I did a Top Ten Tuesday post a few weeks ago titled Authors I Haven’t Read but Want To. That post inspired me to request a bunch of those authors’ audiobooks from my local library and borrow a couple from KU. Here are reviews for the books I’ve listened to and read so far. (Click on the TTT post title above to see my original list of authors I want to read.)
Just a Heartbeat Away
Series: Forever Yours, #1
Author: Cara Bastone
Narrators: Patrick Zeller
Publication Date: June 30, 2020
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★ ★ ★
My thoughts:
I can’t decide if I should give this 2.5 or 3 stars. I feel like everyone I know who has read this book loved it, but I didn’t. Honestly, I was bored for most of it. I don’t know if that was due to the fact I listened to it rather than read it or it just wasn’t for me. There was one narrator for both male and female POVs and that didn’t work well for some reason. This book was also more slow burn than I could handle. Like the heroine still has a boyfriend different from the hero at 45% slow. I don’t think she was single into well after 50% and he had been “dating” online. They were both attracted to each other all that time and building a friendship. It wasn’t until close to the end where they stop fighting their attraction to each other at a bar and then a wedding that I was interested at all. The only reason I didn’t DNF this book at 45% was because a friend shared with my her notes on the book and it gave me hope. That last 25% was really good. I wish there would have been more time with them as a couple. It might have changed how I felt about the book.
Fall Away
Series: SEALs Undone, #3
Author: Zoe York
Publication Date: February 24, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Military Romance, Novella
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½
My thoughts:
Fall Away was a sweet story about a Navy SEAL who falls for the roommate of his one-night stand. He chooses to seek her out after they run into each other a second time. The result is him trying to woo her because she has her reservations. It was cute but wasn’t didn’t blow me away.
One Day Soon
Series: One Day Soon, #1
Author: A. Meredith Walters
Publication Date: February 16, 2016
Publisher: A. Meredith Walters
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
My thoughts:
I’m going to be completely honest. One Day Soon was not an easy or necessarily fun read. It was brutal and heartbreaking, but also so well written that I couldn’t help falling in love with it. I hurt for these characters. Their story was painful but beautiful. If you read this book, have the tissues ready.
Hang the Moon
Series: Written in the Stars, #2
Author: Alexandria Bellefleur
Narrators: Lauren Sweet
Publication Date: April 25, 2021
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
My thoughts:
Hang the Moon was such a fun listen! Lauren Sweet did a great job bringing Alexandria Bellefleur’s words to life. The humor was fantastic – even if Bellefleur did bring one of my biggest fears to life (the Wheel thing, if you’ve read the book). I loved the budding relationship between Annie and Brendon. The way Annie’s best friend/Brenden’s sister was involved was perfect. The only thing that bugged me a bit with Annie and her hang ups. It wouldn’t have been the story it was without them, so they’re getting a pass. Plus, the ending made up for it. ADORABLE!!.
The Happy Ever After Playlist
Series: The Friend Zone, #2
Author: Abby Jimenez
Narrators: Zachary Webber, Erin Mallon
Publication Date: April 14, 2020
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
My thoughts:
I fell in love with this book from the very first scene with Tucker the dog. I fell even hard with the texting between Sloan and Jason. The way they got to know each other over the phone before meeting in person was so much fun. I liked the way they fell in love, even when it wasn’t an easy path. There were a couple of times when I wanted to throttle the characters, but they more than made up for it. The whole thing was so dreamy and lovely to listen to. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Secrets of a Summer Night
Series: Wallflowers, #1
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Narrators: Rosalyn Landor
Publication Date: October 26, 2004
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½
My thoughts:
Full disclosure: I read Lisa Kleypas’ Friday Harbor series, but I hadn’t read any of her historical romance, so I put her on my list of new authors to try since it was a different genre of romance.
This was a weird book to listen to. It wasn’t the easiest to follow at first (maybe I just needed to pay better attention) and then there were a lot of ups and downs with pace. If I was listening for a longer length of time, I could really get into the story and enjoy it. If I had to stop listening for longer periods of time, I wasn’t waiting for the next moment I could listen to it. The characters weren’t making me love them enough to think about them other than in the moments I was listening. It took a while for me to get into the story and it wasn’t until almost halfway that I was invested in Annabelle and Simon. Does that make sense?
I hate that it sounds like I didn’t enjoy this book. I did. When all was said and done, Annabelle and Simon shined brightly. I liked the group of women called the Wallflowers and how they supported each other. This was a good start to a series. I understand why people love it, and I’m curious to see where the series goes.