Barbara Rachel's Reviews

  Another page-turner from Savannah Lee - I could not put this book down. It helped that I was anticipating book two in the Clover Pack Series since the moment I finished Midnight Mated.   Book two finds half-ling (shifter-fae) Rowan learning more about herself and her past - and becoming more powerful in the process. No spoilers here but if you are back to find out if the romance between Rowan and the brooding shifter Callan is going to progress - you will not be disappointed. The story delves more deeply into the faerie realm and there are more character introductions along the way. It was fast paced with in-depth world building while keeping the action moving on the conflict between Rowan and her enemies.  The book was entertaining, spicy, and I definitely recommend it and the series. I particularly appreciate a fantasy romance that is not so complicated with overblown world building that I cannot keep track of who is who. It is just the right balance of telling the st...

 First of all, let me say I did receive this ARC for free; I am writing a review voluntarily. Okay, to get right to it, I really enjoyed this book! Our protagonist may have been down on her luck, but it has made her stronger than she knows and I enjoyed her wit and sarcasm, both of which are a cover for a deeply loyal person (once trust is earned).  The descriptions of transformation - shifting, heightened senses - were very well written - it was almost like being there.  I appreciate being able to visualize the scene and the characters in this way, especially the fantastical and magical aspects of the story. (#ADHDreaderandreviewer) Some of the dialogue, however, seemed clipped or rushed and I wished for some more of the eloquence put into the prose.   🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ The intimacy scenes are very spicy and had some different aspects - without giving anything away - that I found surprising. Nothing over the top, by my standards, but I will not be recommendinnng this to ...

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon My rating: 4 of 5 stars 1/28/2023...First note on the audible, and I do not mean to be ageist because I am no spring chicken but does the narrator have to sound like she is an 95-year-old great-grandmother? It is really a turn off for the more intimate scenes. It is like having my mom read it to me. Ew. 3/15/2023 My G-d this book is overly long. Reading in pieces because I just cannot.  Do I need to hear every detail about every mundane life activity? No, not really. It is like going to a 5 week family reunion. I love my family, but who would do that....? 5/22/23...Still reading and listening to the audible, #adhd style. I feel like I am doing starship logs for this review. 

  I loved this book. I was laughing out loud from the beginning. Evvie is clever and funny. Her humor is on the sardonic side, which I enjoyed.  This book was a pleasure to read: the cozy water-side town, the dreamy fallen from grace pro-ball player (I kept picturing a similar character from Sweet Magnolias - anyone else?), the unusually platonic male-female friendship. I was there for all of it.  However, this is not a typical romcom. It becomes apparent that beneath a veneer of humor is some darkness and the story takes a turn into real life challenges all around.  I really recommend this book. I laughed, I cried, and of course, I swooned. Moderately spicy as far as intimacy goes, by my estimation. Favorite quote, "Being married to Tim was like...it was like paddling a boat, but for ten years...I'll just go another hundred yards. In case it's right up there. So I didn't take this whole trip for nothing."

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser My rating: 5 of 5 stars In short: All the claps for this book. I am (not) sorry but I would love to see more books with a mature woman lead. More please. Beyond that, I love the whole Mr. Darcy vibe I am getting here: "the curmudgeonly exterior turns out to be a loyal and dedicated love underneath it all and totally worth cracking that shell" Mr. Darcy type, not the "he broke my sister's heart and I love to hate him" type. So, it is my 2nd time reading this book and it is going to be a go-to for me when I need a reliable romance that will not let me down. I cannot quite put my finger on it but I really adore the book - well written, interesting characters and overall  it is just a new favorite of book of mine.  As I said, I absolutely am rooting for the the age demographic of the book's main characters, if I did not already make that clear. Beyond that, I love the book shop a...

 “In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly…to discuss unsolved crimes.”  This was a delightfully different mystery about a band of senior citizens that take it upon themselves to solve a murder (or a few actually). Armed with a variety of skills born from their previous professions and extensive life experience, they forge an unlikely crime fighting team.  This mystery was not the usually Scandinavian noir that I have come to prefer, but I had heard so much about this book and was intrigued by the author’s choice to use retirees as lead characters, that I felt I had to pick this one up. I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were quite comical - particularly a scene in which the Thursday Murder Club, as they call themselves, entrap a local police detective into becoming their reluctant champion by using his English politeness against him.  There are other, more sobering moments as well, when the Club members face life’s very rea...