Whatcha Reading Wednesday

 

In an effort to get to know my followers better, I am launching a new segment called Whatcha Reading Wednesday! Tell me all about the book currently on your kindle (or in your hand). Are you enjoying it? How far into it are you? Are you likely to continue, or will this be relegated to your did not finish pile? Have you read this author (or series) before? 

GENRE: Police Procedural / Suspense PAGE LENGTH: 238 pages PUBLISH DATE: May 25, 2023 FORMAT: Kindle PERCENTAGE: 39% READ THIS AUTHOR: Yes READ THIS SERIES: Yes (although not the last 2) CURRENT THOUGHTS: There is definitely an interesting twist already with this one that I am curious to see play out. If it goes the way I'm thinking, it will be one of the more unique storylines that I have read this year. However, this author is known for employing a variety of red herrings in her works, so for now, I won't bet on it. If I had to rate it just from what I've already read I would say it's a solid 3.5 stars.

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Review: Exposing the Groom by Rachel van Dyken

                

Print Length: 236 pages

Publisher: Van Dyken Enterprises (May 19, 2023)

From Goodreads.com: An accidental phone grab during my rehearsal dinner while my fiancé went to use the restroom.

Reading all the dirty texts between him and my maid of honor, aka little sister, during our vows in front of the world in what would later be considered one of the most viral wedding videos on TikTok.
Of. All. Time.
Did I mention his vows were before mine, and he compared me to my adopted dog because... and I quote, “I’m so loyal.”
It’s not my fault that my first instinct, after exposing his dirty lies, was to run up to the clueless rockstar that was supposed to headline my reception and ask him to sing my tears away. I never expected him to help me escape certain disaster, kiss me senseless, and then buy me ice cream.
But that was all in the past—until I’m staring down at a wedding invitation from the crappy little crap pants ex. You see, he swapped sisters, and now a year later, they’re getting married at a gorgeous winery while I’m still staring down at a plus one, wondering if I can bring my pet turtle.

In desperation, I sent a drunken text to the hot rockstar with a picture of my turtle, Chuck Norris… in a bowtie. Who knew he would show up at the wedding—but get this, it wasn’t to save me, nope, it was to… yup, SING!
SHE STOLE HIM TOO!
But now that he’s there and I’m there, and the history is there, I beg him one more time to save me, this time as my date.
But lie after lie just kept pouring out of my mouth until we were somehow fake-engaged.
I would laugh if crying didn’t feel so good.
Should have brought the freaking turtle...

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My Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

For the most part, this was an enjoyable read, with a few moments that were truly laugh-out-loud. Scarlett and Killian had chemistry, and I loved the way they weren't afraid to argue with each other. I just wish that the sum total of their relationship hadn't been one night a year ago and then a weekend in the present day. I wish they would have kept in touch, even if it was just through texts, so that I could really believe in their connection. Now I will admit that that is an issue for me personally as I loathe all things even resembling insta-love, so others will likely be able to overlook it. 

The personal issues facing these two characters gave them a depth that I wasn't expecting in a rom-com, but I felt it was needed in order to show that life isn't perfect, and neither are people, no matter what kind of front they show the rest of the world. I think Killian had the right of it when he likened what we show other people vs how we really are to smoke and mirrors. 

However, what kept this from being a higher read for me was just the over-the-top, unnecessary drama with Scarett's fiance stealing sister. I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Scarlett was basically guilt-tripped by their parents into attending the wedding of her sister to the man she had planned to marry herself. The man who had cheated on her with her sister and had intended to keep the sister as his mistress even after he married Scarlett. The parents kept trying to say that Addison had changed when they both knew she hadn't (to the point their mother called her a derogatory name to Scarlett). I suppose the story wouldn't have worked without that plot point (for example, if Scarlett had just ended up booking a stay at the same hotel the same weekend but for a different reason, and the hotel had double-booked the room or something). 

I was ready to accept that; however, every single time Addison appeared on the page, she was just such a bitch that I wanted to reach through my Kindle and strangle her. Between trying to copy her sister to accusing her of murder (because, for some reason, even knowing the bride had an allergy to shrimp, the hotel cook for her rehearsal dinner still put it in the paste sauce), she was just a pathetic character who added nothing to the plot other than annoyance. And honestly, we already knew Addison and Rob (Scarlet's former fiance) were huge pieces of shit, did we really need the announcement/fight that happened at their wedding? Again it was just unnecessary drama, in my opinion. 

There were a few other instances of things that took away from my enjoyment of this one, as well as things that added to it, but sadly they are way too big spoiler moments to talk about them until more people have had a chance to read this one. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                         Exposing the Groom is available on Amazon.com

                                    

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Review: Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean

                

Print Length: 416 pages

Publisher: Entangled Press (May 23, 2023)

From Goodreads.com: As the middle—and least marriageable—sister in a bevy of swans, Lavinia Wynnburn is quite content being the odd duck out. This way, she’s free to commit social faux pas without anyone much noticing. Until the Duke of Beaubrooke turns up the morning after a ball, asking for her hand in marriage.

Alexander Reddington doesn’t particularly care for social niceties, nor is he particularly good at them. But now that the spare has become the heir, he must marry...and soon. When he stumbles into the same corner as a socially awkward wallflower, he knows he’s found the perfect wife: one who won’t bother him to attend every simpering event of the season.

Only, Alexander’s shy and pretty new wife is finding her new position surprisingly exciting and keeps accepting every invitation that flutters past their door. And worse luck, he might even be falling for her. Now he must hide the truth about why he really proposed…before his unexpectedly happy marriage is dashed to pieces.

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

This book was not bad by any means. The writing was solid, and I felt the pacing worked well, as I wasn't ever bored while reading this. I even liked the two main characters at first. 

The problem was, once these two wed, Lavinia became the complete opposite of the woman Alex had wanted to marry. Instead of a cute read where two people decide to avoid society in favor of each other's company and their own pursuits (Alex with his plants and Lavinia with her books), maybe venturing out to society parties here and there. Sadly, it would seem as though Lavinia became obsessed with going to events and being seen. 

I get it. She explains later on that she never enjoyed those types of events before her marriage because once she was a Duchess, people took the time to notice her, speak with her, etc., whereas before then, she had been a wallflower overlooked by everyone. However, she knew he was marrying her because he wanted a quieter life than he knew he would have with either of her sisters. I was also a bit turned off when she admitted that she had never paid attention to her mother's lessons on how to be a proper society wife, even though she had to have known she would one day marry (especially with the contract between their families specifying that the Duke would marry ONE of them). However, a lot of their drama, I feel, could have been solved if they had been honest with each other from the start about what their expectations were (especially Alex and his weird idea that he can dedicate all of his time to his plants and neglect his wife). 

I feel like this book might have done better as a novella so that some of the drama that occurs could have been left out, and some of the side-stories could have been their own stand-alone stories (as some of it seems to only have been added to up the word count), but I was intrigued enough by this author that I would read more of their works. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                         Four Weddings and a Duke is available on Amazon.com

                                    

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TEASER POST: To Love a Wolf by B.K. Walker

 

Passions are fueled...Two World's collide...

What would you do if you're future had another plan for you?

Cevin Harpster is in his last residency year to obtain his M.D. He's looking forward to his new life after graduation, where he will open his own practice and marry his high school sweetheart.

When Cevin suddenly starts dreaming of a beautiful woman he can't help but wonder if he may be going insane as she seduces him night after night, taking him to heights of ecstasy he never knew he longed for. As the dreams become more frequent, his sex drive rockets and his fiance', Sam, finds Cevin's new desire enticing, even if a bit rough, when his sexual experiences from his dreams are used on her.

Weird things continue to happen in Cevin's dreams, becoming all too real when he learns that this mysterious woman actually exists, and he is meant to be her mate and Alpha Wolf to a pack of wolves he never imagined existed. His life is about to change drastically when he’s going to be forced to leave Sam. Will human love trump wolf romance, or worse?

When dreams and reality meet...someone always gets burned!

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Freebie Friday!

  

Every other Friday, I will be sharing a (small) collection of books that I have added to my to-be-read pile. At the time of posting, all of these books will be FREE from Amazon (but I highly encourage you to double-check the price before you purchase, as we all know how quickly these things can change). 

I don't know about you, but the first thing I notice about a book is the cover; if the cover doesn't catch my eye for one reason or another, I won't even bother looking for more details. In the spirit of this - all books will be linked BY their covers; simply click on one if it catches your eye to be taken to the appropriate link on Amazon.