ARC Review: How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn

A new winter holiday, enemies-to-lovers romance, from the undeniably funny and always spicy, USA Today bestselling author, Meghan Quinn.

Living in a year around Christmas town has it's drawbacks. The caroling, the decorations, the insanely cheery spirit, it never disappears. It's why I like to hibernate away in my cave--I mean house--keeping a healthy distance from the holly jolly spirits.

And all was going according to plan until my nemesis, Storee Taylor, moved in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Without blinking, she turned my simple world into a real nightmare-before-Christmas, especially when she decided to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest - which she was determine to win.

Well guess what? Over my cold-hearted body.

There was no way I was going to let her win, not after the history we'd shared.

So despite my promise to myself of never participating in the sickening Christmas season, I entered the competition as well. That's right, I planned on beating Storee at her own game by pretending this grump’s heart grew three sizes this season.

And it was working until feelings between us started heating up.
We pretended to date.
We kissed.
And well, sparks flew from there.

Which led to one explosive night involving Christmas lights, the competition, and a ladder. Don't let me convince you who stole Christmas, I think you need to find out for yourself . . .

Review:

Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will be truthful and say I wasn't really ready for a Christmas story until I read this. Now I'm in the mood for all the Christmas tales!

I'll start by saying I am in love with this cover. I love the play on the Grinch so much. It's one of my all time favorite Christmas stories and I watch it every year. The story varies a bit from the original but it has many of the key elements that put you in the Christmas mood!

The romance between Storee and Cold is cute. There are some sexy scenes that made me a little hot under the collar, in a good way! I enjoyed the enemies to lovers vibe that turns into a friends to lovers vibe a bit later. From their backstory it was nice to see they realized there was more to their friendship over the years than just being acquaintances. I will say I would have liked to connect with the chemistry more. It seemed a bit forced to me, like there needed to be sexy so the author took it to the extreme to make it feel like a connection. 

The relationship between Cole and his best friend Max was odd to me at times. Many of the actions made me feel like they were more of a couple as opposed to best friends. And it would have been nice to hear more about Storee's job to get more background of what her life is like outside of Kringletown.

The plot of a Christmas type of competition was also fun. I loved watching all the groups complete the tasks and how each team decided to go about completing them. It really brought the Christmas spirit to the book! I love a town that is Christmas all year round. It's so much fun! And Quinn infuses a lot into the story: competition, love, romance, rivals, craftiness, and a surprise at the end! Also, the names of the characters were great. I loved how they matched up with my knowledge of the Grinch!

This is my second Quinn book and like the other I enjoyed her storyline, her writing, and most of her character development. I did feel this story was a bit longer than it needed to be so there were times when it dragged. And I would have liked to see more interaction with the two main characters and the other competitors. That would have given the story a little more tension. And the addition of a third point of view for one chapter was a little odd. I get why it was done but I honestly thought it could have easily been worked into the MMC's and FMC's points of view.

My favorite part of this book was the outside narrator. I loved the interaction with Cole. Though I was surprised Quinn didn't have the same interactions with Storee. 

If you're looking for a cute rom-com reimagining of The Grinch that reads like a Hallmark movie to put you in the Christmas mood, this one will do it.

Author:

Like me on FB: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinna...

When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn't take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. It wasn't until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven't turned back since.

You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.

​I currently reside in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.

 

New Release Tuesday September 8, 2024

Happy Tuesday September 8, 2024. Here's what I'm excited about releasing this week!

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

I loved the concept of this one and was lucky enough to get an audio galley of it to review. It was fabulous. I loved the narrator. And the story line was fantastic! You can see my review HERE.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

I heard great things about Hidden Pictures by this author so I was excited for this one coming out. I received an audio galley of this one and read and review it HERE.

Double Apex by Josie Juniper

I'm in my F1 error so I've been looking for books set in that world. I was excited when I saw this was coming out. I received an audio galley of it and you can view my review HERE.

What are you exited about for this week?

 

Fat Stack Friday: Friday October 4th, 2024

 

Let me show you my book haul for this week!

For Review:

Dream Girl Drama (Big Shots #3) by Tessa Bailey

This is the third one in this series. I got to read the second one early, as well. The first book is Fan Girl Down which I ADORED! And the second was The Au Pair Affair which was cute but not as good as the first. You can read that review HERE. Looking forward to this story as I love the two characters who were introduced earlier in the series!

From Libby:

The Hurricane Wars (The Hurricane Wars #1) by Thea Guanzon

I got this one from Libby and I'm also reading the Kindle version. I have the second book to review and want to make sure I get this one in so I can start that one. Plus, I've heard great things and this cover is so gorgeous. I do own a print copy, as well. So I may switch around to that. I have a beautiful FairyLoot version coming soon!

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

I have yet to read a full McFadden book. I only read the satirical novella she published and I really liked it a lot. I'm told I will understand it better if I read her books but I think I understood it well enough to be a compilation of many of her tropes in her books. Looking forward to finally getting to read a book by her.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) by T.J. Klune

I adored the first book in this series so much. I loved all the characters, especially Clancy. So far I'm really enjoying this one. My only complaint is the chapters are super long. Sometimes over an hour. This messes with my OCD when I need to stop and it has to be in the middle of something going on. It's driving me a little nuts.

Slow week for me with getting books. I probably have enough anyway! What did you get this week?

ARC Review: The Last One At the Wedding by Josh Rekulak

 

From the bestselling author of Hidden Pictures comes a breathtaking work of suspense about a father trying to save his daughter from a life-altering decision that will put everything he loves on the line.

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.

He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate—very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

An edge-of-your-seat thriller that delves deep into the heart of one family, The Last One at the Wedding is a work of brilliant suspense from a true modern master.

Title: The Last One at the Wedding

Author: Jason Rekulak

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Expected Publication Date: October 8, 2024

Review:

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an audio galley of this book to listen to and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I heard really great things about another book by this author and thought I'd check out what his writing was about.

I jumped into this one thinking it will be a bit of a mystery, thriller. However, it turned out to be more of a mystery/family drama than anything else. There was no suspense at all. No edge of the seat thriller with this story.

I enjoyed the narrator. He definitely brought the personality of the main character alive. I laughed in many places and was also a bit shocked in others at the things he said or thought. However, I really found Frank rather chauvinistic and full of entitlement. Perhaps this was the purpose of his character, though.

The dynamic between the main character, his sister, his daughter, and the other supporting characters was a mix of odd and tender. I didn't relate to any of the characters, though. Nor did I find any of them really likeable so I wasn't truly invested in where this story was going. They were also very underdeveloped.

A lot of craziness happened during the book which I thought for sure would turn it to more of a thriller. But it didn't get there. The mystery was meh at most. I almost felt like this one was more satire than mystery/thriller as it's billed. I was actually a bit bored at times. There seemed to be a lot of repetition happening with the way things would come to fruition. I ended up speeding up the narration as I found myself losing interest less than half way through the book.

And I hated the ending. It just kind of ended with no real true resolution to anything regarding the feelings of the characters. It was totally unfulfilling.  Talk about anti-climatic. I almost wonder why the author wrote it in the first place if there wasn't going to be a good wrap up. And don't get me started on the title. I don't even know what it means or how it relates to the story besides there being a wedding in the plot.

All this being said, the book was just not for me. However, given the higher ratings I have been seeing, I seem to be in the minority. After speaking with some other readers who read Hidden Pictures by this author and then this one, I see a tendency to agree this was nothing like the other book. So don't jump into this one thinking it will be similar.

Author:

'm the author of three novels: HIDDEN PICTURES, THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS, and (coming in October 2024!) THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING. For many years I was Publisher of Quirk Books, an indie press headquartered in Philadelphia, where I ghost-wrote many odd books that may or may not surface on this page, depending on the metadata. I live in West Philly with my wife and children. 

ARC Review: Double Apex by Josie Juniper

 

Phaedra Morgan is one of the best race engineers in Formula 1. She’s a math prodigy with dazzling skill, cutting wit, and no patience for matters of the heart. Of course, her job would be a lot easier if she didn’t keep butting heads with their team’s cocky and infuriatingly hot new driver.  Cosmin Ardelean is intense and committed, but as famous for his off-track romantic exploits as his on-track wizardry. Yet his devil-may-care façade conceals a haunted past. When the pair strikes up a secret—and thrillingly forbidden—“arrangement” to improve their communication and bond of trust, the heat of their attraction turns to something more . . .  But no secret stays hidden for long in the racing world, and soon things are spinning out of control. With everything on the line, will they be able to strip away all their defenses and go full throttle for a chance at love?

Title: Double Apex

Author: Josie Juniper

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Expected Publication Date: October 8, 2024

Review:

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an audio galley of this title to listen to and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I was very excited for this title when I was approved. I love F1 and follow it pretty closely. And the idea of a female engineer (give me some women in STEM) was the thing that really drew me in. Add enemies to lovers and forbidden love on top of that and it sounds like a recipe for a great romance.

Unfortunately, it wasn't great and I couldn't even get through the entire thing.

My first issue was with the narrators. The female narrator was ok, but just sounded angry all the time. There was nothing endearing in her voice at all. And she was super robotic. And the male narrator? Ugh! I know the character is Romanian but there were so many times I could not even understand what he said due to his accent he was using for the character. Sometimes his speaking was so low I had to rewind several times to even hear what he said. I just was not a fan.

Do you want a female character to hate? This is that book. Phedra (never heard this name before) was just angry at everyone. There was nothing that made me feel she was relatable. She didn't adequately represent a woman in STEM at all. I wanted to see her struggles but I didn't. She accepted all the mysogynistic things that were thrown her way. I thought it would get better, that she would help change things as part of the plot point. However, she never fought for herself. And she did not come across as smart at all, despite her telling us more than once what a prodigy she is. Plus, I can't get with a girl who is an abuser and then blames her victim. Why would we want to put this out into the universe when we are trying to educate people about this topic and make them see it's not ok?

Do you want a a male character who embodies a sexist and chauvinist? Then Cosmin is your guy! The number of times he makes sexual innuendos and advancements in this book was gross. And the fact that there was sexual abuse in his family's past made this even worse. He was be told no but did things anyway was ridiculous. Also, by halfway through the book I really didn't have much of his background as to how he became a driver. I needed that to understand his character.

And don't get me started on the romance between these two. I felt zero chemistry. Apparently he's been pining after her, but I didn't feel that at all. And she hates him but why? He's cocky? Ok, that's par for the course with F1 drivers. But he never did anything to her and you barely see their background of interaction to make this so. They have already been working together so you don't see any build up at all.

The book's pacing was super slow, as well. I felt like nothing really happened. What was the point of the story? I wanted the characters to learn and grow but it was just not happening. The narrators did a lot of telling rather than showing me the story. 

One other point, the language. I understand the main male character is not American, but some of his comments really turned me off. Specifically when he said this: Are you fertile? And then the female characters says this: I expect him to pry my hand off that massive steel hot piston… These things were just a turn off for me.

I'm disappointed in this book. I feel like it could have used a bit more editing and fixing before being put out into the universe.

Author:

Josie Juniper writes high-steam romance featuring hot, angsty men who are dirty talkers with hearts of gold, and smart, snarky women with hilarious foul mouths. She works in mathematics and has been a staff writer and/or editor for four publications, winning awards for her sharp, funny, iconoclastic writing. She lives in Portland, OR and loves rain, swearing, lost causes, tattoos, F1 racing, and prime numbers.

Most Anticipated Releases Tuesday October 1, 2024

 

Here are my most anticipated releases for this week!

Heir (The Heir Dulogy #1) by Sabaa Tahir

I've not read anything by this author prior but have heard great things. This one is set in the same world as her other series, An Ember In the Ashes. I'm not sure if you need to read the first series to understand this one but there are characters in this one that appear in the first series. That being said, I did receive an early copy of this and had all intentions of reading An Ember In the Ashes before jumping into this one but never got around to it. I did enjoy this one, though. I loved Tahir's writing. You can see my review HERE.

Nothing Like The Movies (Better Than the Movies #2) by Lynn Painter

I love Lynn Painter's stories. Both her YA and her adult. They are always fun and her characters are so well done. If you read Better Than the Movies, you'll understand what I mean because Will is a chef's kiss character. If you haven't read that one, don't jump into this one because they are definitely connected. And I highly recommend reading all the little shorts and scenes from the different perspectives before you read this one.  I received an early copy of this title and you can read my review HERE.

When The Moon Hatched (Moonfall #1) by Sarah A. Parker

I've already read this one, as I have a paperback copy (PICTURED) and a special Edition from FairyLoot but I want a regular hard cover. There are mixed reviews with this one but I really enjoyed it for the most part. It's very steeped in world building so that makes it slow at times. If you're not into that with fantasy, you probably won't like this one. But I'm excited for the next installment, The Battle of Falling Dragons, which publishes October 7 next year!

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

I've only read one story published by this author so far and it was her satirical short story. I really enjoyed it and have been wanting to read her books so this will be the first one I jump into!

What release are you most excited about this week?

ARC Review: Heir (Heir Duology #1) by Sabaa Tahir

 

Prepare for the action-packed, ruthless, and romantic new fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award winning author Sabaa Tahir about love, legacy, and vengeance.

An orphan.
An outcast.
A prince.
And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hot-headed mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

Banished from her tribe for an unforgiveable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who speaks to the earth, air, and water to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But then, she falls for a charismatic and inconvenient fugitive who keeps getting in her way.

QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire, nephew of a famed and venerated empress, but he’s loathe to pick up the mantle when his aunt steps down. As the son of the most hated emperor in the history of his people, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir masterfully interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with the burdens of power, the treachery of love and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed. Get ready for a dark and breathless journey that will captivate readers and that may cost these young people their lives―and their hearts. Literally.

Title: Heir (Heir Dulology #1)

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Expected Publication Date: October 1, 2024

Review:

I want to thank Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest feedback. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Just as some background, I have not read Tahir before. I know this series is somehow connected to An Ember In the Ashes and I'm not sure if I should have read that series first, but I was able to understand this book so I am not sure it's necessary. But I did see it recommended.

I'll start by saying wow, Tahir can write. I don't read a ton of YA these days so if I do I want something that will draw me in and Tahir did that immediately. I was super curious and invested in the story trying to figure out who each of the three POVs were. Yes, THREE POVs, though later in the book Tahir does incorporate two more! I was worried it would be confusing but it was not.  And I can only assume introducing the other two POVs will be integral in the next book of this series.

Tahir builds a fabulous world. A world full of magic and political intrigue as well and romance. I loved the culture the author created. It was very rich and even included language which supported it. Tahir holds nothing back and often keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the book. She drives the story with a fantastic mix of plot and character development. I often thought of Bardugo's Six of Crows series when I was reading this one (and Bardugo is a favorite author of mine!). There is a great deal of layering in this world with things building on top of each other until finally they come together and it all makes complete sense.

All three main characters, Sirsha, Aiz, and Quil were uniquely done and very well developed. I understood each of their motivations and who they were in relation to the politics surrounding them. Each of their stories was important to what was happening around them and to them. I related to all three, as well. The prince who doesn't want to assume his position. The girl who stole his heart but had an agenda all his own. And the other girl who just wants to save her found family. The rotation of their POVs keeps the story moving and kept me wanting to turn the pages to know more. Each character faces their own demons and challenges and grows from this. 

he one thing I will complain about was the length or the chapters. I prefer shorter chapters for the most part so I don't feel bogged down.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book with that bit of a cliffhanger ending.

Author:

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

Fat Stack Friday: Friday September 27, 2024

Happy Friday September 27, 2024!

Check out my weekly haul.

On my Kindle:

The Situationship by Abby Jimenez

This is the short story that was at the back of the Target special edition of Just for the Summer. I'm so glad they published it as I could not find a copy of that book anywhere! I already read it and it was cute. But now I need all of Doug's story!

For review sent by publisher:

Duchess Material by Emily Sullivan

This one was sent to me because I read and reviewed Amalie Howard's The Worst Duke In London (you can see that review HERE). I'm excited to jump into it!

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine

Sent to me by Atria marketing. This one looks like it's going to be fabulous. I love tropes and this one looks like it's going to include them ALL!

Just a small haul this week. What did you get?

 

ARC Review: Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies #2) by Lynn Painter

 

In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

Title: Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies #2)

Author: Lynn Painter

Publisher:

Expected Publication Date: October 1, 2024

Review:

Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this egalley to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I really love Lynn Painter but I especially love this little series. The first book was so much fun. Enemies to friends to lovers, lots of romance, and just an all around good feeling book.

What I was not expecting was the heartache that came with this one. I had zero idea Painter was going to take it where she did and then make is a second chance romance. And, while I was praying for a wonderful HEA, I honestly wasn't sure I was going to even get it, even when I was nearing the end of the book! But Painter always comes through with her stories (love her adult fiction, as well) and I was graced with an ending that truly did this couple justice.

Wes has to be one of my favorite YA book boyfriends. I love his sense of humor. I love his commitment to family and friends, and I especially love his heart. His story for this book really got to me. His guilt over the tragedy that struck his family. His willingness to let it all go in order to support them. He carried such a burden in this book. You could feel it weighing him down, even after he kind of got things together and was giving himself a chance to grow.

Liz was very different in this book, definitely not the same girl we knew in book #1. Her thoughts on love and being a lover of love were totally different from the Liz we saw in the first book. She's totally jaded and has done a 180 in terms of where she stands with this. I know this was from dealing with the loss of Wes and what they had built together in high school but I wasn't expecting it to be such a tremendous turn around. She went from believing in romance to kicking it to the curb. Her turn around made me angry and very sad for her. There were times in the book I wanted to really give her a little smack upside the head and say "snap out of it!" I was very happy when she opened her heart to the potential of a second chance.

The pacing on this one was just as great as the first. I wanted to climb into the book and experience it from all sides and never put it down. I felt torn between the need to get to the ending as quickly as possible to see what happens and wanting to experience each scene and interaction with the the MMC and FMC in slow motion so it would not end.

The plot is definitely a figure out who you are, grow a little, and then go after what you really want type of flow. I had one plot hole that really was annoying to me. I don't want to spoil anything but I felt like the fake dating trope that was introduced was truly unnecessary and didn't really lend anything to the plot. Plus, it was never truly revealed to all in the long run so I'm not sure why it was even included.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. Painter continues to be on my list of must read authors whenever she publishes something. The characters are more mature, with bigger problems than high school kids, yet it was still kept on a level that YA lovers will understand and appreciate. I laughed, I cried, I held my breath, and I sighed. It took me through all the emotions and definitely had me shedding some tears at times.   I've done Painter's books in both print and audio for all of them and I cannot wait to listen to this one when it's released. Definitely a read it again book for me!

Author:

Lynn Painter is the international bestselling author of Better Than The Movies. She writes romantic comedies for both teens and adults, and when she isn't reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms. 

Obscure facts that might make her sound interesting (but probably don't): 

*She is the step-aunt to one of the actors on Riverdale, even though she's technically only met him once and he likely wouldn't remember her. Hint: He starred in a movie with Yara Shahidi. And another one with Will Smith. His name rhymes with Barles Gelton.

*She can fit an entire cupcake in her mouth. BOOM.

*She threw up all over herself on the first day of 2nd grade.

*She once saw Kelsey Grammar hailing a taxi in Manhattan, so she's pretty much an NYC native who is best friends with celebrities.

*She has a one-inch vertical.

*Her love for spaghetti is brighter than the sun, stronger than The Rock.

*If you see her doing anything crafty, it isn't her; she has literally set things on fire with a hot glue gun and has the motor skills of a preschooler. No offense, preschoolers.

*Her 4th grade teacher moved her desk out into the hallway because she wouldn't shut up. Like, ever.

*She held the record at her elementary school for finding the most bats (vampire, not baseball) in a single year. The little dork located - and alerted authorities to - four potentially-rabid bats.*

So technically, if you think about it, she might've saved hundreds of lives with her nerditude. #hero

*She was the only one to ever find any bats because everyone else had better things to do at recess.