely, if ever, failed me!  BUT I wish I had with this one as a cheating husband tends to be a storyline that I like to skip and while some books surprise me and the cheater exits the book quickly, not so in this book and for a reader who doesn't like this sort of thing, I wish he would have just disappeared and we could have concentrated on Lillie's post cheating husband life!  

What I wanted more in this book, was Lillie's relationships with the other folks in this town including her sister.  The scenes where she was reconnecting with her sister were my favorite to read and I lingered there as their building relationship after a hard childhood was great to read.    

While I didn't love this Kristan Higgins book, I believe it is all because of my dislike for this book subject and it won't keep me from reading her next book that comes out.  I solely blame myself for not loving this book and even with my opinions on this subject matter, I still love the characters and was invested enough in them to finish the book!

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2022 Challenge: 42 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Berkley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.