Barbara Rachel's Reviews

I loved this book. ⭐️ Overall Impression ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 🔍 ADD Ease Of Focus: 🔍 🔍 🔍 🔍 🌶️ Spice Level: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️  🌶️ 🖤 Darkness Level: 0/5 🎤 Audio Quality 🎤 🎤 🎤 🎤  📝My review: Ethan and Taylor have immediate chemistry complicated by forced proximity, forbidden romance and both MC’s have a background of hurt, Ethan from losing his marriage to his ex’s career ambitions and Taylor from neglectful parents.  What I ❤️ This is such a sweet romance, the chemistry between the 2 MC’s is off the chain. It was spicier than expected and most surprising was the adult ADD rep. It was so on point and accurate — especially behaviors that in the past were attributed to being space or unfocused.  What I 💔👎🏻 The narration on the audio was a little too fast. Had to re-listen to most chapters. 📗 📗 🏷️ Tropes: Forced Proximity, Forbidden Romance, Love at First Sight, Age Gap 📗 📗 #IAmAnUnapologeticNerd #ADDFriendlyBookReviews #BookLoverAndReviewer #ADDisMySuperpowe...

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews Okay, there is so much I loved about this book... But, some of the dialogue was eye roll inducing. So much of this story was smart, funny and touching. And then... there times the conversation fell flat, did not support the story or was just cringe inducing - not because of the alpha male and the age difference... not issues for me. I mean if you are coming to a Tessa Bailey Party, don't expect anything less. I am here for all that. Just sometimes, maybe in an effort to make Burgess out to be a meat head, the conversation just seemed needlessly uninspired. Sorry Tessa Bailey - not that you will ever read this - I am a huge fan and just bought a pile of your books - I am here for the long haul. I just expected a little more.  The audio book was well read and produced. I purchased it through Barnes and Noble. The actor was wonderful and took you right ...

 Loved this audiobook! Fun characters, could not “put it down.” I definitely want to read more from Sarah Adams. #SmallTownRomance #HurtPeopleFindingTheirWay #CharactersThatNeedTherapy #AudioBook #FakeDatingTrope

I loved this book.  Everly is our hero in this story of a young woman set to be featured in a reality TV makeover show geared toward plus-sized participants. Prior to this, she has been trying to hide herself for so long that she has procrastinated    pursuing any of her dreams.  As her story unfolds she begins to face challenges - some from unexpected places - as her character grows and changes. This was funny and entertaining but also a really worthwhile read. Initially, I expected the plot to be fairly straightforward, but there are some surprising twists and turns afterall. What I liked most about this story was the development of Everly‘s gumption.    I laughed, I gasped and cried my way through this book.  This is another book that I’m reading this year that features a female main character who becomes her own hero and really rescues herself. As far as the intimacy level, it was more implied than explicit, which is fine and left plenty to the ima...

Happy Place by Emily Henry My rating: 1 of 5 stars Um. Nope. This book, the characters and the story all enraged 🤬 me. I wanted to love this book - I have loved everything else Emily Henry has written. Huge fan. Wish I could write like they do. I think this is the lowest stars I have given a book I have finished. I get why someone would like it, I think. I mean EH is an incredible writer and all of the basics are there. Characters, dialogue, a universe. I liked the cover…😂 I love Maine 🦞 and 🖤 the Stephen King references. I usually love a troubled-by-awful-parents and rising-from-the-ashes-of-a-dumpster-fire childhood story. And it is NOT that in the end the MC’s made the choices they did. They honestly could have made any choices by the time I was in the last 10% because I just wanted to know what happens and I just wanted the book to be over. Basically, if I wanted to listed to whining and waste my time, I would have a conversation with an over-privil...

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros My rating: 5 of 5 stars What can I possibly say that has not already been said? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to what comes next. This dystopian fantasy is set in a dragon rider training school - more akin to an officer candidate program than a military school. A young woman enters as a first year trainee, much against her own wishes, and her journey is the story of this book. I loved it. The world building and political back story are so intricate but, I thought, without unnecessary detours. The developing romantic desires of the lead character tie into the story without completely overpowering it. To me this book was akin to Guy Gavriel Kay’s books in epic character development and world building but without the historical undertones. Particularly I am reminded of The Last Light of the Sun . The humorous and raunchier aspects - whether of a violent or sexual nature were more George RR Martin than Kay ...

The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches from a Black Trauma Surgeon on Racism, Violence, and How We Heal by Brian H Williams My rating: 5 of 5 stars A trauma surgeon offers his reflections on his own journey as a clinician, particularly as an African American. Dr. Brian Williams examines the foundation of violence on which his career is often based, particularly as he works primarily in large metropolitan areas, He also happened to be the attending trauma surgeon the day of the deadly attack on police in Dallas on July 7, 2016. This audio version of this book was provided to me at no charge; I am offering my honest review of my own volition. I would like to thank NetGalley, Broadleaf Books and the author for this opportunity to review this book. Honestly, as a medical provider myself, I fell this is really a must read for any clinician who is open to looking squarely at the racism faced by our colleagues and patients. There was well researched back...