Barbara Rachel's Reviews

The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted by Rebecca Raisin My rating: 4 of 5 stars Coco is having to flee London for her parents' home in Paris with almost no money, her career in tatters and a sulky teenaged daughter with whom she now has to share a bedroom. Broken hearted and fleeing scandal, she is having to cope with her daughter's grief and being removed from her home and friends as well as her own. Thank you to Net Galley, Boldwood Books and the author for the ARC. The opinions here are my own. This was a well crafted story with vivid descriptions that brought Paris to life. Most of the story centers takes place in this quirky and incredible sounding bookshop. The characters were well rounded and their intersecting storylines made me not want to put it down, once I got going. The interactions with Coco and her teenaged daughter will likely be relatable for anyone that is trying to navigate that. Found it a bit slow at first, but...

 I loved this series. I had read Conventionally Yours and I remembered I really enjoyed reading it but I forgot how addictive Annabeth Albert’s writing is! She writes so seamlessly—all I can say is #goals to that. These MM military romances are not for those that like a modest story — these books have an extra spicy 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ content level. I read a book a day until I was done with the entire series and if you enjoy MM romance, I highly recommend these books. Each book touches on issues with sensitive topics including PTSD, so be sure to read the content warnings in the introductions. #🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈  I read the entire series in a few days. 🌶️  — 5 alarm spice — do not read if you do not enjoy explicit intimacy  🏷️ trigger warning: PTSD #ContemporaryRomance #romcom #ExMilitaryRomance #LGBTQ+ #ExtraSpicyRomCom

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a rollercoaster. Loved it and loved the playlist. I forgot how much I like Paramore. There will be tears, but the destination was worth it. It was over the top but still worked. #ContemporaryRomance #ExtraSpicy #RomCom #LoveAfterGrief

Miracles and Menorahs by Stacey Agdern My rating: 4  of 5 stars A girl that loves Hanukkah and a boy who loves it too, what could go wrong? She loves the small town she grew up in and its annual Hanukkah festival, but some of the town wants to change it to a holiday festival. Meanwhile the boy does not like the commercialization of holidays, hence the conflict between them. I love a Jewish themed romcom as much as the next person — this was a sweet story and for the most part I really enjoyed it. I loved the main character and the grandmother of the male MC - they were my favorite parts of the story.  Another thing I did love was the idea of a small town with a Hanukkah festival. That was a really fresh idea - build the world you want to see, even if it is for a novel One problem I had was that the main female lead had a best friend who was horrible. She was whiny, demanding and self centered. The whole book I wanted a reveal on how Sarah, our MC, ...

Sweetest in the Gale by Olivia Dade My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love all three short stories included in this book. My only complaint is that I wanted each story to be longer. As always, I love the characters, their development and the diversity rep in Dade’s books! Another winner! ⏰ I read it in a few days. 🌶️ very spicy/mature/adult #ShortStoryCollection #ContemporaryRomance #RomCom #BodyDiversity #spicy🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ #womenwhowerentbornyesterday #iFeelSeen

 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...

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake My rating: 5 of 5 stars Loved it. No notes. ⏰ almost no time  🌶️ extra. rated mature ⚠️Mom that does not listen and earns no sympathy. Showing up for siblings that don’t show up for you. GAD.  Feeling not heard or seen.  🏷️ #RomCom #LGBTQ+🏳️‍🌈 #sapphicromance #ContemporaryRomance #FakeDating #makeYourOwnHappilyEverAfter #ShakespeareRemix #playwithinaplay

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft My rating: 4 of 5 stars 4 Stars! This was a bit more of a slow burn than I initially expected. In time, however, I fell in love with the story and particularly with Niamh and her journey. Arriving into a world of complex political intrigue that includes classism, racism, family secrets, and hidden attractions, Niamh at first seems so out of her depth I was worried she may not make it out unscathed. I really enjoyed how her story unfolded although at times it did feel that components of the this book were a bit borrowed from contemporary culture. In the end, however, Niamh’s path is distinctly her own. More than just romance, Niamh finds lifelong friends on her way to her (possible) happily ever after. While this is my honest review of this book, I was gifted a copy of the book, free of charge, in exchange for my review. I am thankful to Net Galley, Allison Saft and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this...

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 ...

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine My rating: 4 of 5 stars A young artist, struggling to make ends meet, is evicted from her apartment and finds herself with a new landlord who is as awkward as he is gorgeous, landlord. As the title suggests, it turns out he is a vampire. Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable and lighthearted book. I did find the beginning a bit slow going but I never know if that is the book or just my attention span. Some of the premises were a bit silly but it was refreshing to read a funny vampire romance. ⏰ Fast Read: a few days 🌶️ It goes there - not for my tween to read ⚠️ No triggering - super lighthearted  🏷️ #VampireRomCom #ContemporaryRomance  #MyRommateIsAVampire #romcom

 A once jilted woman, Catalina Martin knows she cannot go home for her sisters wedding and face her ex-fiancée as the best man without a man on her arm. Enter her work enemy, Aaron Blackford. As much as she loathes him, he may be her only hope for the (fake) boyfriend she told her family would be her date. Okay so first of all, I loved how messy Catalina was. I mean she could take a shit show and make it 10 times worse than you could even imagine. Her hare-brained schemes land her on a plane back home to Spain with Aaron….who happens to be gorgeous of course. The sparks between them are undeniable, except to Catalina who is too busy being messy to see what is right in front of her. She blurts out what she is thinking, scrambles to cover her tracks and underneath it all, it comes out what keeps pushing her forward… she is a survivor. She is also sassy as hell, a cover for what she really might be feeling and want to deny. She is also her own worst critic - relatable.  I really ...

  My honest opinion - this book deserves every bit of five stars. I was drawn to this book because    the main characters are living in Paris - love this - and are working chefs in an up and coming restaurant. The book has so many of my favorite tropes: opposites attract, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and retribution, but there are twists to each, giving them a fresh take. A nice touch was that each chapter started with a food description that is featured within the story. I adored the main character, Claire, her back story and the dynamic between her and her boss, James. What I really appreciated is the two main characters - they were so endearing they really pulled me into the book.  I recommend this book absolutely and I am blown away it is a debut.  Please note, I did receive this ARC for free; I am writing an honest review voluntarily. ⏰a few days - could not put this one down 🌶️ it’s swoony but without anything too expicit ⚠️ narcissistic parent, s...

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon My rating: 3 of 5 stars 9/17/2023….I finally finished it. Diana Gabaldon has an incredible mind for details and world building. But…. I cannot decide if this could have been 4 different books about different main characters or if this story could have just started around Chapter 93 because TBH it really did not pick up energy before that. The first 90 or so chapters felt like an endless diary of day to day minutia that did not seem to have any big picture significance. And then to top it all off it ended on a spoiler!? The build up for which was only in the last 10% of the book. This was not my favorite book of the Outlander series. I am still giving this three stars because the writing is excellent. The world building as I said, is incredible. I am deeply invested in these characters as I am a big fan of the series and have been since the beginning. I was not a fan of the audible but due to my ADHD a...

  Twin sisters swap places due to a series of unfortunate events and under an assumed identity, Allie Lane is playing the part of her sister Sophie, an event planner. From the start Sophie (who is secretly Allie) is butting heads with her assigned assistant, Tarryn Harris, while planning a large scale LGBTQ+ Festival. Complicating everything is Allie, who is supposed to be straight, while her twin sister is not, becomes muddled as she and her assistant become more and more attracted to each other. So we have our assumed identity, forced proximity, grumpy-cheerful pairing, opposites attract, and a fake couple trope.  One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was getting to know the main characters. Tarryn is rough around the edges but as she reveals more of herself, she is fiercely loyal and passionate and just when I was liking her as she was, she starts to soften under the influence of Allie and the festival around her. Allie, at first seems like such a mess, but it ...

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey My rating: 4 of 5 stars Tessa Bailey is, hands down, the Queen of Dirty Talk and this book gives multiple opportunities for one to blush and feel uncomfortable if anyone else is in the room. Honestly this book seemed next level spicy to me, even for T.B. A follow up to  Secretly Yours , this MF enemies to lovers romance centers on wayward daughter of a prominent family, Natalie, who has a penchant for sabotaging her own life, and her accidental romance with an ex-Navy seal, August. This involves both the fake romance and, subsequently, the forced proximity tropes. This book had multiple comedic moments, particularly centered around the MC’s disdain for one another. Not to mention some real laugh out loud moments involving the rescued cat, Menace.  TBH, what did not thrill me was the portrayal of August as a stereotypical meat-head ex solider. That felt unnecessary and a bit flat for me. Also it seem...

  I absolutely LOVED this book. Once again, Jackie Fraser delivers a slow burn romance-ish novel that I could not put down.  A middle aged woman runs away from her old life and towards the possibility of a new one. Whatever she is leaving behind is terrible enough that she does not talk about it (or even want to think about it) to the point that it is not initially clear exactly what has happened.   This MF romance-of-sorts is free of most of the usual tropes as this woman struggles to accept a male friend into her life, let alone admit there may be some romantic feelings there. Our heroine, Jess, is a patchwork of seeming contradictions - brave yet terrified, attractive yet scarred, beginning her life after an ending. Her self-deprecating inner dialogue was painful to read but only because it is so relatable.    This book delivers an honest account of a middle aged woman who is both victim and survivor. Essentially, I just wanted to root for her (and for t...

Marry Me by Midnight by Felicia Grossman My rating: 4 of 5 stars Read by Justine Erye The premise is fantastic: a gender-swapped Cinderella story set in Regency England’s Jewish community. TBH, this selection was a must for me based on the cover alone. The fact that a hero is dancing on the cover with a kippa on his head was hook enough for me. I adore a historical romance, and this is so well researched and intricately written. I could picture the costumes, the people and the community around them in my minds eye. It provided a really rich background for the story. Particularly interesting, to me, was the dynamics between the Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities. Of course, better known to most people would be the tension between the non-Jewish community and the Jewish community, and while it had to be mentioned, I’m glad not too much time is spent on this. It did seem to me the two MC’s came together more in lust than love. Also I was surprised by t...