Love, Just In by Natalie Murray

29 Feb 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers Tags: , , , ,

Published: 24 March 2015 (print)/3 Jan 2024 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Allen & Unwin/Wavesound from W. F. Howes Ltd
Pages: 464/10 hours, 16 minutes
Narrator: Maddy Withington and Matthew Predny
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Romance
★   ★   ★ – 3 Stars

In the vein of Emily Henry’s You and Me On Vacation, Love, Just In is a friends-to-lovers romance with just enough spice to heat up the summer.

Sydney TV news reporter Josephine “Josie” Larsen is approaching 30 and coming dangerously close to failing at life. Lost in a vortex of other people’s career milestones, engagement parties, and baby showers, Josie is perennially single, abandoned by her globetrotting family, and invisible to her boss – except for the one time he tuned in while she was mid-panic attack on live TV. As a punishment, Josie is shipped off to cover another reporter’s six-month leave at a regional bureau in Newcastle.

But Josie has more waiting for her in Newcastle than yawn-inducing stories about bicycle lane protests. The city is also the domain of Zac Jameson – her best friend since high school. This should be a happy turn of events, but Zac has barely spoken to Josie for the past two years. Not since his fiancée tragically died in his arms in a car accident and he left Sydney to try and cope with his grief.

Now thrown back into each other’s lives, Josie and Zac have to navigate their neglected friendship and secret attraction to each other while struggling with their careers and mental health.

Hilarious, sexy and heart-warming, this is the perfect romcom to sit on the shelves alongside Emily Henry, Sally Thorne and Ali Hazelwood. 

Having loved Murray’s Hearts and Crowns series I was keen to jump into her new book and it was not a disappointment. It is sweet, full of the realities of life, of friendship, and love. Being set in a place that was so familiar to me was a bonus and I loved travelling the streets with Josie as she discovers her new hometown.

There are enough little surprises and twists to keep you engaged. The flashbacks give a nice slow reveal to the relationship between Zac and Josie prior to the present day. It’s a nice mystery element without is being a looming secret, it’s meant to be vague for readers to wonder about without derailing the story unnecessarily.

As it’s already pegged as friends to lovers you know there will be a happily ever after, but it is the journey of the characters and the life around them that is an enjoyable exploration. Zac is a great character and Murray teases him out well as you sense the long time friends turned fractured relationship between Josie and himself.

Josie is an anxious mess, not only about her health, but about her life. Her anxieties about her health as well as her mortification about her career can be debilitating and Murray explores this well through the story. It doesn’t become preachy but there is a fabulous message about trusting yourself, being kind to yourself, and facing your fears.

Withington and Predny do a great job on the audiobook. Withington brings Josie to life with her hopes and her anxieties with great balance. Predny’s role is significantly smaller but it was still nice to see Zac come to life and see his perspective of the story.

While it is a sweet romance story about old friends and new beginnings it is also a story about mental health and looking after yourself, and how easily it can interfere with your life. It’s about not having the dreams you expect and being ok with it, while also having the courage to make new dreams which can be just as good.

You can purchase Love, Just In via the following

QBD | Booktopia

Angus and Robinson | Blackwells

 Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Slither (#2) by Nikki Rae

20 Dec 2023 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Shadow and Ink Series Tags: , , , , , ,

Published: 14th December 2023Goodreads badge
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 341
Format: Ebook
Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance
★   ★   ★   ★ – 4 Stars

Plunged into darkness after an eerie ritual, Corbin finds herself torn between the reality of her life with her mother and the nights she spends with Six. Even though she wakes alone every morning, the nights they spend together are worth it. Suspicion and unease surround her, drawing Jordan closer and closer while Six disappears deeper into the shadows.Obsessed, Corbin sketches only him. As his monstrous image becomes clearer, etched in ink and gold, the pair and Jordan are enticed into a sensual world meant to feed him.Six is reluctantly forthcoming with information about his origins and the mystical connection between the three of them. He has no control and little concern for the human world he affects with his mere presence—even when no one can stop the consequences.Some cycles repeat for a reason, but is this one worth fulfilling?

 

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Slither is exactly the kind of book I’ve come to expect from Nikki Rae; it’s dark, full of lust, passionate romance, a touch of fear, and explores the dark corners of the paranormal world. I’ve loved so many of Rae’s books, each different but uniquely hers. Her writing focuses on passion and the bonds between people, often unexplained, often reluctant but also willing. The temptations of danger, the unknown, and the mysterious are handled brilliantly in her hands and she has done it once again with this book.

Rae highlights how much power there can be in the mundane, the rituals of the everyday and many expressions and experiences of attraction. Up against the dark allure of forced unknown it creates a powerful story.

This is book two in The Shadow and Ink series and I loved revisiting this world again. Rae’s creativity shines through again, this time jumping right into the events of the first book and taking us into the story head on. There’s a brief recap of the events in the previous book but it’s included seamlessly into the storyline it hardly feels like it’s a recap. Information on past behaviour, past events, and the beginning of Six and Corbin’s relationship are explained in ways that feel natural and also in a way that doesn’t take focus from the current events. Even with the book opening after the events of the first novel there’s enough intrigue and questions to keep you reading and enough to keep you going without missing crucial details.

In this sequel we learn more about the connection between Six and Corbin and how their relationship is shaped and the forces that bring them together. Rae reveals more information around the mysterious box, the powers of Six and the relationship and hold he had over Corbin. We also see more of Jordan’s relationship with Corbin and the three mix together in a creative, powerful, and passionate ways. I’m always fascinated by Rae’s imagination because she manages to create beautifully complex and creative storylines from a seemingly simple idea and executes it beautifully.

Corbin is a fascinating and complex character and I loved seeing this explored further in all aspects of her life, not just around Six. Her relationship with her mother, her acceptance of herself and new knowledge around Six, as well as trying enjoy university are blended together well. When it comes to her relationship with Six, seeing Corbin fight instinct and desire against such a tantalising force was great. I liked she was wary, that she was torn between her body and her mind, her desire to run and the aches of lust playing off each other beautifully.

Once again I have to mention the words. I love Rae’s use of language. The story is filled with vivid and evocative words, perfect to capture the mood Rae is trying to portray. With a few words you are in the moment, feeling each caught breath, each touch and each moment whether fear, lust, satisfaction, or uncertainty. You can feel the mysterious nature of Six, the lust and passion between the characters, the sharp contrast when dealing with her mother. It’s fantastic and a powerful tool in conveying this story’s intensity.

This is a story full of magic, sex, family drama, and love crossing through eternities. There is a content warning at the beginning of the book that gives a list of key concepts the book deals with. They are dealt with in story quite well and to various levels but there are certain subjects that may be upsetting to people. Rae has packed a lot into the story but it never feels overloaded, and with so many overlapping aspects it does nothing to take away the realness of characters and the mysteries of the paranormal aspects.

This is far from my usual type of novel, but I’ve been captivated by Rae’s books for years so I’m always willing to delve deep into the new world and cast of characters she’s created with an open mind. I am hoping now that books one and two have been revised there’s hope for book three soon because given that ending I need another book right away and I know Rae won’t disappoint.

You can purchase Slither via the following

Amazon | Amazon Aust

Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith

07 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, Young Adult Tags: , , , , , , ,

Published: 3 August 2021 (print)/26 May 2020 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/Naxos Audio
Pages: 384/9 hrs and 19 mins
Narrator: Theo Germaine, Phoebe Strole
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult
★   ★   ★ – 3 Stars

Content warning: This book deals with and depicts scenes of transphobia, homophobia, suicidal ideation and violent hate crimes.

Pony just wants to fly under the radar during senior year. Tired from all the attention he got at his old school after coming out as transgender, he’s looking for a fresh start at Hillcrest High. But it’s hard to live your best life when the threat of exposure lurks down every hallway and in every bathroom.

Georgia is beginning to think there’s more to life than cheerleading. She plans on keeping a low profile until graduation…which is why she promised herself that dating was officially a no-go this year.

Then, on the very first day of school, the new guy and the cheerleader lock eyes. How is Pony supposed to stay stealth when he wants to get close to a girl like Georgia? How is Georgia supposed to keep her promise when sparks start flying with a boy like Pony?

This was an interesting mixed bag in terms of reviewing because I liked so much of it but other parts were unrealistic. I won’t list them here because while they aren’t quite spoilers it’s not entirely relevant either.

There’s content warnings for assault, brief misgendering and minor suicidal ideation but McSmith includes these in key moments from certain characters. Pony is trying to establish himself at the new school with a lot of pressure coming at him from friends and family, and it isn’t until further in the book do you realise how much that goal is holding him together. How hard everything is, how exhausting it is for Pony to be the person he’s presenting to the world. It’s also a wonderful example of how it doesn’t take much to change someone’s entire viewpoint if it comes at the wrong time. Enough blows will make anybody fall.

The further I got into this story the more grateful I was this wasn’t going to be a story of major abusive and transphobia. The positivity Pony described from his previous school, and his own happiness with himself made dealing with an unsupportive father easier, especially with his sister and mother by his side. But of course people are going to be people. The scene comes towards the end of the book, and as much as felt like it was a token scene of abuse, I kind of understand why MCSmith included it. You can’t ignore the fact transphobia exists, and you can’t help there’s horrible people around, but at the same time after a book that was 90% light hearted happy vibes of regular teen drama and identity quests, having a sudden shift was a shock. Thankfully it comes towards the end and McSmith definitely uses it as a jumping of point for major character development. It has a purpose which is something I suppose.

I was worried it would become too cinematic perfection by the end, especially with the subplot of Pony helping out the former movie star. That was an interesting side story that felt important but also wasn’t quite as significant as I expected. It helped Pony realise some things, but McSmith doesn’t use it as a saviour either which I was expecting.

All the characters grow in their own way, which is all you can ask of them. Max, Pony, Georgia and even Pony’s family evolve and while there is room for improvement hope is all you can leave a person with. Sometimes stark realities and harsh reminders are needed, even if feels out of place.

People are capable of incredibly things with the right motivation and seeing Georgia’s growth as she comes into herself and realises her own identity is wonderful. Pony’s own realisation about what kind of person he wants to be is ongoing, the shield he’s held up about His Identity through the year is allowing more of himself to come through. McSmith concludes the book knowing everyone is going to be ok, even if it feels a tad cheesy sometimes that can be ok.

You can purchase Stay Gold via the following

Booktopia | Dymocks

Wordery | Angus and Robinson

 Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Here for the Right Reasons (#1) by Jodi McAlister

24 May 2023 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers Tags: , , , , , ,

Published: 6 July 2022 (print)/5 July 2022 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Simon Schuster Australia/Simon Schuster Australia
Pages: 352/9 hrs and 45 mins
Narrator: Jaimee Taylor-Nielsen
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Fiction
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

When Cece James agrees to be cast as a ‘Juliet’ on the next season of the hit television show Marry Me, Juliet, it’s certainly not for the right reasons. She’s knee deep in debt and desperate for the associated paycheck. The last thing on her mind is the hunky ‘Romeo’ waiting for her at the end of the gravel driveway.

But Dylan Jayasinghe Mellor isn’t your usual fame-hungry TV star. An Olympic gold medallist with calloused hands, kind eyes and a propensity for panic attacks, it turns out he’s not here for the right reasons either. As spokesperson for a men’s mental health foundation, and the franchise’s first non-white male lead, Dylan’s got a charity to plug and something to prove.

When Cece gets eliminated on the first night, it seems like her and Dylan’s awkward first meeting will be their last conversation. But when the TV set is shut down unexpectedly, Cece and Dylan suddenly get a little more time together than they’d expected.

Will love bloom when the cameras stop rolling?

Reading these out of order was accidental so I knew what to expect but at the same time I was interested to see a whole new storyline because there is definitely two separate love stories happening despite being set during the same experience.

I loved that for the first part on the show we see the same conversations playing out because of course they’re all in the same group. It makes me wonder if I’d done it in another order I’d have the same surprises. The ending of book two was a nice reveal that you had an inkling about, whereas this doesn’t have the same feeling of mystery to it.

Without comparing the two books, I found I wasn’t invested in the Dylan/Cece relationship like I was before with the other story. I don’t know why, Dylan is perfectly nice, a little one dimensional at times, maybe too I couldn’t warm up to Cece as narrator. I found myself tuning out unintentionally which I felt bad about, but I couldn’t stay in the story. The conversations between Dylan and Cece didn’t grab me and it felt flat. It wasn’t that I need drama or anything, but I never became invested in their characters.

You definitely see the two falling in love as they become better friends, a great contrast against the backdrop of reality TV and fabricated relationships for personal gain and fame. You also see Cece’s growth as she builds in confidence and finds out what’s she’s looking for, but she never felt complete. With the knowledge of book two I actually enjoyed their relationship from an outsider’s perspective more fulfilling.

I felt I got more out of the story having read book two. I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I did it the other way but there was something interesting about having extra knowledge that wasn’t being revealed in the story. Knowing the ending doesn’t ruin anything. You know where it’s going to go anyway, this is enjoying the journey and discovering the trials and tribulations on the way to the destination.

McAlister did a great job having two separate locations and so dual storylines could happen. We only see Cece’s side, and this focuses it more on a story with her inner turmoil than being about the dating show aspect alone. Often the television dating part is something happening in the background, something that we pop in and out of and connects to a wider story. That’s not to say we don’t see the drama of reality TV. There are extra characters to clash with but the situation McAlister has put Cece in means a lot of time is spent in her head which often felt repetitive.

I did like that both books give an unconventional conclusion; a romance that comes from unexpected places but still a place of sincerity and honesty. I can definitely sense there is a third book coming. If not there needs to be another story about Lilly, her social media brand and whatever is going on with that producer. I need answers because it’s mentioned often enough, and cryptically enough, in both books that it’s a failing if McAlister doesn’t offer any answers at all.

You can purchase Here for the Right Reasons via the following

QBD | Booktopia

Dymocks | Angus and Robinson

 Fishpond | Amazon Aust | Audible

Midnight, Repeated by Dani McLean

04 Apr 2023 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, Fiction, Novella Tags: , , , , ,

Published: 1 November 2022 (print)/20 January 2023 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Set the Mood Publishing/Set the Mood Publishing Audio
Pages: 131/3 hrs 26 mins
Narrator: Alexa Elmy
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Fiction
★   ★   ★ – 3 Stars

She’s about to have the night of her life. Over and over again.

At twenty-five, Lauree Miller knows what she should want — a serious job, a serious boyfriend, the ability to cook a meal that doesn’t involve two types of cheese.  

Who cares if it isn’t the future she had in mind for herself? It’s about time she stopped pining over her best friend’s brother, Max, anyway.

New Years Eve is a time for resolutions, and as the clock ticks closer to midnight, Lauree makes a decision – next year, she’s going to let go of the past and finally grow up. 

Except when she wakes, it’s still December 31st. Then it happens again. And again. And again.

What’s a girl trapped in a time loop to do?

Will kissing the right man at midnight set her free?

I have been on a time loop kick lately and finding a time loop set outside of a teen experience was great because it allowed more adult experiences and relationships to be explored. This short story is the perfect length to time loop the same New Years Eve over and over and it was wonderful to see how Lauree can redefine who she is and what she wants with such a short story that never felt rushed.

There is definitely room to expand and give readers more history and backstory, develop the story more but at the same time a short, sharp novella about a time loop and finding the right love is satisfying as well.

McLean address common problems like being in a loop so long you never know who has been told what, or what events happened on your current day they also mix the story up so there’s a combination of repeated moments to satisfy the loop element and you can see the changes, while also including new experiences to shift the story off course into a new line.

I liked that the way Lauree changes herself is inward and she doesn’t need to right too much of the world around her. The steps she takes to improve herself are small but impactful and despite being stuck in the loop for months on end she never falls into too much despair, which, while weird, isn’t always possibly on such a tight turn around.

Getting out of her loop is rewarding for readers, but at the same time I felt it could have ended sooner. This is part of a Movie Magic series so there obviously has to be goals met, but I felt like the real ending was a step too many to break the spell. Personally it could easily have broken sooner but I think that’s easily personal preference.

You can purchase Midnight, Repeated via the following

 Booktopia | Book Depository

Dymocks | Wordery | Angus and Robinson

 Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries