Speechless over how fiercely intelligent and empathetic this regency romance is. And funny—it’s so funny! This love story, featuring a neurodivergent Speechless over how fiercely intelligent and empathetic this regency romance is. And funny—it’s so funny! This love story, featuring a neurodivergent genius of a heroine, is infinitely patient and poignantly unusual and swooningly tender.
I love her, I love him, I love the writing, I love the scientific/mathematic/literary references, and most importantly, I love the author.
WOW. With two degrees from Harvard and this lovely pearl of a book, who needs traditional editing/publishing?...more
4.5 stars I haven’t felt this immersed in the life of a romance heroine in a long time. Her family and friend life felt real, their banter is super fu4.5 stars I haven’t felt this immersed in the life of a romance heroine in a long time. Her family and friend life felt real, their banter is super fun, and their chemistry is ...more
Beginning was a bit chaotic, but this ended up being such a great enemies to lovers story. Because:
— he’s a genuine grump, but so is she, kinda! — theBeginning was a bit chaotic, but this ended up being such a great enemies to lovers story. Because:
— he’s a genuine grump, but so is she, kinda! — their arguments felt genuine. They are cutting, they are clever, and they are committed to winning (but they’re never mean). They continue to fight after they get together, because it’s in their nature. — their dynamic, within a hospital setting, felt a bit Ali Hazelwood, except less scattered and zany. — both of them deal matter-of-factly with her disordered eating — a fun, supportive friend group —these friends also have a group text in the middle of his despairing, mopey angst over her not knowing whether she wants to commit to him, and they refer to him as Eyeore. — sexy sex — the best use of exasperated, affectionate nicknames I’ve ever read, the best of which is his referring to her as his screech owl.
Then they reach the point when he is completely and utterly smitten with her; he takes care of her when she’s sick, he stands up for her, he sees her. His feelings are described so well and so endearingly, and the book sidesteps mistakes of the usual nonsense over misunderstandings and such.
Anyway. I’ve read Kate Canterbary before, but I had no idea she had this in her! Imma have to add some additions to my TBR. ...more
Ugh, the CUTENESS of this book. From hilariously annoyed inner dialogue as she’s fighting her attraction to him to sexy banter to adorable gr4.5 stars
Ugh, the CUTENESS of this book. From hilariously annoyed inner dialogue as she’s fighting her attraction to him to sexy banter to adorable grandma/grandma love, this one surprised me from beginning to end with how funny and thoughtful it was.
Great chemistry between them (physical, intellectual, and emotional), and even better, the swooniest affection, too....more
Once, I was watching a show in which one of the contestants became helplessly, endearingly panicked and overwhelmed. You could see how he was utterly Once, I was watching a show in which one of the contestants became helplessly, endearingly panicked and overwhelmed. You could see how he was utterly at a loss at what to do, until the host swiftly, firmly, gently put it into context and told him that she had full confidence he could cope with it. This whole-hearted, unreserved kindness suddenly and immediately made me intensely attracted to the host, whom I liked but had never previously thought about in that context.
Which is all to explain in part why I love this book, whose Hallie is so passionately drawn to Julian because he is kind. A guy who goes out of his way to help people, sincerely, and who can’t stop staring at her glorious curls, or stand the idea of her being unhappy. (He’s also a professor, grumpy, and hot. And he tells a bunch of kids they are disgusting, which makes them laugh.) People can be complicated, yes, and I love a sexy villain, but deep down and IRL, nothing is more appealing to me than someone trying their best to do the right thing. I guess how much you value that might play into how you react to this story—it’s a big part of the plot.
Other pluses: their chemistry is electric and their absorption in each other is fucking adorable. I loved her sarcastic and foul-mouthed friends and his rebel sister, I enjoyed the vineyard setting (all aspects so familiar to me, as a Californian) and the subplot helping the elderly neighbor’s wine shop, and it’s funny from start to finish.
Quibbles: the stuff that are the “hooks” for marketing purposes could have been developed more (and there was a lot of it), including the secret admirer letters, their past missed connection, the landscaping/personal development thing, his family dynamics and panic attacks…it’s too much and not enough at the same time. I also wish Tweed Twit had had a bigger comeuppance! I expected we would circle back triumphantly to the rival wine shop at the end, so it was disappointing that never happened.
But still. He’s so utterly charmed by her and she’s so intensely into him that you can��t help but fall in love with them both. I love when people are genuinely kind to each other, and it’s so nice to see books that embrace that without cynicism or being overly, simplistically sticky-sweet....more
1. Handsome alpha werewolf (the big, gentle handyman traveling with a boy from one of the previous books) who is a good match to the strong alpha fema1. Handsome alpha werewolf (the big, gentle handyman traveling with a boy from one of the previous books) who is a good match to the strong alpha female struggling to hold her pack together
2. Excellent pack and shifter dynamics. This world has expanded bit by bit with each book and I love being in it. All the characters feel different, too—hard to do with a series.
3. There’s a were-puppy. :D
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how good the novellas in this series have been. Other than length, most of them have felt fully fleshed out, immersive, and satisfying. ...more
She makes some dumb moves, but werecats are just the best. Good family/friends/pack dynamic as well, plus the author convinced me that the playboy werShe makes some dumb moves, but werecats are just the best. Good family/friends/pack dynamic as well, plus the author convinced me that the playboy were-cougar from the previous books could fall in love. ...more
Takes far too long to get started on the romance, is bogged down with too many characters and miscellaneous scenarios, and character developm3.5 stars
Takes far too long to get started on the romance, is bogged down with too many characters and miscellaneous scenarios, and character development and back story could use more work.
But late in the book, once the romance does actually take off, and they are faced with the terrible consequences of the choices they’ve made (she to betray her fiancé, who she’s been trying to leave, and he in betraying his friend), it suddenly becomes deeply moving and emotional.
Mild spoilers, though none of it should come as a surprise to any historical romance reader: a duel is called, of course. But the justifications for it leading up to the event and afterwards made a weird kind of idiotic, honorable sense, and literally everything going through his mind was incredibly touching. The knowledge that time moves inexorably towards what might be his death—or his friend’s—set against the bittersweet passion of his marriage and wedding night, as well as his shielding her as much as he can—is written in such a moving way. I teared up at the letter he leaves for her to find the morning of the duel, and any book that provokes that kind of emotion is a keeper to me. He really sees her, too, and not just in a she’s-not-like-other-debutantes way.
So—very much imperfect, but I loved the last quarter or so....more
That basically sums up my reading experience with this one. I hardly ever do 5 star *giggles*
*fans self*
*screeches with laughter*
*melts into puddle*
That basically sums up my reading experience with this one. I hardly ever do 5 star ratings, including for romance novels, but this is everything I want out of a love story and more. So smart and laugh-out-loud funny, with two interesting, fully realized adults who are heatedly, passionately into each other. The story keeps you on your toes, I loved Lizzy’s smart mouth and quick wit, and Theo is intensely appealing.
Bonus points to the author for writing billionaire romances that aren’t cliche and boring, and for handling a potentially icky boss/employee scenario responsibly. I only just realized Annika Martin is also Carolyn Crane, whose Disillusionist series I really liked! I need to devour everything now. I loved this so, so much....more
I do not know how this book (number four in a series, no less) came to be on my Kindle, but present Wendy thanks past Well, this was just DELIGHTFUL.
I do not know how this book (number four in a series, no less) came to be on my Kindle, but present Wendy thanks past Wendy for taking a chance on it when neither one of them gives a flying fig about rugby.
But thankfully, it’s not about rugby! And he’s not just a stereotypical hot athlete and she’s not just your typical weirdo, and this arrangement between them doesn’t feel like your typical forced trope. Instead, both of them start becoming likable to each other right around the same point that you, the reader, realizes that there’s more to Will than just a pretty face and there’s more to Josey than just a quirky weirdo persona. ‘Cos let me tell you—she annoyed me in the first couple of chapters. She sort of has breathless word vomit, and she starts out a little spoiled and entitled, so it took a while for her to wear me down and charm me—but she did. I really have to hand it to the authors for fully committing to making Josey as exasperating and lovable as she is, and for writing a guy whose careful boundaries, need for control, and even his kink all indicate a huge amount of anxiety. Plus the chemistry between them, when it finally catches, is through the roof. I totally bought their falling into like and then lust and then love.
This book is also so funny and fun, with witty wordplay, affectionate silly puns, and ridiculously cute interplay between them. I wish this series had better titles and covers, because I think they deserve a bigger audience. Sign me up for whatever these authors write, I’m hunting down their other books (and the previous ones in this series, obvs) immediately....more
Pure, unabashed fantasy in a handsome, sexy millionaire who loves her kids, sees her and appreciates her fully, and is unwaveringly honest, faithful, Pure, unabashed fantasy in a handsome, sexy millionaire who loves her kids, sees her and appreciates her fully, and is unwaveringly honest, faithful, supportive, and passionate all at once. Plus he has her decorate a gorgeous sixteenth century house and then (view spoiler)[hands it over to her, even though he thinks they don’t have a future. He will just rest more easily knowing she and her daughters are safe and taken care of. (hide spoiler)] *swoon* Sometimes—most of the time—these scenarios are groan-worthy and annoying, but it’s all written well here, and his feelings are endearing and sincere.
Anyway, we all know it’s fiction, but damn it’s appealing....more
All the books in this series are a strong 3.5-4 stars to me, but #s 7 and this one, #5, are my favorite. It’s funny and sweet, and treats its sociallyAll the books in this series are a strong 3.5-4 stars to me, but #s 7 and this one, #5, are my favorite. It’s funny and sweet, and treats its socially anxious, tongue-tied, inexperienced guy with matter-of-fact respect and affection. Plus it’s hard to not love a romance book that includes a joke about the Donner Party. ...more
Predictable, maddening, somewhat repetitive, and occasionally tiring being in the protagonist’s brain—and if you look too closely, this kind of feels Predictable, maddening, somewhat repetitive, and occasionally tiring being in the protagonist’s brain—and if you look too closely, this kind of feels like just a reworked version of the author’s debut—but smart women + intensely focused handsome scientists + great supporting cast (including cats) + actual plot are hard to resist.
This one is particularly interesting to me because I’m fairly familiar, once removed, from the whole NASA project thing, so it was fun experiencing it through a scientist’s perspective. I would, however, advocate for future Hazelwood books to allow their intelligent scientist heroines to examine the mountain of evidence before them and consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the guy likes her....more
Super cute. It gets muddled and veers off course too often, and there are a fair number of cringey scenarios that lean too far into zany sitcom territSuper cute. It gets muddled and veers off course too often, and there are a fair number of cringey scenarios that lean too far into zany sitcom territory for my taste. But the academic setting is great, Olive is haphazardly charming, and the chemistry between her and Adam is undeniable. I wish this had had another pass or two before publication, to smooth some of the kinks out and to build stronger back story and emotions, but if you can look past the chaotic parts, it’s a fun read. ...more
Wendy Darling
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crush-worthy-boys
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