Review: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

 

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Publication Date: September 14th 2021 by Berkley

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I loved The Love Hypothesis so much! The story opens up with Olive in the most awkward of situations, planting a kiss on the first guy to come along and the fun begins!

Olive doesn’t want to be the reason her best friend doesn’t date her ex, Jeremy. It’s not like she really felt much for him, but Ahn holds herself back because of the girlfriend code. Olive lies to Ahn by saying she’s already moved on and a fake romance is born with the most hated professor in the department: Adam Carlsen. He’s got a reputation of being unapproachable, intimidating, and a straight-up ass, yet he’s anything but with Olive.  Adam has his own reasons for wanting a fake romance, and they agree to keep up the pretense. Of course, they draw closer, and Olive is surprised at his thoughtfulness, how much fun she has with him. They click in a profound way, and she finds herself falling for this moody, broody guy. Is she setting herself up for heartbreak? Olive doesn’t imagine he could feel the same.

The Love Hypothesis had me cracking up with all the awkward situations, rooting for Olive as she digs herself in deeper. It was obvious to me that Adam had it bad for Olive, but of course she’s more than a little obtuse picking up on the clues, and there were many. They had oodles of chemistry and were playfully antagonistic, their relationship was just so much fun! I just wanted to just smoosh these two together! But trust…, they get their time together and it is worth the delay!

I had such a huge smile on my face while reading! The Love Hypothesis was a phenomenal debut! Multi-layered characters, clever, fun dialogue, and romance full of giddiness and longing. Definite re-read material!

 5 Stars

Book Description:

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding...six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Sunday Post #136

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week.

This last week was less hectic than the one before. The week after Labor Day was a week from hell at work and then I went up to my daughter's over the weekend. I always want to see the kiddies, but it's always full of activity and not usually restful. So yes, I welcomed the calmer week. 

We're almost done with the kitchen. My husband is doing the backsplash himself after trying and failing to set up a tile guy several times.  It's the last thing we need to do and be done, and it's turning out really nice! I'm fortunate to have married a very handy man! I should be able to post pictures next Sunday! 

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link:

Two weeks worth of reading here and three of them were audio books. I just didn't have a lot of energy to do anything after getting home from work the previous week. Loved Kiss of Snow so much! It's my favorite of the Psy-Changeling (the original) series so far! Neanderthal Seeks Human was so funny! My husband and I loved it! We listened to the audio on our drive back and forth up north. Murder Most Fair was an excellent installment another series stand out. I wished I loved Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch more, but not every book from a favorite author is going to be a win. The Heart Principle was very different from the two previous books, and I think that affected reactions. . I did enjoy it, but it was a difficult read at times and I felt Quan (like many readers) was shortchanged. 

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

Both are collections of novellas. I borrowed the Psy-Changeling one and hope to start it today or tomorrow and I was excited to get approval for the Jill Shalvis book since requesting has been hit and miss for me. 

Instagram:

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Was happy to get this unexpected bookmail! I guess I should've listed this above with the Received. I discovered that Elaine Murphy is a pen name for Julianna Keys and I loved her romances in the past, so I'm excited to see what she does with a thriller!

Watched:

Nothing you haven't seen me list here before: Chicago Med and 48-Hours. 

How was your week?

Review: Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch by Carolyn Brown

 

Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch (Ryan Family #1) by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: July 27th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 375

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads | Audible

My Thoughts:

I won’t summarize the plot; the book description below does a better job than I will. I adore Carolyn Brown’s down-to-earth cowboy romances; I’m usually laughing at the antics and enjoying a sweet and sexy romance, but Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch wasn’t my favorite from her. It was entertaining, but didn’t have her usual charm, IMO.

There wasn’t a lot of drama or angst and I appreciate that most of the time with my romances, but finding out you have a nineteen-year-old daughter you didn’t know about would have to be a shock, right? Jesse was understanding and forgiving, but I think in real life it’d be hard to not be angered you didn’t get to share in all the milestones of your child growing up. I did know this information going into the story, and I do think Addie, in her own mind, had a decent reason for withholding the information initially, still I was hoping for more.

The romance was easy going, a little too easy being this was a second chance romance. I was happy with how it all turned out, but I felt it was lacking in passion. The whole story felt a bit superficial, but would be good if you’d like a light read to breeze through. With that said, I am looking forward to Cody and Stevie's romance next. From their interactions it feels like it'll be a good one! 

3 Stars

Book Description:

From the bestselling author of Queen of Cowboy: regrets and old heartbreaks are unearthed in this sweeping love story as hometown sweethearts get a second chance at love—and being a family.

Retired combat medic Jesse Ryan hasn’t been home much since he enlisted twenty years ago. Now he’s headed back to Texas to help take care of his aging foster parents and run Sunflower ranch. But when he gets there, he finds his parents’ live-in nurse is Addison Hall, his high school best friend and the woman he always regretted leaving behind after their one steamy night together before he shipped out. He’s not at all surprised that their chemistry is still sparking, but Jesse is shocked to learn Addy gave birth to a little girl about nine months after he left—his little girl.

​Addy has her hands full as a single mom of a nineteen-year-old daughter who suddenly wants to rebel at everything. The last thing she needs is Jesse Ryan complicating her life even further, especially since she’s always had a crush on the handsome cowboy. But the more time she spends with Jesse, the more she wonders what might happen if they finally let their friendship blossom into something more and became the family she’d always hoped for. 
 
Includes the bonus novella Small Town Charm for the first time in print! 

My Favorite Non-Review Books of August 2021

I'm back with My Favorite Non-Review Books!

I've been a little MIA lately because I'm just so tired. Work last week just about killed me and then we drove up to my daughter's house (4 1/2 hours each way) and while I loved seeing the kids there was absolutely no rest. I'm looking forward to Thursday since I only work half-day then I'm off the rest of the week. 

I have mixed feelings on Friday since the root-canal I had scheduled last Friday got pushed to this one coming and I don't relish the idea of spending 3 hours in a dental chair: shots, drilling and other horrors. Can I fast forward to Friday afternoon, please?

I'm a little late as September is halfway over (how is that possible?!), but here are my August picks.

 

As a blogger sometimes writing reviews can feel like a chore so it seems I rarely write reviews for non-review books anymore. I feel bad about that, because it's not that I didn't enjoy them less than the books I review here, just that I don't have the time or energy to write a review for each and every book I read. I thought it would be nice to list my favorite non-review books each month to bring more attention to them.

Emma's involved in an accident and wakes from a coma to find her BFF and fiancé together while trying to put her life back together again. I love these triumph over extreme adversity type of stories, and the romance was oh-so-good! 

It was hard to stop listening to this one, but I do think it would've benefited by some editing down. Great audio with a full-cast of characters.

Book #9 in the Psy-Changeling series. One of my favorites. I'm already almost done with the next book. 

I only read three non-review books in August, but I think I've already exceeded that in September. I'm too tired to look right now. 

How about you? What were your favorite non-review books recently?

Audio Review: The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

 

The Heart Principle by The Heart Principle

Publication Date: August 31st 2021 by Berkley & September 2nd 2021 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Pages: 320

Audio Book Length: 9 hrs 30 min

Narrator: Brian Nishii and Natalie Naudus

Source: Publisher & Libro.fm

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

I’m having a hard time writing a review, so sorry in advance for this messiness. 

While we get Quan’s POV, I think The Heart Principle focused more on Anna’s journey to self-acceptance. Just realizing that it was okay to be different was a tough road. It was difficult at times to read Anna’s interactions with Julian (her asshole BF) and her family.  Anna’s sister, Priscilla was especially horrible. It was heartbreaking and frustrating to see Anna take so much crap! I welcomed Anna’s meltdown because I knew that would be the only way she’d stop pretending to be the perfect daughter, sister, girlfriend.

I also I think a lot of can relate to Anna’s feelings of guilt over her thoughts on taking care of her father. It wouldn’t be easy, and I can imagine feeling the same way if I were in her situation.

The Heart Principle wasn’t a light and fluffy romance, although I did really love Anna and Quan together. Finding each other didn’t automatically fix the issues each were dealing with. Both struggled with feelings of inadequacy. I appreciated that Quan and Anna supported and accepted each other just as they were. Quan was an absolute sweetheart, and I adored Anna.

I alternated reading an e-copy and listening to the audio. I’ve listened to and enjoyed Natalie Naudas’ narration in the past and she did a wonderful job performing Anna’s chapters. Brian Nishii was excellent as well. I listened at my normal speed of 1.5x. 

4 Stars

Book Description:

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That's where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex: he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself. However, when tragedy strikes Anna's family, she takes on a role she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

Review: Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber

 

Murder Most Fair (Verity Kent Mysteries #5) by Anna Lee Huber

Publication Date: August 31st 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Verity Kent and her dashing husband, Sidney, find themselves in another tricky situation with the surprise arrival of Verity’s German Aunt Ilse. Germans aren’t treated very kindly by the English in 1919 so close after the end of WWI, so they decide to get out of London and visit Verity’s parents in the English countryside of Yorkshire. However, Yorkshire isn’t all that welcoming to Great Aunt Ilse or her maid either.

Although, Verity had planned on visiting her parents for the holidays, the trip brings mixed emotions. It’s been five years since she’s visited and while Verity misses her family, being home brings the loss of her brother into sharp focus. It isn’t something Verity wants to deal with.  Also, her relationship with her mother is strained at best. I was not a big fan of Verity’s mother! The whole family has felt the effects of the war and loss and so it’s not all easy going.

On top of that, their neighbors in Yorkshire aren’t at all happy to have two Germans in their midst. There’s a lot of animosity and blame.  Aunt Ilse’s German maid, Bauer, is reviled by the staff and is said to be asking odd questions about Verity. Is Bauer just the target of animosity because her heritage or is she privy to Verity’s covert missions during the war? When Bauer is murdered Verity must get to the bottom of it to find out.  

Murder Most Fair is the fifth installment, and the books are best read in order to appreciate all the relationships and the ongoing story arc. While little progress was made in the investigation of the nefarious Lord Ardmore, I loved Murder Most Fair!   I was so happy to see Verity and Sidney draw closer as a couple, and work through some of the hurdles brought about by their experiences in the war. They’ve always presented a united front as they faced the troubles and danger from an adversary, but they’ve had some tough times.  It was heartening to see them open up to each other in ways they hadn’t previously. 

Anna Lee Huber expertly brings the post-WWI era to life and makes it relatable by highlighting the individual struggles and their journey back to a new normal.  It turned this time I learned about as an abstract in history class into a real-life emotional situation. With the added excitement of a murder mystery to solve!  I eagerly await the next book!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

All is far from quiet on the home front in national bestselling author Anna Lee Huber's captivating mystery series, in which former Secret Service agent Verity Kent receives a visitor—who is being trailed by a killer...

November 1919. A relaxing few weeks by the seaside with her husband, Sidney, could almost convince Verity Kent that life has returned to the pleasant rhythm of pre-war days. Then Verity's beloved Great Aunt Ilse lands on their doorstep. After years in war-ravaged Germany, Ilse has returned to England to repair her fragile health—and to escape trouble. Someone has been sending her anonymous threats, and Verity's Secret Service contacts can only provide unsettling answers.

Even deep in the Yorkshire Dales, where she joins Verity's family for the holidays, Ilse encounters difficulties. Normally peaceful neighbors are hostile, seeking someone to blame for the losses they've endured. When Ilse's maid is found dead, Verity must uncover whether this is anti-German sentiment taken to murderous lengths, or whether there is a more personal motive at work. Could Verity's shadowy nemesis, Lord Ardmore, be involved? And if so, how much closer to home will the blow land when he inevitably strikes again?

Sunday Post #135

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week.

It's been beautiful here in Cambria, sunny and warm. My husband and I decided to stay two nights instead of just one. We went wine tasting (outside) and did some hiking by the shore today. There were so many pelicans! They were flying and diving into the sea, and it was entertaining to watch. We also saw a bunch of zebras. They're descended from the ones William Randolph Hearst originally brought up here for his zoo at Hearst Castle and they've multiplied. We're traveling back home tomorrow morning.

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

Only had time to read two books, Blind Tiger and Uncharted, but I loved both!

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

I got an e-copy through Kindle Unlimited and added the audio narration. Hopefully I'll be listening soon. 

Instagram:

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Watched:

Still working my way through episodes of both. 

How was your week?